Chromebooks have turn into a go-to alternative for college kids, informal customers and anybody who desires a easy, quick and inexpensive laptop computer. Powered by Google’s light-weight ChromeOS, these gadgets are nice for net searching, streaming, phrase processing and utilizing fashionable apps like Google Docs or Zoom. Whether or not you want one thing for varsity, work or on a regular basis use, the perfect Chromebook can provide stable efficiency, lengthy battery life and a surprisingly premium expertise — all with out breaking the financial institution.
With so many fashions to select from, discovering the perfect Chromebook will depend on what you want most: a vivid show, stable construct high quality, tablet-style 2-in-1 options or simply the bottom worth doable. Right here, we’ve collected our high picks for the perfect Chromebooks you may get proper now, all of which have a mix of a very powerful options anybody can be in search of.
Desk of contents
Greatest Chromebooks in 2025
Chromebook FAQs
What’s Chrome OS, and why would I exploit it over Home windows?
That is in all probability the primary query about Chromebooks. There are many cheap Home windows laptops in the marketplace, so why hassle with Chrome’s working system? Glad you requested. For me, the straightforward and clear nature of Chrome OS is an enormous promoting level. Chrome OS relies on Google’s Chrome browser, which suggests many of the packages you possibly can run are net based mostly. There’s no bloatware or undesirable apps to uninstall such as you usually get on Home windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you’ll utterly reset to manufacturing unit settings nearly as rapidly.
After all, simplicity will even be a significant disadvantage for some customers. Not with the ability to set up native software program could be a dealbreaker if you happen to’re a video editor or software program developer. However there are additionally loads of individuals who do the vast majority of their work in an online browser, utilizing instruments like Google Docs and spreadsheets for productiveness while not having a full Home windows setup.
Google and its software program companions are getting higher yearly at supporting extra superior options. For instance, Google added video editing tools to the Google Pictures app on Chromebooks – it received’t change Adobe Premiere, nevertheless it must be helpful for lots of people. Equally, Google and Adobe introduced Photoshop on the web final yr, one thing that brings a lot of the facility of Adobe’s desktop apps to Chromebooks.
Chromebooks may run Android apps, which enormously expands the quantity of software program accessible. The standard varies broadly, nevertheless it means you are able to do extra with a Chromebook past simply web-based apps. For instance, you possibly can set up the Netflix app and save movies for offline watching. Different Android apps like Microsoft Workplace and Adobe Lightroom are surprisingly succesful as effectively. Between Android apps and a basic enchancment in net apps, Chromebooks are extra than simply portals to a browser.
What do Chromebooks do effectively?
Put merely, net searching and actually something net based mostly. On-line buying, streaming music and video and utilizing numerous social media websites are among the many commonest each day duties folks do on Chromebooks. As you would possibly count on, in addition they work effectively with Google companies like Pictures, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Preserve and so forth. Sure, any pc that may run Chrome can try this too, however the light-weight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and secure platform.
As I discussed earlier than, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so if you happen to’re an Android person you’ll discover some good ties between the platforms. You will get many of the identical apps which might be in your telephone on a Chromebook and preserve information in sync between them. You may also use some Android telephones as a safety key to your Chromebook or immediately tether your 2-in-1 laptop to make use of cell information.
Google continues to tout safety as a significant differentiator for Chromebooks, and it’s positively an element value contemplating. Auto-updates are the primary traces of protection: Chrome OS updates obtain rapidly within the background and a quick reboot is all it takes to put in the most recent model. Google says that every webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its personal sandbox as effectively, so any safety threats are contained to that particular person app. Lastly, Chrome OS has a self-check known as Verified Boot that runs each time a tool begins up. Past all this, the straightforward truth that you simply usually can’t set up conventional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer methods for dangerous actors to entry the system.
In case you’re fascinated about Google’s Gemini AI instruments, a Chromebook is an effective possibility as effectively. Each Chromebook in our high picks comes with a full yr of the Google One AI Premium plan — this combines the standard Google One perks like 2TB of storage and 10 p.c again in purchases from the Google Retailer with a bunch of AI instruments. You’ll get entry to Gemini in Gmail, Google Docs and different apps, Gemini Superior (which runs on the 1.5 Professional mannequin) and extra. Provided that this plan is $20/month, it’s a reasonably stable perk. Chromebook Plus fashions additionally embrace instruments just like the AI-powered “assist me write,” the Google Pictures Magic Editor and generative AI backgrounds you possibly can create by filling in a number of prompts.
