chromebook reviews 2022 uk

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• Chromebooks

Best Chromebook 2024: The top Chrome OS laptops to buy

• Jonathan Bray
• Stuart Andrews

Built for the Internet and cloud-based apps, Chromebooks are ready for anything – and often give you more for less

Would you like a lightweight, low-cost laptop that just works? Where you’re ready to go in seconds and you’re never left waiting half an hour for an update to install? If so, you might want to think about a Chromebook. While Google-powered laptops used to be thought of as weird, slow and limiting, they’ve become powerful, practical and flexible computers, capable of handling a wide range of tasks. What’s more, they’re perfect as a secondary laptop for travelling or as a device for homework and study, particularly if the students concerned spend more time using web-based apps over traditional applications.

Below, you will find our current pick of the best Chromebooks to buy, from cool 2-in-1 convertibles to the best big-screen options. We also offer some top tips on what you should look for in a Chromebook, to ensure you’re not just picking up a bargain, but a laptop that’s going to meet your needs.

READ NEXT: The best Chromebook deals

How to choose the best Chromebook for you

What do i need to look for when buying a chromebook.

ChromeOS is designed to run on relatively low-powered hardware, so you don’t need a super-fast Core i7 or Ryzen 7 processor to get a smooth experience; even a lowly Pentium or Core i3 processor will do the job. Some of the best ChromeOS devices run on ARM-based processors, and these are becoming faster while also offering improved battery life.

You will find that most Chromebooks ship in two or more configurations and, as a rule, we would avoid older low-end models with budget Intel Celeron or Pentium Silver processors, not to mention dual-core AMD Athlon Gold or Silver CPUs.

Instead, head up the range to the Chromebooks with more modern Intel N100, Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 processors. These will run web-based apps smoothly and function with a dozen browser tabs open at once without breaking a sweat. Meanwhile, the faster Core i5 and Core i7 Chromebooks deliver greater flexibility, running Linux and Android apps at lightning speeds. The latest Chromebooks with 12th and 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs are pretty speedy, even by the standards of Windows laptops, and can handle just about any application you can throw at them.

Instead, head up the range to the Chromebooks with quad-core Intel Pentium, Core i3 or AMD Ryzen processors. These will run web-based apps smoothly, functioning with a dozen browser tabs open at once without breaking much of a sweat. Meanwhile, the faster Core i5 and Core i7 Chromebooks deliver greater flexibility, running Linux and Android apps at lightning speeds. The latest Chromebooks with 12th-generation Intel Core CPUs are pretty speedy, even by Windows laptops standards, and can handle just about any application you can throw at them.

What about RAM and storage?

When it comes to RAM, 4GB is now the baseline standard and still fine for everyday browsing and running Google apps. However, if your chosen Chromebook has an 8GB option, then it’s worth paying the extra for. The Chrome browser and many websites are steadily becoming more demanding, and you will notice the difference. What’s more, you will have scope to run Linux or Android apps.

With that in mind, you might also want to think about storage. The cheapest Chromebooks still come with 64GB of eMMC storage, which won’t be a problem if you stick to web-based apps but could hold you back if you want to install Android apps or, say, work with photos or video stored locally on your laptop. A 128GB SSD will bring greater flexibility, while 256GB gives you plenty of space for media, apps and games.

Should I buy a Chromebook Plus?

“Chromebook Plus” is a new Google initiative that allows Chromebooks meeting a higher-than-normal specification to be designated as such. Chromebook Plus laptops also come with software enhancements and perks designed to showcase what today’s high-performance Chromebooks can do. Chromebook Plus units must have an Intel Core i3 or equivalent processor, 8GB of RAM and at least 128GB of storage, along with a 1080p screen and a Full HD webcam. These Chromebooks then run a special version of the Chrome OS operating system with enhanced, AI-powered wallpaper and screensavers, some useful AI features to improve video calls and meetings, plus a special version of the Google Photos app with the magic eraser tool from Google’s Pixel phones built in.

It’s worth mentioning that some of the most powerful premium Chromebooks came out before this scheme kicked in, so you don’t have to buy a Chromebook Plus to get a great mid-range or high-end Chromebook. What’s more, some of these Chromebooks are also due to get the various software enhancements. In the future, though, the “Chromebook Plus” label will be worth looking out for if you want to make sure you’re getting good performance, a decent spec and a better screen.

Does size matter?

It’s important to think about size and weight. Chromebooks work brilliantly as a secondary device that you can use when darting in and out of the office, or as a basic computer for browsing, homework and learning. You don’t need to spend much to pick up a cracking thin and light model, and the build quality is pretty good these days, too, with manufacturers moving away from cheap, plasticky efforts to more luxurious aluminium designs as you move up the price range. However, you can also get larger Chromebooks to cover working from home or everyday office use, in which case you’re wiser taking on some extra weight to get a bigger screen and keyboard.

If you’re taking the slim and light route, 2-in-1 convertibles are also worth a look. Chrome OS is steadily improving as an OS for touchscreen use, with more flexible on-screen keyboards and some interface improvements, and it’s particularly good if you get a model with a stylus or a pen. It’s also great to have a laptop you can use as a tablet for entertainment, or that you can pop on a table in Tent mode for streaming Netflix or playing a Stadia game.

Screen time

Finally, a decent display is crucial. If there’s a Full HD IPS screen option then it’s always worth paying extra for, and we’re even seeing some models with high-quality QHD or 4K/UHD displays. Kick into some serious multi-tasking, and you will be glad you invested in the extra resolution – or in a larger screen.

How we test Chromebooks

Chromebooks run quite different software to Windows and macOS laptops so we can’t run our usual suite of benchmark software on them. However, the principles remain the same.

We aim to test the performance, battery life and display quality of Chromebooks in order to give our reviewers the tools they need to deliver objective and unbiased recommendations and comparisons.

We test performance and speed using a selection of browser-based benchmarking tools, and test storage performance using an app-based tool. We test battery life using our usual video rundown methodology, by playing a low-resolution video in Chrome OS’ native video player, setting the screen at a brightness level of 170cd/m2 and turning off all wireless communications to ensure a level playing field.

And, most importantly, we also bring our many years of experience to bear in assessing the usability, ergonomics and build quality of each and every machine we review.

READ NEXT: How to convert an old laptop into a Chromebook

The best Chromebooks you can buy in 2023

1. acer chromebook spin 714: the best chromebook overall.

Price when reviewed: £699 | Check price at Amazon

If you’re a Chromebook aficionado, this is the laptop you want to buy this year. It pairs a top-quality display with a nice touchscreen and support for a stylus, too. It also delivers impressive battery life (it lasted 13hrs 19mins in our battery test) and general performance was also great.

It might be a touch more expensive than you might be used to, but this 2-in-1 makes a great case for Chromebooks as genuine Windows or macOS alternatives. As a laptop for work or for watching video and media consumption, it’s a brilliant device, and it’s our favourite overall Chromebook.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review for more details

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 CP714-2WN - (Intel Core i3-1315U, 8GB, 256GB SSD, 14 Inch WUXGA Touchscreen Display, Google Chrome OS, Iron)

2. asus chromebook vibe cx34: the best chromebook for gaming.

Like other Chromebooks of this ilk we’ve reviewed it has a fantastic display and it pairs that with a 360-degree, 2-in-1 design and comes with a stylus in the box. It comes with either an Intel Core i5-1235U or i7-1255U CPU, 8GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB SSD.

It has slightly inferior battery life and a chunkier, heavier design than the very best Chromebooks around right now, but otherwise it’s a brilliant all-round Chromebook that’s perfect for work, study and play.

Read our full Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 Ryzen 3 4GB 128GB

3. lenovo ideapad slim 3i 14in chromebook plus: the best compact chromebook.

Price when reviewed: £379 | Check price at Argos

Lenovo’s cheap and cheerful Chromebook is about as compact as 14in Chromebooks get, with a 324 x 216mm footprint and a weight of only 1.5kg. Despite this, it meets all the requirements for a Chromebook Plus and is now being sold as such, so you can be sure it’s giving you decent bang for your buck. With no performance cores and only eight efficiency cores, its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU isn’t as speedy as a ‘proper’ Core i3 but it’s still fast enough to keep Chrome OS and your Web or Android apps running at a decent lick, particularly with 8GB of RAM onboard.

True, the keyboard isn’t one of Lenovo’s finest; there’s plenty of travel but the action is soft and inconsistent. Yet the Full HD screen puts many more expensive Chromebooks to shame, thanks to a high 329cd/m2 peak brightness level and a reasonable contrast ratio. You also get Wi-Fi 6E wireless networking and excellent 13-hour battery life. Looking for a cut-price Chromebook you can lug around all day? You won’t do much better than this.

Read our full Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 review for more details

4. Acer Chromebook Plus 514: The best value Chromebook

Price when reviewed: £399 | Buy now from Very

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 doesn’t have the 2-in-1 convertible form factor of the old Chromebook Spin 514, but it makes up for it with its Chromebook Plus enhancements and a slightly more powerful specification. This is the first Chromebook we’ve seen using AMD’s Ryzen 5 7320C processor and it’s more than capable of handling more demanding apps, including any Android or Linux apps you’re looking to install. It also has a good screen and responsive touchpad, plus a slim and light design that’s great for working on the go.

This Chromebook Plus isn’t perfect across the board, with a disappointingly dim screen, harsh sound and mediocre battery life – though it should still see you through the average day. But if you look at what you’re getting for your money, it’s hard to grumble, giving you all the goodness of Chromebook Plus with what’s still very much a budget price tag.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review for more details

5. Acer Chromebook Spin 513: The best Chromebook for life on the move

ARM-based Chromebooks are nothing new, but the Spin 513 is the first we’ve looked at to use Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 7c chipset. This sees the leading manufacturer of smartphone and tablet CPUs trying to break into the laptop market, and a combination of respectable speeds and a ten-hour battery life make the Chromebook Spin 513 a great choice for life on the go.

This is one of Acer’s 2-in-1 convertible models, so you can fold the screen all the way back and use it as a big tablet, or keep the screen propped up in “tent” mode for playing games or watching movies. It’s slim and weighs less than 1.3kg as well, so it won’t give you an aching back or shoulders if you need to lug it around all day.

While the keys on the keyboard don’t have much travel, it’s a very comfortable Chromebook to use, with a decent Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) screen and richer colours than you would usually find at this price point. Strapped for cash and in need of a thin, light laptop? Stop right here.

Read our full Acer Chromebook 513 review

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 CP513-1H - (Qualcomm SC7180, 4GB, 64GB eMMC, 13.3 inch Full HD Touchscreen Display, Google Chrome OS, Silver)

6. acer chromebook vero 514: best chromebook for work.

Acer sells the Chromebook Vero 514 on its green credentials, but beyond the post-consumer recycled plastics in the chassis and cardboard packaging, it’s also a brilliant business-ready option. We tested the enterprise version with a Core i7-1255U processor and it was the fastest Chromebook we’ve yet reviewed; but even the most affordable Core i3-1215U version will be fast enough for demanding web-based, Linux and Android applications, particularly with 8GB of RAM as standard.

What’s more, you get excellent connectivity, including Wi-Fi 6E support, not to mention a decent keyboard, a usable touchscreen and a superb, smooth recycled plastic touchpad. The display lets the side down slightly, with its limited brightness and subdued colours, but it’s still more than good enough for office work. If you’re looking for a Chromebook to run Google’s office apps or even one to use for study, this is a sensible, practical option with its own distinctive style – and a price you can afford.

Check price at John Lewis

7. Acer Chromebook Plus 515: The best value big-screen Chromebook

Price when reviewed: £399 | Check price at Amazon

The bigger brother to the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, the Chromebook Plus 515 improves on it with a bigger screen and a faster CPU, giving you all the performance you could need from a high-end Chromebook at a thoroughly affordable, mid-range price. The 15.6in display looks massive and delivers a higher brightness level of 283cdm 2 and slightly more contrast. What’s more, the audio is in a different league; this is one of the few budget Chromebooks you can use to  stream games, video or music without wanting to immediately don some headphones.

Performance is easily good enough for more demanding creative and productivity apps, and while the nine-hour battery life isn’t anything to write home about, it should get you through most of a working day without a recharge. Head to the Acer Chromebook 516GE if you’re looking for a premium take on the big-screen Chromebook, but if you can compromise on the all-plastic construction and basic 1080p screen, the Chromebook Plus 515 is amazing value.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review for more details

8. Acer Chromebook 516GE: Best Chromebook for performance

Price when reviewed: £699 | Check price at Currys

While it isn’t the lightest or most portable of Chromebooks, it’s hard to beat the Chromebook 516GE for its performance or spec – at least not without spending north of £1000. Featuring a 12th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU and 16GB of RAM, it’s a formidably speedy Chromebook that can cope with anything from the usual web-based apps to full-on Linux applications and Android games. You can even install the beta Chrome OS version of Steam and play a range of PC classics, although more modern games may suffer compatibility issues and a lack of dedicated graphics hardware.

What’s more, the 516GE has a spectacular 16-inch screen, with a 1600p QHD resolution and 120Hz refresh that make games and video look fantastic. Throw in Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, and you have a machine that’s almost unbeatable for streaming games from GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass. Factor in the good keyboard and excellent trackpad, and you have a must-have Chromebook, whether you’re interested in games or not.

Check price at Currys

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8 best Chromebooks: Android smarts in a speedy laptop package

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The idea of a Chromebook might seem a little strange, but if you think about your computer usage, it can start to make a lot of sense.

These laptops , or two-in-one devices, run ChromeOS and as they’re a Google creation, consist of nothing but the Chrome browser, so you’re “limited” to just surfing the internet and running web apps. While that sounds restrictive, and it’s true that Chromebooks are reliant on an internet connection to get the best experience, in fact, that comprises the entire world.

In that browser window you can visit any website, including all social media networks, as well as watch TV streaming services, listen to music, or use Office suites such as Google Docs or Microsoft Office. You’ll also be able to edit photos, make video calls, and chat over WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. The options are endless.

Complementing this is the ability of the latest Chromebooks to run Android apps. So if there’s something you can’t do in the browser, there’s a good chance an Android app can manage it. And as many Chromebooks have touchscreens, you can interact with an Android app as if your laptop was a tablet .

Not only are they versatile machines, but they are also excellent value for money. You’ll get a recent Intel or Arm-based processor, enough RAM to make the lightweight OS feel zippy, and decent-sized screens of adequate resolution. Connectivity is also good, with the essential wifi backed up by Bluetooth, USB ports, Micro SD card readers and HDMI outputs.

• Does the Samsung Galaxy tab S7 FE tablet rival Apple’s iPad?
• 8 best lightweight laptops for work and play on-the-go
• 9 best laptops under £500 that give you more bang for your buck
• 6 best Asus laptops for 2021: Find the model that’s right for you

Best of all, if you’re interested in trying out ChromeOS and have an old laptop you could convert into a Chromebook, have a look at ChromeOS Flex. It’s in its early days right now, and doesn’t support Android apps just yet, but looks like a good option for revitalising older PC and even Mac laptops.

How we tested

We used the Chromebooks as everyday computers, testing out their abilities for office work, media consumption, and more taxing tasks such as photo and video editing. These are the ones we think are worth the money.

The best Chromebooks for 2022 are:

• Best for everyone – Google pixelbook go: £629, Google.com
• Best for business users – HP Chromebook C640: £1,039.99, Jessops.com
• Best for students – Asus Chromebook CX1 (CX1500): £299.99, Asus.com
• Best for movie watchers – Acer Chromebook 317: £299, Currys.co.uk
• Best for productivity champions – Asus Chromebook CX9: £1,299, Amazon.co.uk
• Best for homework on mountaintops – Lenovo 14e Chromebook gen 2: £339.99, Box.co.uk
• Best for tablet fans – Acer Chromebook spin 713: £699.99, Acer.com
• Best for small spaces – Lenovo 500e Chromebook gen 3: £364.99, Box.co.uk

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Google pixelbook go

Best: For everyone

Rating: 9/10

• CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core m3, i5 or i7
• RAM: 8 or 16GB
• Internal storage: 64, 128 or 256GB
• GPU: Integrated
• Screen: 13.3in 1920 x 1080 (4K optional)
• Weight: 1.09kg

Slim, light, beautifully packaged. There’s a lot to like about the pixelbook go. This is the purest form of Chromebook from the company that originated the idea, and its simple black form with a discrete “G” logo exemplifies this.

There’s nothing to break the smooth exterior apart from two USB-C ports and a headphone jack. You don’t get an SD card reader, there’s no USB-A, no Ethernet – you’ll be reliant on a desktop dock or other adapter if you want to use it with peripherals that aren’t connected by wifi or Bluetooth. Inside, you’ve only got an 8th generation Intel processor – four years behind the current leading edge.

This last point doesn’t really matter, thanks to the lightness of ChromeOS and the easy availability of RAM – even the base model gets 8GB, though you might want to give the Core M3 CPU a miss if your plans involve anything other than browsing and typing – but it makes us wonder how close the pixelbook is to a hardware refresh. Storage anxiety is common with Chromebooks, and being able to slot in a micro SD card is a simple cure. Still, up to 256GB of internal storage is available, and this minor problem is outweighed by the classiness of the entire package. This is an excellent Chromebook now, and we await any future hardware upgrades with keen interest.

HP Chromebook C640

Best: For business users

Rating: 8/10

• CPU: 10th-gen Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 (version tested)
• Internal storage: 64GB
• GPU: Intel UHD
• Screen: 14in 1920 x 1080
• Weight: 1.5kg

A choice Chromebook cut from HP’s business range, this sleek and professional-looking laptop has everything it takes for all-day use.

