Finest Chromebooks 2025: Finest total, finest battery life, and extra
In case you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop computer that simply handles on a regular basis duties, a Chromebook is a stable selection, particularly in the event you’re snug utilizing Google’s ecosystem and web-based apps.
Chromebooks are usually inexpensive than Home windows laptops they usually’re largely virus free. Heck, with cloud gaming, you possibly can even play the most well liked titles on a few of them. The one downside? Typing “Chromebook” right into a search bar opens the floodgates to numerous decisions. To simplify issues, we’ve put collectively an inventory of Chromebooks PCWorld has personally examined and reviewed.
In case you nonetheless favor Home windows laptops, take a look at PCWorld’s roundup of the very best laptops accessible immediately.
Why you must belief us: PCWorld has been going robust since 1983, again within the days when print magazines have been extra frequent. Now that we’ve made the leap to digital, we’ve been reviewing greater than 100 laptops yearly. Each laptop computer that passes by means of our doorways goes by means of an arduous testing course of, through which we consider all the things from processor efficiency to show high quality. We’re dedicated to reviewing laptops in each worth vary too.
Lenovo Flex 5i – Finest total Chromebook
Execs
- Good construct high quality
- Implausible typing expertise
- Vibrant touchscreen show
Cons
- Common battery life for a Chromebook
- Stylus not included
Why we just like the Lenovo Flex 5i
The Lenovo Flex 5i is the very best total selection due to its 2-in-1 design, peppy efficiency, beautiful typing expertise, and a lot extra. The understated aluminum completed exterior helps make it really feel like one thing three or 4 occasions as costly. As for the convertible design, the 360-degree hinge feels extremely sturdy, which is crucial in a 2-in-1 laptop computer. Plus, the keyboard is an actual pleasure to kind on and the 1200p contact show produces crisp and vibrant visuals. One of the best half is that you just’re getting all of those great options for properly underneath $500.
Who can purchase the Lenovo Flex 5i
We really feel as if the Lenovo Flex 5i is an efficient Chromebook for most individuals. The touchscreen and 2-in-1 design give it the sting, as you normally see these options in machines that price rather more. Whereas the nine-hour battery life is taken into account simply common for a Chromebook, it’s nonetheless an amazing all-day end result. It’s simply not the whopping 19 hours we obtained out of the Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip. That stated, the Lenovo Flex 5i’s record of compromises is sort of small.
Various possibility: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 ($499) is one other worthwhile possibility. The upgraded processor (Intel Core i5-1335U) and the touch-enabled 1080p show make an enormous distinction, including nice worth in comparison with the 2023 mannequin.
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Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus evaluate
Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook – Finest finances Chromebook
Execs
- Light-weight design
- Nice battery life
- Enticing coloration scheme
- 1080p show
Cons
- Solely 4GB of RAM
- 720p webcam is disappointing
Why we just like the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook
For underneath $300, the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook provides respectable efficiency, unbelievable battery life, and a light-weight type issue. Inside, you’ll discover a MediaTek Kompanio 520 CPU, an ARM Mali-G52 2EE MC2 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. On paper, these specs might not look all that spectacular. Nevertheless, in the case of real-world use, day-to-day efficiency is completely dependable. The 47 watt-hour battery additionally lasted 16 hours on a single cost and it weighs just below three kilos, making it a stable journey companion. Not dangerous for underneath $300, huh?
Who can purchase the Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook
Anybody on the lookout for an inexpensive, serviceable Chromebook. It’s not essentially the most progressive Chromebook we’ve ever seen, however it doesn’t need to be. It has loads of energy for mild use and the battery will preserve you going lengthy after your workday or faculty day ends. The inclusion of a 1080p contact show is a pleasant contact as properly, particularly given the low worth of the machine. The 720p webcam is disappointing and also you’re solely getting 4GB of RAM, however in the event you’re prepared to taper your expectations a bit, then this machine is properly price contemplating.
Various possibility: In case you’re prepared to spend a little bit additional on a Chromebook with higher efficiency, we’d advocate trying out the $399 Acer Chromebook Plus 515. Bootup occasions are lightning quick and browser-based duties really feel appropriately snappy. The typing expertise can also be beautiful and the battery can last as long as 13 hours on a single cost. The one trade-offs are the boring aesthetics and the thick bezels on the show.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook evaluate
Lenovo Chromebook Duet – Most transportable Chromebook
Execs
- Nice worth
- Versatile type issue
- Surprisingly good keyboard
- Wonderful battery life
Cons
- Wants extra RAM
- Android apps don’t run properly
- Vertical kickstand reduces horizontal choices
Why we just like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is remarkably featherlight at simply 2.09 kilos, and that’s with the keyboard and stand! Not solely did the small type issue impress us, but in addition the lengthy battery life. The 68 watt-hour battery can attain the 12 or 13-hour mark on a day of informal use, so looking the net and watching YouTube. That’s a great quantity for such a tiny 2-in-1 laptop computer. It additionally prices very quick, which is spectacular given the smaller battery measurement.
