Greatest Chromebook 2023: 8 finest Chromebooks to purchase

The very best Chromebooks aren’t simply laptops that run a couple of Google apps anymore. Chromebooks can cowl all kinds of computing wants now, and a superb Chrome OS laptop computer or two-in-one may be extra helpful than a mediocre Home windows or macOS laptop computer. That’s why our choose for one of the best Chromebook of 2023 is the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5, which is likely one of the best-built, longest-lasting, and best-performing Chromebooks you should purchase.

Chromebooks from corporations like Acer, Lenovo, and Asus are recognized to ship good worth. The message that many individuals really need good Chromebooks — reasonably than simply low cost ones — has gotten by way of to producers. Many are round $500 or $600, although there are good choices within the greater and decrease ranges as properly. The additional cash goes a good distance towards getting one thing you’ll be proud of.

For the primary time, the standard of the Chromebooks on this vary has been constant. There are such a lot of similarities between the choices from Asus, Lenovo, Google, HP, Dell, and Samsung {that a} conspiracy-minded individual would possibly recommend they’re all sourcing their parts from the identical manufacturing facility. That’s nice information in case you’re comparability buying; nearly all of this checklist could be good buys if you could find them at a reduction. They will even rival a number of the finest laptops, finest funds laptops, and finest pupil laptops available on the market.

We’ve chosen the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 for buyers on a funds. Different sturdy picks are the Asus Chromebook Removable CM3 and the Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook.

What most patrons need in a Chromebook are probably the identical issues they need in any laptop computer: a superb keyboard, stable construct high quality, lengthy battery life, a pleasant display screen, and sufficient energy to do the belongings you need. Extra Chromebooks can meet these {qualifications} than ever earlier than, however these are those that rise above the remainder.

What we’re searching for

Worth: Worth is an important consider evaluating gadgets for this web page. We’re looking for Chromebooks that provide nice worth for his or her asking value and which can be one of the best of one of the best in comparison with different laptops of their value class. The costlier a tool, the extra distinctive it needs to be to make it on right here.Specs: Each Chromebook doesn’t want an enormous quantity of storage, RAM, and efficiency, however it does want sufficient to accommodate the wants of its audience (and to be price its asking value).Display: We like shows which can be color-accurate and shiny.Design: Chromebooks are fashionable amongst faculties and college students. We’re searching for laptops with a stable, sturdy construct that may deal with bumps, jostles, and backpack put on.Battery life: College students could go a number of hours with out having a possibility to plug their gadgets in. We like Chromebooks that may assure not less than a number of hours of steady use. Port choice: The extra ports, the higher.

We attempt to preserve our picks as present as doable, however we could embody an older machine over its newer technology if we really feel that the newer technology is a major downgrade. We not often suggest gadgets which can be greater than two years outdated.

1. Asus Chromebook Flip CX5

Greatest Chromebook of 2023

$649

The Asus Chromebook CX5 gives a terrific bundle for a little bit of a steep value.

CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 16GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 15.6-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 14.08 x 9.48 x 0.73 inches / Weight: 4.3 kilos

Of us could understandably balk on the Chromebook Flip CX5’s value, however it actually is that good. It’s sturdy sufficient to face up to every kind of jolts and jostles in a backpack or briefcase, and has a singular velvety texture that’s very nice to carry. Add a large port choice, a easy and comfy keyboard, and a vivid show, and also you’ve acquired a chassis that may maintain its personal towards loads of midrange Home windows laptops. 

The Asus Chromebook CX5 is one of the best Chromebook of 2023. Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales

The CX5’s efficiency is equally spectacular. We by no means as soon as heard its fan in our testing, even when pushing a workload that slows most gadgets down. Battery life is sort of passable and simply lasted us all day. And the CX5 delivered a number of the loudest audio we’ve ever heard from a Chromebook. Whereas the CX5 isn’t an ideal machine, it’s at the moment one of the best Chromebook you should purchase.

Learn our Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 assessment.

2. Asus Chromebook Removable CM3

Greatest removable Chromebook

$370

The Asus Chromebook Removable CM3 is one of the best removable laptop computer with a built-in pen and removable display screen. It gives a singular dual-folding kickstand, making it doable to fold the pill so it stands up like a laptop computer or stands up horizontally.

CPU: MediaTek 8183 / GPU: Arm Mali-G72 MP3 / RAM: 4GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 10.5-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 10.06 x 6.58 x 0.31 inches / Weight: 1.12 kilos

The Chromebook Removable CM3 is Asus’s try and compete with Lenovo’s extremely praised Chromebook Duet. Just like the Duet, the CM3 is a ten.5-inch, 16:10 Chrome OS pill with a cloth cowl, a kickstand, and a keyboard that pops on and off. It’s a bit costlier than the Duet, but in addition has a couple of additional options. 

