Greatest Chromebooks 2025: Prime picks for work, college, and extra

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In search of a strong laptop computer that gained’t completely wreck your price range? A Chromebook is perhaps simply the factor. They’re often method cheaper than Home windows machines with some beginning round $300. They’re fast besides, simple to make use of, and replace themselves within the background. No fuss, no bloat.

And hey, because of cloud gaming platforms like Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, you may even stream AAA video games on some fashions. Not dangerous for a budget-friendly laptop computer. Simply ensure you’re getting one which nails the fundamentals: good pace, respectable construct, and battery life that gained’t give up on you midway by the day. We’ve examined these picks hands-on, so if it’s on this checklist, it’s earned its spot.

Should you resolve that you just’d favor a Home windows laptop computer, try PCWorld’s roundup of the perfect laptops accessible right this moment.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Greatest total Chromebook

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Zippy processor efficiency

Good keyboard

Big range of connectivity choices

Stylish design Cons

Battery life isn’t aggressive

Show’s 16:9 side ratio feels a bit cramped

Value When Reviewed: $499

Who can purchase the Asus Chromebook Plus PX34?

If you'd like a Chromebook that handles the on a regular basis grind with out breaking a sweat, the Asus Chromebook Plus PX34’s bought your again. The Intel Core i5 chip retains issues snappy—internet looking, streaming, docs, you title it. And ports? You’ve bought choices: USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, headphone jack. No dongle mess, no drawback.

It’s a slick, no-nonsense machine that does what you want and doesn’t break the bank. Clear design, strong construct, quick guts.

Asus Chromebook Plus PX34: Additional issues

It’s not all sunshine, although. The 16:9 display can really feel cramped if you happen to’re used to roomier shows, and whereas 13 hours of battery life sounds good on paper, others last more. Not a deal breaker, but when display area or all-day energy is on the high of your checklist, you would possibly wish to maintain wanting.

Learn our full Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 evaluation

Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook – Greatest price range Chromebook

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Light-weight design

Nice battery life

Engaging coloration scheme

1080p show Cons

Solely 4GB of RAM

720p webcam is disappointing

Value When Reviewed: $319

Who can purchase the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook?

In case your price range’s tight however you continue to want a machine that exhibits up and will get the job executed, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook’s price a glance. It’s gentle, it’s easy, and it handles the fundamentals like looking and emails with out drama. The battery? Goes and goes. We’re speaking 16 hours, simple.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: Additional issues

You’re not shopping for this for energy, it’s not making an attempt to be fancy. The 1080p touchscreen is a pleasant contact, however with solely 4GB of RAM, don’t count on it to fly by heavy multitasking. And the webcam? Yeah, it’s 720p, so that you’re not going to dazzle anybody over Zoom.

Learn our full Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook evaluation

Lenovo Chromebook Duet – Greatest Chromebook for college kids

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Nice worth

Versatile kind issue

Surprisingly good keyboard

Wonderful battery life Cons

Wants extra RAM

Android apps don’t run nicely

Vertical kickstand reduces horizontal choices

Value When Reviewed: $399.99

Greatest Costs In the present day:

$319.99

Who can purchase the Lenovo Chromebook Duet?

College students, commuters, or anybody who desires one thing gentle, low cost, and lasts all day, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is the one to select. The Duet weighs simply over two kilos with the keyboard and kickstand, so it slides right into a bag prefer it’s nothing.

Battery life? You’re getting 12–13 hours simple, which implies no looking for shops between courses or conferences. The two-in-1 setup is sweet, too. Kind when that you must, flip it round, and chill with Netflix or YouTube if you don’t.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Additional issues

This isn’t a machine for energy customers. It’s not constructed for ten open tabs and a Zoom name. However for notes, docs, emails, and streaming? It’s {smooth}. The keyboard’s higher than you’d count on, flat however comfortable, and the display, whereas solely 10.1 inches, retains distractions at bay.

Learn our full Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2024) evaluation

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 – Greatest high-end Chromebook

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Nice keyboard

Stable battery life and efficiency

Lovely show Cons

Tinny audio system

Pen bought individually

No fingerprint reader

Value When Reviewed: $699

Who can purchase the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714?

If you'd like the great things—quick chip, clear design, and a display that flips—the Spin 714’s bought the products. Beneath the hood you’ll discover an Intel Core Extremely 5, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage. No lag, no stutters, simply {smooth} crusing for work or every day use. It’s a 2-in-1, so flip it into pill mode if you’re executed typing and simply wish to scroll or sketch. The 14-inch touchscreen’s sharp, shiny, and roomy sufficient to get stuff executed with out squinting.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: Additional issues

The display’s good indoors, however take it exterior and it’s a unique story. Glare and brightness aren’t its robust fits. Additionally, the $699 price ticket would possibly make you pause. It’s not low cost. However if you need a Chromebook that feels extra like a real-deal laptop computer? This one’s close to the highest of the checklist.

Learn our full Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 evaluation

Acer Chromebook 516 GE – Greatest Chromebook for cloud gaming

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Engaging design

Wonderful CPU efficiency

A great deal of wired and wi-fi connectivity

Excessive-resolution 1600p show Cons

Mediocre keyboard and touchpad

Disappointing audio system and microphone

Show lacks distinction and coloration vibrancy

Value When Reviewed: $649.99

Greatest Costs In the present day:

$649

Who can purchase the Acer Chromebook 516 GE?

