Finest low cost Chromebook for each price range in 2024

Chromebooks are thought-about a cheerful medium between worth and energy, however they’ve damaged free from their preliminary label as budget-friendly laptops. With the arrival of Chromebook Plus, ChromeOS units have emerged with higher specs, enhanced AI options, and better shows. Luckily, they’re nonetheless obtainable at numerous worth factors — providing a number of bang on your buck.

If a number of the greatest Chromebooks are wanting a tad dear on your pockets, there are many choices under $500 which are effectively well worth the funding. The truth is, some will even embrace a coveted Chromebook Plus badge. Whether or not you are searching for a machine to browse the net or a every day work driver, this price range Chromebook roundup will level you in the best route.

Prime low cost Chromebooks can match all budgets

Lenovo is nice at providing Chromebooks that punch above their asking worth, and the brand new eighth-gen Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook is now right here to affix the celebration. This technology has lastly seen the show get a bump as much as 12.2 inches in dimension, with a boosted 1920×1200 (FHD+) decision to match the 16:10 facet ratio. This being a convertible laptop computer, the display is touch-enabled, and its 360-degree hinges allow you to rotate it round to be used as a pill. In our Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook (Gen 8) evaluation, we famous that “the banner improve for the Flex 3i (Gen 8) doesn’t disappoint.”

Lenovo match this bigger show right into a chassis that is the identical or barely smaller than the outdated mannequin and its 11-inch show, slimmer bezels, and a redesign that is extra consistent with trendy Lenovo units — rounded corners, contemporary colours — assist maintain it compact. Regardless of the dimensions, the Flex 3i Chromebook has an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.2, a 3.5mm audio jack, a microSD card reader, and USB-C 3.2. The addition of a quantity rocker and energy button on the facet makes it straightforward to regulate in pill mode.

The Chromebook is powered by a contemporary Intel Atom N100 processor with 4 cores, 4 threads, and a clock pace as much as 3.4GHz. That is joined by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. It isn’t going to beat the ability obtainable from trendy Intel Core chips, however it would put up a powerful combat in opposition to productiveness duties and internet looking. The display additionally appears to be like nice when streaming motion pictures and TV.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i has lengthy been among the many greatest Chromebooks you may get for the fee, and the Chromebook Plus model has solely made it a extra succesful machine. Rocking a thirteenth Gen Intel Core i3-1315U, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB for storage, it packs sufficient energy to change between a number of tabs and home windows with out hiccups — splendid for college students and every day duties. It does not have fairly sufficient juice for gaming, however as an on a regular basis laptop computer, anticipate to scroll, work, and stream with ease.

Its 2-in-1 type issue permits for a number of use instances, together with pill and tent mode, and whereas it is a tad heavy for its 14-inch dimension, it is nonetheless travel-friendly to take round wherever you go. The Chromebook may even final lengthy sufficient. With as much as 10 hours of battery life (5 to six hours with show brightness at max), it may get via a full workday earlier than needing a cost. With the “Plus” perks it boasts, comparable to higher specs, AI options, and an up to date 1080p webcam, it is laborious to go unsuitable with this versatile Chromebook that is available in at slightly below $500.

This Flex 5i is not a lot of an improve over its earlier non-Plus mannequin, sporting the identical 14-inch touchscreen with a 1920 x 1200 decision, 16:10 facet ratio, and 300-nit brightness. Whereas it does the job, it could have flourished with a 1440p show and elevated brightness. Nonetheless, that is simply nitpicking, because it’s laborious to fault a Chromebook that is already nailed its design, options, and worth. In the event you can push your price range, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus will not disappoint.

Acer’s Chromebook 311 is not as flashy as a number of the different choices on this price range roundup, however that does not imply it is not price trying out by those that need to spend as little as doable. This 11.6-inch Chromebook is extraordinarily moveable due to a skinny and light-weight chassis, but it holds onto USB-C, USB-A, and three.5mm audio ports. There’s even a lock slot if you would like to connect the laptop computer to a desk within the workplace.

The 11.6-inch show has a 1366×768 decision, which truly appears to be like pretty clear at this dimension. There’s not a lot room for multitasking, but it surely appears to be like good when looking the net or streaming media. The laptop computer is powered by a MediaTek MT8183C CPU with eight cores, accompanied by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. This is not thought-about a heavy-hitting mixture of efficiency {hardware}, but it surely’ll get your productiveness work accomplished with out situation.