One distinctive perk is that the kickstand folds a number of methods: You possibly can fold it the lengthy solution to stand the pill up like a laptop computer, or fold it the quick means and stand the pill up horizontally. We’re unsure how sensible this performance really is, however it’s there when you have a use case in thoughts. 

If the Chomebook Duet isn’t sufficient, the Chromebook Removable CM3 brings some new perks to the removable type issue, for an additional price. Photograph by Monica Chin / The Verge

The CM3 additionally comes with a built-in USI stylus, and roomy keys with a stunning quantity of journey. However the factor we discovered most spectacular was the battery life: We averaged near 13 hours of steady work on the machine. 

The CM3 received’t be one of the best Chromebook for everybody: It solely has two ports (one USB-C and one audio jack) and its MediaTek processor was a bit sluggish in comparison with costlier choices. However in case you’re searching for a convertible Chrome OS machine and discover that the Duet doesn’t fairly fit your wants, you’re probably the CM3’s audience.

Learn our Asus Chromebook Removable CM3 assessment.

3. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

Greatest low cost Chromebook

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a superb 11-inch funds machine. The value contains the keyboard and kickstand.

CPU: Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno graphics / RAM: 4Gb, 8GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 10.95-inch IPS, 2000 x 1200, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 10.16 x 6.48 x 0.31 inches / Weight: 1.14 kilos

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a good, tiny laptop computer for funds buyers. It comes with a magnetic removable keyboard that’s a breeze to pop on and off. The display screen additionally helps USI styluses, although a stylus will not be included within the value. The keyboard is included within the value, nonetheless, as is the magnetic again cowl and kickstand.

Day-to-day, this laptop computer is sort of usable for gentle work and leisure. It has a pointy, shiny 11-inch display screen and a surprisingly comfy keyboard and touchpad. The battery life is near all-day. However the actual draw of this machine is its portability — it’s simply 2.09 kilos with the keyboard connected, making it fairly handy to hold round and whip out to make use of on the go.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 has a slim and transportable design with a shiny and sharp 11-inch display screen. Photograph by Monica Chin / The Verge

There are a couple of compromises: there are solely two ports (and no headphone jack), and the processor will get gradual in case you try a heavier multitasking workload. However Chrome OS followers who desire a transportable machine for enjoyable and multimedia can’t do higher than this Chromebook at this value.

Learn our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 assessment.

4. Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook

Greatest premium Chromebook

$325

The Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is a convertible, premium Chromebook with a stable, sturdy construct that targets adults and professionals.

CPU: AMD Athlon Gold 315, Ryzen 3 3250C, Ryzen 5 3500C, Ryzen 7 3700C / GPU: AMD Radeon / RAM: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 32GB, 64GB, 256GB / Show: 13.3-inch IPS/OLED, 1920 x 1080/3840 x 2160, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 21.09 x 8.35 x 0.7 inches / Weight: 3.3 kilos

Many trendy Chromebooks are oriented in direction of children and college students, however not this one. The C13 Yoga Chromebook is a sturdy, dear, convertible Chromebook for grown-ups. It’s a part of Lenovo’s famend ThinkPad enterprise line, and has every kind of ThinkPad perks together with a pink Trackpoint, discrete touchpad clickers, a fingerprint sensor, a webcam shutter, and an aluminum design. Put this Chromebook subsequent to any variety of Home windows ThinkPads, and we’d not have the ability to choose it out. 

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is a premium Chromebook for grown-ups. Photograph by Monica Chin / The Verge

The C13 can also be distinctive in that it’s the primary Chromebook to incorporate AMD’s Ryzen 3000 Cell C-series processors, that are marketed particularly for Chromebooks. The chips run every kind of applications — even cellular video games — fairly easily. We do want the battery life was a bit higher — we solely averaged simply over six hours on one cost. We averaged seven and a half hours from our prime choose, the Chromebook Spin 713, and loads of the gadgets right here break eight hours with no drawback.

Learn our Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook assessment.

5. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook

A Chromebook for midrange buyers

The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is a good bundle at an reasonably priced value, with a backlit keyboard that’s one of many higher ones we’ve used on a Chromebook.

CPU: Intel Celeron 5205U, Core i3-10110U, Core i5-10210U / GPU: Intel UHD / RAM: 4GB, 8GB / Storage: 32GB, 64GB, 128GB / Show: 13.3-inch IPS, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 12.2 x 8.34 x 0.7 inches / Weight: 2.97 kilos

The Lenovo Flex 5 seems to be quite a bit nicer than its sub-$400 value would possibly point out. It’s constructed to face up to every kind of jolts and jostles in a backpack or briefcase, but in addition has a easy soft-touch texture that’s nice to carry. Add a smooth backlit keyboard, a bodily webcam shutter, and front-facing audio system, and also you’ve acquired a chassis with hallmarks of a way more costly machine.

