One of the best Chromebook you should buy in 2026

Chromebooks have quietly grow to be a number of the most helpful laptops for on a regular basis duties. They boot quick, keep safe with automated updates and infrequently price far lower than conventional Home windows or Mac machines. Trendy Chromebooks additionally feel and look higher than ever, with brighter screens, stronger processors and designs that vary from easy clamshells to versatile 2-in-1s.

Whether or not you want a laptop computer for college, streaming or a conveyable possibility for journey, there may be possible a Chromebook that matches your routine. After testing the highest fashions, we picked one of the best Chromebooks you should buy in the present day that can assist you discover one thing that balances efficiency, value and reliability.

Desk of contents

Greatest Chromebooks in 2026

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Acer has reliably produced a few of my favourite Chromebooks for years now, and with the most recent Chromebook Plus 514 mannequin, they’re actually hitting the candy spot of value and efficiency. At solely $350, it’s cheaper than my earlier decide for one of the best Chromebook (Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus) and improves on it in a number of methods.

The large spec enhancements are a more recent processor (Intel’s Core 3-N355 chip) and a spacious 512GB solid-state drive. It’s additionally lighter than Lenovo’s machine and has a fairly spectacular array of ports, together with two USB-A and an HDMI port along with the anticipated USB-C jacks. The 14-inch touchscreen is brilliant and clear and has the marginally taller 16:10 facet ratio that you just don’t usually discover in laptops at this value level – they’re normally caught with narrower 1080p shows. One factor the Acer offers up compared to the Lenovo is a 360-degree hinge, however I’ve at all times discovered that to be a moderately area of interest characteristic that isn’t a compelling promoting level.

Design-wise, it is a utilitarian slab of a laptop computer, but it surely’s simply skinny (0.71 inches) and light-weight (3.1 kilos) sufficient to really feel compact and straightforward to journey with. The keyboard and trackpad, in the meantime, really feel significantly better than I’d count on on a laptop computer at this value. The backlit keys are massive and have satisfying journey, making it nice to sort away on for hours at a time. And the glass-covered trackpad is clean and enormous; my solely criticism is that it sometimes was activated by the aspect of my palm whereas typing.

The principle downsides are that the audio system and webcam are fairly mediocre. Audio is tinny and lacks depth, whereas video calls confirmed a definite lack of dynamic vary within the digicam. They’ll definitely do in a pinch, and they’re anticipated corners to be lower on a reasonably budget-priced laptop computer – however in case you take lots of video calls or need higher onboard audio output, look elsewhere.

Battery life is about what I anticipated for an Intel-powered Chromebook. It lasted over eight hours whereas enjoying again a locally-stored video file, and I received a bit of below seven hours whereas going by means of my regular workday (a lot of Chrome tabs, a handful of internet and Android apps like Preserve, Google Chat, YouTube Music, Lightroom and Todoist). That’s not distinctive, however except you actually must be away from energy for lengthy intervals regularly it must be ok (particularly at this value).

As this Chromebook was simply launched this summer season, Google is promising software program and safety updates till June of 2035. (For those who’re nonetheless utilizing this laptop computer 10 years from now, I applaud you.) Given the combo of efficiency and functionality at this value level, Acer’s newest Chromebook Plus 514 is straightforward to advocate for anybody who needs a no-nonsense laptop computer. However in case you’re the type of one that plans to make use of their Chromebook all day, day by day, you may need to contemplate our improve picks.

Professionals

Comparatively compact and light-weight
First rate efficiency and battery life for the value
Massive storage cap
Strong keyboard, trackpad and show

Cons

Tinny audio system
Mediocre webcam

$350 at Costco

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Acer’s brand-new Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is lower from a really comparable fabric as the usual 514 we advocate, however below the hood there are some main upgrades. It’s one of many first Chromebooks to make use of MediaTek’s Kompanio Extremely 910 chip, moderately than the usual Intel or AMD fare. This makes a serious distinction in how the Spin 514 performs. There are not one of the occasional slowdown or hiccups that also occur on Intel-based fashions when you’ve got too many home windows or apps open. Tabs not often have to reload and pop again up shortly on the uncommon event that they do. Music or video playback by no means skipped no matter what else I used to be doing, and Android apps like Lightroom labored swiftly and easily.