Acer claims about 15 hours of battery life from a cost; even when you hit half of that, you are still virtually right through a workday. And if you must have a video convention, a 720p webcam with HDR help is standing by. This also needs to be an incredible Chromebook for youths, due to its moveable convertible design and hardy construct. Understand that our prime decide typically drops to lower than $200, primarily making this decide out of date.

In the event you’re after a 14-inch laptop computer that packs an honest punch for its worth, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 will take you far. Outfitted with an Intel i3-N305 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a hardly ever seen 512GB of storage for a Chromebook, it breezes via ChomeOS with ample multitasking prowess. With a price ticket beginning at $350, it boasts some spectacular specs.

Its 14-inch IPS LCD touchscreen with a 1920 x 1080 decision and 16:10 facet ratio is a spotlight, making it nice for scrolling via web sites and streaming exhibits. Regardless of its all-plastic construct, it passes Acer’s army drop-test normal, that means it is nonetheless a tough nut to crack. Whereas its total design is straightforward however efficient and its keyboard is snug to sort on, its touchpad is a letdown. Count on uneven clicks and an affordable really feel, however this may be remedied by utilizing the most effective mice for Chromebooks as a substitute.

The “Plus” options and a one-year subscription to Google One with Gemini Superior are an enormous bonus. You possibly can anticipate Magic Editor (which works hand-in-hand with the Chromebook’s touchscreen), Assist Me Write, AI Wallpaper, and many extra useful instruments. Couple that with its environment friendly battery life, lasting as much as 10 hours, and the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 does a powerful job for the value it is set at.

Talking of, prices can range for various SKU fashions of this Chromebook, however we discovered that the extra inexpensive fashions at round $350 to $400 provide simply the correct quantity of worth.

If the Asus Chromebook Plus 514 is not large enough, strive the subsequent step up. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 has a Core i3-1215U chip, 8GB of speedy LPDDR5x-4800MHz RAM, and 128GB of flash storage. For gentle customers, the bottom i3 ought to have loads of energy on your every day looking. It can even assist you to play video games like Genshin Affect with out bother. Altogether, you possibly can anticipate the system to deal with a comparatively heavy workload with multitasking.

The 15.6-inch show affords loads of display actual property for mentioned multitasking, and also you get a 1920 x 1080 (FHD) decision. The display will not be touch-enabled, which issues much less for a non-convertible machine. The 16:9 display is nice for watching your favourite exhibits, but it surely tops out at 250 nits, which is kind of low. You could wrestle a bit to see the show in vivid environments.

Acer claims the battery can final for about 10 hours, which proved to be correct in our evaluation. Nevertheless, you possibly can anticipate a few hours much less if you must crank the brightness up and stream content material all day.

The highest-firing audio system flank the keyboard, you get a top quality webcam above the show, and there are a lot of ports on your favourite Chromebook equipment. As a result of it is a Plus machine, you additionally get entry to some perks like Magic Eraser within the Google Pictures app, in addition to free trials and reductions on common enhancing software program.

The Asus Chromebook CX17 is for individuals who desire a huge show to view all of their favourite content material, and will not need to spend so much to get it. In the event you fall into that class, you’ll be fairly happy with this $299 Chromebook. It options a big, 17.3-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD, permitting you to get essentially the most out of your streaming companies or internet looking. It does prime out at 250 nits, so your outside viewing expertise will not be nice.

With an Intel Celeron N4500 processor and 4GB of RAM, it isn’t essentially the most highly effective Chromebook. The twin-core processor and 4GB of RAM ought to be enough for these lighter customers. It additionally comes with 64GB of eMMC storage, which is enough for a tool of this caliber. In the event you persist with the fundamentals comparable to internet looking, consuming content material, or writing paperwork, then the efficiency of this machine ought to be a lot. It also needs to play lighter video games on the Play Retailer as effectively.

Due to its massive dimension, you will not be hard-pressed to search out any ports. You get a headphone jack, two USB-A 3.2 ports, and two USB-C 3.2 ports. You additionally get stable battery life. Asus claims 10 hours of runtime, which is a lot to get via a typical work or college day. Rounding out its specs listing, you additionally get an honest webcam, and Wi-Fi 6 onboard.