The version we’re using has a 10th-generation Intel i7 processor, and is more than capable of tearing through web tasks and just about anything else you ask it to do. The 8GB of RAM helps here, because if there’s one thing Chrome likes, it’s memory to fill up.

The keyboard, despite being squeezed slightly to make space for the B&O-branded speakers each side, feels good under the fingers. As does the trackpad, though this is a little small for our tastes. Key travel and backlighting are nicely judged, while the trackpad’s click is positive, and there’s a good feeling of resistance. There’s a fingerprint sensor at the base of the keyboard, which is nice to see.

The screen is colourful but a little dim, especially if there’s any kind of bright lighting around in your environment. And the speakers? They’re upward firing, so have an advantage in that, and are really nice sounding, for laptop speakers. They’re not going to please hi-fi enthusiasts, but they’ll do when you haven’t got anything else.

Overall, this is one of the best Chromebooks we’ve used. It scores highly for build quality and performance, and while the screen lets it down, especially if you want to use it to enjoy a movie, the whole experience is one of a smoothly operating machine.

Asus Chromebook CX1 (CX1500)

Best: For students

Rating: 6/10

• CPU: Intel Celeron
• Internal storage: up to 128GB
• GPU: Intel HD
• Screen: 15.6in 1366 x 768
• Weight: 1.8kg

A solid budget choice, let down by a low-resolution screen that’s a bit too dim under strong lighting. ChromeOS is light enough that the 2016-vintage Celeron chip at the heart of this laptop doesn’t struggle too much as you flip windows around, though we can imagine opening particularly large image files might slow it down considerably. However, for browsing, office work and media consumption it does well.

The problem is the screen. It’s LED backlit but dim, at 220 nits, and the model we tested has a resolution of 1280 x 768. There’s a 1920 x 1080 version too, but really this feels like a screen from five years ago. Also showing its age is the graphics processor, which might explain the low resolution of the screen.

Otherwise, we were reasonably impressed with the keyboard – though not the small rectangular enter key, which led to a few mis-presses – while the trackpad fits in with the rest of the body by feeling extremely plasticky. The entire shell of the laptop is plastic, and while this suits its status as a budget model, it’s a little disconcerting to feel the give in the lid when you pick it up. The forward-firing speakers are, naturally, barely adequate, and the selection of ports is standard, with USB type A and C, micro SD, and a headphone jack.

However, it is very cheap, and works just fine as long as you stick to web browsing and gentle office work. We wouldn’t want to drop it off a table, but it fulfils the cheap, low-powered, and cloud-centred Chromebook ideal.

While it’s currently out of stock, you can sign up to be notified when it makes a return.

Acer Chromebook 317

Best: For movie watchers

• CPU: Intel Pentium
• Internal storage: Up to 128GB
• Screen: 17.3in 1920 x 1080
• Weight: 2.4kg

The world’s first 17.3in Chromebook, apparently, and wow do those extra inches make a difference. We’re sure it won’t be the last. The 17in laptop has been out of favour for a while, as manufacturers have striven to cram components into smaller and smaller bodies, so to have this much space at your disposal feels like luxury.

Admittedly, it’s heavier than others, and you may have to put more thought into which bag you sling it into, but the experience of using the wide 1080p IPS screen and spacious keyboard with space for upward-firing speakers at its sides is not to be underestimated. There’s the usual scattering of USB ports (A and C) plus Micro SD and a headphone socket, and the screen pushes its brightness to 270 nits, which is good enough for streaming but, like so many of the Chromebooks we’ve looked at, isn’t going to stand out on a sunny day.

The CPU may only be a Pentium but it’s a four-core model from 2021, putting it comfortably ahead of any Celeron-equipped Chromebooks on this list. Having the USH graphics chip also helps, and while a bit more RAM would be nice – springing the extra cash for an 8GB model is frequently worth it – we found the 317 to be nicely responsive when browsing, which is what you mostly do with a Chromebook. Plus the extra screen real estate makes all the difference when viewing two windows side by side.

Asus Chromebook CX9

Best: For productivity champions

• CPU: Intel Core i7
• Internal storage: 512GB
• GPU: Intel Iris Xe
• Weight: 1.15kg

Wow, that’s an expensive Chromebook. You could get a MacBook pro for that (just), or a really nice Windows laptop. Whether it’s worth it or not depends on your feelings about the different operating systems – do you want to spend this much for ChromeOS, or would Windows 11 or macOS better suit your needs?

There’s no disputing the strength of its specs, however. Plenty of storage, loads of RAM, an 11th-gen i7 processor with Xe graphics pushing a 1080p screen. It even comes packaged nicely, is extremely light, and has a premium look and feel. There’s a full-size HDMI port too, so you can attach an extra monitor without needing an adapter.

Asus has almost missed the point of Chromebooks here. They’re meant to be browser- and cloud-based, so having that much internal storage seems like overkill. The same goes for the i7 CPU, which combined with the large amount of RAM will mean you can have a lot of browser tabs and apps open at the same time without worrying about slowdown. We appreciate the creation of a “premium” Chromebook, with its bezel-less screen, Harman Kardon speakers, excellent keyboard and wide, glassy trackpad. We just can’t stop thinking about that MacBook pro.

Lenovo 14e chromebook gen 2

Best: For homework on mountaintops

• CPU: AMD 3015Ce
• RAM: Up to 8GB
• Internal storage: Up to 64GB
• GPU: AMD Radeon integrated
• Screen: 14in 1920 x 1080 (touchscreen optional)
• Weight: 1.45kg

Featuring a rare appearance for an AMD processor in the Chromebook space, the Lenovo 14e is an education-targeted Chromebook with a nice 14in screen and an attractive price, but with no options to expand its internal storage beyond 64GB, is rather reliant on the cloud.

But this is the way of Chromebooks. If you’re using it to complete assignments given out via Google’s online system, and do the necessary research online, then this is really all you need. It’s only when you begin to push up against the edges of its intended use that you might find storage a problem. And you can always slip in a micro SD or attach a flash drive via the useful pair of USB-A ports. Elsewhere, you get a full-size HDMI port, a headphone jack, and a USB-C for charging.

The 14e’s major claim to fame is that it’s tough. It hits the US military’s MIL-STD-810 standard, which means it’s designed to pass lab tests suggesting it can function at high altitude, high and low temperatures, in the sun and rain, when contaminated by fluids, fungus, salt, sand and dust, and stand up to a certain amount of acidity, ballistic shock, and vibration. Of course this doesn’t actually mean they’ve trekked it to the top of a mountain and kicked it off, but if anything’s going to stand up to the rigours of being thrown in a school bag, this is it.

Acer Chromebook spin 713

Best: For tablet fans

• CPU: Intel Core i3
• Internal storage: 256GB
• Screen: 13.5in 2256 x 1504 touchscreen

This is how to do a premium Chromebook. The spin 713 keeps the 11th-gen Intel processor, but drops it to a dual-core i3 with hyperthreading – all you need for a Chromebook. It halves the RAM and storage compared to the Asus CX9, makes the price more reasonable, and both raises the screen’s resolution (changing the aspect ratio to a taller 3:2 as it does so) and makes it a touchscreen.

The result is a revelation. While a folded laptop is never going to be as convenient as a true tablet, the ability to work in different ways, or to sit it standing upright on a table while you watch a movie, the speakers (barely adequate, as usual) firing out of the top of the unit while it’s this way up, makes a huge difference. You can increase the spec if you want, as there’s an i7 option.

There’s a full-size HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4 instead of USB 3.2 powering the Type-C ports for a burst of extra speed. There’s also a lonely Type-A port and a Micro SD slot if you need to expand the storage or plug in your camera memory card.

And while it’s heavier than you’d expect, and the keyboard is a bit soft, there’s no denying that this balance of specs, price, and usability is where Chromebooks should be aiming themselves. It works very nicely, looks good, isn’t going to take up much space, and could well be the only computer you need.

Lenovo 500e chromebook gen 3

Best: For small spaces

Rating: 7/10

• CPU: Intel Celeron N5100 or Pentium Silver N6000
• Screen: 11in 1366 x 768 touchscreen Weight: 1.3kg

Small and light are well within the Chromebook’s wheelhouse, and this tiny model from Lenovo really harks back to the netbooks of old. The processor choices are limited, the 64GB of internal storage is tight, but it has a touchscreen, a fine array of external ports, and its own stylus that can be kept inside the casing.

It’s easy to get carried away with laptop processors, assuming that anything not running at least a Core i3 must be hopelessly slow. That’s not true with Chromebooks, where the lightness of the OS means you can get surprising performance out of the smallest of chips. We’d recommend speccing 8GB of RAM, though.

The 500e is a tiny package, but it’s ringed with ports. There’s one USB-C, two USB-A, an HDMI, headphone socket and a micro SD card slot for expanding the storage. The hinge folds through 360 degrees, allowing it to fold back on itself to mimic a tablet or stand up for media playback. The screen, which manages just over 720p resolution, isn’t the greatest for this sort of thing, though at least it uses IPS technology for decent colours and viewing angle. As an extremely portable writing and browsing machine, however, the diminutive 500e acquits itself very nicely.

Chromebook FAQs

No windows how do they work.

Chromebooks do have an operating system, it’s just based around Google’s Chrome web browser. This makes it lighter than something like Windows, so it needs lower-powered, cheaper hardware and uses less battery power.

What happens if you go offline?

Not much. You can’t surf the web or back up to the cloud, but with the web apps you need installed on the internal storage, you can carry on as before in the face of spotty wifi. Once you reconnect, your work is synced back to Google Drive so you don’t lose it.

What about security?

ChromeOS is updated approximately every four weeks to fix security problems, and as it can’t run desktop Windows apps or Office macros, you’re less likely to be infected by something nasty that arrives as an email attachment. It’s very important to keep your Google Account password strong and secure, however, as this becomes the key to using both your laptop and the Google Drive backup.

Can I plug in USB drives or my camera?

Most of the time, yes. The internal storage of a Chromebook is often quite small – the idea is to offload your files to Google Drive – so using one might not be ideal if you’re frequently copying large numbers of images off a camera memory card, but they have USB ports and frequently Micro SD card slots, so you can expand your local storage to cope.

What about creative tasks?

Don’t expect to be editing 4K movies, 3D rendering, or running a raw image workflow for a photography studio from a Chromebook, but there are plenty of apps for drawing, photo editing, and other less demanding tasks. Gaming isn’t necessarily off limits either, as there are plenty of Android games a Chromebook can run, and the new game streaming services coming online will suit one perfectly.

Would my office IT department like this?

Some more business-focused Chromebooks come with Chrome Enterprise, which is the same as normal Chrome but with the extra group policies and large-scale deployment capabilities that IT departments like.

The verdict: Chromebooks

Chromebooks took over where netbooks – a short-lived class of really small, low-powered laptops meant for web-browsing and little more – left off. While they can be used without an internet connection, they thrive with one, and the ability to access every file and application you need is a powerful one.

Google just has the edge over Acer in this roundup. The pixelbook go is everything a Chromebook should be, chunky and fun to use, easy to throw in a bag and take with you, and capable enough to do a full day’s work. Its lack of ports may mark it down in some eyes, but it’s nothing an adapter won’t fix.

Acer is still firing very strongly though, with two models that have all the strengths Chromebooks can exhibit. The 317 ’s screen makes it a titan for media consumption and working with multiple documents, while the 713 ’s ability to twist its screen back and turn into a pseudo-tablet will mean a lot in the right hands.

The others are, of course, fine. But anyone looking to buy a Chromebook as their only computer besides perhaps a smartphone should put the Google pixelbook go at the top of their list. It hits a spot of price and features that’s particularly sweet.

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Best Chromebook 2024: The top ChromeOS laptops we have tested

Let’s be honest, most laptops are incredibly expensive, making a new purchase a costly expense. But most people don’t need to spend over the odds on a portable PC, especially if you’re open to the very best Chromebook options.

That said, there are a lot of Chromebooks out there that have a tortoise-pace performance, and are made of cheap plastic. Finding a Chromebook that truly represents good value can be a difficult task then, but we’ve stepped in to offer some help.

Our team of experts review all of the latest Chromebooks to launch each year, as we use industry-standard practises to test the likes of the design, performance, battery life, software and more. Those that perform well are considered for this Best Chromebook list, so you can be sure you’re getting the finest quality.

It’s important to acknowledge the limitations of a Chromebook, as since they’re based on ChromeOS, they have limited software support compared to Windows and macOS. If you need niche software beyond the classics, then check out our best laptop , best ultrabook and best MacBook guides.

Also factoring in the basic performance, you should only really consider a Chromebook if you’re happy to stick to basic tasks such as web browsing, streaming video, sending emails and typing up essays. But if that sounds perfect to you, then keep on reading, as we’ve listed all of the highest rated Chromebooks we’ve had the pleasure to review.

Best Chromebooks at a glance

• Best overall Chromebook: Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) – check price
• Best budget Chromebook: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – check price
• Best high-end Chromebook: HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023) – check price
• Best large-screen Chromebook: Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook – check price
• Best 2-in-1 Chromebook: HP Chromebook x2 11 – check price
• Best gaming Chromebook: Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip – check price
• Best Google Chromebook: Google Pixelbook Go – check price
• Best eco-friendly Chromebook: Acer Chromebook Vero 514 – check price

How we test

Every laptop we review goes through a series of uniform checks designed to gauge key things including build quality, performance, screen quality and battery life.  These include formal synthetic benchmarks and scripted tests, plus a series of real world checks, such as how well it runs the most frequently used apps.  We also make sure to use every laptop we review as our primary device for at least a week to ensure our review is as accurate as possible.

• Fantastic keyboard
• Attractive, understated look
• Impressive battery life
• Android apps on Chrome can be useful (even if buggy)
• Can get far too expensive if you upgrade the specs
• No fingerprint scanner/facial unlock
• Have to get the top model if you want a 4K screen

• Gorgeous design
• Snappy performance
• Good battery life
• Made up of recycled materials
• Quite expensive for a Chromebook
• Stingy port selection

• Excellent performance
• Top quality build and great keyboard
• Super bright display with capable touchscreen
• Surprisingly good (and loud) speakers
• Middling battery life
• No headphone jack
• Twice the price of other good Chromebooks

• Sleek design
• Powerful for a Chromebook
• Responsive display
• Skittish trackpad

• Good looks and build
• Tactile keyboard
• Excellent display
• Solid productivity performance
• Meagre port selection
• Lower battery life than expected

• Top-quality display
• Superb webcam
• Speedy and slick
• Great selection of ports
• Can’t play AAA games natively
• Mediocre battery life
• Very pricey

• Solid performance
• Fantastic battery life

• Great keyboard and port selection
• Nippy performance
• Solid endurance
• Cheap-feeling construction
• Basic speakers

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023)

Best overall chromebook.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) is everything a Chromebook should be – simple, portable and fast. It’s not the cheapest ChromeOS device around but, if you splash the cash, you won’t be disappointed.

This isn’t the most refined and eye-catching laptop but its focus is getting the job done. For productivity, the Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) destroys whatever you’ll throw at it, with the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U and 8GB RAM combination proving more than you need, frankly. You can go wild with many Chrome tabs with this machine and do plenty of multi-tasking too.

You may only get a Full HD panel but it offers generous colour and the 14-inch display is surrounded by supremely thin bezels. Getting your words onto this screen is joyous too, with a keyboard that offers a surprising amount of tactility and good travel.

The complete package is a great showcase for the simplicity that a Chromebook can offer, from the thin-and-light design to no-nonsense performance.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey Full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) review

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

Best budget chromebook.

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 launched as part of the first wave of Google’s new initiative, Chromebook Plus . The scheme offers a new standard for Chromebooks, bringing solid productivity chops to budget ChromeOS devices and beyond as well as offering some dedicated features. The Chromebook Plus CX34 demonstrates that it’s a rather good idea.

Whether it’s a ChromeOS machine or a Windows device, it can be hard to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to budget laptops. Chromebook Plus fixes this by requiring its devices to offer minimum specifications, including a Full HD IPS display, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage, 1080p webcam and a modern processor. Smartly, Asus doesn’t try to be too clever by going much beyond these minimum requirements, simply opting to boost the storage to 256GB SSD, allowing it to keep the price low at just over £400/$400.

Some may fret that just a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 chip may not be enough for them but, given the lightweight nature of ChromeOS, a solid 8GB RAM and notions of simply providing enough juice for productivity users, content-watchers and web-browsers, it positively nails it. Our review declared this Chromebook Plus CX34 offered strong all-round performance and had breathing space for a good amount of multi-tasking. It’s ideal for students and remote works on a budget too, with that solid 1080p webcam on board.

Despite the low price, the Chromebook Plus moniker brings some added software luxury to the CX34. The webcam gets boosted by AI video calling features, such as helping with dodgy lighting and pesky background noise. The features aren’t just limited to Google Meet either, they’ll work across Microsoft Teams, Zoom and more. The CX34 is even capable of running Adobe Photoshop for the web, giving the traditionally productivity-focused ChromeOS a creative boost. Speaking of photos, the Magic Eraser has made its way over from Google Pixel phones to Chromebook Plus and it’s ideal for fixing any errant figures on your treasured photos.

Reviewer:   Reece Bithrey Full review:   Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review

HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023)

Best high-end chromebook.

Would you turn your nose up at the idea of a near-$1000 Chromebook? Well, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023) may not be for you but, if you have considered a high-end ChromeOS device then this excellent machine could sway you.