Maybe extra importantly than the way it feels now, the Spin 514 ought to really feel snappy for years to return. There’s simply extra room for this chip to deal with growing efficiency calls for over time. Benchmarks from the Android model of Geekbench 6 assist illustrate this: the Spin 514 scored 2,526 on the single-core CPU take a look at, 7,687 on multi-core and 18,020 on the GPU take a look at. For comparability, Acer’s recently-released Chromebook Plus 514 with an Intel Core 3 chip scored 1,150, 4,407 and 5,932 respectively. Clearly, benchmarks don’t inform your complete story, but it surely’s illustrative of how performant this chip is.

This goes for AI-related duties, as effectively – the MediaTek chip consists of the corporate’s NPU 890, which is rated at 50 TOPS (trillion operations per second). In follow, which means the varied Gemini-powered AI instruments in ChromeOS will run quicker than they do on an Intel machine. For those who’re eager to attempt these types of options, the Spin 514 is an effective possibility.

Past the MediaTek chip, you’ll discover 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage; I’m stunned that it has much less storage than a laptop computer that prices half as a lot, however 256GB is mostly a lot for ChromeOS because it depends totally on the cloud. The keyboard, trackpad and touchscreen show are all glorious, and battery life is outstanding. I received greater than 14 hours of video playback from the Spin 514, and hit over 9 hours of use if I wasn’t pushing issues too laborious.

The audio system are additionally a step up over those in the usual Chromebook Plus 514; whereas they’re not one of the best laptop computer audio system I’ve ever heard, they’ve a considerably fuller tone that’s much less tinny. Sadly, I can’t decide the webcam at this level because the mannequin I reviewed didn’t have the ultimate webcam {hardware} in place. Mine has a regular 1080p digicam, however the ultimate mannequin promoting in Greatest Purchase steps as much as a 5-megapixel webcam. That ought to supply considerably higher video name high quality, however with out testing it I can’t say the way it seems in follow. That mentioned, the 1080p webcam on the pc I examined had stable shade steadiness and was a lot sharp for my makes use of.

The mannequin I examined is promoting at Greatest Purchase for $700, a excessive value that feels honest given the standard of this pc. Acer additionally plans to promote the Chromebook Plus Spin 514 instantly from its website with 16GB of RAM and a high-res, 2,880 x 1,800 display screen for $750. That’s a pleasant display screen for that value, however I wager most individuals can be proud of this mannequin. And whereas this pc simply got here out, we’ll be maintaining a tally of Greatest Purchase to see if it will get any value reductions within the coming months, as a result of then it’ll be even simpler to advocate.

Professionals

Nice battery life
Glorious efficiency
Strong keyboard, trackpad and show
Fairly skinny and light-weight for the value

Cons

Costly
I want there have been USB-C ports on each side
Audio system and webcam are simply okay

$699 at Best Buy

Photograph by Nathan Ingraham / Engadget

Acer first launched the Chromebook 516 GE within the fall of 2022 as a part of Google’s push to make gadgets appropriate for cloud gaming and up to date it in 2024 with Intel’s Core 5 120U chip. The excellent news is that you just don’t must be a gamer to understand the Chromebook Plus 516 GE. For $650, you’ll get a 16-inch show with a 2,560 x 1,600 decision and a 120Hz refresh charge. NVIDIA’s GeForce Now gaming service helps as much as 4K visuals at 120Hz on its Final tier so that you’ll get to see these advantages. This laptop computer additionally helps Steam, but one more reason players is perhaps fascinated with making an attempt it. However even non-gamers ought to benefit from the Plus 516 GE’s crisp and clear display screen and refined {hardware}.