The HP Chromebook 14 is a superb middle-ground choice for individuals who don’t need one thing too small or too massive. Its sub-$300 common worth is not dangerous both, sitting under a number of the greatest HP Chromebooks. Its smooth design with a silver end is offset properly by the Jet Black keyboard, which gives comfortable typing. Beneath is a comparatively massive touchpad with correct monitoring, and flanking the keys are twin B&O audio system that present unmuffled sound even when the Chromebook is sitting in your lap.

The 14-inch show’s 1366×768 (HD) decision will not look as crisp as 1080p, however that is nonetheless greater than sufficient for youthful youngsters and college students to deal with productiveness work. The identical goes for the Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage, which is able to put up a powerful combat in opposition to phrase processing, streaming, e-mail, and different common duties. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 are on board to deal with wi-fi connectivity, and a 720p webcam is put in above the show for video conferencing.

The laptop computer is powered by a sizeable 47Wh battery that HP says can run for as much as 11 hours. That quantity will, little doubt, come down with common use, however it is best to nonetheless anticipate hours of life on a cost. Ports embrace USB-A, two USB-C (with one used for charging), a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.

This Chromebook typically enjoys a deep sale at HP’s official web site, and we have seen it drop to $200 even exterior of big gross sales occasions. It is inexpensive even at full worth, however we suggest ready for deal to avoid wasting as a lot cash as doable.

Chromebooks are available all sizes and shapes, however maybe essentially the most versatile is the removable 2-in-1. Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 3 is such a tool, centered round an 11-inch pill with a 2000×1200 (2K) decision contact show. Its 400 nits brightness, anti-fingerprint end, and TÜV Low Blue Mild certification make it very straightforward to take a look at all day, whether or not you are utilizing it as a pill or as a pocket book with the keyboard and touchpad hooked up.

It even helps inking with 4,096 ranges of strain sensitivity. A built-in stand on the again can fold out to prop up the show, additionally turning it right into a pocket book when the keyboard is included. In our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 evaluation, Devices Editor Taylor Kerns remarks that it is a “large worth” due to its versatility and asking worth.

Efficiency will not be fairly as rock-solid as different prime choices on this roundup, however the Snapdragon 7c (Gen 2) will nonetheless put up a powerful combat in opposition to your every day workload. There is a respectable quantity of cupboard space obtainable on the 128GB eMMC chip, and as much as 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM will assist with multitasking. It is a tremendous nimble laptop computer that really lives as much as the 2-in-1 naming, and it is an ideal low-cost choice for individuals who like to separate time between a pill and a pocket book.

Discovering an affordable and inexpensive Chromebook to match your price range

The sky is the restrict when you’re on the lookout for a top quality Chromebook with a $500 price range. You will discover nice specs and even 2-in-1 units effectively under that worth level, and you will typically see a lot of our picks on sale with vital reductions. No matter you select, anticipate a easy ChromeOS expertise with these machines.

In the case of nailing on a regular basis duties on a budget, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3i (Gen 8) is difficult to beat at its worth. Moveable, versatile, and boasting a wonderful 12.2-inch FHD+ contact show, this convertible laptop computer is primed to be the go-to Chromebook for gentle productiveness work, internet looking, e-mail, and streaming. Its Intel N100 chip, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage means it is not laborious to push it to its limits, but it surely’s not anticipated to when it may be nabbed for as little as $179 on sale.

In the event you require extra energy below the hood, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is as much as the duty. That includes all of the perks of “Plus,” an environment friendly thirteenth Gen Intel i3-1315U processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB for storage, and a long-lasting 10-hour battery life, it is the most effective Chromebooks for college students for good purpose. It can breeze via a number of tabs and home windows, and its 2-in-1 design makes it massively versatile. For its asking worth, you may be getting your cash’s price.

For below $200, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 will do greater than the naked minimal. Its MediaTek MT8183C CPU with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage does not sound like a lot, and its 11.6-inch HD show with noticeable bezels appears to be like outdated, but it surely’s greater than able to getting basic duties accomplished. Throw in its spectacular battery life, compact design, and construct high quality, and you’ve got your self a neat, private machine that makes for an incredible Chromebook for youths.

Decided? Remember to assist your Chromebook flourish with one of the best Chromebook equipment, so you possibly can take advantage of your buy.