Chromebooks are a special category of small laptops designed to be easy to use, safe, compact, highly portable and affordable. We have analyzed models and models and have concluded that they are the most outstanding in quality-price.
However, as you will see in this article, Chromebooks are not suitable for everyone. Your price starts Starting from 180 euros and, for that amount, you will receive a fully functional computer capable of performing the most basic of everyday tasks: browsing, checking email, streaming video, listening to music, editing texts, etc. But there are other series of functions that the Chromebook cannot perform, such as tasks that require heavier software, playing video games (for this there are gaming laptops) or handle Windows or Apple software. As long as you keep these limitations in mind, you'll get along with your Chromebook..
If you want small laptops with Windows or ultrabooks, enter the link that we just left you.
That said, what is the best Chromebook of the moment? What device is your hard earned money worth investing in? Well, answering that question in general is practically impossible, since the needs of each user are different. Some will value the quality of the screen more, others that the laptop is thin and light, others that the keyboard is comfortable or that the battery has a long life. For this reason, We have reviewed and compared the most interesting Chromebooks of the moment. Each of them has its pros and cons and in this article you will find them all.
Guide Index
The best chromebooks
Next, we quickly list those that we consider the best Chromebooks of the moment, sure that, whatever your need, you will find your ideal among them. But before going deep into each of the models, let's go with a quick comparison:
If what you are really looking for is a small and light laptop but does NOT work with ChromeOS but with Windows or macOS, we leave you this other laptop comparison.
Please note that configurations and prices may vary over time, it is better that you enter the link of each model to keep up to date with the information. We have listed the price of the basic version of each unit, but the good thing is that these types of laptops have a price less than 500 euros so they are great for all budgets. We are going to see the most outstanding ones in a little more detail.
Best value for money: Asus Chromebook
Asus offers the most affordable Chromebooks on the market at the time of writing. Their entry-level Z1400cn starts at under $ 300, and for that price, you get a very well-rounded 11-inch laptop that is quite powerful.
It has the new generation of processors Intel Celeron (1.6 GHz, up to 2.48 GHz), which is what most Chromebooks of this size tend to offer. If this is not enough for you, it also has 4 GB of RAM available in its configuration, there are quite a lot in stock and the devices are not more expensive for it. The RAM is not upgradeable, but the M.2 storage drive is fairly easy to swap out for a larger one if you wish.
Features aside, the Asus Chromebook it's a well-built, lightweight laptop. Its gray casing is fine but some might find it a bit boring. We do not agree that the 60692 is somewhat less attractive than other Chromebooks available on the market. On the other hand, this device has a good matte screen (the TN panel, 1366 x 768 pixels), a decent keyboard and trackpack, and a good selection of ports on the sides (HDMI, 1x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB 3.0 and reader of cards). As far as battery life is concerned, it is around seven hours.
In summary, it's hard to say anything bad about this laptop, especially considering its price. That with regard to the basic version, if you want the most powerful, we recommend that you take a look at the offers that we have listed.
Speaking of the Asus Chromebook model, we must say that this model is available in white or a more attractive gray, it comes with 32 GB of storage by default. It still has a TN panel, so the quality of the screen has not improved much compared to previous models (in fact, in bright light, it looks worse due to reflections on the glossy surface), but if you like to clean and touch the screen of your laptop, this model is one of the few Chromebooks that will allow it.
The basic version of the Asus Chromebook has a recommended price of 350 euros, but you can find something cheaper if you buy it online.
Second place: Acer Chromebook
If we were to choose the best 13,3-inch Chromebooks of the moment, there would be a fierce fight between the Medion described above and this one. Acer Chromebook CB3. It is true that it is not more expensive than the MD 60692 and it is difficult to find it in Europe, but in many ways it is an improvement over the Medion model.
The basic version has the technical characteristics such as a different processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8-core, 8GB of RAM and 64 GB of SSD storage. For a little more money you can get a higher RAM configuration. In everyday use, the Acer is fast and even more agile than the Asus, as long as you don't overload it, and it does so with a 9-10 hour charge, which puts it at the head of the Chromebooks available on the market at the moment.
Apart from that, the Acer Chromebook CB3 It has a very solid construction and very reliable, but it is heavier and thicker than other 13,3-inch Chromebooks (1.49 Kg. And 1,9 cm. Thick) mainly due to its large battery. Port selection is good too, it has 2 USB 3.0 slots (while most of its competition have one or none). Also, both the keyboard and the trackpad are good.
One of the most prominent models in our laptop brands comparison.
As regards the screen, it is normal at best. The TN panel and its resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels places it above the Acer and most small 11-inch laptops, although its glossy finish will be annoying if exposed to strong light.
Ultimately, you must choose the Acer Chromebook CB3 if what you are looking for is a robust, fast 13,3-inch laptop with a long battery life. The 4GB RAM configuration is certainly interesting, as it's not easy to find a Celeron Chromebooks with more RAM. However, if you want a sleek, lightweight Chromebook and don't care much about battery life or ruggedness, you'll find better, cheaper options.
Toshiba Chromebook (13 inches).
If you have read our comparison of Chromebooks you will see that one of these models can be perfect as a laptop for students who intend to give normal use. In this chaos of machinery we have considered that the Toshiba Chromebook the BEST in this category. Have a very light and slim design what makes it perfect for transporting and traveling with you wherever you go
This college laptop uses the Chrome OS operating system, which is based on the Chrome web browser. For this reason you will need internet to use it, but thinking about it and being objective, we think that it does not represent a very big problem if it is given exclusive use in the faculty since there will always be internet available. I do not think you will take it to the field ... A price to pay more than affordable for what it costs.
