Buying a quality Chromebook can be difficult, especially if you're shopping for a more affordable option that still performs well and offers some enticing features. While Chromebooks have come a long way since their inception — with many now sporting much better specs, high-end displays, added security features, and LTE connectivity — there are still plenty of duds out there to avoid.

The best Chromebooks available today vary quite a bit in price, but the sweet spot seems to be around the $250 to $350 mark if you're looking to get the best value possible. Thankfully, there are even Chromebooks more affordable than that, which we've also included in this roundup to be sure we hit all budgets out there.

Our favorite cheap Chromebooks can fit all budgets

Lenovo is great at offering Chromebooks that punch above their asking price, and the new eighth-gen Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook is now here to join the party. This generation has finally seen the display get a bump up to 12.2 inches in size, with a boosted 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution to match the 16:10 aspect ratio. This being a convertible laptop, the screen is touch-enabled, and its 360 degree hinges let you rotate it around for use as a tablet. In our Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook (Gen 8) review, Senior Editor Ara Wagoner noted, when detailing the display, that "the banner upgrade for the Flex 3i (Gen 8) does not disappoint."

Lenovo fit this larger display into a chassis that's the same or slightly smaller than the old model and its 11-inch display; slimmer bezels and a redesign that's more in line with modern Lenovo devices — rounded corners, fresh colors— helps keep it compact. Despite the size, 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 volume rocker and power button on the side make it easy to control in tablet mode.

The Chromebook is powered by a fresh Intel Atom N100 processor with four cores, four threads, and a clock speed up to 3.4GHz. That's joined by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. It's not going to beat the power available from modern Intel Core chips, but it will put up a strong fight against productivity tasks and web browsing. The screen also looks great when streaming movies and TV.

Acer's Chromebook 311 isn't as flashy as some of the other options in this budget roundup, but that doesn't mean it isn't worth checking out by those who want to spend as little as possible. This 11.6-inch Chromebook is extremely portable thanks to a thin and light chassis, yet it holds onto USB-C, USB-A, and 3.5mm audio ports. There's even a lock slot if you'd like to attach the laptop to a desk in the office.

The 11.6-inch display has a 1366x768 resolution, which actually looks fairly clean at this size. There's not much room for multitasking, but it looks good when browsing the web or streaming media. The laptop is powered by a MediaTek MT8183C CPU with eight cores, accompanied by 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. This isn't considered a heavy-hitting combination of performance hardware, but it'll get your productivity work done without issue.

Acer claims about 15 hours of battery life from a charge; even if you hit half of that, you're still almost all the way through a workday. And if you need to have a video conference, a 720p webcam with HDR support is standing by. This should be a great Chromebook for kids thanks to its portable convertible design and hardy build. Keep in mind that our top pick often drops to less than $200, essentially making this pick obsolete.

Google recently debuted its new Chromebook Plus category, and it worked with major Chromebook manufacturers to initially offer eight total devices. Chromebooks with the "Plus" designation must have at least a 12th Gen Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 processor, at least 8GB of RAM, 128GB or more storage space, a 1080p webcam, and an IPS display with at least a 1080p resolution.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 hits the marks, coming at you with a Core i3-1215U chip, 8GB of speedy LPDDR5x-4800MHz RAM, and 128GB of flash storage. Altogether you can expect the system to be able to handle a relatively heavy workload with multitasking. Acer claims the battery can go for about 10 hours, but that number will come down in real-world use.

The 15.6-inch display offers plenty of screen real estate for said multitasking, and you get a 1920 x 1080 (FHD) resolution. The screen is not touch-enabled, which matters less for a non-convertible device. Top-firing speakers flank the keyboard, you get a quality webcam above the display, and there are lots of ports for your favorite Chromebook accessories. Because this is a Plus device, you also get access to some perks like Magic Eraser in the Google Photos app, as well as free trials and discounts on popular editing software.

The Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip is another fresh addition to Google's new suite of Chromebooks. It's a convertible laptop that's as comfortable working as a tablet as it is a notebook, and its 14-inch touch display has a crisp FHD resolution. It's undeniably one of the best Asus Chromebooks now on the market, especially if you prefer AMD Ryzen performance.

Inside is an AMD Ryzen 3 7320C processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and a 128GB SSD for plenty of storage space. Asus claims the battery will last for up to 13 hours on a charge, but as usual you can expect that number to come down in real-world use, especially if you're pushing the system. Above the display is an FHD webcam, the keyboard is backlit, and there's a good selection of ports including two USB-C 3.1, USB-A 3.0, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and a microSD card reader.

Regularly priced at about $499, we can really only recommend this in the budget sector if it's on sale. At the time of writing it's down to $399, and we expect it to frequently drop in price.

Many Chromebooks focus on portability with a compact build and smaller display, but not the Acer Chromebook 317. This pick for oversized laptop has a 17.3-inch IPS display with a 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution, providing you with a ton of screen real estate to better handle multitasking. It also looks great while watching TV and movies. The larger chassis provides space along either side of the keyboard for speakers; they remain unmuffled even with the Chromebook in your lap. Port selection is fairly generous despite not having native video out, though the dual USB-C ports can be used for this purpose. It has two USB-A, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.

