I've tested over 50 Chromebooks, and these are the devices you should buy in 2025

Whether you're shopping for work or for play, Chromebooks are simple, versatile, and increasingly AI-powered laptops that serve as excellent tools for students and professionals alike. These devices offer reliable performance and battery life in a lightweight package that's easy to throw into a backpack, so it's no surprise they're quickly replacing traditional laptops as the go-to workplace tool.

The tricky thing is that Chromebooks are a massive category. These devices can range from super-durable bricks with barely any features to highly efficient laptops with convertible designs and vibrant touchscreen displays. So which Chromebook is right for you?

I've tested countless Chromebooks over the years, and I can tell you which pick is right for you and why. So whether you're a tech-savvy user or you're shopping for a youngster's first laptop, if you're interested in Chromebooks, you're in the right place.

Andrew Myrick

In between figuring out ways to put retro emulators on everything, Andrew thoroughly enjoys exploring what's possible with Android tablets. He's constantly looking for new and different ways to use tablets and Chromebooks in particular, such as replacing his laptop or turning tablets into smart home dashboards.

At a glance

Best overall

For years, we've wanted Google to release a Pixelbook 2, and every once in a while, a Chromebook is released that makes us think we no longer need it. I'd argue that the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 has gotten closer than any of the alternatives, fully embodying Google's vision for the platform.

It's no surprise that Lenovo knows how to make an excellent Chromebook, and the Chromebook Plus 14 is the "piece de resistance." This marked the first device to be powered by MediaTek's Kompanio Ultra 910 chipset, offering more than enough horsepower for multitasking and on-device AI functionality.

That chip is paired with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of UFS 4.0 storage, meaning that you won't be able to upgrade or add more later. Admittedly, that's one of the bigger letdowns of the Chromebook Plus 14, but it also makes sense given that this is an ARM-powered Chromebook.

If the performance wasn't enough for you, then the screen might help fill the gap. Lenovo makes use of a beautiful 14-inch AMOLED touchscreen panel, which is really just the perfect complement to the rest of the ensemble. Oh, and did we mention that the bottom has a very similar design to the Pixelbook Go?

Best convertible

Acer kind of surprised us with this one, as we weren't expecting to see the company release a competitor to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 so quickly. Nevertheless, that's exactly what we got with the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514, which arrived in early October 2025.

Frankly, Acer's offering isn't all that different from Lenovo's, as both are powered by the Kompanio Ultra 910, and come with up to 16GB of RAM. Where things start to differ is in the display, as the Spin 514 is a convertible, giving another layer of flexibility that Lenovo's model can't match.

It goes beyond that, however, as Acer is relying on an IPS panel that features a 120Hz refresh rate. Plus, there are actually two versions of the Chromebook Plus 514, with the base model coming with 12GB of RAM and a 1920 x 1200 display, while the upgraded version features 16GB of RAM and a 2880 x 1800 resolution. However, we've found that the upgraded model can currently only be purchased from Acer directly, whereas the 12GB variant is available via Best Buy and other retailers.

Best Chromebook Plus

It's been a few years since the last time we saw Samsung release a new Chromebook, but the company is back in a big way with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus. Not only is this the thinnest and lightest Chromebook (at this size,) but there are a few other features that help this stand out from the pack.

The first of which is the 15.6-inch AMOLED display that looks absolutely stunning from the moment you turn it on for the first time. While we do wish Samsung would have used a 1440p resolution in a screen of this size, it's not really something you'll think about as you appreciate just how good it looks.

Samsung and Google worked together on this Chromebook, and one way that it shows is with the new Quick Insert key. This replaces the "Everything" key which has been a staple on Chromebooks for years. When pressing the Quick Insert key, a drop-down menu appears, offering different options based on what you're currently doing. This includes being able to access various Gemini features along with GIFs, symbols, and more.

There really is a lot to like about the Galaxy Chromebook Plus, but there are a few minor gripes that might hold you back. For one, it's priced at $699, which puts in line with the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. With that, you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is great, but that's the only configuration to choose from. We really would've liked to see at least a 512GB option, or even one with more RAM.

One omission that I was surprised to see was the lack of a fingerprint scanner. It's not exactly a common inclusion on Chromebooks, but I definitely would have thought one would be built in. Rounding things out, although Samsung claims the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is capable of providing 12 hours of battery life, very rarely did I ever get anywhere close to that.

Best for students

When Google announced the Chromebook Plus initiative, we were wondering whether Lenovo would jump on the train. Thankfully, the company delivered with a couple of different options, but the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus might be the best of the bunch.

The display is no slouch, thanks to the 1920 x 1200, 14-inch IPS touchscreen, which makes for an enjoyable experience. Adding to that is the convertible design, allowing you to use it as a tablet, or laptop, or take advantage of Tent Mode to watch a movie. Plus, the display is USI-compliant, offering greater flexibility than some of the other options out there.