Who can purchase the Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Anybody who’s on the lookout for a light-weight laptop computer with good battery life. The keyboard is nice too, regardless that it sits “flat as a pancake,” in accordance with our evaluate. In comparison with the earlier iteration, the keys have “elevated journey distance” and the alphanumeric keys are full-size–these two elements lend to a extra pure typing expertise. You may also detach the keyboard and use the show like a pill.
Various possibility: The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus ($699.99) is another price exploring, particularly in the event you’re on the lookout for a transportable clamshell-style laptop computer. The AMOLED show is completely beautiful and it weighs simply 2.58 kilos.
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Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2024) evaluate
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 – Finest high-end Chromebook
Execs
- Nice keyboard
- Strong battery life and efficiency
- Stunning show
Cons
- Tinny audio system
- Pen offered individually
- No fingerprint reader
- Dearer than the typical Chromebook
Why we just like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 provides a convertible type issue, zippy day-to-day efficiency, and a keyboard with loads of journey. The 14-inch IPS touch-enabled show additionally has a 1920×1200 decision, a 16:10 side ratio, and 340 nits of brightness. It’s an amazing display for media streaming, however it’s on the dimmer facet and the shiny floor makes it tough to make use of on a sunny day. That stated, the multi-touch touchscreen works properly.
Who can purchase the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
Anybody on the lookout for a extra premium Chromebook! The two-in-1 type issue means that you can rotate the display 360 levels and use it like a pill, which is nice for individuals who prefer to take notes or doodle. Plus, many Android apps are optimized for pill use, so utilizing this Chromebook in pill mode needs to be simple. The worth tag ($699) might deter some of us, but when your finances is aware of no bounds, then the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a unbelievable selection.
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Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 evaluate
Acer Chromebook 516 GE – Finest Chromebook for gaming
Execs
- Enticing design
- Wonderful CPU efficiency
- A great deal of wired and wi-fi connectivity
- Excessive-resolution 1600p show
Cons
- Mediocre keyboard and touchpad
- Disappointing audio system and microphone
- Show falls behind in distinction, coloration vibrancy
Why we just like the Acer Chromebook 516 GE
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is an efficient machine for gaming and day-to-day duties. The Intel Core i5-1240P CPU is highly effective sufficient for workplace work and on a regular basis actions, and the show’s 120Hz refresh charge will produce clean visuals. You may’t run video games regionally on this laptop computer, however you should utilize a cloud gaming service like Nvidia GeForce Now or Amazon Luna. In response to our evaluate, “gameplay felt completely clean” and “Nvidia’s GeForce Now diagnostics panel flagged no issues.” Simply be sure to’ve obtained a secure Web connection! Luckily, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE has an Ethernet port, which is about as secure as you will get.
Who can purchase the Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Anybody who needs to recreation on a reliable Chromebook! The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a pleasure to recreation on and it’s zippy sufficient for productiveness and day-to-day. Extra options embrace a 1080p webcam, a 65 watt-hour battery, and a pretty design. With an MSRP of $650, it’s a little bit costly for a Chromebook, however it punches above the same old Chrome OS machine and is tailored to ship a high-quality cloud gaming expertise.
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Acer Chromebook 516 GE evaluate
Current laptop computer evaluations
- MSI Raider 18 HX AI: The MSI Raider 18 HX AI isn’t a looker, however it packs unbelievable CPU and GPU efficiency.
- Asus ZenBook A14: The Asus ZenBook A14 is an unbelievable proof of idea for a way mild and long-lasting a laptop computer could be. However you shouldn’t purchase it except you’re prepared to commerce efficiency for an ultralight machine that will get extra battery life than you in all probability want.
- Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a stable improve over the 2023, that includes a quicker processor and a touchscreen show, with solely minor drawbacks that hardly influence the general efficiency.
- MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo: The MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo doesn’t rating excessive marks in efficiency benchmarks, however it does obtain excellent battery life.
How we check Chromebooks
The PCWorld workforce places every laptop computer by means of a sequence of benchmarks that check GPU and CPU efficiency, battery life, and so forth. The concept is to push the laptop computer to its limits after which evaluate it in opposition to others we’ve examined. Because of the cloud-based nature of Chromebooks, they undergo a sequence of web-based assessments. It wouldn’t be honest or doable to run the identical sorts of assessments on a Chromebook as we use on laptops as a result of they solely run a totally completely different working system.
Beneath, you’ll discover a breakdown of every check and the the reason why we run them.
Chromebooks
- CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark assessments a Chromebook’s battery life.
- Speedometer 2.0: This check determines a Chromebook’s net browser efficiency. It simulates this by including, finishing, and eradicating a to-do record.
- Basemark Internet 3.0: This benchmark gauges how properly a Chromebook can deal with web-based purposes.
- Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript efficiency benchmark that measures browser velocity.
- Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a mixture of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This can be a method to gauge how properly a Chromebook runs superior workloads.
For a extra thorough clarification of our testing procedures, take a look at how PCWorld assessments laptops.