The Intel Celeron N6000 CPU is an upgrade over the N4500 chip that was in the previous model, supplying you with more power for multitasking. It also has twice the RAM at 8GB, but it does have the same wimpy 64GB of eMMC storage. Prices generally hold at around $399, but we have seen it drop as low as $299.

If you'd like to go all-out with a massive display and want something more affordable, this should be a great pickup. Be sure to check out more great Acer Chromebooks if this isn't quite the size you want.

The HP Chromebook 14 is a great middle-ground option for those who don't want something too small or too large. Its sub-$300 regular price isn't bad either, sitting below some of the best HP Chromebooks. Its sleek design with a silver finish is offset nicely by the Jet Black keyboard, which provides comfy typing. Below is a relatively large touchpad with accurate tracking, and flanking the keys are dual B&O speakers that provide unmuffled sound even if the Chromebook is sitting in your lap.

The 14-inch display's 1366x768 (HD) resolution won't look as crisp as 1080p, but this is still more than enough for younger children and students to handle productivity work. The same goes for the Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage, which will put up a strong fight against word processing, streaming, email, and other regular tasks. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 are on board to handle wireless connectivity, and a 720p webcam is installed above the display for video conferencing.

The laptop is powered by a sizeable 47Wh battery that HP says can run for up to 11 hours. That number will no doubt come down with regular use, but you should still expect hours of life on a charge. Ports include USB-A, two USB-C (with one used for charging), a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.

This Chromebook often enjoys a deep sale at HP's official site, and we've seen it drop to $200 even outside of huge sales events. It's affordable even at full price, but we recommend waiting for a good deal to save as much money as possible.

Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps the most versatile is the detachable 2-in-1. Lenovo's Chromebook Duet 3 is such a device, centered around an 11-inch tablet with a 2000x1200 (2K) resolution touch display. Its 400 nits brightness, anti-fingerprint finish, and TÜV Low Blue Light certification make it very easy to look at all day, whether you're using it as a tablet or as a notebook with the keyboard and touchpad attached.

It even supports inking with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. A built-in stand on the back can fold out to prop up the display, also turning it into a notebook when the keyboard is included. In our Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review, Gadgets Editor Taylor Kerns remarks that it's a "tremendous value" thanks to its versatility and asking price.

Performance won't be quite as rock-solid as other top options in this roundup, but the Snapdragon 7c (Gen 2) will still put up a strong fight against your daily workload. There's a decent amount of storage space available on the 128GB eMMC chip, and up to 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM will help with multitasking. This is a super nimble laptop that truly lives up to the 2-in-1 naming, and it's a perfect low-cost option for those who like to split time between a tablet and a notebook.

Lenovo's Chromebook Duet 3 is our favorite 2-in-1 within the budget range, but when it's not on sale it can push the limits of the affordable category. The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is another 2-in-1 laptop with separate keyboard and touchpad, and it can regularly be shopped at a cheaper price than Lenovo's awesome alternative. It makes the cut as the best 2-in-1 in our roundup of great Asus Chromebooks, and it competes well with other brands.

The Asus CM3 has a 10.5-inch touch display with a 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, and there's a garaged USI stylus included for easy and convenient inking. The tablet's stand is designed to work in both horizontal and vertical orientations, and the aluminum design is gorgeous. The keyboard is comfortable thanks to 1.5mm key travel, it has 8MP (rear) and 2MP (front) webcams for a clear picture, and the microphone effectively picks up voices while conferencing.

The MediaTek MT8183 CPU is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage, which is on the light side in terms of performance. As long as you don't need to tackle any heavy tasks, this should be a solid fit with long battery life.

Finding a cheap and affordable Chromebook to match your budget

Any of the above Chromebooks will deliver a smooth Chrome OS experience on the cheap, and you can expect to pay somewhere around $300 or less for most. Some have a higher starting price but are often seen on sale with a deep discount, which we've noted.

If you are looking for something that will land you the most for your dollar, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is a top pick. We reviewed a similar Spin 311 model and were very impressed with the battery life, compact design and build quality, and comfortable keyboard. Considering it costs less than most of the other picks in this roundup, you can be sure you're not overspending.

Lenovo's Chromebook Duet 3 is another contender for the premium pick. It's a gorgeous 2-in-1 device that's as comfortable acting as a tablet as a notebook laptop. It has a high-res 2000x1200 touch display, Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 CPU for snappy performance, 128GB of eMMC storage, and up to 8GB of RAM.

Our top pick, however, is the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3i (Gen 8). It's well within the budget range especially when it's on sale (we've seen it drop to as low as $179), yet it delivers a quality computing experience. It has a 12.2-inch touch display with 16:10 aspect ratio and 1920 x 1200 (FHD+) resolution, and it can be rotated around 360 degrees for tent, stand, and tablet modes. Performance hardware isn't going to win any races, but the Intel N100 chip paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage will handle light productivity work, web browsing, email, and streaming. It's also one of our top picks for the best Chromebooks for students.

If you decide to pick up a new Chromebook, you might want one of the best Chromebook chargers, too. They're generally more compact, can charge more devices, and will let the charger that comes with your new laptop serve as a backup. And to round things out, our collection of the best Chromebook accessories can help you get the perfect setup.