Reasonably priced laptops are customary, however few supply a smooth and succesful system for much less cash, like a Chromebook.
PCMag’s analysts have reviewed laptops and Chromebooks for years since their launch.
They use detailed testing strategies to evaluate efficiency, battery life, and usefulness.
Chromebooks run ChromeOS, which isn’t suitable with many Home windows or macOS benchmarks. For these units, PCMag makes use of distinctive testing instruments.
Their prime advice is the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. It delivers top-notch efficiency and options at a aggressive value.
In addition they suggest different Chromebooks tailor-made to numerous wants and budgets. Beneath are a few of their prime picks:
- Greatest General: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 ($439.95 at Amazon)
- Greatest Price range Choice: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 ($310.02 at Amazon)
- Greatest Convertible: Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 ($699.00 at Greatest Purchase)
- Greatest Removable: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook ($369.00 at Lenovo)
Every mannequin meets particular wants, providing wonderful worth for its class.
Chromebooks had been primary after they first launched over ten years in the past. They wanted an web connection for many duties.
Now, they’ll deal with way more and work offline. Google additionally updates them recurrently with new options and safety enhancements.
CNET examined each Chromebook listed right here and opinions new fashions usually. Manufacturers like Lenovo, Acer, Asus, HP, and Samsung supply wonderful efficiency and options for his or her value.
Should you’re uncertain about selecting a Chromebook, right here’s a comparability with conventional laptops.
High Selections:
- Acer Chromebook Plus 514 – Greatest total Chromebook, priced at $379 at B&H Photograph-Video.
- Acer Chromebook Spin 714 – Greatest premium Chromebook, priced at $699 at Greatest Purchase.
- Lenovo Duet Chromebook – Greatest 2-in-1 pill, priced at $250 at Lenovo.
Laptop computer Offers of the Week:
- Dell Inspiron 15 3520: $500 (save $200)
- HP Envy x360 16-inch OLED 2-in-1: $950 (save $350)
- Lenovo Yoga 7 16-inch 2-in-1: $780 (save $335)
- Asus Vivobook Professional 15 OLED RTX 3050: $700 (save $600)
Which Chromebook is the Greatest General?
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is the highest Chromebook we examined this 12 months.
It belongs to Google’s Chromebook Plus lineup, which ensures particular efficiency requirements, {hardware} specs, and unique software program capabilities.
This sequence helps customers who want dependable efficiency as a substitute of focusing solely on reductions.
The Chromebook Plus fashions include:
- No less than a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 processor
- A 1080p IPS LCD or higher
- A 1080p webcam with noise discount
Chromebook Plus laptops have a Google One AI Premium subscription for one 12 months.
It contains Gemini Superior, Gemini for Google Workspace, 2TB of cloud storage, and different advantages from the $20 per thirty days Premium plan.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 meets all these requirements and prices beneath $300.
It supplies wonderful worth with a vivid 14-inch display, a spacious 512GB SSD, a high-quality webcam, and lengthy battery life.
Greatest Chromebooks for 2025
Over ten years in the past, Chromebooks had important capabilities and wanted the web for many duties.
Now, they’ve improved and may operate with out an web connection. Google ceaselessly updates them so as to add options and guarantee safety.
CNET has examined all of the Chromebooks listed right here and continues to overview fashions from manufacturers like Lenovo, Acer, Asus, HP, and Samsung.
Every Chromebook provides wonderful worth and efficiency for its value.
Should you’re uncertain whether or not a Chromebook is best for you, think about how they examine to conventional laptops.
Really helpful Fashions
- Acer Chromebook Plus 514
- Value: $379 at B&H Photograph-Video
- Execs: Lengthy battery life, wonderful webcam, vivid touchscreen, sturdy construct, 512GB SSD
- Cons: No backlit keyboard, some keyboard and touchpad flex, slower USB-C ports
- Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (Premium Choice)
- Value: $699 at Greatest Purchase
- Execs: Nice port choices, sturdy design, high-quality webcam
- Cons: Small touchpad, lacks a microSD card slot
- Lenovo Duet Chromebook (Greatest 2-in-1 Pill)
- Value: $250 at Lenovo
- Execs: Contains keyboard cowl, versatile for laptop computer or pill use, wonderful worth
- Cons: Small touchpad, slower efficiency
Key Issues to Know Earlier than Shopping for a Chromebook
When selecting a Chromebook, keep in mind just a few important components to make sure it suits your wants.
- Functions: Chromebooks primarily help web-based apps, Android apps, and a few Linux packages. Earlier than shopping for, examine if the apps you depend on can be found. For instance, particular skilled or area of interest purposes might not work and not using a workaround.
- Working System: Chromebooks run on ChromeOS, which differs from Home windows or MacOS. Applications made for different techniques gained’t work straight. Widespread apps like Photoshop or some enterprise instruments require alternate options to operate.
- {Hardware}: Whereas ChromeOS is light-weight and doesn’t want high-end {hardware}, it’s nonetheless a good suggestion to purchase a mannequin with the perfect specs you may afford. Since Chromebooks don’t help upgrades later, storage, RAM, and processor energy are important.
- Safety: Among the finest options of Chromebooks is their built-in safety. They’re extremely immune to viruses and malware, so that you don’t want to put in extra antivirus software program.
- Auto-Replace Expiration (AUE): Google helps updates for 8 to 10 years on every Chromebook mannequin. Test the up to date expiration date of the system earlier than buying to make sure you get an extended lifespan.
Taking time to know these factors will provide help to make the proper selection.
Our Laptop computer Testing Course of
We check laptops in two methods: managed efficiency testing within the lab and sensible use by our reviewers.
Reviewers assess the design, usability, and options, contemplating the worth. The ultimate overview combines each measurable information and private opinions.
We use customary instruments like Geekbench 5 and 6, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10, and varied 3DMark checks based mostly on compatibility.
For photograph and video duties, we run UL Procyon if it really works. Our testing additionally features a battery evaluation.
We check gaming laptops by operating benchmarks for Guardians of the Galaxy, The Rift Breaker (CPU and GPU), and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
Chromebooks endure completely different testing as a result of they don’t help Home windows or MacOS apps.
Throughout hands-on testing, the reviewer makes use of the laptop computer for his or her duties to guage the general expertise.
They examine how the design, options (just like the display, digicam, and audio system), and software program work collectively. In addition they think about the associated fee and whether or not the worth displays upgrades or compromises.
We replace our benchmarks and testing standards as know-how modifications. Extra particulars about our course of can be found on the How We Check Computer systems web page.