What must you search for in a Chromebook?
In case you’re on the lookout for a Home windows or MacBook various, chances are you’ll need to take into account a Chromebook. Outfitted with low-power processors, they sometimes have good battery life and are normally silent in operation. They make nice productiveness machines, as they’re particularly designed for light-weight duties like looking the net, watching Netflix, and so forth. Plus, they’re largely virus-free. That stated, most Chromebooks have minimal RAM and storage. In case you’re a hardcore gamer or a video editor, you’re going to need one thing with much more energy than a Chromebook is able to offering.
Our information to Chromebooks vs. Home windows laptops can assist you identify which working system is finest to your wants. For extra choices, you’ll need to take a look at our greatest laptops roundup.
- Working system: Though each working system has its execs and cons, I’d argue that Chrome OS is without doubt one of the most user-friendly ones on the market. That stated, with Chromebooks, you don’t have the choice of selecting one other working system, as they solely run Chrome OS. You’re caught with it, bud.
- Processor: Shoot for a mid-range Chromebook in the event you can. They price anyplace within the $400 to $600 vary and plenty of of them come outfitted with Intel Pentium processors. These Chromebooks have higher browser efficiency and are able to operating extra intense gaming apps. It’s the very best bang to your buck. Higher-end Chromebooks generally use Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processors, which pack extra of a punch.
- RAM: Many Chromebooks have 4GB of RAM, which isn’t rather a lot. Chromebooks are web-based machines, so that you want a good quantity of RAM to maintain these tabs open and operating easily. In case you can spend a few hundred additional, you’ll have the ability to discover a mid-range Chromebook with 8GB of RAM.
- Storage: I like to recommend at the least 64GB of storage. Because you’ll largely be storing issues within the cloud, you don’t have a ton of native storage.
- Sturdiness: Chromebooks are well-liked within the training market as a result of they’re fairly darn strong. I’m not saying you must smack one round with a baseball bat or something, however they’re sturdy sufficient to deal with the every day abuses of life.
FAQ
What’s the distinction between a daily laptop computer and a Chromebook?
When individuals discuss common laptops they normally imply a PC or Mac. A Chromebook continues to be a laptop computer, however it differentiates itself from both of these two by utilizing a singular working system known as Chrome OS, which was created by Google. Consider it like this: All Chromebooks are laptops, however not all laptops are Chromebooks.
Not like different working methods equivalent to Home windows or macOS, Chrome OS is optimized to run Google apps equivalent to Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and different Google companies. As a result of most Google apps are on-line, Chromebooks usually require an web connection to make use of most of their essential options.
Lastly, Chromebooks have traditionally been designed with portability, ease of use, and affordability in thoughts relatively than prime efficiency. They sometimes forego the quicker, high-end {hardware} that PCs or Macs can use for a extra minimalist, light-weight strategy to computing.
Can you employ built-in graphics for gaming?
No, you possibly can’t recreation a Chromebook as a result of they’ll’t run native EXEs other than Android apps. That stated, you possibly can play trendy video games on a Chromebook that helps cloud gaming, just like the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming. You need to have an Final membership with Nvidia’s GeForce Now to play the video games, although. The Final tier prices $19.99 a month or $99.99 for six months. It’s a reasonably seamless expertise, and Nvidia additionally provides a vast free tier so you possibly can stream video games with restrictions on session occasions.
What’s the distinction between a finances laptop computer and a pill?
Increasingly, the road between what’s a laptop computer and what’s a pill blurs as firms combine the options of each into their newest gadgets. However there are nonetheless just a few key distinctions between the 2. Laptops usually are bigger, include extra storage, and have higher efficiency and productiveness options. Tablets however are smaller and extra transportable, have longer battery life, and are normally a bit extra inexpensive.
When selecting between a finances laptop computer and a pill you must first ask your self what the first use of the gadget shall be. Do you want one thing for productiveness with numerous storage? Then a laptop computer—even a finances mannequin—will in all probability be the best way to go. Or do you want one thing small, travels properly, and has an extended battery life? You then would possibly take into account a pill.
What are the disadvantages of a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are designed for day-to-day duties, which is ok if all you’re doing is looking the net and checking e-mail. They’ll’t deal with resource-heavy design work, video modifying, and so forth. You’ll additionally want a robust Web connection as a result of in the event you’re not on-line, there are solely so many issues you are able to do with a Chromebook. Chromebooks can not set up native packages like Home windows PCs can. You can also’t set up Microsoft Workplace and that is perhaps an enormous deal-breaker for some of us, particularly those that depend on these packages for work.
What’s a Chromebook good for?
Chromebooks are good laptops for individuals who require the fundamentals. If all you want is a dependable Web connection to get your work accomplished and nothing else (like no resource-hungry packages), then you definately’re golden. I exploit my very own Chromebook for writing and modifying in addition to trying out social media and watching YouTube. You may even recreation on them with a cloud gaming service like GeForce Now, if that’s the way you prefer to spend your evenings (no judgments right here).