We must note that this laptop isn’t available in the UK just yet, but it is widely available in the US. If you are able to get your hands on it however then you’ll find one of the most interesting laptops of recent years. It’s a rare high-end Chromebook that feels like it earns its price, in the same way the Google Pixelbook Go did several years ago.

Despite sporting a 12th Gen Intel chip, rather than the latest 13th Gen, performance is impressive as it fulfils all the key productivity requirements a ChromeOS device could ask for. The productivity sell is rounded out with a joyous keyboard that has some pleasing RGB lighting playfully bundled in.

The 14-inch panel gets wonderfully bright and the QHD+ resolution offers more than enough detail. With a 16:10 ratio, it’s another win for productivity too with plenty of space for multiple windows and apps. The superb screen is matched by surprisingly good speakers for such a slim machine, with some delightful detail to boot.

You’ll be perfectly fine slinging this laptop around in your work bag too as it offers robust build quality and even looks the part, with a stylish matte off-white colour offered.

Reviewer: Chris Smith Full review: HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023) review

Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook

Best large-screen chromebook.

Looking for a reasonably priced productivity machine with a big screen to help you truly get the job done? The  Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook  is well worth your consideration.

Despite its low price, the IdeaPad 5i Chromebook doesn’t shirk a bit of style. The two-tone grey design puts this above some rival Chromebooks that opt for an extremely basic look, giving this machine a business vibe. Owing to its larger screen, this ChromeOS device does have to don a bit of extra weight at 1.85kg but rather thin bezels do help to ease the blow to design elsewhere.

The same bang-for-your-buck nature of this machine extends to the keyboard and trackpad too. The keys are extremely comfortable all across this full-size offering and there’s a large trackpad with a pleasing click. The display itself comes with a 16:10 aspect ratio for further enhancing the multitasking productivity chops that the large FHD+ 16-inch panel already offers. It’s not stunningly accurate or colourful, but that’s not the end of the world for a cheap device that’s focused on getting work done.

The specs sheet may not blow you away, with a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 chip onboard but, due to 8GB RAM and the lightweight nature of ChromeOS, it works out to be more than enough for speedy browsing, word processing and multitasking.

Reviewer:  Reece Bithrey Full review:  Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Chromebook review

HP Chromebook x2 11

Best 2-in-1 chromebook.

Even though it may feel like it, not every laptop out there costs the earth. If you’re looking for a Chromebook that won’t break your bank account then you will want to take a look at the 4.5-star HP Chromebook x2 11 , which has a very reasonable $599/£499.99 starting price. 

The Chromebook x2 11 is a two-in-one device, so it can be used as both a tablet and a laptop. Unlike most traditional two-in-one devices, the Chromebook x2 11 is a tablet that comes with two detachable accessories – a keyboard and a back cover – allowing it to be used as a proper tablet. The keyboard offers solid travel and a decent level of tactility while the trackpad has more than enough real estate for the price.  

The 11-inch display comes with a Quad HD (1440p) resolution and a quoted brightness of 400 nits; our reviewer found that the display offered excellent detail with generally vibrant images and solid colours. The integrated Bang & Olufsen speakers pumped out plenty of volume, although we did note that they can sound a little thin on occasion. 

HP opted to kit out the Chromebook x2 11 with a Snapdragon 7c chipset. It provided enough power for day-to-day tasks and didn’t falter with multiple Chrome tabs open. It also managed to stay cool and quiet during our review period, making it a reliable option for anyone who conducts their work in either word processors or web browser-based applications. If you’re in need of a Chromebook that is capable of more intensive workloads, then you will want to take a gander at the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) or Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook .

Overall, anyone who’s on the lookout for an affordable ChromeOS device should look no further than the HP Chromebook x2 11. Its versatile design combined with its dependable performance make it an easy choice for students and hybrid workers alike, and it’s one of the few budget Chromebooks out there that isn’t let down by its 2-in-1 design. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey Full Review: HP Chromebook x2 11

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip

Best gaming chromebook.

Gaming Chromebooks aimed to sell the laptop world on Google’s Stadia game streaming platform. But, the closure of Stadia stopped that dead in its tracks. Nevertheless, the devices were ready to go, instead relying on Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming . The pick of the bunch is the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip .

The notion of a gaming Chromebook, when ChromeOS devices are far from being able to play AAA games natively, is an odd one. But, putting aside native gaming, aiming for gaming-friendly specs means this Chromebook is simply successful at being a good high-end Chromebook . This aim gives the device its best features, that being a bright FHD+ 144Hz display, excellent keyboard, stand-out design and powerful processor. All these things are far from a given on the majority of Chromebooks.

But, its bread and butter remains game streaming, and it excels in that department. The 144Hz display means you can experience high-end gaming visuals without having expensive hardware to back it up, afforded to you by those Nvidia and Xbox streaming services. Having Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 helps to make sure your experience runs as smoothly as possible, across online connectivity and connecting your peripherals. However, you’ll still have to have decent internet speeds and Wi-Fi connectivity in your home or out and about for it to work seamlessly.

Reviewer: Callum Bains Full review: Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review

Google Pixelbook Go

Best google chromebook.

The Google Pixelbook Go is a brilliantly designed laptop with a minimalistic, matte black frame. Tipping the scales at just over a kilogram in weight also means we found it to be a great option for those wanting something wonderfully portable.

The mid-tier model, complete with an eighth-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB, offers speedy performance for ChromeOS, but it’s really the software that restricts the Pixelbook Go. Google’s own premium Chromebook occupies an odd position where it’s a premium laptop on the outside with a less powerful OS on the inside, and splashing out on a high-class laptop for simple tasks seems like a backwards purchase.

A 4K model is available if you’re willing to spend four figures on a Chromebook, but our sample’s 1080p panel is perfectly functional with crisp colours and touch input. It’s serviceable for day-to-day usage, but if having a top display on a Chromebook is a top priority, then the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook with its 4K OLED panel may be a better bet.

We found the Pixelbook Go’s battery life to be stellar too, with it offering a good amount of endurance. During testing, we found it lasted for nearly 12 hours before conking out in our battery loop test, and lasted for a working day comfortably with around 20% juice to spare.

The Google Pixelbook Go hits the sweet spot between performance and price, making it a great alternative to more expensive laptops for those who only need a machine for web browsing, video streaming and word processing.

Reviewer :  Max Parker Full review:   Google Pixelbook Go review

Acer Chromebook Vero 514

Best eco-friendly chromebook.

The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is a solid Chromebook with a gorgeous, durable design and an environmentally-friendly chassis. 

The Vero 514 has a speckled grey chassis composed of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics that makes it stand out from the crowd. The trackpad includes recycled ocean-bound plastic, while PCR plastic can be found in 30% of the chassis/screen bezel and 50% of the keycaps and speakers. Of course, the packaging is eco-friendly too, consisting of recycled paper, cardboard and other natural fibres. 

The 14-inch IPS touchscreen delivers solid detail and brightness with decent colours that pop when watching content. 

The keyboard is compact with a 65% layout and offers good tactility and travel. The legends are also clearly visible in all lights, while the backlighting makes it possible to work after dark. The trackpad meanwhile is a good size, leaving plenty of space for functions, though the Gorilla Glass can feel a bit too smooth at times. 

Performance-wise, the Vero 514 offers excellent power for a Chromebook with a good quantity of RAM and storage. This allows the laptop to feel especially nippy for the light computing tasks that ChromeOS is designed to handle. 

The Chromebook’s Geekbench 5 scores even outperformed one of our favourite similarly-priced Windows laptops, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 . 

Finally, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 has an all-day battery life that managed to last 11 hours and 28 minutes in our testing. This was with the keyboard backlighting switched off and the brightness halved. 

If you’re after a powerful Chromebook with an eco-friendly build, the Vero 514 offers snappy performance for day-to-day tasks. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey Full Review: Acer Chromebook Vero 514

We also considered…

Chromebook Plus brings budget laptop bliss

A Chromebook with a budget-friendly price

One of the best Chromebooks you can buy

An incredibly affordable Chromebook that’s ideal for school students

We’ve reviewed

A Chromebook uses Google’s ChromeOS software, while a more conventional laptop uses Windows. ChromeOS doesn’t offer as much freedom as Windows, relying instead on Google’s app store for software, but is arguably more user-friendly. Chromebooks are often cheaper than Windows laptops, but offer a basic performance for productivity. This isn’t a good option for gamers and creators, but great for students and casual use.

Yes, you can find Microsoft Word in the app store, while you also have the option of Google Docs.

Absolutely, although you’ll need an internet connection to download and use apps such as Netflix and Spotify.

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Best Chromebooks for 2023 to suit every budget

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The Chromebook, an idea cooked up by Google, used to be a strange type of computer. Only capable of running a web browser, it felt like something far too limited to be of much use. How wrong that feeling was.

Today, the Chromebook has blossomed into the perfect cheap, general use laptop for anyone who wants to visit websites, chat, make video calls, stream movies, play a few games and look at their photo collections. The reasons for this are twofold.

One is the rise of the web app, which puts a fully functional application like Zoom or Google Docs inside a web page, and the other is the newfound ability of Chromebooks to run Android apps. They’re still not going to work for things like video editing or playing the latest PC games , but anyone who wants a reasonably priced, versatile laptop will find a lot to like in a Chromebook.

As they’re still designed for use with web apps and Cloud storage, particularly Google Drive, Chromebooks tend not to have a great deal of on-board storage, and their processor and RAM specs tend to be low, both as ChromeOS is a lightweight operating system based on the Chrome web browser, and to keep the price down.

To this end, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth come as standard, as do USB ports (both Type-A and Type-C, the latter often used for charging and video output, while Micro SD card readers are common. Screens, too, sit towards the lower-resolution end of the spectrum, but you can still get a great computing experience out of one, and your wallet will thank you.

Shop the best Chromebooks below

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Asus Chromebook Flip CX5

Best for : just about everyone

The Chromebook Flip is a firm candidate for the top spot on this list, as it does everything you’d want from a Chromebook, and looks good while doing it. The price may be a bit high - and gets higher if you decide to upgrade the processor to an i5 or i7, or the internal storage to 256 or 512GB - but the fact you get a 1080p 15.6in touchscreen, 8GB of RAM and a nice keyboard make it extremely attractive. The base Intel i3/128GB configuration should be perfectly fine for most users.

You can use the Flip in a standard laptop mode for productivity tasks, but when you feel it’s time to relax you can fold the hinge all the way around so it stands up on its tiptoes, or even fully flat like a tablet . These modes make it ideal for watching movies or playing Android games, while for more creative pursuits, such as viewing the photos from your digital camera , there are three USB ports for peripherals such as flash drives or your camera, and an HDMI port you can use to hook the Chromebook up to an external monitor, plus a Micro SD card slot to enhance the storage capacity.

Acer 314 14" Chromebook

Best for : extreme budget computing

Acer’s line of Chromebooks has always been a popular one, with its use of lower-powered processors such as Intel’s Celeron range leading to lower prices but, thanks to Chrome OS’s low hunger for resources, little drop in capability. This one is a bit different, as there’s a MediaTek MT8183C processor - an Arm-based chip like the ones used in Android tablets - at the heart of it, backed up by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The 14in screen has a 1080p resolution, which means you’ll get a sharp picture when streaming, but it isn’t touch sensitive.

These low specs don’t really matter, because Chromebooks are meant to be cheap and low-spec, and Chrome OS thrives with modest resources at its disposal. The MediaTek MT8183 first appeared in early 2021, has eight cores and a GPU, and is a budget processor, but draws very little power, meaning it won’t hit your battery life nearly as hard as something more hungry for electricity like an Intel processor. There’s also a version of this Chromebook with an Intel Celeron processor, but it’s more expensive.

Elsewhere, you get four USB ports, including one that can hook up to an external monitor , and a Micro SD card slot, making this an excellent budget choice.

HP 11a-na0000sa 11.6" Chromebook

Best for: carrying in your pocket

An 11-inch laptop is about as small as it’s possible to go without creating something totally unusable or having to type with your thumbs. It may be smaller than an iPad Pro, but packs a full keyboard and trackpad. You could fit it in a large coat pocket, as long as you’re sure it won’t fall out.

As an Arm-powered device you can expect the battery life to be good - HP quotes up to 15 hours’ use from a charge - and the eight-core MediaTek MTK 8183 chip provides a good balance of price and performance. There’s also 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and two USB ports plus a Micro SD card slot. The screen isn’t anything special, with a resolution of 1366 x 768, and isn’t touch sensitive.

Being a small laptop has its benefits, but means the keyboard and trackpad can be cramped and difficult to use if you’re accustomed to something larger.

HP X2 11-da0504na 11" 2 in 1 Chromebook

Best for: cloud gaming and streaming

Small but mighty, the HP X2 stands out because of its screen. It’s a touchscreen that can be detached from the keyboard to use as a tablet, and has a resolution of 2160 x 1440. That’s sometimes known as Quad HD, and sits between the 1080p and 4K standards. It’s popular with PC gamers , as it gives a sharp picture without putting the strain on the GPU that a 4K image would.

There’s not a desktop-class GPU pushing this screen, however, so it’s best used for streaming. Netflix and its ilk are going to look excellent with that many pixels squeezed into a 11-inch diagonal, but it’s cloud gaming where this device will really shine. Xbox, PlayStation and Nvidia all have subscription services that allow you to stream games through apps or web pages, the heavy processing happening in a data centre somewhere and sent to you via the internet.

The SnapDragon processor and 8GB of RAM do a good job behind the scenes, and there’s 128GB of storage too, but it’s still an 11-inch laptop, however, which means there are compromises with the size of the keyboard and trackpad. Connect a Bluetooth game controller, however, and you’ve got a neat, portable device that means you can play games anywhere there’s Wi-Fi.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 13.3" 2 in 1 Chromebook

Best for: turning into a tablet

There’s a thin line between Chromebooks and tablets, and it usually comes down to the keyboard. ChromeOS is perfectly happy being interacted with using a touchscreen rather than a trackpad, and its ability to run Android apps means it’s a versatile place to do your computing tasks.

And being able to snap the screen off your laptop and use it as a tablet only adds to that versatility. You can fullscreen an Android app and use it like that, snap two apps side by side, or watch fullscreen video with it propped up on its stand - it helps that the Duet 5 uses an OLED 1080p touchscreen, for punchy colours and good contrast. Put the keyboard back on, and you’ve got a laptop.

Inside, there’s a SnapDragon processor designed for laptops, which leads to excellent battery life of up to 15 hours as well as decent performance, plus 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage (though there’s no Micro SD card slot to expand this). It weighs just over a kilogram with its keyboard, and while that keyboard may be a little flimsy, this useful balance of performance and versatility makes it easily one of the best Chromebooks out there.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 13.3" 2 in 1 Chromebook

Best for: mobile media

The Flex 51 calls itself a 2-in-1 but the screen doesn’t detach from the keyboard, instead folding back like the Chromebook Flip. This makes for a thicker, slightly awkward tablet mode, but does enable ‘tent mode’ for watching movies with the Chromebook standing upright.

The model we’ve chosen here has an 11th-gen Intel Core i3 processor inside, a more powerful chip than is usual for this type of device, something that’s reflected in the price. There is a cheaper model with an Intel Pentium processor, but expect a lower level of performance from this to match the price. Elsewhere, the specs are familiar, with 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 1080p touchscreen. There are USB ports and a Micro SD card slot for additional expansion.

A 13in screen is ideal for a portable device, as laptops this size slip into bags more easily than larger ones. It’s light, too, tipping the scales at just 1.35kg.

Acer Spin 513 LTE 13.3" 2 in 1 Chromebook

Best for: life on the road

Another folding 2-in-1 design, but this time with a Qualcomm SC7180 processor humming away inside. This is an Arm-based chip like the ones used in phones and tablets, but designed for PCs, which means you get superior battery life (Acer claims you’ll get 14 hours of use from a single charge) but still decent performance from its eight processor cores.

The rest of the specs are fairly standard for a Chromebook, with 8GBof RAM (which makes for a smoother, more responsive experience than a machine equipped only with 4), 128GB of storage, and a 1080p touchscreen. It’s an IPS LCD panel, which lifts it slightly over the more budget-friendly TN technology, but it won’t hit the heights reached by OLEDs.

An interesting bonus feature is the 4G mobile data integration, which means you can connect the Chromebook to the internet anywhere you can get a mobile signal, rather than being tied to Wi-Fi hotspots. Chromebooks are online machines by nature, though having the internal storage to cache documents and files for offline use means you can still use one if the Wi-Fi goes out. You’ll need a data plan to use the 4G connection, but the extra subscription can be worth it if you travel a lot.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15.6" Chromebook

Best for: looking serious

Chromebooks are laptops, of course, but some of them do neat tricks like having screens that detach, or are touch-sensitive , or can fold back on themselves. Not so here. The IdeaPad, despite its name, is not a pad of any sort, but a sensible grey laptop you can pull out in a business meeting to sneakily watch YouTube. There’s a headphone socket so you don’t make too much noise.

And for the price, it’s got some rather nice specs. There’s a 1080p screen, an Intel Pentium N6000 processor from 2021 sporting four cores and a GPU, and 4GB of RAM coupled with 128GB of storage. It’s a good looking laptop too, with a plastic shell that could be mistaken for metal in a favourable light, a large trackpad, and a privacy shutter over the webcam lens, which we like to see. It’s not the thinnest or lightest laptop out there, but at 2.3cm deep and weighing less than two kilograms, it’s no bloater either.

Chromebooks are ideal for students or home computer users, especially now we fill our homes with fast Wi-Fi. Their lack of onboard storage isn’t a problem, and the ability to run Android apps (and even Linux applications if you’re a bit more confident) mean they’re extremely good general purpose laptops, perfect for younger members of the family or users less steeped in the complexity of modern PCs.

