Two-in-one laptops are becoming all the rage, especially Chromebooks. They have a wide range of uses, from young kids using them for school to adults using them for remote work. But which Chromebook is the right one for you? That’s where StudyFinds comes in. Thanks to online expert recommendations, we put together a list of the top five best Google Chromebooks on the market today.
People who work remotely or hybrid need a computer they can trust at home, especially with all the hours they spend in front of it. According to a recent survey, the average worker spends nearly 1,700 hours a year staring at their computer screen. With so much time spent on your device, it is important that it operates at the best quality.
A Guide to Choosing the Best Google Chromebook:
- Identify your needs: Determine how you intend to use your Chromebook, whether for work, school, or entertainment.
- Prioritize portability and performance.
- Ensure compatibility and security: Verify compatibility with your existing devices and peripherals, and prioritize security features.
- Explore top-rated Chromebooks: Consider models like the ones on our list below!
Are you in the market for a new laptop? StudyFinds has listed the top five best Google Chromebooks thanks to experts. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!
The List: Best Google Chromebooks, According to Experts
1. Acer Chromebook Spin 714
The experts’ pick to click for the best Chromebook is this model. Why? “The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 offers fast Intel processors and Thunderbolt 4 support,” says The Verge. “While it’s not as impressive as its predecessor’s, particularly when it comes to battery life, it’s a powerful laptop with nice perks like an HDMI port and garaged stylus.”
“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),” notes The New York Times.
RTINGS.com calls the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 best overall. “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 while the touchpad is on the smaller side, it tracks all movements and gestures well. 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.”
2. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Second on the list is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. “The Lenovo Duet Chromebook (aka Chromebook Duet 3) is an awesome little 11-inch ChromeOS tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad,” says CNET. “Its small size and performance aren’t ideal for full-time use. But the Chromebook Duet 3 is a good pick if you’re looking for an affordable ultraportable device to get some work done on the go, sketch or jot down notes in class, or do simple stuff like email, web browsing, gaming, reading and streaming video.”
“The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a low-priced 2-in-1 that can transform into a laptop with an accompanying twill-like kickstand cover and detachable keyboard,” explains Laptop Mag.
The Verge recommends the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5, calling it the best OLED Chromebook. “The Chromebook Duet 5 is a compact convertible device with an OLED screen. It’s thinner and lighter than most Chromebooks out there, and its back cover doubles as a kickstand.”
3. HP Dragonfly Pro
Another popular Chromebook on the market is this model. “The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is our favorite business Chromebook, a high-end ChromeOS laptop with both a gorgeous design and professional-grade performance, along with VIP chat and phone support,” says PC Magazine. “An elegant system for any user, it’s made to cater to professionals, from its bright and colorful touch screen to the high-res webcam. Plus, Thunderbolt 4 connectivity means you can connect anything with the right adapter. Compared with the enterprise-oriented Elite Dragonfly Chromebook—our previous pick for business Chromebooks—the Dragonfly Pro is a better buy at its price, with better features as well.”
“Most Chromebooks fall below $500, and for general use, they’re all most people will need. However, Google’s ChromeOS is capable of doing much more than it could more than a decade ago when it first appeared,” explains CNET. “Consider this HP the MacBook Pro of Chromebooks: beautiful design, excellent display, keyboard and touchpad and enough processing power to take advantage of today’s ChromeOS features. And if you’re an Android phone user, it’s the perfect companion.”
Android Police calls it the best business-casual Chromebook. “HP’s Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is a premium laptop with a stunning display, quality speakers and camera, and strong performance hardware. It costs a lot, but it’s the right choice for professionals and power users.”
4. Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Coming in fourth on the best Chromebook list is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE. “With the 516 GE, though, Acer is making a surprisingly strong case for this new breed of Chromebooks,” says TechRadar. “GE naturally stands for ‘Gaming Edition’, and this is just that: a solid Intel-powered Chromebook, with some slick new features added in to appeal to the gaming audience.”
“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,” writes The New York Times. “It also has a vivid 16-inch, 2560×1600 display with a 120 Hz refresh rate and a responsive, comfortable RGB keyboard.”
RTINGS.com calls it the best gaming Chromebook. “Chrome OS isn’t typically associated with gaming, as there aren’t any Chromebooks with a discrete GPU, and most popular titles are designed for Windows. 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.”
5. Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition
Rounding out the top five is the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition. “For those who like to tinker with their laptops, the Framework Laptop Chromebook is an excellent choice,” recommends PCWorld. “As is, this Chromebook sports solid performance thanks to its Intel Core i5 processor, Intel Xe integrated graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. But what truly makes it shine is the fact that Framework has built this computer to allow for ultimate customization and upgradability—you can replace or repair almost every part of the hardware. The 1080p display is also a draw and it comes with hot-swappable ports allowing for even more versatility. Due to this convenience, the price tag is on the higher side for a Chromebook, but it’s really targeted for a specific niche of people anyways: those who find enjoyment in tinkering with their gadgets.”
“The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition is an excellent ChromeOS laptop with impressive performance and lots of features, making it one of the best Chromebooks available,” writes PC Magazine. “However, its primary selling point is its repairable, upgradable, and customizable design, which puts the power in the hands of the user. The ability to upgrade memory, storage, ports, and even the display—as well as the option to replace the motherboard for CPU upgrades—makes it unique in the Chromebook world. But aside from the innovative design, it’s also an excellent Chromebook, thanks to an Intel Core i5-1240P processor, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of SSD storage, and battery life that gets you through a day of work or school.”
Android Police calls it the most novel Chromebook. “From the motherboard to the memory and beyond, Frameworks’s Laptop Chromebook Edition brings its repairable and upgradeable vision to Chrome OS after its initial Windows/Mac/Linux options. While this assuredly won’t be everyone’s favorite, it definitely fills a very specific niche.”
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Sources:
- The Verge
- The New York Times
- RTINGS.com
- PCWorld
- PC Magazine
- CNET
- Android Police
- Laptop Mag
- Trusted Reviews
- TechRadar
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
You might want to reconsider the recommendation for Acer. In doing my own user reviews, I found people in Reddit complaining these Chromebooks were well behind current versions of chrome, with no estimate for the next release. This was a deal breaker for me.