As for when to keep away from Chromebooks, the reply is easy: In case you rely closely on a selected native utility for Home windows or a Mac, likelihood is you received’t discover the very same possibility on a ChromeOS machine. That’s most true in fields like photograph and video modifying, nevertheless it will also be the case in regulation or finance. Loads of companies run on Google’s G suite software program, however extra nonetheless have particular necessities {that a} Chromebook may not match. In case you’re an iPhone person, you’ll additionally miss out on the best way the iPhone simply integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the large draw back just isn’t with the ability to entry iMessage on a Chromebook.
Lastly, gaming Chromebooks aren’t ubiquitous, though they’re turning into a barely extra affordable possibility with the rise of cloud gaming. In late 2022, Google and a few {hardware} companions introduced a push to make Chromebooks with cloud gaming in thoughts. From a {hardware} perspective, meaning laptops with larger screens which have greater refresh charges in addition to optimizing these laptops to work with companies like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Sport Go and Amazon Luna. You’ll clearly want an web connection to make use of these companies, however the excellent news is that taking part in trendy video games on a Chromebook isn’t unattainable. You may also set up Android video games from the Google Play Retailer, however that’s not what most individuals are pondering of once they wish to sport on a laptop computer.
What are a very powerful specs for a Chromebook?
Chrome OS is light-weight and runs effectively on pretty modest {hardware}, so a very powerful factor to search for may not be processor energy or space for storing. However Google made it simpler to get constant specs and efficiency late final yr when it launched the Chromebook Plus initiative. Any machine with a Chromebook Plus designation meets some minimal necessities, which occur to be similar to what I’d suggest most individuals get in the event that they’re in search of the best laptop they will use every single day.
Chromebook Plus fashions have at the least a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 collection processor, each of which must be greater than sufficient for most individuals. These laptops even have a minimal of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage, which ought to do the trick until you’re actually pushing your Chromebook. All Chromebook Plus fashions need to have a 1080p webcam, which is sweet in nowadays of fixed video calling, and so they additionally all need to have at the least a 1080p FHD IPS display screen.
After all, you may get greater specs or higher screens if you happen to need, however I’ve discovered that mainly every little thing included within the Chromebook Plus goal specs makes for an excellent expertise.
Google has an Auto Replace coverage for Chromebooks as effectively, and whereas that’s not precisely a spec, it’s value checking before you purchase. Final yr, Google introduced that Chromebooks would get software program updates and help for a formidable 10 years after their launch date. This support page lists the Auto Replace expiration date for just about each Chromebook ever, however a superb rule of thumb is to purchase the most recent machine you possibly can to maximise your help.
How a lot ought to I spend on a Chromebook?
Chromebooks began out notoriously low cost, with checklist costs usually coming in underneath $300. However as they’ve gone extra mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being basically trendy netbooks to a few of the greatest laptops you’ll wish to use all day. As such, costs have elevated: At this level, you need to count on to spend at the least $400 if you would like a stable each day driver. There are nonetheless many Chromebooks on the market accessible at a low worth that could be appropriate as secondary gadgets, however a superb Chromebook that may be an all-day, every-day laptop computer will value extra. However, notably, even the perfect Chromebooks normally value lower than the best Windows laptops, and even the perfect “common” laptops on the market.
There are many premium Chromebooks that strategy and even exceed $1,000 that declare to supply higher efficiency and extra processing energy, however I don’t suggest spending that a lot. Typically, that’ll get you a greater design with extra premium supplies, in addition to extra highly effective internals and further space for storing, like a higher-capacity SSD. After all, you additionally generally pay for the model identify. However, the specs I outlined earlier are normally sufficient.
See Additionally:
Different Chromebooks we examined
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
Samsung’s new Galaxy Chromebook Plus is likely one of the extra distinctive Chromebooks on the market. It’s extraordinarily skinny and lightweight, at 0.46 inches and a pair of.6 kilos, nevertheless it manages to incorporate a 15.6-inch show in that body. That display screen is a 1080p panel that’s sharp and vivid, however its 16:9 facet ratio made issues really feel a bit cramped when scrolling vertically. Efficiency is superb, and the keyboard is stable, although I’m not a fan of the quantity pad because it shifts every little thing to the left. At $700 it’s not low cost, however that feels truthful contemplating its measurement and capabilities. In case you’re in search of an enormous display screen laptop computer that can be tremendous mild, this Chromebook deserves consideration, even when it’s not the most suitable choice for everybody.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-chromebooks-160054646.html?src=rss
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