And while some Chromebooks can be very cheap, which can be a very attractive quality, we think the best Chromebooks are those that add versatility. Not just a laptop, some like the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 can be folded back to provide a tablet-like user experience, or even detached from their keyboards like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet . These, along with Chromebooks’ ability to run Android apps, mean you can switch between tablet and laptop modes as your workflow dictates, making them great choices for general-purpose machines.

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The Best Chromebooks for Every Budget

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Best Overall Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 Read more

Best For School Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 Read more

Best Luxury Chromebook HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook Read more

Best For Power Acer Chromebook Spin 714 Read more

If you spend all day in a web browser, use Google apps, and don't need all the rest of the stuff that comes with Apple’s macOS or Microsoft’s Windows, Google’s ChromeOS operating system offers an all-you-need, nothing-you-don't computing experience. Throw in the ability to run both Android and Linux apps and you just might be able to replace your old laptop with a Chromebook.

Chromebooks have a reputation as cheap, low-end devices. While they can be that—offering exceptional bargains in many cases—that's not the end of the story. Just because you strip away the software fluff doesn't mean you have to strip away the hardware power. There are high-end Chromebooks that are mighty capable machines. In many ways, they offer the best of all worlds: good hardware, lightweight software, and everything you need for web-based work. WIRED's Gear team has been testing Chromebooks for almost a decade now. These are our current top picks.

Be sure to also read through our Best Cheap Laptops , Best Laptops , and Best MacBooks guides for more options.

Updated February 2023: We've added new Chromebooks from Asus, HP, and Lenovo.

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Best Overall

Asus has been churning out some stellar ChromeOS devices for several years now, often coming at the top of our recommendations. The trend continues with this excellent device. It has a gloriously reasonable price alongside flagship laptop looks and capabilities.

The Chromebook Flip CX5 laptop’s combination of value-for-money, pleasing design, strong performance, and daylong battery life are what make it stand out from the rest. From the ability to load up more than 30 tabs with no trouble to a keyboard that’s a breeze to use, productivity is this device’s specialty. The display isn’t top notch but, at 1080p, it's solid. There’s a good selection of ports as well, with what now seems a few luxuries present and correct here—that being a headphone jack, microSD card readers, and an HDMI. Two USB-Cs and a USB-A complete the team.

Specs to look for: Intel Core i5, 16-GB RAM, 128-GB SSD

Best For School

The Chromebook Duet range from Lenovo is great for those who want a small, no-frills device that doesn’t cost the earth—whether it’s as a first machine for a youngster or older generations looking for simplicity. It’s essentially a step up, in terms of productivity, from a straightforward cut-price tablet. The case turns this into a pint-sized laptop-like device, and offers added durability on top too. The keyboard offers comfortable typing—unless you have large hands, then you’ll find it a tad cumbersome.

You’ll find a combination of a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chip and 4-GB RAM onboard. This isn’t a particularly potent team-up, but it does a perfectly passable job for those looking to stick to one or two tasks at a time and up to seven or eight tabs. When used in this way, you’ll manage a full school day’s length of work, with the battery life typically hitting around seven hours.

A surprising high point, for such a low-cost device, is the bright and detailed 2K display—great for watching video. The low point is the speakers: Bring your headphones, as they are tinny and, ultimately, unpleasant.

Specs to look for: Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, 4-GB RAM, 128-GB eMMC

Best Luxury Chromebook

This is the only laptop on this list that might be  better than our top all-around pick, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5; however, a high price makes it a luxe option. You’ll find one of the best thin-and-light keyboards around—I happily typed on this for hours on end. The build is light while its metal composition makes for a robust and sleek-looking design. The Intel Core i5 and 8-GB RAM combo offer plenty of performance for Chrome users, letting you speedily breeze through upward of 20 tabs.

The Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is framed as a business laptop but ChromeOS holds it back a bit. The 2K display on our review model is a tad underwhelming, especially at this price, though. Further, battery life could also be better—just reaching a full day’s work when used intensely. However, hardware additions like a physical webcam shutter, HP Sure View privacy display, and SIM slot are neat inclusions for on-the-go workers.

Specs to look for: Intel Core i5, 8-GB RAM, 256-GB SSD

Best For Power

Acer’s latest and greatest Chromebook may not reach the luxe heights of some of our favorites on this list but, when it comes to getting the practicalities of productivity right, there are few better.

With a 12th Gen Intel chip onboard, this Chromebook eats up productivity tasking—opt for 8-GB RAM or more and you’ll be bouncing between 20+ tabs with ease. It’s a wonderfully compact machine too, yet the 14-inch 16:10 display is a great size. Despite this, ports are packed in, with two Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI, a USB-A, and a headphone jack. And, there’s even a super-slim stylus stowed away in the front of the laptop.

All sounds good thus far, right? But, what holds this device back is quality. The build feels cheap and the display is just  okay . The keys are small, offer little feedback, and middling travel. Battery life is good enough—on average, you should be able to stretch to a full day’s work without needing a charge. The Spin 714 will get the job done, and the full package is strong value for money, but it isn’t a joy to use. It’s functional.

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Best Budget 2-in-1 Chromebook

If you want a two-in-one-style Chromebook but don't want to spring for our top picks, this HP option offers most of the same features for much less. The screen isn't as nice, and battery life is about eight hours—enough for a day's work—but you still get a great Chromebook experience. Laptop, stand, and tablet modes all work together to give you more versatility than a traditional clamshell design. But pay careful attention to which X360 version you buy. We like this 12-inch model with the 3:2 screen ratio for some extra vertical real estate when working on documents and browsing the web.

Specs to look for: Intel Celeron, 4-GB RAM, 32-GB storage

Best Google-Made Chromebook

It’s natural to want hardware made by the company that created and manages Chrome OS. If so, get the Pixelbook Go. It’s lightweight at 2 pounds, has a wonderful matte texture, and is incredibly thin. The Go is a standard clamshell laptop, but you get a 13-inch touchscreen for some added versatility. There are two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, a roomy trackpad, and a wonderfully tactile keyboard. Plus, the battery easily lasts a full workday.

If you’re not planning to use this laptop a ton, the model powered by the Intel Core m3 chip might be sufficient. But, those with anything more intense than a light workload, should snag the Core i5 with 8 gigabytes of RAM. It’s on the pricier end, but this is a Chromebook that oozes style with plenty of power to keep more than 30 Chrome tabs running smoothly.

Specs to look for: Intel Core i3, 4-GB RAM, 64-GB eMMC

Best Budget Powerhouse

This Chromebook is the more powerful cousin to the Flex 5 we've previously recommended. That's still a fine Chromebook if you're on a budget, but the base model of the Flex 5i starts with an 11th-gen Core i3 processor instead of a Celeron chip. It's been plenty speedy for browsing the web and watching videos. The 13-inch IPS display has a nice antiglare finish, which is good because the main weakness of this machine is the fact that its 250-nit brightness is just barely bright enough to use outdoors. The latest version of Chrome OS is well-optimized to work in all three two-in-one modes, and the Flex 5i is compatible with Lenovo's USI stylus ( sold separately, $40 ).

Specs to look out for: Intel Core i3, 8-GB RAM, 128-GB SSD

How to Pick the Best Chromebook

Chromebooks come in a bewildering array of configurations. Sometimes even trying to decide which options to get on a single model can be overwhelming. As a product tester, I use a spreadsheet to keep it all straight. But you shouldn't have to do that, so here are some broad specs to keep in mind.

Processor: Chromebooks use half a dozen different processors, most of which you've probably never heard of. There's a reason for that: These processors are slow, and they don't show up in Windows laptops. After trying out plenty of Intel Celeron–based machines, my recommendation is to go with something more powerful if you can afford it. The next step up from the Celeron is the Core m3, which is the best choice for most people. If you want a more powerful, future-proof machine, get an i3 or i5 chip.

We're starting to see more ARM-based Chromebooks, like the Lenovo Duet above. I haven't had any issues using ARM Chromebooks, but they aren't quite as speedy as the Intel Core chips. There are some newer Chromebooks using AMD's latest Ryzen chips, and I've had good experiences with them.

RAM: Get 8-GB of memory if you can afford it, especially if you plan to run any Android applications. When I've experienced severe slowdowns and glitches, it's almost always on a Chromebook with only 4-GB of RAM.

Screen: Get an IPS LCD display. There are still a few low-end models out there with crappier TN LCD displays, and you should avoid those. Your pixel resolution depends on the size of the screen. I have used (and recommend) some 11-inch Chromebooks that have 720p displays. Because those screens are squeezed into a small form factor, I find them acceptably sharp, but a 1080p screen will be much nicer.

Ports: Most things you do on a Chromebook are cloud-based, so you don't really need to worry too much about ports. You might want a computer that charges through a USB-C port if you'd like to be able to run your Chromebook off a portable battery/charger, but USB-C charging is available mostly in mid- and higher-priced models. It also helps to have a MicroSD slot for expanded storage if you need to download a lot of files during a typical day, but that option is also not widely available.

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Best Chromebook

• Best Budget
• Best Multimedia
• Best Gaming

Notable Mentions

Recent updates, all reviews, the 5 best chromebooks - spring 2024 reviews.

Chromebooks are increasing in popularity as more people work or attend classes remotely. Although they aren't powerful computers that can handle demanding workloads like video editing or 3D rendering, they're more than adequate for those who can access their work or class material online through a web browser. Because Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system designed to run on lower-end hardware, Chromebooks also tend to be more affordable than Windows and macOS laptops, making them a great option for students or those on a tight budget.

We've tested more than 110 laptops, and below, you'll find our recommendations for the best Chrome OS devices you can get. You can also see our picks for the  best laptops for battery life , the best student Chromebooks , and the best travel laptops .

The best Chromebook we've tested is the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022), a 2-in-1 convertible. It has a sturdy build, a thin and light design, and a battery that lasts over 13 hours on a full charge. The display looks sharp and provides just enough space for split-screen multitasking. It also supports pen input and comes with a stylus that you can dock into the side of the laptop. The keyboard feels comfortable to type on, and the touchpad is responsive, albeit small. Its 1080p webcam is surprisingly good, among the best you can find on Chromebooks. You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity and a decent port selection, including two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s. Unfortunately, there are no biometrics like a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera.

If you're new to Chromebooks, know that most applications that run on Windows and macOS don't run on Chrome OS, so you must ensure you can do everything through a Chrome browser or Android app. As for this model's configurations, you can get this laptop with an Intel 12th Gen Core i3, i5, or i7 CPU and up to 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. However, availability is scarce because it's a discontinued model, and a newer 2023 version is available. While we haven't tested the 2023 model, we expect it to be very similar. Plus, it's often cheaper than the 2022 model, with the Core i5 configuration selling for as low as $550 USD. The upgrades include a faster Intel 13th Gen CPU and a higher resolution 1440p webcam. You can get the 2023 model on  Amazon  or at  Best Buy .

See our review

Best Budget Chromebook

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is our best budget pick. This affordable 14-inch model feels reasonably well-built and is easy to carry around. It's a good choice for younger students or anyone needing a simple device for light productivity tasks, web browsing, and video playback. You can configure it with an Intel N100, N200, or a Core i3-N305 CPU; we recommend the latter, as the N100 and N200 are much slower and only suitable for those with an extremely light workload. The Core i3 configuration (with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage) is often on sale for around $400 USD on  Lenovo's website .

This model sports a 1080p touch-sensitive IPS panel. It looks very sharp, and unlike most budget-friendly Chromebooks, it gets bright enough to combat glare and doesn't look washed out. You also get an excellent 1080p webcam for video calls, another rarity among Chrome OS devices. The keyboard feels spacious but a bit mushy, and unfortunately, the touchpad is small and not always responsive, so it's best to use a mouse. The Intel Core i3-N305's performance is okay. It can handle general productivity tasks like text processing, web browsing, and video playback; just don't expect to do anything remotely intensive. If you're a heavy multitasker and need even more processing power, you're better off getting the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 above. Finally, the battery lasts around 13 hours of light use and charges over USB-C.

Best Cheap Chromebook

If you want to spend as little as possible, consider the Acer Chromebook 315 (2020). This 15-inch device is great for younger students or anyone needing a simple laptop for emails and web browsing. Its compact design makes it easy to carry around, and its battery lasts a full day of light use, so you don't have to worry about bringing a charger. It has a full-size keyboard with a numpad, a reasonably large touchpad, and a decent 720p webcam. Ports include two USB-As, two USB-Cs, and an SD card reader. The USB-Cs support charging and video output.

For the display, you can choose between a 720p or 1080p panel (with or without touch input). We recommend the 1080p option, as the 720p resolution just doesn't look that great on a 15.6-inch screen. The 1080p panel looks decently sharp and provides plenty of space for multitasking, but it doesn't get very bright, meaning you might have some visibility issues in well-lit settings. This laptop is only available with Intel Celeron CPUs. They can handle light workloads just fine, but you'll likely experience some slowdowns, more so than on the models we recommend above.

One more thing to bear in mind: all Chromebooks have an expiration date, meaning the date at which they stop receiving software updates. This Chromebook's end of life is in June 2026. It'll still work after that date, though you'll miss out on important security updates and bug fixes.

Best Chromebook For Multimedia

For media consumption, we recommend the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021), a 13-inch Chrome OS tablet with a kickstand and detachable keyboard. This form factor lets you take the keyboard off when viewing content, which is convenient in tight spaces like an airplane, and it also makes the device easier to hold and use as a tablet. You can pop the keyboard back on when you need to type something out; however, it feels cramped, so there are better options for typing long essays.

The feature that makes this device amazing for viewing media is its OLED display. It's sharp, bright, and colorful, and like all OLEDs, it displays deep, inky blacks. The speakers get reasonably loud. However, they don't have much bass and sound slightly unnatural. The battery lasts around eight hours of video playback or 10 hours of light use, and it charges over USB-C, so you don't have to deal with a proprietary charger. The display supports pen input if you want to take notes or draw, but you must buy the stylus separately.

Best Gaming Chromebook

The best gaming Chromebook we've tested is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE (2022). Chrome OS isn't typically associated with gaming, as there aren't any Chromebooks with a discrete GPU, and the most popular titles lack Chrome OS support. However, with internet speeds increasing, cloud gaming is a viable option, which is what this device is for. Cloud gaming services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming (currently in Beta) do all the processing on their servers, and the image streams to your device.

As for games from the Google Play Store, some will run just fine, but some might not because the creators designed them for Android smartphones and tablets with an ARM chip. Also, you may come across titles with no keyboard, mouse, or controller support. The laptop's overall build quality is good, and while it's on the bulkier side, it isn't too heavy. It sports a 16-inch QHD+ display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a good response time, giving you a clear image in fast-moving scenes.

You get Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity and an Ethernet port for a fast and stable internet connection, though remember that you need a Wi-Fi 6E router to take advantage of the new wireless standards. The keyboard feels spacious and tactile, doesn't get hot under load, and has RGB backlighting. Its Intel 12th Gen (P-series) CPU is fast but power-hungry; you can expect to get around six hours of light use or an hour of gaming.

• Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023): The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) is a good alternative to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) if you need a Chromebook with more processing power. It has a better keyboard and touchpad; however, its battery life is much shorter at around eight hours of light use, and its display doesn't get as bright to combat glare. See our review
• Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022): The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022) is a good alternative to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021) if you want something more compact. The downside is that it uses an IPS panel, so you won't get the deep blacks you would get on the Duet 5's OLED display. See our review

May 02, 2024: Confirmed that picks are accurate and available. There are no changes in the recommendations.

Apr 08, 2024: We've verified that the picks are still valid and available. Our recommendations remain the same.

Mar 07, 2024: Minor text edits for clarity. No changes in product picks.

Feb 07, 2024: Added the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) as a Notable Mention. No changes in product picks.

Jan 11, 2024: Small text changes to provide information about the Acer Chromebook 315's OS support expiration date. No change in recommendation.

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best Chrome OS devices you can get. We factor in the price (a cheaper laptop wins over a pricier one if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no laptops that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you prefer to make your own decision, here's the list of all of our Chromebook reviews, sorted by price from low to high. Keep in mind that most laptops are available in various configurations, and the table only shows the results of the model we tested, so it's best to see the full review for information about other variants.

The 10 Most Capable Chromebooks of 2022

These machines give traditional laptops a run for their money.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

Today, you’ll find popular Chromebooks available from most major computer brands, including Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung, and more. When compared to a laptop , most Chromebooks are smaller, cheaper, and less powerful. But not all Chromebooks are created equal. That’s why we’ve selected 10 models that offer solid keyboards, bright screens, and plenty of memory.

The Best Chromebooks

Best Overall

Samsung galaxy chromebook.

Best Traditional Laptop

Lenovo chromebook 3.

Best for Productivity

Hp chromebook.

Best Mid-Range Model

Asus chromebook flip c433.

Most Portable

Samsung chromebook 4.

Acer Chromebook Spin 311

Large Display

Acer chromebook 315.

Best 2-in-1

Lenovo chromebook c330.

Lightweight

Asus c523na chromebook.

Spill-Resistant Keyboard

Asus chromebook cx1 (1100), pros and cons of chromebooks.

All Chromebooks feature Chrome OS, a unique operating system that works much like the web browser of the same name. However, Google has customized the experience to provide a seamless and straightforward experience to perform many tasks. It’s also possible to run scaled-down versions of many popular applications on Chrome OS, but not all programs will work.

