If you want an affordable, no-fuss laptop, you can’t really get much better than a Chromebook . They’re fast, easy to use, and often cost less than traditional Windows laptops. You can even stream games on some models. We focused on Chromebooks that get the basics right: strong performance, durable design, and long battery life. Every pick on this list was tested hands-on. If you decide that you’d prefer a Windows laptop, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available today. Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Best overall Chromebook Pros Zippy processor performance Nice keyboard Wide array of connectivity options Chic design Cons Battery life isn’t competitive Display’s 16:9 aspect ratio feels a little cramped Price When Reviewed: 549 Euro Best Prices Today: Retailer Price €699 View Deal €699 View Deal Asus 549,00 € View Deal 699,00 € View Deal 699,00 € View Deal 699,00 € View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide View more prices Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Chromebook Plus PX34? If you want a Chromebook that can do it all, the Asus Chromebook Plus PX34 is it. The Intel Core i5 keeps everything running smooth–streaming, school work, or juggling a bunch of tabs. And the ports? You’ve got USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a headphone jack, which means you can kiss the dongle life goodbye. Asus Chromebook Plus PX34: Further considerations It’s not all sunshine, though. The 16:9 screen can feel cramped if you’re used to roomier displays, and while 13 hours of battery life sounds nice on paper, others last longer. Not a deal breaker, but if screen space or all-day power is at the top of your list, you might want to look elsewhere. Read our full Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 (CX3402) review Asus Chromebook CX15 – Best budget Chromebook Pros Good design with enjoyable keyboard Sharp 15.6-inch 1080p display Decent speakers Extremely inexpensive Cons Small touchpad Slow dual-core processor 4GB RAM often holds it back Short battery life for a Chromebook Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Asus Chromebook CX15? Need a reliable laptop for under $200? The CX15 is totally worth a look because it’s great for anyone that mostly browses the web and watches YouTube videos. The spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display and roomy keyboard also make it feel more premium than you’d expect at this price point. For daily tasks, it really gets the job done–you can’t say that about too many machines in this range. Asus Chromebook CX15: Further considerations You’re not going to get blazing fast performance here and that’s entirely OK. The Intel Celeron N4500 processor offers enough pep to get you through lighter workloads, but you may see some lag with heavier multitasking. Battery life is pretty darn good at around 10 hours, though we’ve seen other Chromebooks that last longer. Still, for what you pay, the CX15 is a surprising little machine. Read our full Asus Chromebook CX15 review Lenovo Chromebook Duet – Best Chromebook for students Pros Great value Flexible form factor Surprisingly good keyboard Amazing battery life Cons Needs more RAM Android apps don’t run well Vertical kickstand reduces horizontal options Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Lenovo Chromebook Duet? Students, commuters, or anyone who wants something light, cheap, and lasts all day, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is the one to pick. The Duet weighs just over two pounds with the keyboard and kickstand, and you can slide it into a bag like it’s nothing. Battery life? You’re easily getting 12–13 hours, which means no hunting for outlets between classes or meetings. The 2-in-1 setup is nice, too. Type when you need to, flip it around, and chill with Netflix or YouTube when you don’t. Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Further considerations This isn’t a machine for power users. It’s not built for ten open tabs and a Zoom call. But for notes, docs, emails, and streaming? It’s smooth. The keyboard’s better than you’d expect, flat but comfy, and the screen, while only 10.1 inches, keeps distractions at bay. Read our full Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2024) review Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 – Best high-end Chromebook Pros Good multitasking performance Beautiful display Punchy speakers Cons Keyboard took some getting used to AI stuff still feels unnecessary Best Prices Today: Retailer Price Check Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Who should buy the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514? If you want a Chromebook that actually feels like a step-up from the entry-level fare and don’t mind flipping it into tablet or tent mode sometimes, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is a good one. The 14-inch 1200p screen is smooth at 120Hz, and at about three pounds, it’s light enough to carry around without feeling like a brick. Inside it’s packing the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 chip, 12GB RAM, and 256GB storage. It handles a bunch of tabs, schoolwork, YouTube, whatever. Wi-Fi 7 also means it won’t choke on downloads, the webcam is decent enough for the occasional Zoom call, and battery life is around 15 hours. