The best Chromebooks available today have come a long way since their inception. Chrome OS is more than "just a browser" these days, and the machines it runs are comparable with hardware designed to run Windows. This cloud-focused operating system now runs on many tablets, laptops, all-in-one Chromebases, and desktops.

As the affordable mainstream alternative to inconsistent Windows laptops and ungodly expensive MacBooks, Chromebooks have turned into the "it just works" laptops for millions of consumers and tens of millions of students, educators, and business users.

Chromebooks may have started as budget-minded netbooks, but plenty of powerful, premium options now exist. So, whether you need an affordable kid-proof laptop or even a Chrome OS tablet as a longer-lasting alternative to the best Android tablets, we'll help you find the best Chromebook for your needs.

Top Chromebooks right now

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus offers a price-to-performance value that is difficult for competitors to compete with. While Lenovo left the design identical to last year's model, it did bump up the specs a bit, making it a solid choice at only $499.

With its 13th Generation Intel Core i3-1315U processor and 8GB of RAM, this Chromebook won't struggle to keep up with just about anything you do, as long as it's not overly taxing, like playing the latest AAA game on Steam. The IdeaPad Flex 5i will happily chew through a bunch of Chrome tabs while watching a video or taking a conference call.

This Chromebook may not play the latest and greatest games, but it'll happily play lighter titles from Steam or compatible games from the Android Play Store. With 128GB of onboard storage, there is ample space for both work and play.

The IdeaPad Flex 5i also has the endurance to make it through an entire day of work and then some. Its 14-inch 1920 x 1200 display is quite good, but it does top out at 300 nits, which could hinder your outdoor experience in bright lights. It's also a tad heavy at 3.52 pounds. Port selection is also average for the price. You are getting a single USB-A 3.2 port and two USB-C 3.2 ports.

The updated Acer Chromebook Spin 714 only improves on the 2022 model, which was our previous premium pick and is now part of the Chromebook Plus club. While the physical design really hasn't changed, the big attraction is the switch to 13th Gen Intel Core processors for improved efficiency and performance. Acer lists Core i3, i5, and i7 options, though the main listing we've seen at Best Buy sticks with the average. The Core i5-1335U chip is joined by 8GB of RAM and a sizable 256GB SSD, giving you a ton of overhead performance potential. Acer claims about 10 hours of battery life from a charge, and you should be able to get about four hours of runtime from just a 30-minute charge for times when you're desperate.

The 14-inch display hasn't really changed from the previous generation, but that's OK. It has a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 100% sRGB coverage, which is perfect for watching TV and movies or for split-screening multiple windows. Unfortunately, the garaged stylus has been scrapped for this generation. However, the screen comes with USI compatibility for use with other pens. Above the display is an upgraded MIPI webcam with 2K resolution and privacy shutter for high-quality video conferencing, and between the keyboard and screen are top-firing speakers with a smart amp and DTS Audio tuning.

USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports allow the Spin 714 to work with just about any docking station, dongle, and accessory. While $700 is expensive for a Chromebook, there really aren't many blind spots to contend with. This is a fully realized Chromebook that can pretty much do it all.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 was the first of Acer's Plus series models and still delivers an exceptional user experience even though it first appeared in mid-2022. Built around the 12th Generation Intel Core i3-1215U, it has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. For those in Canada, a 256GB storage version is available, but sadly, this is not an option for US customers.

If this design has a weakness, it is that Acer didn't make it striking in any way. For those wishing to make a fashion statement, other brands are available. But this Chromebook is all about business and less about being distinct. With a screen brightness of 50% set, from a full charge, users should get ten hours of battery life, easily sufficient capacity to get through a working day. While the screen could have been brighter, even set to 50%, it is readable indoors.

Since it's available for around $300, it's surprising that the performance is noticeably better than most competitive products, especially those using the Intel N95 and N100. There is enough power to use Nvidia GeForce Now's game streaming without performance blips.

Overall, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a desirable combination of performance and pricing.

Lenovo's Duet 5 might be stealing some of the limelight with that 400-nit touchscreen and the detachable keyboard. That said, when you need to get down to business, that's when the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook shines with its power and practicality. The 2-in-1 convertible may not be as sexy as a detachable, but it's worlds better to use on the couch, the bed, the bus, and anywhere you aren't sitting immediately in front of a table or desk. Better stability and backlit keys improve productivity, further spurred by its 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, making this the best Lenovo Chromebook out there.