Because the operating system runs on low-power processors, almost any notebook you pick should be fine; it’s just a matter of choosing the screen size and the extras that fit your lifestyle. Keep in mind many Chromebooks are designed to utilize the Cloud for file storage, so hard drives tend to be smaller than other laptops.

What to Consider

Configuration.

Many Chromebooks offer a convertible experience that allows you to switch between tablet and laptop configurations. This 2-in-1 design can be handy for taking notes with a digital pen, browsing the web, or streaming movies. On the other hand, a dedicated notebook often sports a better keyboard , so if you will be doing a lot of word processing, this is the one to choose.

Screen Size

Like all notebooks, the larger the screen, the easier it will be to view documents and the better and more pleasant it is to view movies. But the smaller screen Chromebooks tend to be cheaper, and they are also more portable.

Cheaper Chromebooks often come with limited memory. A budget Chromebook with 16GB of storage is fine for a few months, but will run out of space quickly. Chromebooks utilize extensive cloud storage, but we still recommend a hard drive with at least 32GB of storage space.

How We Evaluated

One of our experts, Sascha Brodsky, is a technology journalist with over two decades of experience. His work has appeared in The New York Times , The Los Angeles Times , The Guardian , and many other publications. He has used and owned several Chromebooks and can appreciate their simplicity and rugged build.

To compile this roundup, he scoured the web and pored through dozens of reviews. He also relied on his personal experience using Chromebooks. For each model, he examined battery life, processor speed, weight, ergonomics, and cost to find the best machines on the market, all in our roundup below.

The Galaxy Chromebook might be the best of its kind on the market. At a price similar to many decent Windows laptops, this Chromebook makes the case that Chrome OS can compete head-to-head with Microsoft’s offerings.

The stunning display uses the latest AMOLED technology for excellent color reproduction. Meanwhile, the Intel processor keeps apps zipping along, and the generous hard drive is enough to store movies galore.

More: The 5 Best Touchscreen Laptops of 2022

The Lenovo Chromebook 3 is the right choice for anyone who wants to get things done and doesn’t need many extras. The 14-inch screen is crisp and big enough to view documents without doing too much scrolling.

Like most Lenovo products, the keyboard is a standout with a firm feel and plenty of spacing. The 64GB hard drive is a good start, but there’s also a micro-SD slot to add more storage.

Users who need a little more screen space than their average Chromebook should look at this HP workhorse. The 14-inch full HD screen is crisp and clear and, along with the excellent keyboard, makes for a productivity machine.

The speakers sound outstanding and are tuned by the engineers at renowned audio company Bang & Olufsen.

The Flip C433 is the perfect mid-range Chromebook. Befitting of its name, you can flip the C433 around on its hinge to use it either in tablet or laptop mode.

However, unlike many smaller Chromebooks, this machine by Asus offers a full-size keyboard and a display that’s big enough so you won’t have to squint. At only 3.3 pounds, the C433 is surprisingly light considering all that it can do.

One of our experts, Sascha Brodsky, personally owns the Chromebook 4, and it’s the laptop he tosses in his luggage when he travels.

“It’s so tiny and light — weighing slightly over 2.5 pounds — that it hardly takes up any room,” he says. “It’s inexpensive enough to leave in my hotel room without worrying about theft, yet it’s sufficiently robust so I can get some work done on the road.”

The 11.6-inch screen is bright, even if the resolution isn’t the highest. “I often get more than a dozen hours of battery life on a single charge,” he adds.

The great thing about Chromebooks is that they manage to do a lot with little, which is true for the Spin 311. The specs might be paltry compared to full-fledged laptops, but somehow this Chromebook manages to be a capable machine for navigating websites and cranking out emails.

The screen is small at only 11.6 inches, but the tradeoff is that the Spin 311 is a compact and light package that’s easy to carry around.

A big, bold, and bright screen anchors the Chromebook 315. The full HD is wide enough to watch movies or work through complex spreadsheets comfortably.

With more than 12 hours of claimed battery life, the 315 will keep you from having to hunt for a power outlet during the workday. And the HD webcam is great for remote working.

The C330 is a fantastic value for a Chromebook that offers many different configurations. It can be used as both a tablet and a laptop with its 2-in-1 design. The gleaming white frame is plastic, but it looks spiffy. The relatively low-end processor is snappy enough for basic tasks like word processing and web browsing.

The Asus C523NA offers a high-resolution touchscreen that’s spacious enough to enjoy working on or playing some casual games. The screen looks huge thanks to its frameless design that gives you the illusion that it runs edge-to-edge without bezels.

At just under 4 pounds, the C523NA is light enough that you’ll barely notice it in a backpack or briefcase. This model also comes with a stylus to use on the touchscreen.

Many Chromebooks have a flimsy feel, but the CX1 offers a spill-resistant keyboard for anyone who might be clumsy with their morning coffee.

The elegant silver-colored frame looks like a miniature Apple MacBook. Best of all, Asus promises up to 12 hours of battery life, thanks to the power-sipping Chrome OS and Celeron processor. Users looking for more power in the same spill-resistant frame should consider upgrading to the pricier CX1 1400 series .

Harry Rabinowitz is a writer, editor, and columnist covering the latest and greatest products in the gaming industry. He also works to tell educational and entertaining stories about tech, entertainment, home goods, and more. When he’s not learning or writing something new, he’s probably heading to the library for a new graphic novel to read.

Sascha Brodsky, a freelance journalist based in New York City and a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, writes about many aspects of technology including personal technology, AI, and virtual reality. His work has appeared in The New York Times , The Atlantic , The Guardian , and many other publications. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling and hiking. 

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The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is incredible — with one big problem

Beautiful chassis, fast processor, great screen, and software that doesn’t keep up.

By Monica Chin , a senior reviewer covering laptops and other gadgets. Monica was a writer for Tom's Guide and Business Insider before joining The Verge in 2020.

Photography by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

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There is not much I need to say about the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook that has not already been evident from the leaks, announcements , and general hype surrounding this thing.

It is a beautiful device. It’s fast, with enterprise-grade specs — one of the first Chromebooks, in fact, to support Intel’s vPro platform. And yet, the exceptional nature of the chassis really lays bare, more so than any other device I’ve tested this year, one of the biggest complaints I have about the current Chromebook space: ChromeOS. As much as I love using ChromeOS, and as much progress as it’s made over the years, it’s not ready for the business world — and it’s not ready for devices that, even in their cheapest form, cost well over $1,000.

How we rate and review products

• The best Chromebook for 2022

This is an incredible Chromebook

Chromebook enthusiasts have been waiting for a device like this. They’ve been waiting for quite some time — the last lustworthy, high-end Chromebook was Google’s own Pixelbook in 2017 . And I think HP has probably done close to everything it can to make an incredible enterprise machine.

I’ll run you through the good things. It’s light, at just 2.8 pounds (just 0.1 heavier than the MacBook Air, though it’s a good deal thicker) with a sturdy magnesium / aluminum hybrid chassis. It looks and feels just like HP’s premium Windows Dragonfly line , with an excellent 3:2 display (including a 1,000-nit option and a Sure View Reflect privacy screen option), fantastic Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers, a surprisingly sharp 5MP webcam with a physical shutter, and an optional rechargeable USI pen that magnetically attaches to the chassis.

Even the port selection is fine (relative to the port-starved world that ultraportables currently live in), including an HDMI as well as two USB-Cs and a USB-A.

The Core i5-1245U chip inside my review unit absolutely flies. Even photo editing in the Lightroom app was silky smooth and faster than it is when I use the desktop version on some slower Windows laptops. Swapping between tabs and apps was instantaneous. Provided that everything you need to run plays nicely with ChromeOS, I don’t see any workload giving this device significant trouble.

Battery life could be better but was not terrible. I averaged seven hours of continuous use with a mix of Chrome tabs, Android apps, and PWAs at medium brightness. (I had a QHD model, but I imagine you might see more from the 1920 x 1080 option.) You can expect to feel some continuous warmth in the keyboard and across the bottom but nothing uncomfortable. The included adapter took 54 minutes to charge the device up to 60 percent, which is quite a fast charging speed as Chromebooks go.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook specs (as reviewed)

• Intel Core i5-1245U, vPro
• 13.5-inch, LED QHD Plus (2256 x 1504) touch display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5, 400 nits
• 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• One USB-A, two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, one HDMI 2.0, one microSD reader, one headphone jack, one lock slot
• 45-watt USB-C AC adapter
• Four-speaker sound system with dual mics
• Backlit keyboard with haptic trackpad
• Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.2
• 2.8 pounds (1.27kg)

This is all well and good. I sincerely have very few bad things to say about this Chromebook on paper. The only real nitpick is that the screen is a tad reflective, and I occasionally had to bump up the brightness when using it close to our office window (the horror). It’s a nice device that’s great fun to use.

I want to stress that the criticism I’m about to make isn’t really HP’s fault. This isn’t one of those reviews where I’m out to make a broad indictment of the product’s manufacturer. Many companies are involved in constructing the HP Elite Dragonfly’s user experience, as is the case with any gadget you might pick up — I’m just here to describe that user experience.

Here is the best description of that experience I can give you: the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is great to use for leisure, and it’s difficult to use for work.

Now, to be clear: I respect that some power users just want a very high-powered Chromebook for coding, virtualization, games, and the like. I know that this group is very excited about this release, and I’m sure you all will be happy with the device — it’s everything it was supposed to be. But I do think you can get similar power in cheaper devices for much less money. The widely praised Acer Chromebook Spin 714 currently offers almost the exact same processor that’s in my review unit for $729 , which is less than half the price of my unit and over $400 less than the absolute cheapest Dragonfly Chromebook’s MSRP. The Dragonfly is certainly more powerful than that Spin 714 — but whether it’s that much more powerful is another matter.

And for the mainstream business user (historically the target audience for the Dragonfly line that this laptop is part of), I don’t think the Dragonfly Chromebook is worth its price tag.

Much of my work life takes place on Slack. I know this is not the case for every workplace, but it is the case for a great many of them . ChromeOS users are required to choose between using Slack in their browser (and there’s a reason most people don’t do this on Windows — the desktop app makes a lot of things easier including shortcuts, workspace swapping, launching, searching, etc.) or using Slack in its Android app form (just not great).

Here’s a smattering of complaints I have about the current Slack app on Chromebooks:

• Messages are sometimes delayed. I will occasionally get a notification, click on it to open Slack, and then not be able to find the message.
• The Android app available on ChromeOS doesn’t seem to communicate well with other versions of Slack. If I use the desktop or iOS apps one day and open the Chromebook the next morning, I’ll often be bombarded with message notifications from the previous day that I’ve already seen and addressed.
• The text box keeps closing while I’m in the middle of typing a message, showing only the first part and hiding what I was typing.
• Background refresh is funky. I will often see someone typing when I’m clicked into Chrome but have Slack open on the side, but their message won’t come up until I’ve clicked back into Slack (even if it was sent quite some time ago).
• Links sometimes don’t unfurl and show previews where they would in the desktop version.
• Statuses are slow to update. I have to wait a few seconds each time I click into the app for it to show who is online and who isn’t.
• The app sometimes won’t bring unread channels up to the top of the app, meaning I have to dig through my lists on the bottom to see what’s bolded.
• Text sometimes gets overlaid over other text in a way that doesn’t necessarily interfere with my use but does make the app look decidedly unfinished.

There are also general responsiveness issues. I keep having to click channels multiple times in order to get them to open. Oh, and the app just froze a few times during my testing as well.

I’m not the only one who wishes there were a better non-browser option for this program — the Google Play Store is full of people complaining about the bugginess of the Slack Android app. And I know these all sound like small problems, but if you’re someone who uses Slack all day (and again, many people do), they’re enough to have you reaching the end of your rope very quickly.

While I do believe Slack is the program that needs the most immediate fixing before I can recommend any Chromebook as a serious enterprise device, I had all kinds of issues with other apps that I used throughout my workday as well. Discord, for example, is another program that can be used in Chrome but has a significantly faster and more feature-rich desktop version available for Windows. This is not so on ChromeOS — the Discord Android app just straight-up does not work on the Dragonfly. I could not click on anything — I was stuck in whatever channel happened to be open when I opened the app. Even when I scrolled within that channel, the app crashed frequently. And while Discord is not a business-critical app the way that Slack can be, it’s still central to many people’s work and social lives. (I take briefings on it from time to time, and Verge staff use it as a backup when Slack goes down.)

The Discord Android app just straight-up does not work

I cannot tell you how many random bugs I ran into in other Android apps that I tried to use. Messenger takes a good three to four seconds to load new messages and online statuses after I open it, sometimes just opened to a blank white screen, and occasionally froze and required a restart. (Though it is no longer crashing the entire Chromebook, which has been an issue in the past .) I tried to run Geekbench on this device several times but could never complete a run before the app crashed. The Zoom Android app crashed a number of times during calls. (There is a Zoom PWA in the app store, but it is very easy to accidentally open the Android app instead.) And across the board, there were slow boot times, slow load times, and instances when I had to click things a bunch of times to get them to open.

Again, ChromeOS and the Dragonfly itself are both lightning fast these days, but the apps — even some of the most popular ones business users might need — are not nearly as good as their Windows desktop equivalents. And then there are still programs some business users live in that are only accessible in their web equivalents on ChromeOS, including Microsoft Office (whose web programs are missing a number of features the desktop programs have).

The cheapest prebuilt Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is $1,149

Now, as I’m sure people are getting ready to point out in the comments, there are ways around these limitations. There’s Parallels Desktop , which allows you to boot Windows in a virtual machine on Chromebooks (and the Dragonfly comes with a year-long free trial if you have the Chrome Enterprise upgrade). That’s great, but once the free period is up, business customers will need to pay $69.99 per user, per year to keep it. That’s not nothing. And you can also run Linux, of course, but we’re talking about companies potentially deploying big fleets of units to time-pressed workers — it’s realistic to assume that ChromeOS is what many people will be using on this device.

To repeat, I am a ChromeOS fan. I love the speed and security it offers. I think the state of non-browser software offerings is a fine tradeoff to make for a leisure device you’ll be using for fun. I have more trouble endorsing that when we’re talking about a device that livelihoods will depend on.

We are well into MacBook pricing territory here

And that’s before we get into the price. The cheapest prebuilt Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is $1,149, with prices ranging up to $1,799. Customizable units are then a whole other thing — the cheapest one I can currently configure is $1,961 (and won’t ship until March of next year, according to HP’s site).

It gets complicated with the unit I have, which includes a vPro Core i5, 8GB of memory, LTE, and 256GB of storage with the stylus included. This configuration is not actually available for purchase as a prebuilt, but a comparable model with 128GB of storage is currently listed for $1,579.99 . I will note for complete accuracy that technically the only way to get this specific unit is as a configurable, and that will cost a minimum of $2,408. Either way, we are well into MacBook pricing territory here, and that means you really shouldn’t have so many apps available that are full of glitches. (It’s not an apples-to-apples comparison for all kinds of reasons but, just for kicks, an M2 MacBook Air with similar specs would be $1,219.)

Now, we have seen Core i3 versions of this device dip well below $1,000 at certain times. That pricing would change the game here if you can find it, but that’s not the listed price of any units as of this writing.

This is a beautiful device. HP has done what it can here — it made the most beautiful Chromebook I’ve ever used.

But the desktop software that ChromeOS can offer isn’t worthy of this beauty — or this price. Again, I know some of my issues are nitpicky, but this is software that business users use every day and are being asked to pay very high prices to use. And I suspect that Google, having just canceled its next high-end Pixelbook product, may be coming to the same conclusion.

I know fixes are coming. PWAs are on their way. Linux is becoming more accessible. Android apps on ChromeOS have come a long, long way since I first started reviewing them, and I’m sure they will come further still. This is a great and fun operating system to use. But it’s not ready for the C-suite just yet.

HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook Accessibility

Hp elite dragonfly chromebook (all measurements are approximate).

• The letter keys are 0.6 x 0.6 inches with 0.06 inches between them. The keyboard is backlit. The power button has an indicator light. The power button is 0.5 x .125 inches and the volume keys are 0.6 x 0.375 inches. The keys are dark blue with white text and take very little force to depress.
• The screen can be configured up to 4K resolution with touchscreen options. It reaches 400 nits.
• The speakers reached an average of 80 decibels in my testing.
• The laptop can be opened with one hand with some difficulty. It can be rotated around 360 degrees.
• The touchpad is 4.75 x 3.125 inches and takes some dedicated force to depress.
• The Dragonfly supports fingerprint logins but not facial logins.
• ChromeOS includes a built-in screen reader (ChromeVox).
• ChromeOS supports dictation, accessed in Settings.
• High-contrast mode can be toggled with Ctrl + Search + H.
• Captions appear in the bottom center of the screen. The following caption features are adjustable: size, font, color, opacity, shadow, background color, and background opacity.
• The following keyboard keys can be remapped: Search, Ctrl, Alt, Escape, Backspace, Assistant, Caps Lock. The top row can be remapped to act as function keys.
• The following keyboard features can be toggled: sticky keys, onscreen keyboard, highlight object with keyboard focus, highlight text caret when it appears or moves, navigate pages with text cursor, switch access.
• The following cursor settings can be adjusted: color, size, speed, click strength, haptic feedback. The following can be toggled: mouse acceleration, reverse scrolling, tap dragging, tap-to-click, touchpad acceleration, automatic click.
• ChromeOS includes a Snap Layout feature, accessed by pressing and holding the Maximize button on an open window.

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The Best Chromebook

By Kimber Streams

Kimber Streams is a writer who has been covering laptops and other tech at Wirecutter for more than a decade. They once built a fort out of keyboards.