Should you’re all-in on cloud gaming and need a Chromebook that may truly sustain, the 516 GE is constructed for you. It’s packing an Intel Core i5, a super-smooth 120Hz display, and it flies with GeForce Now and Amazon Luna. We performed on it and the gameplay was crisp and lag-free. That Ethernet port? A superb transfer for steady, low-latency classes.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE: Additional issues

No native sport installs right here, this factor lives within the cloud. In case your web sucks, it’s not going to be enjoyable. But when your connection is strong, you’re golden. You’re additionally getting a pointy 1080p webcam, strong battery (round 65 watt-hours), and a slick design. Value-wise, it’s not low cost at round $650, however if you need a Chromebook constructed for gaming and never simply Google Docs, it earns its maintain.

Learn our full Acer Chromebook 516 GE evaluation

Different notable Chromebooks we’ve examined

These Chromebooks didn’t crack our high picks checklist, however they’re nonetheless price a glance.

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 has a troublesome construct and runs {smooth} for on a regular basis stuff, nevertheless it’ll price you a bit extra. The Acer Chromebook Spin 315 is comfortable to sort on and handles the fundamentals simply nice, although the large bezels and restricted charging choices maintain it again. Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, which is tremendous glossy and tremendous gentle at simply 2.58 kilos and below half an inch thick. However in our exams, it couldn’t fairly sustain with quicker picks just like the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34.

How we check Chromebooks

The PCWorld crew places each laptop computer by a collection of benchmarks that check GPU and CPU efficiency, battery life, and so forth. The concept is to push the laptop computer to its limits after which evaluate it towards others we’ve examined. As a result of cloud-based nature of Chromebooks, they undergo a collection of web-based exams. It wouldn’t be truthful or attainable to run the identical sorts of exams on a Chromebook as we use on laptops as a result of they solely run a very totally different working system.

For a extra thorough clarification of our testing procedures, try how PCWorld exams laptops.

Why it is best to belief PCWorld for laptop computer opinions and shopping for recommendation

It’s in our title! PCWorld prides itself on laptop computer expertise and experience. We’ve been overlaying PCs since 1983, and we now evaluation greater than 70 laptops yearly. All the picks beneath have been personally examined and vetted by our consultants, who’ve utilized not solely efficiency benchmarks however rigorous usability requirements. We’re additionally dedicated to reviewing PC laptops at each worth level that will help you discover a machine that matches your price range.

Who curated this text?

Hello, I’m Ashley Biancuzzo, and I oversee all laptop computer and Chromebook protection at PCWorld. When you’ll see me evaluation Chromebooks occasionally, I’m additionally actually into the broader world of shopper tech. I spend a whole lot of time writing and interested by the place laptops are headed–from AI and sustainable designs to long-term tendencies. After I’m not deep on the planet of tech, you’ll most likely discover me gaming, getting misplaced in a very good e book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen.

How to decide on the perfect Chromebook

If you'd like one thing like a Home windows or MacBook however cheaper, try a Chromebook. Simply consider they’ve bought some limits. They’re good for easy, on a regular basis stuff however they don’t have a whole lot of RAM or storage, in order that they’re not geared up to deal with extra resource-intensive duties like gaming or video modifying.

We’ve bought a information that compares Chromebooks and Home windows laptops if you wish to determine what’s greatest for you.

Key Chromebook options to contemplate

Working system

Chromebooks solely run Chrome OS, which is fairly simple to make use of. You possibly can’t put Home windows or macOS on them — you’re caught with Google’s setup.

Processor

Shoot for a mid-range Chromebook if you happen to can. They price wherever within the $400 to $600 vary and plenty of of them come geared up with Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3, or AMD Ryzen 3 processors. These Chromebooks run the browser smoother. They’re the perfect deal for the worth. The fancier ones typically include Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 chips, that are far more highly effective.

RAM

Plenty of Chromebooks include simply 4GB of RAM, which isn’t a lot. Since they’re all in regards to the internet, you want sufficient RAM to maintain your tabs from lagging. Should you can drop a bit extra cash, you may seize a mid-range Chromebook with 8GB, which runs method smoother.

FAQ 1. What's the greatest Chromebook?

PCWorld thinks the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is the perfect all-around Chromebook. It’s bought a strong Intel Core i5 processor, numerous ports, and handles on a regular basis stuff very well. Principally, it’s an important choose if you need a dependable Chromebook with out breaking the financial institution.

2. What's the greatest low cost Chromebook?

PCWorld calls the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook the perfect low cost choose. It’s light-weight and has strong battery life, so it’s good if you happen to’re on a price range. Simply bear in mind, 4GB RAM means it’s not nice for operating numerous stuff directly.

3. What's the greatest Chromebook for gaming?

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is the perfect Chromebook for gaming. It’s bought a giant 16-inch 120Hz display, handles cloud gaming fairly nicely, and has an Ethernet port for regular web, which you want for stuff like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

4. What’s the distinction between a Chromebook and a laptop computer?

A Chromebook’s only a laptop computer that runs Google’s Chrome OS as a substitute of Home windows or Mac. It’s largely for internet stuff like Google Drive and YouTube. Common laptops are extra highly effective and might deal with just about something.