It additionally consists of Intel’s Core 5 120U chip, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Given the laptop computer’s measurement, it’s good that Acer didn’t skimp on ports right here: there’s an HDMI port, USB-C, USB-A, Ethernet and a headphone jack. The keyboard has gamer-friendly LED lights you could customise, however extra importantly, it’s only a stable and comfy keyboard for enjoying video games or simply typing up studies. The trackpad is massive and responsive as effectively.

The 516 GE weighs 3.8 kilos – fairly gentle for a laptop computer with a 16-inch display screen. We haven’t examined the 2024 mannequin but, so I can’t affirm the battery life; Acer claims 10 hours, a determine that’ll absolutely dip in case you’re doing greater than watching movies or informal internet looking. Between the highly effective {hardware}, stable design, good trackpad and keyboard and nice display screen, anybody who needs a much bigger Chromebook will possible be proud of this mannequin.

As for assist, Google says the Plus 516 GE will obtain updates till June of 2032. That shorter assist timeline is my predominant concern about this laptop computer at this level — I’m conserving my eye out to see if Acer updates this mannequin quickly or if there’s one other newer decide with an extended assist window.

Professionals

Massive, high-resolution display screen with a quick refresh charge
Loads of ports
Core 5 chip offers loads of energy
Massive and spacious keyboard
Comparatively light-weight for a big-screen laptop computer

Cons

Not everybody will recognize the gamer aesthetic

$649 at Best Buy

Nathan Ingraham for Engadget

Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is a wonderful laptop computer – but when I used to be going to choose one Chromebook to make my main pc, it will be Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14. To me, it feels just like the replace to Google’s own Pixelbook Go that we by no means received. Which means it’s skinny (0.62 inches), gentle (2.75 kilos) and solidly constructed with out being terribly flashy. However it feels much more attention-grabbing than the generic laptop computer vibes I can’t assist however get from Acer; smaller bezels across the show and the ridged, textured underside of the laptop computer make it really feel extra premium and distinctive.

The OLED touchscreen is a standout. Whereas it’s the identical decision because the Spin 514, it’s noticeably brighter and colours are extra vivid with out feeling blown out. I’d be completely happy to see it in a better decision, however I feel it strikes a superb steadiness between sharpness and total high quality with out going to 4K the place battery life is perhaps affected.

I additionally love the keyboard and trackpad, each of which simply really feel barely nicer than these on the Acer. The keys don’t have fairly as a lot journey, however they really feel extra stable and barely much less wobbly. It is perhaps a matter of non-public choice at this level as each keyboards are excellent, however I really feel like I can sort quicker and extra precisely on the Lenovo. The trackpad can be much less liable to unintentional enter from my palm once I’m typing. There’s a fingerprint reader beneath the keyboard for biometric authentication too, which is one other good luxurious to have. The trackpad is clean and fairly massive, virtually as large because the one on my MacBook Professional.

Different particulars just like the webcam and audio system are effectively executed right here, as effectively. The 5-megapixel digicam is my favourite out of the varied Chromebooks I’ve examined, with correct shade copy and a pointy image total. The audio system are additionally one of the best I’ve examined on this newest roundup, with spectacular music playback regardless of the laptop computer’s skinny measurement. Lenovo says these audio system assist Dolby Atmos, and music had extra depth and element when enjoying Atmos tracks from Apple Music. However even with out enjoying Atmos content material, the Lenovo’s audio system merely sounded excellent.

As for efficiency, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 runs the identical MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910 chip as Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 514, so all the great issues I needed to say about it apply right here as effectively. It’s extraordinarily responsive in everyday use and may carry out effectively for years to return; AI efficiency utilizing numerous Gemini instruments was additionally fairly snappy. And the Lenovo’s battery life is one of the best of any Chromebook I’ve examined, lasting over 14 hours in our video playback take a look at and about 10 hours of normal utilization throughout my typical workday.