You can comfortably type on its backlit keyboard for hours at a time and you'll enjoy serviceable speakers placed just above the keyboard. Battery life is also impressive, as the Slim 3i Chromebook Plus is rated to last for up to 10 hours.

This version comes with Intel's Core i3-1315U processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. As for port selection, the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus offers dual USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a microSD card slot, a 3.5mm audio-combo jack, and a Kensington lock.

Best for gaming

Chromebooks aren’t generally the first thing people look for when they’re picking out a new gaming system, but the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE seeks to change all of that. Thanks to the expansion of Steam for ChromeOS, gamers are now able to log into their Steam account and access their full library of games directly on their Chromebook, and the 516 GE ensures that they look and play better than ever before.

This laptop boasts a big and vibrant 16-inch display (a rarity among Chromebooks) with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate. There’s also a sleek and spacious keyboard with eight backlight color options that can be customized at any time in the Settings menu. You also get all of the performance and battery life that we’ve come to expect from the Acer name, in this case, up to eight hours on a single charge. This Chromebook doesn’t skimp on ports either, as the Acer 516 GE boasts dual USB-C ports, a 2.5G Ethernet jack, an HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

There are a lot of similarities between the Chromebook Plus 516 GE and its predecessor, including a few downsides. A couple of key examples are the fact that you won't enjoy a touchscreen display here. Plus, while USB-4 speeds are fine for most, it's still disappointing to miss out on true Thunderbolt support.

Best tablet

Ever since the original Chromebook Duet debuted back in 2020, this has been one of the best choices for those who want ChromeOS on a tablet. Under the hood, you'll find MediaTek's Kompanio 828 chipset, which does wonders to help make the battery last for days.

The Duet 11 is rated for up to 12 hours on a single charge, and this ChromeOS tablet doesn't disappoint. But Lenovo took things a step further when it comes to charging, giving the Duet 11 dual USB-C ports. Needless to say, these are very welcome upgrades compared to the original Duet.

Continuing with the versatility mindset, Lenovo includes both a kickstand and a detachable keyboard case with the Duet 11, but you'll also find the Lenovo USI Pen 2 in the box. The kickstand simply attaches to the back using magnets, but the company took a step back when it comes to the keyboard. In our Duet 11 review, we found that the ribbon cable used by Lenovo is a bit too flimsy for our liking, meaning that using this on your lap may result in a frustrating typing experience.

One area where Lenovo didn't really provide much of an upgrade is in the storage department. The only "upgrade" really is that you can get 128GB of storage with the base configuration, but there still isn't any option for using a microSD card. But at least with the second USB-C port, you can attach an external hard drive if you want to load up some movies or TV shows. It's not the perfect solution, but it's better than nothing.

Best budget tablet

Seeing as Lenovo has yet to release a successor to the Duet 5, this moved the Duet 11 into our pick for best Chromebook tablet. However, this also opened the door for the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3001 to join the ranks.

For the price, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better value than what the CM3001 can offer. It has a listed retail price of $299, but you can easily find it on sale for less, as we've seen it drop below the $200 mark a couple of times.

As for what this Chromebook tablet has to offer, ASUS has taken a similar approach to Lenovo, including a kickstand case and detachable keyboard in the box. Making things even better is that there's even a USI Pen, but you won't find it in the box. Instead, it's stowed away in the top right corner, giving you somewhere to put the stylus when you're not using it, while ensuring that it won't just fall off or get lost.

Performance is where we see the CM3001 fall short of the Duet 11, as it relies on the Kompanio 520. While it's far from the worst SoC on a Chromebook, those hoping to enjoy a smooth multitasking experience will be a bit disappointed.

Best cheap Chromebook

Seeing as how there just haven't been very many new Chromebooks released in 2025, we're actually thankful to see the Chromebook CX14 from ASUS. There are some nice things about it, such as the 1920 x 1080 resolution, which isn't all that common with cheap Chromebooks. Not only that, but ASUS has included an anti-glare coating, which could definitely come in handy if you're out and about.

The Intel Celeron N4500 isn't going to win any performance awards, but it tries to make up for that by providing just enough power for multitasking. Plus, the chip efficiency paired with the 42Whr battery means that the CX14 should make it through at least a day, if not longer, before you'll need to recharge it.

Speaking of charging, ASUS didn't skimp out on the port selection, as we have two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and even an HDMI 1.4 port. Not only that, but both USB-C ports support display out and power delivery, something else that isn't very common with budget-minded Chromebooks.

While there's a lot to like about what the CX14 offers, there are two major sticking points. The first is that companies continue to release new Chromebooks that include just 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. This isn't a problem limited to ASUS, but is rather common and downright disappointing.