A good Chromebook can do almost anything that a regular laptop can do, and the best models can feel better to use than their similarly priced Windows counterparts.

After testing most of the Chromebooks released over the past nine years and testing 20 models so far in 2023, we recommend the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus . It’s an excellent laptop, with the best combination of features and price of all the Chromebooks we’ve tested, including fast performance, a spacious touchscreen, and long-enough battery life for a full day of work or classes.

Everything we recommend

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

The best chromebook.

Reliable performance, a spacious touch display, and long-enough battery life for a full workday make this model the best Chromebook for the price. But it is a bit heavy.

Buying Options

Budget pick.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

Less expensive, worse display.

This Asus model is a less expensive option that doesn’t sacrifice performance, but its non-touch display isn’t as tall, vibrant, or convenient as that of our top pick.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ (82V80009UX)

A bigger screen.

This inexpensive model offers fast performance, a roomy 16-inch screen with a high refresh rate, and an RGB keyboard with a built-in number pad. But it’s huge and heavy.

Upgrade pick

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-2W-56B2)

More portable.

This Acer model is lighter and has longer battery life and more storage than our top pick, plus a crisper 1440p webcam. But it’s more expensive.

Why a Chromebook?

Many kids already use Chromebooks at school, and these inexpensive, secure, and accessible laptops are great for pulling out of a bag and getting right to work.

Chromebooks can do almost anything that regular laptops can do, using browser-based software and services instead of Windows or macOS apps.

A great $500 Chromebook can feel faster to use—and can be lighter and more compact—than a similarly priced Windows laptop.

If you already have a desktop or laptop, a Chromebook is an excellent and affordable secondary device.

Recommended configuration

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a reliable keyboard and trackpad, a tall touchscreen, and surprisingly good speakers. All of those features combined with the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s reasonable price make it the best Chromebook for most people’s needs. But we wish that it were lighter—at 3.6 pounds, it’s heavy for a 14-inch laptop—and we wish that it had a couple more hours of battery life. It’ll last a full day of work or classes on a charge, but not much longer.

The best cheap Chromebook—and the next-best option if our top pick is unavailable—is the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 . It’s just as fast as our top pick and can handle everyday workloads with ease, unlike many cheap Chromebooks, which feel slow with just a handful of tabs open. The CX34 also has a comfortable, backlit keyboard, battery life similar to that of our top pick, and a light, compact body. This model’s display is fine, but it lacks touch input, it’s not as tall, and its colors aren’t as vibrant as what you can get on our top pick.

The best option if you want a big screen is the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ . Photos and videos look great on its gigantic 16-inch display with a high refresh rate, and the RGB keyboard is a fun extra feature. But this 4-pound laptop is inconvenient to take to work, class, or even a coffee shop—it’s best used around the house. If you need a more portable Chromebook to commute or travel with, consider our other picks instead.

It’s available in two versions. Most people should get the Core i3 model with 128 GB of eMMC storage, which is fast enough and is often cheaper. But if the Core i3 model is out of stock—or if you luck out on a great sale—the Core i5 model is also a great option.

If you want a more portable Chromebook that weighs less and offers longer battery life, as well as more storage and a crisper-looking 1440p webcam, get the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-2W-56B2) . It’s an excellent Chromebook with a reliable keyboard and trackpad and a vivid 14-inch display, but it costs several hundred dollars more than our top pick.

The research

What is a chromebook, why you should trust us, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: lenovo ideapad flex 5i chromebook plus, budget pick: asus chromebook plus cx34, a big screen: lenovo ideapad gaming chromebook 16", upgrade pick: acer chromebook spin 714 (cp714-2w-56b2), other good chromebooks, what to look forward to, the competition.

A Chromebook is a laptop that runs ChromeOS , an operating system that uses the Chrome web browser as its primary interface. Chromebooks are ideal for students and kids, but they’re also worth considering if you spend most of your computer time in a web browser, if you’re on a tight budget, or if you already have a decent desktop PC . A good Chromebook can do almost anything a regular laptop can do—as long as that task is possible in a web browser or in Android apps . And $500 Chromebooks tend to be faster, lighter, and sleeker than $500 Windows laptops. Chromebooks are also secure and easy to maintain .

But Chromebooks can’t run Mac or Windows programs, including Windows-specific games. They work best with a full-time internet connection, though you can find offline options for Gmail, Google Drive, and other apps , and Chromebook Plus models can automatically sync Google Drive files for offline use. If you use web-based email, if you can get by with Microsoft 365 , Google’s office web apps, and Android app alternatives, and if you stream your music and movies, a Chromebook should do just about everything you need it to.

Most newly released Chromebooks have 128 GB of onboard storage; Google also provides 100 GB of free online Google One storage for one year. (Once your year is up, you have to pay to keep that cloud storage. Right now, 100 GB of storage costs $2 per month or $20 per year.) Most Chromebooks also include USB ports and a microSD card slot that you can use to expand the storage.

Senior staff writer Kimber Streams has tested most of the Chromebooks released since 2014, when they began covering Chromebooks for Wirecutter. They’ve tested and reviewed hundreds of laptops, including Chromebooks, cheap Windows laptops, powerful gaming laptops, and ultrabooks.

A Chromebook doesn’t need to be exceptionally powerful or look fancy. But if slow performance, poor battery life, a horrendous screen, or a bad keyboard or trackpad gets in your way, the Chromebook has failed at its only job. Here’s what we look for:

Performance: We’ve found that fast and reliable performance for a Chromebook requires 8 GB of memory combined with an 11th-generation or newer Intel processor or a 5000- or 7000-series AMD Ryzen processor. When we used Chromebooks with lower-end processors or less memory, we encountered long, frequent delays loading tabs, typing in documents and spreadsheets, and speaking on Zoom calls. One way to guarantee that you’re getting fast-enough performance is to look for Google’s new Chromebook Plus label introduced in October 2023, though some models released before then lack the label but meet the spec requirements.

Avoid Chromebooks that run on Intel’s N-series Celeron or Pentium processors, on ARM-based processors from companies such as MediaTek or Qualcomm, or on AMD’s Athlon A4 and A6 processors; in our testing over the years, we’ve come away frustrated by their laggy, inconsistent performance. Also avoid any Chromebooks with less than 4 GB of memory, regardless of their processor.

Price: As of 2023, Chromebooks that meet our performance requirements typically cost $400 to $550. Options with better performance and more features tend to cost at least $700.

Keyboard and trackpad: Both input devices should be good enough not to get in the way of your work. A backlit keyboard is a nice luxury.

Battery life: A Chromebook should last at least a full eight-hour day of classes or work so you don’t have to hunt for an outlet or be stuck with a dead laptop.

Size and weight: The lighter and more compact a laptop is, the easier it is to carry on a plane, to a coffee shop, or to class. And for Chromebooks with 360-degree convertible hinges, being lighter makes them easier to hold in tablet mode—less than 3 pounds is ideal.

Screen: We recommend a 1920×1080 resolution or thereabouts for a 13- to 15-inch screen—higher resolutions often aren’t worth the trade-off in battery life, and lower resolutions look bad. A touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge are nice perks since Chromebooks also run Android apps, and an included stylus is a bonus.

Ports: We appreciate a Chromebook that includes both USB-C ports and traditional USB-A ports, which allows you to connect older peripherals.

Support: Google now guarantees 10 years of software updates—including new features and security fixes—for every new Chromebook. We don’t recommend any Chromebooks with a support date that expires before 2028.

We lived with each Chromebook for at least a full day of work to get a feel for the keyboard, trackpad, screen, and speakers, as well as for each laptop’s real-world performance. We checked Gmail and Google Calendar, ran Slack, streamed music, worked in large Google Drive spreadsheets and text documents, chatted on Zoom, and streamed videos from Netflix, Twitch, and YouTube. We paid attention to any performance issues that surfaced.

To quantify how fast a Chromebook felt to use, we gathered results from the Speedometer 2.0 and JetStream 2 benchmarking tools to measure performance, combining those results with what we saw in our real-world testing.

To test the battery life of each Chromebook, we set each screen’s backlight to approximately 150 nits and ran a customized version of the Chromium web-browsing battery test . It emulates typical browsing behavior by cycling through web pages, email, streaming audio, Google Docs files, and video.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is an excellent Chromebook, with the best combination of features and price of all the models we’ve tested. It offers fast performance, a reliable keyboard and trackpad, a tall and spacious touchscreen, and enough battery life to last a full day of work or classes. Though we wish it were lighter—at 3.6 pounds it’s weighty for a 14-inch laptop—it’s the best Chromebook for most people’s needs.

It’s fast enough for everyday tasks. The IdeaPad Flex 5i meets all of Wirecutter’s (and Google’s) spec requirements for smooth performance. It was plenty fast enough to handle all my tabs, including Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, YouTube Music, a YouTube video, a large spreadsheet of Chromebook test results, a long Google Doc, and five to 10 other miscellaneous retailer and laptop-maker websites. I even threw a Zoom call on top, and everything kept working just fine. This model also supports Google’s new Chromebook Plus features for improving video calls, syncing files for offline access, and more.

The battery will last a full day of work or classes, but not much longer. In our testing, the IdeaPad Flex 5i lasted 8 hours 44 minutes on a charge; that’s long enough for a day of work, but not much more. We prefer to see a couple more hours, especially since battery life degrades over time. If you need longer battery life, consider our upgrade pick instead.

It has a tall, spacious display and surprisingly good speakers. The IdeaPad Flex 5i’s 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is especially convenient for scrolling web pages and working in long documents. It isn’t bright enough to see outdoors on a sunny day—and the glossy touchscreen is reflective—but it isn’t so dim and desaturated as to be distracting. In addition, we found the upward-facing speakers to be unexpectedly competent; the Flex 5i is a better option for watching movies and music videos than our budget pick.

You can use it as a tablet, but it’s heavy. Our top pick has a 360-degree hinge, so you can flip the screen around and use it in tablet or tent mode. But the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s weight makes it difficult to hold in tablet mode. I was able to open the lid with a single hand, but the tight hinge made the action more difficult than it should have been.

The IdeaPad Flex 5i has a mix of new and old USB ports, so it should accommodate the accessories and cables you already have. It has guaranteed update support through June 2032.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

It’s heavy for its portable size. At 12.4 by 9.0 by 0.8 inches, our top pick is compact enough to fit into most bags to use on the go. But at 3.6 pounds, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is one of the heavier Chromebooks we’ve tested with this screen size. If you need a lighter Chromebook, take a look at our budget pick or our upgrade pick .

Its 1080p webcam is fine but could be better. The webcam produces a dim image even with Google’s new Improve Lighting feature enabled. (It does have a convenient privacy shutter to block it when you’re not using it.) Our budget pick and upgrade pick have better webcams, if you need one for frequent video calls.

The best inexpensive Chromebook, and the next-best option if our top pick is unavailable, is the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 . Unlike many cheap Chromebooks, which can struggle with basic tasks, the CX34 feels as fast as our top pick, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i. And it has a comfortable, backlit keyboard, a responsive trackpad, and a decent 14-inch 1080p display. But compared with the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s screen, the CX34’s display lacks touch input, it’s not as tall, and its colors aren’t as vibrant.

Our budget pick is just as fast as our top pick. Many cheap Chromebooks rely on slow processors or have limited memory; typically those models can’t handle a video call and an open document at the same time, or they bog down with just a handful of tabs open. But the CX34 doesn’t make any sacrifices in the performance department—our budget pick can handle everyday workloads with ease.

It’s light and compact. Our budget pick is easier to lug around because it’s about a third of a pound lighter and a bit more compact than our top pick. The CX34 lasted 8 hours 41 minutes in our battery-life test, about the same as the IdeaPad Flex 5i. Both models have enough battery life to make it through a full day of work or classes, but not much more.

Its smaller, non-touch display is a step down. The CX34’s 14-inch 1920×1080 screen is fine, but its 16:9 aspect ratio isn’t as nice as the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s taller display for working in documents or browsing the web. This model’s screen also lacks touch input, and colors look more drab and desaturated in comparison with those on our top pick’s display.

You can’t use it as a tablet. Unlike the IdeaPad Flex 5i, which has a 360-degree hinge, the CX34 can work only as a basic clamshell laptop. It’s easy to open with one hand, though.

The CX34 has a 1080p webcam with a built-in privacy shutter. Like the IdeaPad Flex 5i, the CX34 has a variety of useful ports, and it has guaranteed update support through June 2023.

If you want a big screen, the best option is the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ . Its 16-inch display provides more room to get work done or to enjoy streaming shows or movies, and its number pad can be useful if you do a lot of data entry. That big screen makes the whole laptop heavier and bulkier, though. If you need a more portable Chromebook to take to classes, to commute or travel with, or to occasionally cart to a café, you may want to consider our other picks instead.

Most people should get the Core i3 model with 128 GB of eMMC storage; it’s fast enough, and it’s often cheaper. But if the Core i3 model is out of stock—or you spot a significant sale—the Core i5 model is also a great option.

Its gigantic screen is ideal for working or for watching videos. The 16-inch, 2560×1600 high-refresh display gives you more room to work on documents and spreadsheets or to watch shows and movies. Its colors are vibrant, the matte display doesn’t throw distracting reflections, and the 120 Hz high refresh rate makes scrolling and other actions look extra smooth.

The customizable RGB keyboard is responsive and fun. But the backlit keys feel mushy, and the keyboard deck flexes a lot, even under light typing. This model is the only one of our current picks with a number pad, so if that feature is a must-have for you, this is the Chromebook to get. The IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook’s extra-wide trackpad is accurate, and it works well for all taps, clicks, and gestures.

It offers long battery life, but it’s large and heavy. The IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook will last a full day of work or school away from an outlet—the Core i5 model ran for 9 hours 15 minutes in our battery test, and we expect the Core i3 model to last a bit longer. But at 4 pounds, it’s the heaviest of our picks. And compared with our top pick, the IdeaPad Flex 5i, it’s much bigger overall, measuring nearly 2 inches wider and an inch deeper. This Chromebook is more convenient to use at home, rather than on the go.

Unlike our top pick, this model can’t work as a tablet. The IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook lacks a 360-degree hinge, but it’s too bulky and heavy to use in a tent mode or tablet mode, anyway. I consistently needed both hands to open it. If you want a large-screen laptop that you can open using a single hand, I suggest the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (CB515-2H) or HP Chromebook 15a-nb0023dx .

Despite being a “gaming Chromebook,” it doesn’t have an Ethernet port. It comes with three months of Nvidia GeForce Now, but the lack of Ethernet made streaming games unreliable in our testing. It does have a variety of USB-C and USB-A ports for most other needs, though. The webcam is about as good as those of our other picks, and it has guaranteed update support through June 2032.

If you want a lighter Chromebook with longer battery life, more storage, and a more flattering 1440p webcam, we recommend the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-2W-56B2) . The Spin 714 also has a reliable keyboard and trackpad, as well as a vivid 14-inch display, but it typically costs a couple hundred dollars more than our top pick.

The backlit keyboard feels comfortable and satisfying. I enjoyed typing on it more than on our top pick’s shallower keyboard. The trackpad is on the small side, but it was responsive and accurate, and we didn’t encounter any issues with its size.

The Spin 714 is light and portable, with long battery life. In our battery-life tests, this model lasted 13 hours—the longest of any Chromebook we tested this year. That’s plenty long enough for the machine to get through a full day of work or school without needing to be plugged in. At 3 pounds, it’s more than half a pound lighter than our top pick, too.

It has an excellent display. The 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen gets a bit brighter than that of the IdeaPad Flex 5i. And like our top pick, the Spin 714 has a 16:10 aspect ratio, which is particularly nice for browsing the web.

You can use it as a tablet or a laptop. The Spin 714’s lid is easy to open with a single hand, and similar to our top pick, it has a 360-degree hinge for tent and tablet modes. Even though the Spin 714 is significantly lighter than the IdeaPad Flex 5i, swapping between modes remains difficult because of this model’s weight and pointy hinge corners, and it’s uncomfortable to hold as a tablet.

Its 1440p webcam is a significant step up over those of our other picks. In our tests, this model’s webcam produced a brighter, more flattering image on Zoom calls. The webcam also has a physical privacy shutter to block it when you’re not using it.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 has guaranteed update support through June 2032.

If our top picks are out of stock: The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus is the next best option thanks to its solid performance and long battery life. It costs a bit more than our top picks, its keys feel stiff, and our top pick’s taller-aspect-ratio display is more convenient, but the IdeaPad Slim 3i is a perfectly serviceable Chromebook.

If our budget pick is sold out: Get the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-4HT-359X) . It has reliable performance, decent battery life, and a 14-inch 1080p touch display. Compared to our budget pick, the Chromebook Plus 514’s keyboard doesn’t feel as satisfying to type on and its webcam doesn’t handle low light as well. But for a $350 Chromebook, this model provides a great value.

If our big-screen pick is unavailable: We recommend the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (CB515-2H) or the HP Chromebook Plus (15a-nb0033dx)  instead. Both models are fast-enough, reliable Chromebooks with long battery life; get the HP model if you want a number pad, otherwise get whichever one is cheaper. Compared with the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ , both of these models have smaller, lower-resolution, dimmer displays with a standard 60 Hz refresh rate, and as a result, scrolling and other animations don’t look as smooth.

If you want a repairable Chromebook: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition allows you to easily replace and upgrade its individual parts, just like its Windows counterpart—which received a repairability score of 10 out of 10 from iFixit and which we recommend . Framework includes a screwdriver in the package, and QR codes conveniently placed by each internal part direct you to step-by-step replacement guides. You can add more storage and memory, replace the battery, extend the ChromeOS support date by upgrading the mainboard with a new processor, or repair anything else if it breaks.