Regarding its specifications, it uses an Intel Celebron N2830 processor covered by 4GB of RAM, which will be enough power to cover essential actions. From creation and editing to more. It is true that it does not have the potential of some computers for university students, but let's say that if you are looking for something light and basic I can recommend this one.
You will have everything to look for including a High-quality IPS screen with 1920 x 1080 resolution and with a wide variety of connection ports to connect this student laptop to a multitude of devices. Something that you will need due to the little internal memory it has, typical of Chromebooks.
Roughly, if you are a student, writer or person who wants the most basic without getting hung up, it is recommended. In the case that you do not need to install any application or program for the classes, you will not have a problem.
- Good things: Good screen. HD audio that sounds great. Low and attractive price. Battery of about 9 hours, more than the average.
- Bad things: The screen is not touch. Not suitable for very demanding use.
Bonus: The famous Macbook Air
This section is an extra because not everyone can afford it, and although we have previously listed the most prominent ones if you have a high budget and you want the best user experience, we would certainly tell you to buy the much talked about Macbook.
Compared to previous laptops, the 13-inch Macbook Air goes with its own operating system And we already warned you that if you buy an Apple device later, you don't want anything else. Yes, they are more expensive, but the features are also superior. As we say, we leave it as an extra in case you want to consider it, but if you only want to use it for work or pure functionality you don't need to spend so much.
What is there to know about small laptops?
Before going into detail, We would like to clarify a couple of things that are important for you to know about Chromebooks so that you can make your purchase decision with as much information as possible (if you already know Chromebooks you can skip this section):
Chromebooks don't work with Windows or Mac Os nor with any software designed for those platforms. Chromebooks work with Chrome OS, an operating system based on Google's Chrome browser. If you are familiar with how it works, you will get hold of the Chromebook in no time. The interface is minimalist, you will not have to deal with updates, viruses or other annoyances, you simply have to install the applications you want from an application store, similar to how you would with a tablet or a Smartphone.
Chromebooks are low-power computers intended for basic tasks. They fall short to handle powerful games or specialized software, as these are not designed for Chrome OS. Also, although these devices can perform more than one task at a time, it is best not to force them if you want to work without problems.
Chromebooks are generally small, compact laptops, with screens of 11,6 or 13,3 inches, although there are some larger models.
Chromebooks, for the most part, depend on the Internet. Both Chrome OS, as most applications are based on the cloud, so they need an active connection to access the data on the servers. However, you can also use Chromebooks offline, albeit with limited functionality. These devices tend to offer small storage units (16 to 32 GB), which can be enough for all your things (movies, files, music, etc.). If you plan to travel a lot with your device, it is better that you consider buying a model 3G / 4G.
For all the above, you should assess whether a chromebook is the ideal computer for you or on the contrary you need a small laptop that depends to a lesser extent on the Internet and allows you to do more offline tasks.
As a very positive point is its price and it is that they cost less than many current tablets on the market and allow the use of much more professional office applications for.
Next we are going to talk about the most outstanding cheap and quality small laptop models.
Conclusion about chromebooks
After these words, we are going to summarize a bit our conclusions regarding Chromebooks. If you're looking for the perfect Chromebook, put it down, you won't find it. There is no gadget (be it laptop, phone, tablet ...) that is. However, there are some Chromebooks that do come close.
If we focus on the small 11 inches, the Acer Chromebook C720 lineup offers a lot for little money. and that is the reason why it is one of our recommendations. Another interesting option is the Dell Chromebook 11, it is a little more agile, stronger and more durable, however it is much more expensive and difficult to find in Europe. As for the Asus Chromebook C200, it has enough power to carry out your basic tasks, as well as being a quiet and efficient laptop. Finally, the Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6 looks and feels spectacular, but is too expensive and underpowered to rank high on the list.
If you want a slightly larger Chromebook, our picks would be the HP Chromebook 14, the Toshiba Cromebook CB35, and the colorful Asus Chromebook C300 (fanless).. In addition, it is also interesting to keep an eye on the Samsung Chromebook 2 13.3 as it has a ton of features, a sleek body, long battery life, 4GB of RAM and a 1080p display. And all for a very affordable price. Although its slow processor can be a boredom for anyone looking for speed. Last but not least, there's the Chromebook Pixel, an impressive device, albeit too downed for a Chrome OS laptop.
Ultimately, Chromebooks seem to be great travel companions or the ideal mini-laptop for kids. They are also highly recommended for users who just want to surf the Internet, check their email, play multimedia content, etc. Paying between 180 and 270 euros for one of these devices is more than justified.
Pay more no, more than anything because you can get decent Windows laptops, or even two in one like the Asus Transformer Book T100, for less than 400 euros. It could be argued that Chromebooks are generally simpler to use, more compact, and less troublesome than any Windows PC, and you'd be right up to a point, but you'd still be fine up to a point. But there are still some limitations with respect to the more powerful notebooks.
With this, we conclude our reviews of the best Chromebooks currently available. We are constantly updating information, so stay tuned for more information. Ah! And if this article has been useful to you, please share it And, of course, the comments section is open to any contribution you can make to us.
Telecommunications Engineer closely linked to the world of computing. I complement my daily work with a suitable laptop for my tasks and I help you to achieve the same adapted to your needs.