You get another perks as properly. The Flex 5 has one of many higher keyboards I’ve ever used on a Chromebook, not to mention a Chromebook at a midrange value level. It additionally has a helpful port choice together with a microSD reader and a USB-C port on all sides, in addition to a crisp 1920 x 1080 contact show.

The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is an effective Chromebook for midrange buyers. Pictures by Monica Chin / The Verge

The one caveat is that the Flex 5 has considerably disappointing battery life, averaging simply over 5 and a half hours in our testing. In case you’ll be utilizing the machine whilst you’re out and about, you’ll wish to be sure to deliver the 45W charger with you.

Learn our Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook assessment.

6. HP Chromebook x360 14c

Greatest Chromebook for video conferencing

The Chromebook x360 14c boasts a terrific webcam and HP’s signature premium design. The audio system are a number of the finest you may get on a Chromebook, making it a wonderful alternative for video calls. On the draw back, the battery life is simply okay (although not horrible) and the display screen is a bit dim.

CPU: Intel Core i3-1215U, Core i5-1235U / GPU: Intel UHD, Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB, 16GB / Storage: 128GB, 256Gb, 512GB / Show: 14-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200 / 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.68 x 0.71 inches / Weight: 3.34 kilos

In case you’re searching for an reasonably priced Chromebook with sturdy efficiency and a stable construct, the Chromebook x360 14c is an possibility for you. No person does laptop computer builds fairly like HP, and this convertible Chromebook is not any exception.

Sitting comfortably within the $500-$600 vary the machine is powered by Intel Core processors (our check unit had an i3), and it ran our normal workplace workload with out concern. We noticed little warmth and little fan noise all through. Battery life was acceptable, although we didn’t fairly get a full day. We even discovered the webcam to be surprisingly good.

For college kids or anybody searching for a stable machine, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is an effective choose. Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The first downside price contemplating is the dim display screen – it maxes out at 250 nits, and we needed to take care of fairly a little bit of glare in brighter areas. It’s additionally removed from essentially the most transportable product on this checklist, weighing in at 3.35 kilos. However in the end, it is a nice-looking and nice-feeling machine that’s significantly good for video conferencing.

Learn our HP Chromebook x360 14c assessment.

7. Acer Chromebook Spin 714

Greatest Chromebook for energy customers

$729

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 gives quick Intel processors and Thunderbolt 4 help. Whereas it’s not as spectacular as its predecessor’s, significantly in terms of battery life, it’s a robust laptop computer with good perks like an HDMI port and garaged stylus.

CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U, Core i7-1260P / GPU: Intel Iris Xe / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 256GB / Show: 114-inch IPS, 2560 x 1600, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 12.31 x 8.82 x 0.71 inches / Weight: 3.09 kilos

With a hefty Intel processor and Thunderbolt 4 help, Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 is likely one of the strongest Chromebooks you should purchase. It’s lightning quick, producing little noise and warmth even beneath pretty intense skilled workloads.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is one of the best Chromebook for individuals who want uncooked energy. Photograph by Becca Farsace / The Verge

The keyboard is great with a snug, quiet really feel, and good backlighting. There’s even an HDMI port, which you don’t see on a skinny Chromebook each day. It’s a well-built machine as properly, with an expert end appropriate for an workplace setting. The principle drawbacks to contemplate are that the Spin’s audio system aren’t nice, and the battery life is a bit decrease than final 12 months’s mannequin’s was.

Learn our Acer Chromebook Spin 714 assessment.

8. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

Greatest OLED Chromebook

$499

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 comes with a stunning 13.3-inch Full HD OLED touchscreen and lengthy battery life however lacks biometric authentication.

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 / GPU: Qualcomm Adreno / RAM: 8GB / Storage: 128GB / Show: 13.3-inch OLED, 1920 x 1080, 60Hz, contact possibility / Dimensions: 12.05 x 7.32 x 0.27 inches / Weight: 2.22 kilos

The Chromebook Duet 5 is a compact convertible machine with an OLED display screen. It’s thinner and lighter than most Chromebooks on the market, and its again cowl doubles as a kickstand. And it’s usually obtainable for beneath $400, making it one of many most cost-effective OLED gadgets you should purchase.

The OLED show makes for fairly gratifying viewing, and the removable keyboard is nice as properly with glorious spacing and satisfying suggestions. Efficiency (our unit was powered by the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2) was snappy, and the machine may deal with our normal workplace workload with no concern. However the standout function was battery life: We noticed between 10 and 12 hours to a cost, even when doing pretty demanding duties like Zoom calls and high-resolution YouTube movies.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is certainly one of our favourite Chromebooks of 2023. Photograph by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

There are a couple of unlucky omissions: there’s no fingerprint sensor, and there’s no included stylus (although one is supported). However we predict Chrome OS followers who need a terrific display screen for multimedia viewing can’t do higher than this Chromebook at this value. 

Learn our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 assessment.

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