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: Further considerations The keyboard’s a bit weird at first (it sits a bit higher than most people are used to). That’s about it—otherwise, it’s fast, flexible, and just feels way nicer than most midrange Chromebooks. Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 review Other notable Chromebooks we’ve tested These Chromebooks didn’t crack our top picks list, but they’re still worth a look. The Acer Chromebook Spin 315 is comfy to type on and handles the basics just fine, though the big bezels and limited charging options hold it back. Then there’s the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus , which is super sleek and light at just 2.58 pounds and under half an inch thick. We also checked out the Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 , which performs better than models with Celeron CPUs–it’s currently on sale for $299.99 at Walmart , by the way. How we test Chromebooks The PCWorld team puts each and every laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against 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 as we use on laptops because they exclusively run a completely different operating system. For a more thorough explanation of our testing procedures, check out how PCWorld tests laptops . Who curated this article? Hi, I’m Ashley Biancuzzo , and I oversee all laptop and Chromebook coverage at PCWorld. While you’ll see me review Chromebooks on occasion, I’m also really into the broader world of consumer tech. I spend a lot of time writing and thinking about where laptops are headed–from AI and sustainable designs to long-term trends. When I’m not deep in the world of tech, you’ll probably find me gaming, getting lost in a good book, or chilling with my rescue greyhound, Allen. How to choose the best Chromebook If you want something like a Windows or MacBook but cheaper, check out a Chromebook. Just keep in mind they’ve got some limits. They’re good for simple, everyday stuff but they don’t have a lot of RAM or storage, so they’re not equipped to handle more resource-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing. We’ve got a guide that compares Chromebooks and Windows laptops if you want to figure out what’s best for you. Key Chromebook features to consider Operating system Chromebooks only run Chrome OS, which is pretty easy to use. You can’t put Windows or macOS on them — you’re stuck with Google’s setup. Processor Shoot for a mid-range Chromebook if you can. They cost anywhere in the $400 to $600 range and many of them come equipped with Intel Pentium, Intel Core i3, or AMD Ryzen 3 processors. These Chromebooks run the browser smoother. They’re the best deal for the price. The fancier ones sometimes come with Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 chips, which are way more powerful. Then there’s the new Kompanio Ultra chips, which are more powerful and AI-ready. RAM Lots of Chromebooks come with just 4GB of RAM, which isn’t much. Since they’re all about the web, you need enough RAM to keep your tabs from lagging. If you can drop a bit more cash, you can grab a mid-range Chromebook with 8GB, which runs way smoother. FAQ 1. What is the best Chromebook? PCWorld thinks the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is the best all-around Chromebook. It’s got a solid Intel Core i5 processor, lots of ports, and handles everyday stuff really well. Basically, it’s a great pick if you want a reliable Chromebook without breaking the bank. 2. What is the best cheap Chromebook? PCWorld calls the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook the best cheap pick. It’s lightweight and has solid battery life, so it’s good if you’re on a budget. Just remember, 4GB RAM means it’s not great for running lots of stuff at once. 3. What is the best Chromebook for gaming? The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is the best Chromebook for gaming. It’s got a big 16-inch 120Hz screen, handles cloud gaming pretty well, and has an Ethernet port for steady internet, which you need for stuff like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. 4. What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop? A Chromebook’s just a laptop that runs Google’s Chrome OS instead of Windows or Mac. It’s mostly for web stuff like Google Drive and YouTube. Regular laptops are more powerful and can handle pretty much anything. 5. What is a Chromebook? A Chromebook is a laptop that runs Google’s Chrome OS. Related content I switched from Windows PCs to Chromebooks and haven’t looked back 9 reasons why you should buy a Chromebook over a laptop A beginner’s guide to using a Chromebook Are Chromebooks good for gaming? No… but actually also yes Can Chromebooks get viruses? It’s complicated Lenovo’s new Chromebook has exclusive AI powers I’m a Chromebook power user. I swear by these 9 productivity tips 7 Chromebook features that make Google laptops ultra-secure