We warmly welcome the memory upgrade, as 8GB RAM models of its predecessor were notoriously hard to find. The extra memory comes in handy when you're trying to multitask during video calls or juggling multiple monitors. Even with the extra performance of the 11th Gen i3 CPU, battery life should last a full workday and then some. While an i5 model would have been nice to see — and would've been eligible for the Steam on Chrome OS Alpha test — the i3 is more than enough for most workloads. (While we're on the subject, please ignore any underpowered Pentium models you might come across; the i3 models sell for about the same price.)

Much like the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook released last year, the latest HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is built for enthusiasts and perfectionists. This time around, it's gone for more of a business-casual notebook look than a full formal convertible design. It also has a locked-in configuration with 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U CPU, 16GB of LPDDR5-5200MHz RAM, 256GB M.2 PCIe SSD, and a 14-inch touch display with 2560x1600 resolution, 1,200 nits brightness, and 100% sRGB color. Although more affordable than the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, it's still a high-end laptop with a lot to love. Did we mention it has an RGB keyboard?

Our Dragonfly Pro Chromebook review noted, "The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook was made with a lot of care (the engineers told me how much) and is definitely an enjoyable computer." You can easily tackle productivity work thanks to the strong performance; you can also deal with color-sensitive work thanks to the gorgeous touch display, and the speakers and camera are top-notch. It will even handle some light gaming and makes the cut as one of the best gaming Chromebooks. Expect about six to seven hours of battery life when going about regular work.

The Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has so far seen a limited release on the official HP website, and you might find that some models are out of stock. However, continue checking back, as this laptop is still fresh and will receive restocks.

The Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip is a recent release, coming at you with modern performance hardware and a ton of great features. It's one of the best Asus Chromebooks around. It's a convertible laptop with MIL-STD 810H durability certification, and some models even have a built-in stylus pen for easy inking. This is an optional feature, so be sure to check the specs before buying. The 14-inch display has a boosted 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution to match the 16:10 aspect ratio, and it can hit up to 300 nits brightness. Above the display is a 1080p webcam with privacy shutter, giving viewers a clear picture while video conferencing.

Asus really focused on comfort here, making the touchpad larger and giving the keyboard keys a fairly deep 1.4mm of key travel. There's even a fingerprint reader embedded into the right palm rest. Ports are plentiful, with dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), HDMI 2.1, microSD card reader, and 3.5mm audio jack. There's no Thunderbolt due to the AMD platform, but you should still be able to connect most accessories. Wi-Fi 6 is also on board for reliable wireless internet.

The model we're focusing on here, available at Best Buy, comes with a modern AMD Ryzen 3 7320C CPU with four cores, eight threads, and a base clock of 2.4GHz. Paired with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD, you should have no problem cutting through any productivity work you throw its way. Asus says it will run for up to 13 hours on a single charge, and even if that comes down by five hours in regular use you're still getting a full workday.

Lenovo has kept its crowd among the cheap compact Chromebook market for several years, first with the IdeaPad C330 and over half a dozen generations of the Flex 3 and Flex 3i Chromebooks. The eighth-generation Flex 3i Chromebook has now landed, and it finally brings a display upgrade to 12.2 inches at 1080p. The laptop is about the same size as the previous generation despite the larger screen; that's helped by slimmer bezels that give it a more modern look. You also get a clear picture and the versatility of touch control, made even better by the convertible design.

The Flex 3i Chromebook (Gen 8) is powered by a quad-core Intel Atom N100 processor with a maximum 3.4GHz boost clock speed, 4GB of LPDDR5 RAM, integrated Intel UHD graphics, and 64GB of eMMC storage. This together will provide snappy performance ideal for light work, web browsing, and streaming video, but don't expect it to do much heavy lifting.

Port selection is generous despite the thin build. You get dual USB-A 3.2, one USB-C 3.2, HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and even a microSD card reader. The side of the chassis also includes a power button and volume rocker for easier control when in tablet mode. This Chromebook is built to last — as is expected from Lenovo — with a two-tone lid and bold Abyss Blue color.

The Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook is one of the best ChromeOS tablets around. It can run Android apps, has the full desktop version of Chrome, and will get years of system updates.

Sporting a 13.3-inch, 16:9 touchscreen with 1080p resolution and 400 nits of brightness — and four loud speakers — the Duet 5 is a great tablet for content consumption. The option for 8GB of RAM is also a real boon for multitasking, meaning this can both work hard and play hard.

While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 compute platform may not be the most powerful processor, it knows how to sip battery like 50-year-old whiskey. I've gone two light workdays on the Duet 5 before, and on weekends of e-reading and solitaire, I've managed to eke it out to 2.5 days. You can do light-to-medium work on the Duet 5, but know upfront that the 7c Gen 2 will not match an Intel Core i3 — and it isn't trying to. This is more of a leisure/tertiary device that can double for a laptop in a pinch.

