Chromebooks have been typically thought of as budget-friendly laptops for light use at home and school. However, over the last few years, Google and its manufacturing partners have launched models suitable for high productivity, business use, and gaming – which means there’s something for you. That’s why we come up with this guide to help you buy a Chromebook.
In 2024, you have a ton of choices when picking a Chromebook. But before we go into this Chromebook buying guide, here are a few pointers to keep in mind while looking for your next device:
- Form factor and use case: Depending on what you are going to use the device for, you can pick from a range of form factors. Need a big screen for working on multiple documents? You got it. Looking for something portable? Consider a 2-in-1.
- Software update cycle: All Chromebooks have an auto-update expert date (AUE). The date indicates the point up till when it’ll receive significant software updates. Thankfully, Google lists AUE for all Chromebooks on this page, so you can see how long your preferred model will get updates. Google has promised updates to certain models for up to 10 years.
- Screen: Chromebook makers have started offering Full HD screens at even $400 price points. If your budget allows that, you should look for a high-res screen. But beyond that, Chromebooks also offer touchscreens and high refresh rate display models.
- Battery and durability: Battery life plays a critical part when you are on the go for long hours. And if you work in environments like a classroom, it’s worth looking for something built to take a few knocks.
And now, on to the Chromebooks.
Tip: if you are still wondering if you should get a Chromebook, find out all the reasons to switch to ChromeOS
The all-rounder
Last year, Google announced a new series of productivity-focused Chromebooks called Chromebook Plus, with minimum specifications thresholds such as a Full HD screen and 8GB of RAM. Acer’s Chromebook Plus 515 was one of the launch models, and at $399, it is a great value-for-money pick.
The device has an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU and 128GB internal memory for daily tasks. Additionally, because it’s a Plus series laptop, you get perks like free Google One membership for a year, three months of YouTube Premium, and three months of Photoshop on the web.
While the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a pocket-friendly buy, there are drawbacks like the lack of keyboard backlighting, and an HDMI 1.4 port instead of an HDMI 2.0 port.
Got a bit more to spend? You can opt for the slightly more luxurious and lighter Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus, which has superior build quality with a metal cover, a 14-inch screen, and better battery life at $549.
The star performer
HP is known for its Dragonfly Series of laptops with their premium build quality and performance in the Windows world. The company has taken a similar approach with the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook – decking it up with a 14-inch 1,200 nits bright 2,560×1,600 IPS screen, an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, and 16 GB RAM.
The device has a great pair of speakers, a haptic touch trackpad, and an 8-megapixel webcam for $999. While this is not a gaming laptop, you get an RGB backlit keyboard built-in.
However, all of these specs combined with a sleek body means that the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook doesn’t have all-day battery life. The device also doesn’t have a headphone jack. Boooo!
If you want to game on your Chromebook, you might want to consider the Acer Chromebook 516 GE Cloud Gaming laptop with an RGB keyboard, 12th-gen i5 processor, and a 16-inch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate.
The deluxe option
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 scores on several fronts – and costs a pretty penny as well. It has an Intel Core i5-1335U, a 16:10 14-inch WUXGA (1920 X 1200) touchscreen display, and 256GB of storage.
Apart from impressive specs, the 360-degree convertible has a rugged build with MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability. That means you can use it without worrying too much about damage from falls or knocks. There is also Gorilla Glass protection on both the screen and the touchpad for extra protection.
The Spin 714 also has an impressive suite of connectivity features with support for Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, two USB-C Ports with support for Thunderbolt 4 for faster data speeds and charging, one USB-C port with USB Gen 3.2A support, one USB-A port, and even an HDMI 2.1 port – all packed within a sleek frame.
The budget-friendly 2-in-1
Chromebooks have the advantage of coming in multiple form factor options even at low price points. If you don’t care to spend more than $500, but want a 2-in-1 Chromebook, consider the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3.
At $379, the device is more like a tablet as it comes with a snap-on keyboard cover rather than a keyboard with a hinge.
The Duet 3 is powered by Snapdragon’s 7c Gen 2 compute platform processor. It has an 11-inch touchscreen display with 2,000×1,200 resolution with support for a stylus – which is not included in the box – making it a great on-the-go productivity device.
The Duet 3 uses an OLED panel, so it is a neat option for light gaming and content consumption. The only downside at the price point is that there are only two USB-C ports and no headphone jack.
Do you know: you can use Microsoft Office, run Linux apps and Android apps on your Chromebook?
An upgradable Chromebook?
If you are a tinkerer or love to easily upgrade your devices, you might have heard of Framework’s easily repairable and customizable laptops. The company also makes a configurable Chromebook.
The base specs are an Intel 12th gen i5-1240P processor, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage, a 13.5-inch display with 2,256 x 1,540 resolution, and a 1080p webcam.
The laptop has four selectable expansion card slots. You can choose the following expansion cards to insert into those slots: port expansion cards including USB-C with USB4 support, USB-A, and HDMI, DisplayPort (2nd gen), MicroSD slot, and ethernet, and storage cards of 256GB or 1TB.
The base model costs $999, and expansion cards are available at an extra cost. You’ll also get a Framework screwdriver with a guide to repair or replace parts easily.
This guide to buying a Chromebook is all you need to know to shop for a Chromebook this year. If you are exploring other platforms for specific use cases, you should check out our buying guides for best 2-in-1 laptops and discover how to pick a perfect gaming laptop. For folks on a budget, we have a guide for things to look for while buying a used laptop.
Image credit: A chromebook being used at home for a remote classroom by DepositPhotos
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