Total, the Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14 and Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 14 are very comparable and you’ll’t go improper with both in case you are on the lookout for a high-quality laptop computer that’ll work effectively now and into the longer term. I worth the Lenovo’s OLED display screen, keyboard and higher audio system over the Spin’s 360-degree hinge, however your mileage might range. For me, although, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is one of the best Chromebook you should buy.

Professionals

Nice battery life
Glorious efficiency
OLED show is sharp and vivid
My favourite keyboard on a Chromebook
Premium design is skinny, gentle and stylish

Cons

Costly
Small variety of ports

$749 at Best Buy

Greatest Chromebooks FAQs

What’s Chrome OS, and why would I take advantage of 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 is predicated on Google’s Chrome browser, which implies a lot of the packages you’ll be able to run are internet 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 virtually as shortly.

In fact, simplicity may even be a serious disadvantage for some customers. Not with the ability to set up native software program could be a dealbreaker in case you’re a video editor or software program developer. However there are additionally loads of individuals who do nearly all of their work in an internet browser, utilizing instruments like Google Docs and spreadsheets for productiveness with no need 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 modifying instruments to the Google Images app on Chromebooks – it gained’t substitute Adobe Premiere, but it surely must be useful for lots of people. Equally, Google and Adobe introduced Photoshop on the net in 2023, one thing that brings a lot of the ability of Adobe’s desktop apps to Chromebooks.

Chromebooks may also run Android apps, which tremendously expands the quantity of software program obtainable. The standard varies broadly, but it surely means you are able to do extra with a Chromebook past simply web-based apps. For instance, you’ll be able to 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 internet apps, Chromebooks are extra than simply portals to a browser.

What do Chromebooks do effectively?

Put merely, internet looking and actually something internet based mostly. On-line purchasing, streaming music and video and utilizing numerous social media websites are among the many commonest each day duties folks do on Chromebooks. As you may count on, in addition they work effectively with Google providers like Images, 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 steady platform.

As I discussed earlier than, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so in case you’re an Android person you’ll discover some good ties between the platforms. You may get a lot of the identical apps which are in your telephone on a Chromebook and maintain information in sync between them. It’s also possible to use some Android telephones as a safety key on your Chromebook or immediately tether your 2-in-1 laptop computer to make use of cellular information.

Google continues to tout safety as a serious differentiator for Chromebooks, and it’s undoubtedly an element price contemplating. Auto-updates are the primary strains of protection: Chrome OS updates obtain shortly 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 referred to as Verified Boot that runs each time a tool begins up. Past all this, the straightforward truth that you just usually can’t set up conventional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer methods for dangerous actors to entry the system.

For those who’re fascinated with 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 Google’s AI Pro plan — this combines the standard Google One perks like 2TB of storage and 10 % again in purchases from the Google Retailer with a bunch of AI instruments. You’ll get entry to Gemini in Chrome, Gmail, Google Docs and different apps, Gemini 2.5 Professional within the Gemini app and extra. Provided that this plan is $20/month, it’s a fairly stable perk. Chromebook Plus fashions additionally embrace instruments just like the AI-powered “assist me write,” the Google Images Magic Editor and generative AI backgrounds you’ll be able to create by filling in just a few prompts.

As for when to keep away from Chromebooks, the reply is straightforward: For those who rely closely on a selected native utility for Home windows or a Mac, likelihood is you gained’t discover the very same possibility on a ChromeOS gadget. That’s most true in fields like picture and video modifying, but it surely will also be the case in legislation or finance. Loads of companies run on Google’s G suite software program, however extra nonetheless have particular necessities {that a} Chromebook won’t match. For those who’re an iPhone person, you’ll additionally miss out on the way in which the iPhone simply integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the massive draw back just isn’t with the ability to entry iMessage on a Chromebook.

Lastly, gaming Chromebooks are usually not ubiquitous, though they’re changing into a barely extra cheap 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, which means laptops with greater screens which have increased refresh charges in addition to optimizing these laptops to work with providers like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Sport Cross and Amazon Luna. You’ll clearly want an web connection to make use of these providers, however the excellent news is that enjoying trendy video games on a Chromebook isn’t unattainable. It’s also possible to set up Android video games from the Google Play Retailer, however that’s not what most individuals are considering of once they need to recreation on a laptop computer.

