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Are you ready to give up the cult of Windows and macOS? If so, Chromebooks are a decent alternative for most people. These machines are perfect for everyday workloads such as working on documents and spreadsheets, browsing the web, sending emails, and more. They also tend to have good battery life and sturdy builds. Additionally, most files can be stored directly in the cloud. Whether you need something with decent battery life or a lightweight form factor or a competitive price, the PCWorld team has compiled a list of different Chromebook options.
If you’re not sure which to buy, scroll down to our buying advice section at the bottom of the page and be sure to check out our broader guide to the best laptops overall if you’re curious about the better options. of the operating system.
1. Pixelbook Go – Best Overall
Between the attractive design and the accessible price, the Pixelbook Go really raises the bar for what a Chromebook can be. The Intel Core i5-8200Y processor is certainly fast enough to handle productivity tasks and some gaming apps. The Chromebook also comes with 8GB of RAM instead of the usual 4GB. Images are crisp on the Go’s Full HD 1080p display and the 16:9 aspect ratio is wide enough. It also stays relatively cool under heavier workloads and it’s portable. In our review, we called it “delightfully thin and light”. If you’re looking for something affordable yet classy, you can’t get better than the Pixelbook Go.
Read our full Pixelbook Go review
2. Lenovo Chromebook Duet – Better Battery Life
If you need all-day battery life, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a fantastic option. We were able to get 15 hours out of it on a single charge. That’s more than a full day’s work. It is also incredibly light. It weighs only one pound, which is simply impressive. Between the long battery life and the slimmed down body, it would also be a great travel companion. However, as with most Chromebooks, the downside is that it comes with just 4GB of RAM. This means that loading web pages and so on may take a bit longer. That said, it’s still a good option, especially if you just plan to use the laptop for lighter tasks. It should be noted that this is technically a Chrome OS tablet with an optional detachable keyboard, rather than a proper laptop.
Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Duet review
3. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a good mid-range laptop. It is fast enough for web browsing, document editing, etc. That said, he may “feel taxed by demanding tasks”. When our tester opened multiple tabs, he noticed a drop in performance. The port selection, however, is a nice combination of old and new. It has two USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. As for the keyboard, our tester liked the “crisp and taut” feel of the keys. Although this laptop is a 2-in-1, it weighs around 3 pounds which is a bit heavy for a convertible laptop. It might not be the most portable laptop in the world, but at least it has the flexibility to function as a tablet for apps that favor that form factor.
Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 review
4. Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duo 5
When it comes to the Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5, a Chrome OS tablet that doubles as a laptop, the highlights are the keyboard and its stunning OLED display. The Full HD 1080p display produces colorful images and, according to our tester, the “3:2 aspect ratio is better for productivity.” However, a larger screen might be better for watching movies. The keys have a decent 1.3mm travel distance and the detachable keyboard as a whole doesn’t feel too cramped. There is also a kickstand which can be adjusted up to 135 degrees. The only trade-off is that the USI-compatible stylus costs more.
Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5 review
5. HP Chromebook x2 11 da0023dx
With its all-day battery life and lightweight form factor, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is a great 2-in-1 machine. The keyboard is suitable for long typing sessions and the kickstand keeps the tablet nice and stable. The 1440p touchscreen is also gorgeous. Colors looked vibrant and small details were crisp and easy to see. The Snapdragon 7c processor is also fast enough for general use. The only real downside is the oversized touchpad, which tends to trigger a few false clicks here and there. If you can live with a sometimes finicky touchpad, then the x2 11 is a fantastic option, especially if you travel a lot for work.
Read our full HP Chromebook x2 11 da0023dx review
6. HP Chromebook x360 12b-ca0010nr
The HP Chromebook x360 is a solid, budget-friendly option for most people. It certainly looks better than the ones kids use in schools, that’s for sure. Battery life is the real star of the show here, though. It lasted around 11 hours on a single charge, which is nothing to sneeze at. While our tester liked the sturdy chassis and 3:2 aspect ratio, the screen has a not-so-bright luminance of 229 nits. If you can live with a dimmer screen than average, the x360 is both affordable and built to last.
Read our full review of the HP Chromebook x360 12b-ca0010nr
How we tested
The PCWorld team puts every laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and more. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it to others we’ve tested. Due to the cloud-based nature of Chromebooks, they go through a series of web-based tests. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook that we use on laptops, because they exclusively run a completely different operating system. Below is a breakdown of each test and why we run them.
Chromebooks
- CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests the battery life of a Chromebook.
- Speedometer 2.0: This test determines the web browser performance of a Chromebook. It simulates this by adding, completing and deleting a to-do list.
- Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark rates a Chromebook’s ability to handle web applications.
- Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark that measures browser speed.
- Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. It’s a way to gauge how well a Chromebook performs advanced workloads.
What should I look for in a Chromebook?
If you’re looking for an alternative to Windows or MacBook, you might want to consider a Chromebook. Equipped with low-power processors, they generally have good battery life and are generally quiet. They make great productivity machines, as they are specially designed for light tasks like browsing the web, watching Netflix, etc. Plus, they’re largely virus-free. That said, most Chromebooks have minimal RAM and storage. If you’re a hardcore gamer or video editor, you’ll want something with a lot more power than a Chromebook can deliver.
Our guide to Chromebooks versus Windows laptops can help you determine which operating system is best for your needs. For more options, you’ll want to check out our roundup of the best laptops.
- Operating system: Although each operating system has its advantages and disadvantages, I would say that Chrome OS is one of the most user-friendly. That said, with Chromebooks, you don’t have the option of choosing another operating system, as they exclusively run Chrome OS. You’re stuck with this, mate.
- Processor: Go for a midrange Chromebook if you can. They cost between $400 and $600 and many of them are equipped with Intel Pentium processors. These Chromebooks have better browser performance and are capable of running more intense gaming applications. It is the best value for money.
- RAM: Many Chromebooks have 4 GB of RAM, which is not much. Chromebooks are web-based machines, so you need a fair amount of RAM to keep those tabs open and working properly. If you can spend a few hundred extra bucks, you can find a midrange Chromebook with 8GB of RAM.
- Storage: I recommend at least 64 GB of storage. Since you’ll be storing stuff mostly in the cloud, you won’t have a ton of local storage.
- Durability: Chromebooks are popular in the education market because they’re so damn rugged. I’m not saying you should hit one with a baseball bat or anything, but they’re tough enough to take life’s daily abuse.