Lastly, there's only one retailer that offers the CX14, and that's Best Buy. It makes sense considering that Best Buy is really the only electronics-focused big box store left, but you can't currently buy the CX14 from Amazon or even ASUS' own website.

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How we test

Putting Chromebooks to the test is not all that different from how we review any other device here at Android Central. However, given the nature of what a Chromebook can do compared to a tablet, our methodology does vary just a bit.

Specifically when it comes to performance, there are a number of different synthetic benchmarks that are used. These include the likes of Speedometer 3.0, Basemark Web 3.0, Kraken, and others. Given the access to the Google Play Store, we also try to see how well a Chromebook performs in Geekbench and other benchmarking applications.

Furthermore, Chromebooks have the unique advantage of being able to setup and install Linux, with the same being true of Steam for some Chromebooks. In the event that we cannot install and use Linux or Steam on a Chromebook, we make note of during our testing phase, and lean back on the previously mentioned benchmarking tests.

Other things we test out when reviewing a Chromebook include things like stylus support and whether there is any input latency when writing notes or drawing. Not to mention covering the more commonly asked questions, such as design, port selection, convertibility, and others.

How to choose

What are the best Chromebooks on the market today?

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The beauty of the Chromebook market is that there are so many options to choose from. Our top pick is the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, as it strikes the right balance between power and battery life. In addition to MediaTek's Kompanio Ultra SoC, the Spin 714 features a beautiful 14-inch OLED touchscreen display, and provides a subtle nod to Pixelbook Go.

If you're looking for something that offers the same level of power, but in a convertible form factor, then the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is the way to go. It too, is powered by the Kompanio Ultra 910, and features a 14-inch touchscreen display. But instead of OLED, Acer opted for an IPS panel, while also sporting a 120Hz refresh rate.

What about those who are on a tighter budget or just need a device for basic tasks? There are an abundance of options to choose from, such as Lenovo's Chromebook Duet 11, which just so happens to double as our favorite ChromeOS tablet. However, there's also the ASUS Chromebook CX14 (CX1405), which is less than $300, but still provides enough oomph to at least have a few different apps open at the same time.

How do I pick the best Chromebook?

Chromebooks might get pegged as only being for students and grandparents, but there truly is a Chromebook for everybody these days, whether you're just browsing email and social media, or getting down and dirty with Linux apps and coding IDEs.

While there are a lot of great Chromebook manufacturers out there, the Lenovo and ASUS models seem to go harder and last longer than the competition. That being said, Samsung, Dell, and HP can make some pretty premium Chromebooks as well.

Choosing your Chromebook is slightly different from picking a Windows or Mac laptop due to the standardized, cloud-centric nature of Chrome OS. Because Google controls the software look and update schedule for every Chromebook model, a Chromebook built by Lenovo should act the same as a Chromebook from Dell or Samsung. So what does that mean?

It means you can focus a little less on those core specs and more on what you want to do with the machine you choose. This process may seem slightly out of order, but trust me on this one:

Get one with a touchscreen — a 2-in-1 if you can

Touchscreens may be a luxury for other laptop systems, but on Chromebooks, I consider it a requirement. The touch optimization in Chrome OS is getting better every month, and since most of the Android apps Chromebooks can install via Google Play are optimized for touch, treat yourself to a touchscreen model.

Touchscreen models usually aren't that much more expensive for Chromebooks nowadays — many Chromebook models don't even bother with non-touchscreen versions these days — but if you see a Chromebook that says it's non-touch, walk away and don't look back. It's a beautiful thing to be able to tap on the screen when scrolling through Amazon, and after playing Solitaire on a touchscreen, you'll never go back to using a mouse. Especially when buying a student Chromebook, a touchscreen is imperative for helping younger users adapt from the touchscreen world of tablets to the mouse-and-keyboard banality of laptops.

That touchscreen comes in even handier on 2-in-1 systems; the best form factor I've seen for Chromebooks yet. Being able to prop up your Chromebook in Tent mode for a movie, or fold it flat into Tablet mode for some in-bed browsing while down with the flu is amazing. However, having a 360-degree hinge is excellent for everyday productivity too. You can bend your Chromebook back to more angles when working in awkwardly-lit offices with weird light glare, or propped in your lap at a ballgame because you didn't forget those quarterly expense reports that were due tomorrow, and refuse to skip the game for that.

Decide on the other features you want

Chrome OS is almost entirely the same on every device from a software perspective, which means that standout hardware features become paramount, and figuring out which of those features you want or need in a machine can help narrow the field and steer you to your perfect Chromebook.

As mentioned before, you want a touchscreen Chromebook — a 2-in-1 if you can swing it — but if you tend to do a lot of movie-watching, you may want a high-quality screen or loud, front-facing speakers.

If you're looking to be more productive with many open tabs and multi-window screens, you might want a 3:2 display that's more suited to split-screening, as well as a more powerful processor/memory configuration.