The list of great Chromebooks for gaming continues to grow, but the one currently making the most waves is Acer's Chromebook 516 GE. It's Acer's first gaming Chromebook, but it has a ton of great features that will appeal to those looking to run cloud and local games. It has a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and Wi-Fi 6E to handle quality wired and wireless internet when streaming from the cloud, but it can also run local games thanks to it supporting the Steam for ChromeOS beta.

The Chromebook is configured with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P CPU with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. It's accompanied most commonly by 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 256GB SSD, but there is room for upgrading depending on the retailer. Amazon, for example, has options to upgrade the SSD if you're really getting serious about local gaming. The huge 16-inch screen can keep up with your games thanks to a 120Hz refresh rate, 2560x1600 (QHD+) resolution with 16:10 aspect ratio, and 100% sRGB color.

Four speakers with DTS Audio tuning and a smart amp produce quality sound, with top- and bottom-firing sound for a full experience. Customizable RGB lights up the keyboard, giving it a lot more gamer style while keeping the anti-ghosting properties for better performance. Although a lack of Thunderbolt might irk some, you can always connect to a great Chromebook dock with USB-C if you need to expand connectivity. It has also been recently upgraded to Chromebook Plus status.

Buying the right Chromebook for you

The Chromebooks above are designed to suit most users, and you should find something you love. However, when buying a new Chromebook, there are three essential factors to keep in mind to help you land the best option possible:

• 4GB RAM is only acceptable for casual (not used primarily for work) Chromebooks under $300; 8GB is good, but 16GB is better (if you can find it). This is especially vital if you take a lot of video calls or hoard Chrome tabs. There's a reason Google requires an 8GB RAM minimum for Chromebook Plus models.
• Non-touch displays don't save you much money, and touchscreens are worth every penny if you're buying for a kid or regularly using Android apps.
• Chromebooks have (Auto Update) Expiration dates, after which Google no longer guarantees updates. We list the AUE date for each model in our respective guides, but should you be drawn to another, please check the AUE date, as that's the best litmus test of whether a Chromebook is new, kind of new, or old. Google recently announced that new Chromebooks will get 10 years of updates, and most recent Chromebooks will have the option to get an extra two years of updates on top of their previous AUE date.

As a bonus tip, know that a great deal on a Chromebook with a keyboard or touchpad that doesn't suit your style doesn't mean you're stuck using the built-in hardware. Our collections of the best keyboards for Chromebooks and best mice for Chromebooks will get you the best hardware to maximize productivity and ultimately help you enjoy the laptop to its fullest each time you sit down. When you need more space to spread things out, you can hook most mid-range and Premium Chromebooks up to an external screen.

The best Chromebooks balance price and power

While most Chromebooks today are still budget-minded models like the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, more powerful Chromebooks are also becoming more competitively priced. Take the new 2023 Acer Chromebook Spin 714: its $700 list price is half that of the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook while sporting a newer i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.

Things get even more cutthroat in the $300–$500 range. The Lenovo Flex 5i 13 is normally $430, but most of the time, it hovers between $300 and $350, while the Asus CM34 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 bob up and down with their own discounts while offering different CPUs. Oh, and to anyone daunted by a 13.3-inch tablet, look at the Duet 5 as a laptop with a removable keyboard rather than a standalone tablet. It comes with a magnetic kickstand for a reason, and I've wasted many a weekend on the Duet playing casual Android games and flicking through webcomics on it. Thankfully, for this price bracket, Chromebook Plus should simplify the search for worthwhile Chromebooks in the $400-$600 range.

All of these Chromebooks will see Chrome OS updates until or beyond 2029, so if you treat them well, they'll last you to the end of the decade, especially the more future-proofed HP Dragonfly Pro and Acer Spin 714. Both models are also some of your best bets for gaming now that Steam on Chrome OS has finally moved from Alpha to Beta and expanded to more models.

If you're on a budget, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 looks quite tempting. It's just a hair slower than our favorite overall Chromebook and starts at $299 with discounts.

Buying a Chromebook for kids and students

For kids who you trust can take care of their laptops or those in middle or high school, seriously consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i. At just $499, it has a better screen, a slightly better processor, and is a solid Chromebook they can feasibly use throughout middle and high school before it stops getting system updates. (Assuming they don't break the screen or the battery before that.)

One final tip: leave the in-box 45W charger at home and buy a more compact Chromebook charger; 45W power delivery chargers are used for everything from Chromebooks to power banks, phones, and even wireless earbuds. You can find 65W two-port chargers that will charge your Chromebook and your phone simultaneously, so you can treat that ugly two-piece adapter as an in-case-of-emergency charger while using something more efficient and adaptable. And there are even more amazing Chromebook accessories to complement your new laptop.