But if Framework goes under or stops supporting this model, then it ends up just like any other Chromebook—when it breaks or its support runs out in June 2032, you’ll have to replace the whole thing. At $1,000, it’s also very pricey for a Chromebook, and its battery life is decent but not superb.

If our upgrade pick is unavailable, or if you spot a sale: The HP Chromebook Plus x360 (14c-cd0053dx)  is another excellent premium Chromebook. It has a satisfying keyboard and a spacious trackpad, but compared with the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, its battery life is shorter, it’s a bit heavier, its display doesn’t get as bright, and it’s harder to open with a single hand.

If you want a Chromebook for streaming games: The Acer Chromebook 516 GE (CBG516-1H-53TY) is the best of the so-called gaming Chromebooks because it’s the only model with an Ethernet port to provide a reliable internet connection for streaming games. It also has a vivid 16-inch, 2560×1600 display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a responsive, comfortable RGB keyboard. Every gaming Chromebook we’ve tested on Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now (Priority and Ultimate tiers) has encountered frustrating hiccups over Wi-Fi on a 500 Mbps internet plan, so we don’t recommend getting a Chromebook to stream games over Wi-Fi.

At CES 2024, Asus announced the CM30 Detachable , a ChromeOS tablet with an included keyboard case, and the ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus (CX5403) . So far the ExpertBook is only available to businesses, but we expect it to roll out for everyone else in the coming months. We plan to test both models when they’re available.

The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 (CBV514-1H-38VS) is fast enough for everyday tasks and offers long battery life, but it has a dim, non-touch screen compared to our top picks and it costs more than our budget picks.

The thin-and-light Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (CP513-2H-K62Y) has a tall, vivid touchscreen and long battery life. But this model won’t be getting Chromebook Plus features , its price has gone up, and stock has been unreliable.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-3HT-R8C2) offers fast performance but has a notably dim display with desaturated colors.

Though the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-3H-R2D2) is fast and has long battery life, it’s bulky, and it suffers from a dim display and a finicky trackpad.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-1H) is large and heavy, and its update support ends a year sooner than our top pick’s. The Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-2H) is too slow for everyday tasks, and our review unit stopped turning on.

During our tests, the N6000 processor in the Acer Chromebook 314 (CB314-3HT-P6QW) and the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (CP314-1HN-P138) struggled to support a Zoom call and document editing at the same time.

The ARM-based processor in the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (CP513-1H-S338) faltered in simultaneously running a Zoom call and allowing work on a spreadsheet.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C433 and Asus Chromebook Flip C434 won’t get Chromebook Plus features and will stop receiving security updates years before our top picks.

At a whopping 4.08 pounds, the Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip is too heavy; this 14-inch model weighs even more than our pick with a 16-inch display . The CM34 Flip is an otherwise good Chromebook with long, 13-hour battery life, fast-enough specs, and Chromebook Plus features.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX3 is heavy at 3.64 pounds and won’t be getting Chromebook Plus features.

Upgrade options

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 has an older processor, lacks USB-A ports, and failed to last as long as the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 in our battery-life tests.

Though the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Gen 1 Chromebook has a top-notch keyboard and trackpad, the Spin 714 is smaller, lighter, and cheaper, with longer battery life and a taller-aspect-ratio display.

The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook has a thin and light body, a vibrant 13.5-inch 1080p touchscreen, a comfortable backlit keyboard, and a huge responsive trackpad, and in our tests it offered excellent performance and plenty of battery life. But it retails for more than $1,000.

The above model’s successor, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook , also costs $1,000, plus it has mediocre battery life, lacks a headphone jack, and weighs more than our upgrade pick.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5400FMA-DN388T-S) and the Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook (13″) are more expensive than the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and will stop receiving updates a year earlier.

Google’s Pixelbook Go will stop receiving updates three years earlier than our upgrade pick.

15- and 16-inch options

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 (CM5500FDA-DN344T) has worse performance, a smaller screen, and a higher price than our pick, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ .

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5601) is heavier, dimmer, and more expensive than our big-screen pick.

The Acer Chromebook 315 (CB315-4HT) , the Lenovo 3i Chromebook (15″) , and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook (15″) all had too-slow processors that struggled with video calls and other simultaneous tasks in our tests.

Gaming Chromebooks

Google worked with manufacturers to design “gaming Chromebooks” that come with cloud-gaming subscriptions, high-refresh displays, and RGB keyboards. After testing these models, we don’t recommend Chromebooks as gaming devices—they’re limited to Android games (which you can play on any decent Chromebook) and game-streaming services, which are dependent on fickle internet connections. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE (CBG516-1H-53TY) is the only one with an Ethernet port, which makes it more reliable for game streaming, while the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip cost more and lack Ethernet ports. We like the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16″ more for its large screen and low price than its gaming capabilities.

Budget options

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook (13″) won’t get Chromebook Plus features, and its battery won’t last over a full day of work or classes.

Equipped with only an N100 processor and 4 GB of memory, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook (82XH0001US) had difficulty handling simultaneous tasks and video calls.

The MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor in the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook (14″) and the Asus Chromebook CM14 and Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip was abysmally slow in our tests.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 512 (R853TA) is decent for young kids thanks to its durable body and spill-resistant keyboard. But it’s slow—it can handle schoolwork or a video chat, but it can’t do both at the same time gracefully. It also suffers from a terrible, low-resolution display.

The base Dell Latitude 3445 Chromebook is comparatively expensive for a machine with a low-resolution display, 4 GB of memory, and only 32 GB of local storage.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3 (11″) is a detachable ChromeOS tablet that comes with a keyboard, but its processor is too slow.

Budget models—including the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go and the Acer Chromebook 317 (CB317-1H-C994) —that rely on the Intel Celeron N4500 processor are too slow for even light use. We also found the MediaTek processor in the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 (CM3200FVA-DS42T) to be exceedingly slow.

A laptop should last at least five years, so we don’t recommend Chromebooks with a support date that expires before 2028—such as the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 (C302CA-DH54) , which is still available at this writing even though it stopped receiving updates in June 2023. Even if you find one cheap, it’s a bad deal.

This article was edited by Caitlin McGarry and Signe Brewster.

Meet your guide

Kimber Streams

Kimber Streams is a senior staff writer and has been covering laptops, gaming gear, keyboards, storage, and more for Wirecutter since 2014. In that time they’ve tested hundreds of laptops and thousands of peripherals, and built way too many mechanical keyboards for their personal collection.

Further reading

The Best Laptops

by Kimber Streams and Dave Gershgorn

From budget-friendly options to thin-and-light ultrabooks to powerful gaming laptops, we’ve spent hundreds of hours finding the best laptops for most people.

The Best Laptop Under $500

by Kimber Streams

If you’re on a budget, these are the best cheap Windows laptops and Chromebooks we recommend after extensive research and hands-on testing.

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Buy a Chromebook

Google’s new Chromebook Plus label will help you find an affordable laptop that isn’t awful.

The Best Laptops for College Students

Of all the laptops we recommend, these offer the best balance of performance and a low price—and that makes them our favorite laptops for college students.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (2022) review

This versatile 2-in-1 chromebook is performant but pricey.

Tom's Guide Verdict

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is a stylish powerhouse that’s great for those who run dozens of browser windows at a time, but battery life and price disappoint.

Bright display

Silky, responsive touchpad

Great port variety

Low profile keyboard took time to adapt to

Audio performance inconsistent

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.

Price: $872 as reviewed Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7 RAM: 16GB Graphics Card: Intel IrisXe Integrated Graphics Storage: 128GB SSD Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB Type-A, HDMI 2.0a, microSD card reader Size: 14.08 x 9.48 x 0.73 inches Weight: 4.3 pounds

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 joins the realm of Chromebooks that break through the assumption that a Chromebook has to be a staid, basic laptop alternative. 

As its name implies, the Chromebook Flip has a screen that not only flips around to a tent formation, but can flip all the way around to transform into a tablet, too (sort of). 

With its bright display, solid performance and variety of ports, the Flip CX5 is a decent Chromebook for getting things done. If configured correctly, it's even capable of running games via Steam for Chromebooks. However, a few weaknesses keep it from a place among the best Chromebooks on the market. 

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Price and configurations

• Our review unit costs ~$872
• Cheaper models with smaller screens and weaker specs are available

Our Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5500) review unit is (at time of review) the top-tier configuration of the Flip CX5 series, with its 15.6-inch display and an Intel 11th gen Core i5-1135G7 processor, 16GB of memory and 128GB of storage. You can buy this model for $872 via retailers Insight and Staples, though it's out of stock at Staples as of publication. 

If you like the general design but want something cheaper, there are lower-cost options in the Flip CX5 line that come with a 14-inch display, a Core i3-1110G4 processor, and half the memory.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Design

• 360-degree hinged design feels sturdy and comfortable
• Striking black-and-white design 

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5’s 360-degree hinge is its big differentiator compared to most Chromebooks. The 360-degree hinge feels sturdy and durable, and our review unit had no issue holding form in a tent position, presentation position, or flipped around as a tablet.  The hinge gives the unit a mild tilt angle for comfortable typing in standard laptop mode, a tilt that also provides improved airflow under the laptop. Air vents are on the underside, as are the speakers.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 has an attractive black and white design that is as eye-catching as it is stylish. The cover and underside are matte white and fingerprint-resistant, with embossed silver lettering that matches the silver hinge. The white also runs around the edges, keeping a consistent design.

Inside, the keyboard deck and touchpad are black. The surface finish is smooth to the touch, which in turn meant my fingers and wrists could effortlessly glide as I touch-typed on the chiclet backlit keyboard or scrolled using the touchpad. Some light escapes from under the keys, but this is not unlike many other laptops and is just a minor annoyance.

More of an annoyance was the key travel of this low-profile keyboard: I found the 1.4mm keys particularly low in a way that initially impeded my touch-typing. Over time, I got more accustomed to the design, but I’d still occasionally miss  a keystroke. I did appreciate the presence of a full-size number pad at right, as well as the row of shortcut keys above the number row for quick access to settings like brightness and volume, and to one-touch buttons to go back, refresh a page, or expand a window to fit the screen.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 weighs 4.3 pounds and measures 14.08 x 9.48 x 0.73 inches. Its weight and size are competitive with other current touchscreen Chromebooks with the same display size.

Since a stylus is optional, and the touchscreen works with the USI (Universal Stylus Initiative), I can understand why Asus doesn’t have a built-in garage for a stylus. But it would be nice to see a design that finds a way to accommodate a stylus in a meaningful way, to make the stylus an extension of the unit.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Display

• 15.6-inch 1080p touchscreen gets pretty bright, for a Chromebook
• Color accuracy leaves something to be desired

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5's 15.6-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 touchscreen is responsive, and supports the use of a USI (Universal Stylus Initiative) stylus if you own one or choose to purchase one separately. The 16:9 aspect ratio display has a minimal bezel edge and is rated at 250 nits. 

Our tests confirmed that brightness, making this a highly competitive screen and one of the brighter models we’ve tested. When we pointed our Klein K10-A colorimeter at the display and measured the brightness, we discovered the center actually gets slightly brighter than advertised, up to 274 nits, though the rest of the screen is dim enough to make the average brightness level out around 250 nits.

That’s brighter than many Chromebook displays we’ve tested, including the cheaper Acer Chromebook 514, which achieved an average brightness of 223.5 nits. However its larger sibling the Acer Chromebook 515 has a slightly brighter screen (260 nits) than our Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review unit.

I found the Flip CX5's brightness pleasing while I played videos on YouTube and when I compared test images. I did tend to keep the laptop on the maximum brightness level to get the most out of the screen.

Our colorimeter reports that the CX5's screen is capable of displaying 67.2% of the sRGB color gamut (100% is most accurate) with a Delta-E value of 0.28 (closer to 0 is better). Those are decent scores for a Chromebook display, and they're a smidge better than a competitor like the Acer Chromebook 515, which displays just 65.8% of the sRGB color gamut. However, the Flip CX5's display can't match the brightness or color accuracy of the (admittedly smaller) Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 , which launched last year for roughly the same price as the Flip CX5 yet can achieve 118.4% of the sRGB color spectrum with an average maximum brightness of 390 nits.

When the Flip CX5's display is flipped around to tablet mode, the keyboard stops working, but you don’t get an on-screen keyboard, either (as on Windows laptops with a 360-degree hinge).  The screen did automatically split to show the Chrome browser and the YouTube movie I had playing behind the partially-sized browser screen.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Ports

• Plenty of ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.0 and a microSD card reader
• Dual USB-C ports, one on either side, for easier charging

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is jam-packed with useful ports. The dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports are split, with one on each side of the unit.

Both can support display and power delivery, a convenience that gives added flexibility as to which side you use to charge the laptop.

The laptop also has a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type–A port, a volume rocker and a combo audio jack on the left side, and a full-size HDMI 2.0a and microSD card slot at the right.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Performance

• Great performance for a Chromebook
• One of few Chromebooks beefy enough to play Steam games 

As more and more of our computing tasks are done entirely in a browser, speed becomes ever more important. The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 has that in spades. It netted 4,534 on Geekbench 5.4’s multi-core general performance test, more than double the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.

That’s great performance for a Chromebook, and it beats out both the Acer Chromebook 515 (with its Geekbench 5.4 score of 3,761) and its smaller sibling the Acer Chromebook 514 (2,219). Plus, the Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU and 16GB of RAM make this Flip CX5 one of the few Chromebooks which supports the alpha version of  Steam on Chromebooks . That's a rare differentiator right now (don't miss our guide on  how to play Steam games on Chromebook  if you're curious), though as Chromebooks improve and Valve fine-tunes Steam on ChromeOS we'll likely see this feature become much more common.

As more and more of our computing tasks are done entirely in a browser, speed becomes ever more important. The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 has that in spades."

Compared with similarly-priced Windows and Mac laptops, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 showed reasonable oomph, but still fell short ofthe 13-inch Asus Zenbook 13 OLED (6,411) and the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1 (5,962). If you’re a macOS or Windows devotee, the use case for a Chromebook remains limited. Its best proposition is for those who rely primarily on browser-based services and sites, and who need limited or managed system access.

In our Jetstream 2.0 test, designed to gauge performance while using JavaScript and web apps you'll use often on tablets and Chromebooks, the Flip CX5 earned a respectable score of 165.2. That’s a good score for a Chromebook, matching competition like the Acer Chromebook 515 (166.7) and outpacing competitors like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (63.7) and the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (104.9). 

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Chrome OS and Android

• Android app access is nice to have
• Google needs to do a better job of surfacing apps optimized for Chrome OS

The Flip CX5 comes with Chrome OS pre-installed, and that means your default way of accessing new apps is via the Google Play Store. 

The ability to download Android apps from the Play Store is helpful, but Google still doesn’t help surface Chrome OS-optimized content. When I searched for apps, I found some had a separate Chrome OS version (ie. Zoom for Chrome OS), while others, like Canva presented as if optimized for Chrome OS without stating as much. When looking for Chrome-optimized games, I found some under the Premium tab. Other Chrome apps are via the Chrome Store for extensions, but again, Google doesn’t make discovery easy.

Some apps work well (not surprisingly, Google Drive and YouTube, for example), even if they’re still presented in the center of the screen in vertical, phone-optimized orientation. Some are functional but lacked features I was accustomed to in Windows (Zoom for Chrome OS lacked the ability to save a chat, for example). And some just crashed entirely; I tried playing Asphalt9, a racing game from Gameloft, and it crashed during the initial orientation and I had to go through steps to access the Chrome OS task manager via the Chrome browser to force end the program.

Remember, the Chromebook Flip CX5 is one of seven Chromebooks that support the current alpha-quality version of Steam for Chromebook. To install this, you have to enable the Dev channel and go through a specific and non-standard installation process–an obvious indication that Steam for Chrome OS isn’t ready for the general consumer market.

Another software curiosity: When looking at the same images side-by-side in the Chrome browser and in the pre-installed Google Photos app, I noticed the color and sharpness rendered better in the Photos app than it did in the Chrome browser (the same thing happened with Canva, specifically with respect to the colors). It’s unclear if that’s an oddity unique to this particular Chromebook model, but it did raise the question of color management overall in Chrome OS, and what types of image or graphic creation tasks I’d want to do on a Chromebook if color accuracy was mission critical.

Ultimately, I’d say the app experience on Chrome OS remains a mixed bag at best.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Audio and webcam

• Harmon/Kardon speakers deliver decent sound quality, when they work
• 720p webcam captures muddy, disappointing video

The Harman/Kardon speakers built into the Flip CX5 are downward and side-facing thanks to the laptop's beveled shape along the bottom. Unfortunately, my test unit had an issue with the audio. Across multiple apps–including YouTube and Amazon Prime Video–audio would start out sounding robust, then become softer and switch at will between the left and right speakers, eventually cycling around to getting louder again. Based on small snippets, I can say the audio had body and bass, but the way it was on this unit makes it impossible to judge fully.

The 720p webcam sits centered above the display. The webcam rendered reasonable looking images while on a Zoom app call, but the video looked muddy and disappointing during a Google Meet call.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Heat

• Stays relatively cool under pressure
• Hottest point is on the bottom, near the center

While I tested the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5, I was pleased that my lap didn’t get overly warm, in spite of the fact that air vents from the underside of the unit. 