What are an important specs for a Chromebook?

Chrome OS is light-weight and runs effectively on pretty modest {hardware}, so an important factor to search for won’t 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 gadget with a Chromebook Plus designation meets some minimal necessities, which occur to be similar to what I’d advocate most individuals get in the event that they’re on the lookout for one of the best laptop computer they’ll use day by day.

Chromebook Plus fashions have at the least a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 sequence 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 except you’re actually pushing your Chromebook. All Chromebook Plus fashions should have a 1080p webcam, which is sweet in nowadays of fixed video calling, they usually additionally all should have at the least a 1080p FHD IPS display screen.

In fact, you will get increased specs or higher screens in case you need, however I’ve discovered that principally all the pieces 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 price checking before you purchase. Final yr, Google introduced that Chromebooks would get software program updates and assist for a powerful 10 years after their launch date. This assist web page lists the Auto Replace expiration date for nearly each Chromebook ever, however a superb rule of thumb is to purchase the latest machine you’ll be able to to maximise your assist.

How a lot ought to I spend on a Chromebook?

Chromebooks began out notoriously low-cost, with listing costs usually coming in below $300. However as they’ve gone extra mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being basically trendy netbooks to a number of the greatest laptops you’ll need to use all day. As such, costs have elevated: At this level, it is best to count on to spend at the least $400 in order for you a stable each day driver. There are nonetheless many Chromebooks on the market obtainable at a low value which may be appropriate as secondary gadgets, however a superb Chromebook that may be an all-day, every-day laptop computer will price extra. However, notably, even one of the best Chromebooks normally price lower than one of the best Home windows laptops, and even one of the best “common” laptops on the market.

There are a handful of premium Chromebooks that strategy and even exceed $1,000 that declare to supply higher efficiency and extra processing energy, however I don’t advocate spending that a lot. Typically, that’ll get you a greater design with extra premium supplies, in addition to extra highly effective internals and additional space for storing, like a higher-capacity SSD. In fact, you additionally generally pay for the model title. However, the specs I outlined earlier are normally sufficient, and there are a number of good premium Chromebooks within the $700 to $800 vary at this level.

See Additionally:

Different Chromebooks we examined

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

This was our decide for greatest total Chromebook for years, and it’s nonetheless one of many higher choices you could find for a primary laptop computer that doesn’t break the financial institution. It’s just a few years older than our present high decide, so its processor isn’t contemporary and it solely has 128GB of storage. It additionally gained’t get updates from Google so long as newer fashions. However it nonetheless combines a pleasant display screen and keyboard with stable efficiency. This laptop computer sometimes prices $500, which feels excessive given its just a few years previous and Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514 is just $350, but when you could find it on sale and may’t discover the Acer it’s price a glance.

ASUS CX15

This Chromebook is extraordinarily inexpensive – you’ll be able to at present decide it up for under $159 at Walmart. That value and its massive 15.6-inch display screen is especially what it has going for it, because the Intel Celeron N4500 chip and 4GB of RAM powering it doesn’t present good efficiency in case you’re doing something greater than looking with just a few tabs open. For those who’re purchasing for somebody with extraordinarily primary wants and have a small price range, the CX15 may match the invoice. However simply bear in mind that you just get what you pay for.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus

Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook Plus, launched in late 2024, is likely one of the extra distinctive Chromebooks on the market. It’s extraordinarily skinny and light-weight, at 0.46 inches and a pair of.6 kilos, but it surely manages to incorporate a 15.6-inch show in that body. That display screen is a 1080p panel that’s sharp and brilliant, 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 all the pieces to the left. At $700 it’s not low-cost, however that feels honest contemplating its measurement and capabilities. For those who’re on the lookout for an enormous display screen laptop computer that can be tremendous gentle, this Chromebook deserves consideration, even when it’s not the most suitable choice for everybody.

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