Productivity-minded users should also pay special mind to the port configurations on their prospective Chromebooks, as USB-C starts to replace most other ports on more premium Chromebooks like the Pixelbook while more grounded models keep USB-A ports around alongside new USB-C charging ports.

Families with younger kids — or travelers prone to slips, spills, and accidents — might want to look to the growing number of Chromebooks with military-grade MIL-STD 810G durability or spill-resistant keyboards.

Pick your size

Chromebooks come in a variety of sizes, but they tend to gravitate to four sizes in general:

• 11.6-inch models are portable and affordable. At their smaller size, their screens can look good, even if they're less than 1080p native resolution — though screen resolution is handled a bit differently on Chrome OS; we'll get to that a little later. Depending on the bezels on the screen, 11.6-inch Chromebooks can either have full-sized keys or slightly shrunken keys, though most manufacturers use full-size keys on 11.6-inch models.
• 12.3-13.5-inch models are becoming more and more popular, especially with 2-in-1 models like the Lenovo Flex 5 and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. This screen size allows you to comfortably split-screen windows, enjoy a full-size keyboard, and you've got the room for more powerful components and more battery to power that bigger screen. These are portable but powerful, and I love them.
• 14-inch models sit at the high margin for the portable category. Still, with thin bezels and proper engineering, these can be almost as portable and manageable as 13-inch laptops with 7-9 hour battery lives. If you need to display your text in a larger font — and yes, Chrome OS has a separate font scale independent of the display zoom — a 14-inch model is your best bet for a productive Chromebook that won't strain your eyes, especially as most 14-inch models start at 1080p.
• 15.6-inch models are made for desks and dining room tables. I lovingly refer to these as LIMOs — Laptop in model only — because while you can shove them into larger laptop backpacks for a vacation, these Chromebooks aren't made for laps and tray tables. Instead, these are made for a standard office environment where they live stationary lives in peace. They are great for productivity because you can see more at once, but they tend to have shorter battery lives and higher weights, which dissuade them from being dragged around daily.

In general, the bigger the size of your Chromebook, the more you can potentially fit on the screen, but it will also be less portable and shorter in battery life. The smaller it is, the less heavy and (usually) less expensive it will be. Still, smaller models can also suffer from lower resolution screens, though Chrome OS's display zoom and font adjustments can somewhat offset it.

Memory and storage — what do you really need?

RAM — Random Access Memory — is a critical spec for computers of all sizes and shapes; from phones and tablets, to desktops and laptops. It's used by your computer's processor(s) to hold your current tabs, apps, and execute the commands, clicks, and operations that make your Chromebook work.

So how much RAM do I need? 4 GB of RAM in a Chromebook is OK, 8 GB is better, and high-end Chromebooks can come with 16 GB or more, but 4 GB of RAM is enough to run Chrome OS with a couple of apps and a dozen Chrome tabs.

If you're a long-time Windows user — or a long-time computer user of any kind — looking at the storage on most Chromebooks will seem confusing at first because it's not going to sound like enough. Chrome OS is based around cloud storage — Google Drive is integrated directly into the Files app — but local storage is still essential for things like Android apps from Google Play, offline documents, and downloaded music/movies for those horrible Wi-Fi-less flights.

You can also expand the storage on many Chromebooks with an SD or microSD card, but there's no beating proper local storage to start with. 32 GB of storage is workable, but I'd recommend a model with at least 64 GB of storage. Finding 128 GB or more is usually reserved for premium Chromebooks with heftier price tags. However, 64 GB Chromebooks are pretty widely available and offer more than enough storage for some Drive offline syncing and emergency entertainment.

Always check the expiration date!

Chrome OS is developed, managed, and updated by Google for all Chromebooks, but Google doesn't want to be stuck supporting every random budget chipset and driver set forever, so each Chromebook has a shelf life and an expiration date — just like the milk in your fridge. This is the Auto Update Expiration date, and it can be found for every single model on this handy-dandy support page, which you should often check while you're shopping for Chromebooks.

Now, a Chromebook doesn't turn into a pumpkin on its AUE date — assuming your Chromebook lasts three to six years until that date — but it does stop receiving those system updates every Chromebook gets every four to six weeks that contain bug fixes, security patches, and new features. If your Chromebook is still running decently at that time, you're a champ, and with a teeny bit of know-how, you can reformat it to run one of a dozen Linux distros instead.

That said, four-to-six years is a long time for any laptop, and chances are yours will be getting long in the tooth by then. Right now, when shopping, always check the AUE to see how long your Chromebook will get updates. Some Chromebooks have shorter lifetimes than others if they're built on the same platform as a previous Chromebook — AUE is based on the hardware platform, not individual model, which is also why many Chromebooks have the same AUE dates. That's why it's something you'll always want to check before buying, even if the model itself is brand-new.

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