When our lab team swept the laptop with a heat gun after having it stream HD video for 15 minutes, they found the laptop to be quite cool. The hottest area was in the center of the underside, near the vent, which topped out at 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Battery life

• Lasted 7 hours and 12 minutes in our Tom's Guide battery test
• That's not bad for most laptops, but pretty bad for a Chromebook

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 lasted an average of 7 hours, 12 minutes across three passes. Our web-surfing based battery test sets the display at 150 nits of brightness.

That’s unimpressive for a Chromebook. Both the Asus Chromebook 514 and 515 performed better in the same test, lasting an average of 14 hours 8 minutes and 8 hours 1 minutes respectively. The smaller 1080p Pixelbook Go churned through 11 hours and 29 minutes before shutting down, and of course the similarly-priced MacBook Air with M1 lasted an amazing 14 hours and 41 minutes.

This Asus Chromebook’s battery is okay, but don’t expect to get through a day of computing–especially at full brightness.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 review: Verdict

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is a speedy Chromebook that’s thoughtfully designed, with a robust complement of ports and a touchscreen display that supports an optional stylus. But it is pricey for what you get, and is hard to recommend to any but those who want to experiment with playing Steam games on Chrome OS.

Melissa Perenson is a freelance writer. She has reviewed the best tax software for Tom's Guide for several years, and has also tested out fax software, among other things. She spent more than a decade at PC World and TechHive, and she has freelanced for numerous publications including Computer Shopper, TechRadar and Consumers Digest. 

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HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook

The costliest chromebook we've ever tested...is actually worth it.

Bottom Line

• Thin and light
• Beautiful 3:2 aspect ratio touch screen
• Snappy backlit keyboard with haptic touchpad
• Great performance, connectivity, webcam, and sound
• Fingerprint reader and magnetic pen
• High price only makes sense for business use
• Windows users will have to learn new keyboard shortcuts

HP and Google really, really want you to think of Chromebooks as fit for the corner office as well as K-12 classrooms and cash-strapped consumers. The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook (starts at $1,149; $1,734 as tested) is a corporate 2-in-1 convertible laptop built for cloud-first hybrid work. It's the first Chromebook with Intel's vPro IT manageability and security tech and the most advanced Chrome OS laptop to date. The Elite Dragonfly is unabashedly expensive, replacing its 2020 predecessor the HP Elite Chromebook c1030 Enterprise as the priciest Chromebook we've seen. But if you're not impressed by its exotic haptic touchpad and Wi-Fi 6E , you might perk up at claims like "three hours less downtime per week" and "zero ransomware attacks in history." The HP claims our Editors' Choice award for Chromebooks for business.

The Chromebook Is All Grown Up 

Like our consumer Editors' Choice winner the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 , the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook has a 13.5-inch IPS touch screen with a squarish 3:2 aspect ratio, which lets you see more of a document or webpage without scrolling and feels more like a pad of paper when held in tablet mode. The $1,149 base model's display has 1,920-by-1,280-pixel resolution and 400 nits of brightness; it's paired with a 12th Generation Intel Core i3 non-vPro processor , 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB NVMe solid-state drive.

For $1,734, our Chrome Enterprise Upgrade test unit also has 8GB of memory but steps up to a Core i5-1245U vPro CPU (two Performance cores, eight Efficient cores, 12 threads), a 256GB SSD, and a 400-nit Gorilla Glass 5 screen with 2,256-by-1,504 resolution matching the Acer's. A third display option has the lower pixel count but is a 1,000-nit panel with HP's Sure View privacy screen. The RAM and SSD ceilings are 32GB and 512GB respectively; flagship models have Intel's Core i7-1265U and 4G LTE mobile broadband. (HP says 5G is coming this fall.) 

The Elite Dragonfly claims to be both sturdy and environmentally friendly, two must-haves for enterprise computing these days. Not only has it passed MIL-STD 810H tests against road hazards like shock and vibration, HP boasts, but it also has a 90% recycled-magnesium top, 50% recycled-aluminum bottom, and 50% recycled-plastic keycaps. The Chromebook measures 0.65 by 11.6 by 8.7 inches and weighs 2.8 pounds, a bit trimmer than the Spin 713 (0.67 by 11.8 by 9.3 inches, 3.2 pounds). The competing 13.3-inch Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is 0.61 by 12.1 by 8.4 inches, and the heaviest of the trio at 3.3 pounds. 

The side screen bezels are thin, though the top one is thicker to accommodate a webcam with sliding shutter. The system feels robust and sturdy, though as with most thin convertibles there's a bit of flex if you grasp the screen corners or mash the keyboard. The display also wobbles a bit when tapped in laptop mode—the annoying but impossible-to-eradicate "screen bounce" phenomenon. A fingerprint reader in the palm rest speeds sign-ins.

On the laptop's left side are USB-C/ Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI ports—the latter a big Chromebook bonus for connecting an external monitor without fussing with a USB-C dongle—plus a microSD card slot. You'll also find the power button and a volume rocker for use in tablet mode.

A second Thunderbolt 4 port joins an audio jack, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, and SIM-card and security-lock slots at right. The AC adapter has a USB-C connector; the Elite Dragonfly is compatible with HP's Thunderbolt docking stations.

A Clever Camera 

The 5-megapixel webcam puts most notebooks' cheap 720p cameras to shame, capturing 1080p videos (and, in a nifty new Chromebook option, five-second GIFs) and 2,560-by-1,920-pixel stills. Images are sharp and colorful, though a bit dark in rooms that aren't brightly lit. 

The Bang & Olufsen-tuned speakers above the keyboard are surprisingly loud without being boomy or distorted at top volume. Highs and midtones are crisp, and bass is stronger than I expected; you can easily make out overlapping tracks. One of the top-row keys mutes the mic and all apps so you won't disturb conference calls.

Backlit for use in those dim rooms I mentioned, the keyboard follows the standard Chromebook layout with top-row browser, brightness, and volume controls, plus keys for switching among virtual desktops, capturing screens, and locking the system. Windows migrants will be frustrated by the lack of Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys (worsened by HP's trademark placement of the cursor arrows in a row instead of the proper inverted T), but the keyboard has a comfortable, responsive typing feel, even if it is a bit noisy. 

The large, buttonless touchpad uses haptic technology, like that of Apple's MacBooks and just a few high-end Windows laptops, so clicks are registered equally wherever you press (even at the top edge) and indicated by feedback instead of physical movement. The feedback is rather faint, but you quickly get used to it, and is a welcome addition when you drag or snap windows to the sides (halves) of the screen.

As with most Chromebooks, the display offers a range of faux or "looks like" resolutions (the default is 1,410 by 940 pixels) if you find that its native resolution of 2,256 by 1,504 pixels makes screen elements and text too tiny. The panel is nicely bright (though I stuck with the top two or three backlight levels), with clean white instead of grayish backgrounds, and rich, well-saturated colors. The 5.5-inch pen clings tightly to the Dragonfly's right edge and charges wirelessly; it kept up with my fastest swoops and scribbles, and exhibited good palm rejection.

Thanks to Intel vPro, IT managers can revel in remote manageability and security, including total memory encryption (TME) and Keylocker. The vPro functionality also includes approving and blocking apps and extensions, and remotely wiping or disabling misplaced machines.

In addition, HP provides QuickDrop software, used to transfer files between your Chromebook and iOS or Android phone; a trial of the Concepts sketching app; and one year of Parallels Desktop , so Chrome Enterprise customers can run Windows programs.

Testing the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook: A Top-End Duel 

For our benchmark charts, I compared the Elite Dragonfly with four other Intel Core-powered Chromebooks. Besides two additional 13.5-inch convertibles with 3:2 aspect displays—the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 and HP Elite c1030 Chromebook Enterprise—I chose two 14-inch clamshells aimed at consumers and business respectively, the Acer Chromebook 514 and the Asus Chromebook CX9 . You can see their basic specs in the table below.

We test Chromebooks with three overall performance benchmark suites—one Chrome OS, one Android, and one online. The first, Principled Technologies' CrXPRT 2, measures how quickly a system performs everyday tasks in six workloads such as applying photo effects, graphing a stock portfolio, analyzing DNA sequences, and generating 3D shapes using WebGL. 

The second, UL's PCMark for Android Work 3.0, performs assorted productivity operations in a smartphone-style window. Finally, Basemark Web 3.0 runs in a browser tab to combine low-level JavaScript calculations with CSS and WebGL content. All three yield numeric scores; higher numbers are better.

The Elite Dragonfly trailed in PCMark Android but scored a win in Basemark Web and more or less tied for first in CrXPRT 2, so it's a great performer for the Google Workspace and other office tasks it's destined for. It's one of the quickest Chromebooks we've tested. 

Sadly, the Dragonfly balked at our Android CPU benchmark, Primate Labs' Geekbench (likely a software glitch, not a deficiency with the laptop specifically). It did run our Android GPU test, GFXBench 5.0, which stress-tests both low-level routines like texturing and high-level, game-like image rendering that exercises graphics and compute shaders, reporting results in frames per second (fps). 

Finally, to test a Chromebook's battery, we loop a 720p video file with screen brightness set at 50%, volume at 100%, and Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting disabled until the system quits. Sometimes we must play the 69GB video from an external SSD plugged into a USB port, but the HP had more than enough room on board.

We've never seen a Chromebook with a dedicated GPU instead of integrated graphics , so we've never seen a Chromebook with blazing gaming performance, though the Dragonfly is more than quick enough for browser and Android games. More important, it delivers solid if not record-setting battery life. You should easily get through a day's work without worrying about staying close to a wall outlet.

Do You Dare to Defy Windows?

Google is serious about selling Chrome OS to corporations, touting its continuous, automatic updates; no need for third-party antivirus software; swift startup, voice support, and cloud profiles that work across devices; Google Workspace's compatibility with Microsoft Office; and built-in Google Meet videoconferencing and Screencast screen recorder with auto-transcript. With the cutting-edge, vPro-compliant HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, the platform has its best example yet for enterprise deployment.

The rather large drawback is that the Dragonfly is shockingly expensive, or at least will seem so to anyone not used to premium Chromebooks. Even with HP currently discounting the $1,149 base model to $979.99, it'll make consumers turn away and prospective business buyers hesitate. But if they take the plunge, IT managers will find the Elite Dragonfly the best Chromebook ever and an Editors' Choice-worthy showpiece for cloud and flexible work.

More Inside PCMag.com

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• Hands On: Microsoft's 2024 Surfaces Level Up With Copilot AI, Arm Silicon
• Elon Musk Criticizes Microsoft Feature That Gives PCs 'Photographic Memory'
• At Microsoft Build, Did We Just See the Spark of a PC-Laptop Revolution?

About Eric Grevstad

I was picked to write the "20 Most Influential PCs" feature for PCMag's 40th Anniversary coverage because I remember them all—I started on a TRS-80 magazine in 1982 and served as editor of Computer Shopper when it was a 700-page monthly. I was later the editor in chief of Home Office Computing , a magazine that promoted using tech to work from home two decades before a pandemic made it standard practice. Even in semiretirement in Bradenton, Florida, I can't stop playing with toys and telling people what gear to buy.

More From Eric Grevstad

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iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): the key differences

Is the difference as light as air?

• Price & availability
• Design & display
• Performance & software

Alongside the monstrous iPad Pro (2024) , Apple also launched the iPad Air (2024) , and while this isn’t the biggest upgrade we’ve ever seen, it does have some significant improvements over the iPad Air (2022) .

These include a powerful M2 chipset, a repositioned selfie camera, and – perhaps most notably – the option of a larger 13-inch screen size.

So is the iPad Air (2024) worth upgrading to? Well, both based on the specs and our  impressions in our iPad Air 13-inch (2024) review , we’ve compared it to the iPad Air (2022), to give you a clearer idea.

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): specs comparison

Before we look closely at the various aspects of these new and old(er) slates, the chart below provides a brief rundown of their key specs, so you can see their similarities and differences at a glance.

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): price and availability

The iPad Air (2024) was announced on May 7, 2024, and went on sale May 15. The iPad Air (2022) launched back in 2022 obviously, and while it was widely available, it has now been discontinued – though some third-party stores will still have stock at the time of writing.

As for the price, the iPad Air 11-inch (2024) starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999, which gets you a 128GB Wi-Fi model. The 11-inch option tops out at $1,249 / £1,249 / AU$2,129, for a 1TB Wi-Fi and cellular model.

The iPad Air 13-inch (2024) starts at $799 / £799 / AU$1,299 (again for 128GB), and tops out at $1,449 / £1,449 / AU$2,429 (for a 1TB version with Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity).

The iPad Air (2022) only comes in one size (10.9 inches), and that starts at $599 / £569 / AU$929, which is for a 64GB Wi-Fi model. It tops out at $899 / £869 / $1,389, for a 256GB model with Wi-Fi and cellular.

So the starting price of the iPad Air (2024) is similar to that of the iPad Air (2022) – albeit marginally higher in the UK and Australia. And that’s for twice as much storage.

Of course, the larger 13-inch iPad Air (2024) costs more, and both sizes top out at a higher price than the 2022 model, but that’s with way more storage than you can get the iPad Air (2022) with.

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): design and display

The design of the iPad Air (2024) isn’t dramatically different to that of the iPad Air (2022). In fact, the iPad Air 11-inch (2024) has exactly the same dimensions as the iPad Air (2022), at 247.6 x 178.5 x 6.1mm, and it weighs almost the same too, with the 2024 model being 462g while the 2022 one is 461g.

The larger iPad Air 13-inch (2024) is of course bigger and heavier, but just as slim, at 280.6 x 214.9 x 6.1mm and 617g.

All of these tablets are clad in aluminum, and there are only really two other differences. One is the position of the front-facing camera, which is on a long edge with the 2024 models and the short top edge with the 2022 model.

The other is the available colors, with the iPad Air (2024) being sold in Space Gray, Starlight, Purple, and Blue, while the iPad Air (2022) is available in Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple, and Blue. So even there, the only real difference is that the older tablet is available in Pink, while the rest of the shades are almost identical, albeit a slightly different tone.

There aren’t too many differences when it comes to their screens either, with all of these tablets having around 264 pixels per inch, and using IPS LCD. The iPad Air 11-inch (2024) and the iPad Air (2022) also have the same resolution and brightness, at 1640 x 2360 and 500 nits respectively.

The big difference though is the presence of a larger 13-inch model this year. The iPad Air 13-inch (2024) then is higher resolution at 2048 x 2732 (though with the same pixel density), and its screen can get brighter, reaching 600 nits.

We were fairly impressed with this screen in our review, describing it as delivering “vibrant colors and the ability to craft immersive visuals.” Though sadly none of these tablets have a 120Hz refresh rate – they're all stuck at 60Hz.

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): cameras

If you were hoping for camera upgrades on the iPad Air (2024) then – at least in terms of the rear camera – you’re out of luck, as it has the same 12MP f/1.8 camera as the iPad Air (2022).

Things have changed slightly on the front though, as while both generations of iPad have a 12MP f/2.4 ultra-wide camera (with a 122-degree field of view), it’s on the top edge of the iPad Air (2022), but it’s on one of the longer edges of the iPad Air (2024).

That makes it more ideally suited for landscape use on the new iPad, which should be preferable for most people, since it’s a better position for video calls.

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): performance and software

One of the biggest upgrades this generation is to the chipset, with the iPad Air (2024) having an M2 chip , in place of the M1 used by the iPad Air (2022). Apple claims this newer chipset is almost 50% faster than the M1, so it’s a substantial upgrade – though notably trails behind the M4 chipset in the iPad Pro (2024).

That said, the iPad Air (2022) is still a powerful tablet, so if your use cases aren’t super-demanding then you might not benefit much from the extra power in the new generation, especially as both generations have 8GB of RAM.

Where the iPad Air (2024) should be an improvement for everyone though is the available storage. It starts at 128GB, which is double the frankly unacceptably low 64GB that the iPad Air (2022) starts with. And it tops out at 1TB, rather than 256GB. So storage is a lot less limited with the iPad Air (2024).

For software, both generations run iPadOS 17.4, but the iPad Air (2022) has been through two years of updates to get there, so Apple may well stop supporting it two years before it stops supporting the iPad Air (2024).

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): battery

Apple claims that all of these tablets offer up to 10 hours of life when surfing the web on Wi‑Fi or when watching videos, and that they can all manage up to 9 hours of life when web browsing using a mobile data network.

So there shouldn’t be any significant differences in their battery lives, and they all charge via USB-C as well.

We found that the 2022 model largely lived up to Apple’s claims, although when using it heavily or with patchy 5G coverage the battery dipped slightly faster than Apple suggests it should.

iPad Air (2024) vs iPad Air (2022): verdict

The main differences between the iPad Air (2024) and the iPad Air (2022) – on paper – are a faster chipset in the new model, along with a better position for the front-facing camera, the option of a bigger screen, and more storage, both in terms of the starting capacity and the maximum available.

The iPad Air (2024) will probably be supported with software updates for longer too, but should have a similar battery life, screen quality, and camera performance, and has a near identical design, as well as having the same amount of RAM.

So this isn’t the biggest or most exciting upgrade, but when you consider that its starting price is roughly the same and that you get twice as much storage for that money, it’s clearly the better prospect in 2024 – unless you can find a heavily reduced iPad Air (2022).

We’d hesitate to say you should upgrade from the older model to the iPad Air (2024) though, going by the specs list – but for a better idea of how it performs in practice, make sure to read our full iPad Air (2024) review .

You might also like

• Hands-on iPad Pro 13-inch (2024) review : the impossibly thin king of iPads
• Hands on: iPad Air 13-inch (2024) review : you no longer need to go Pro
• iPad Pro (2024) vs iPad Pro (2022) : the key differences

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James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

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