If you’re shopping for a new laptop, you might be turned off by some of the high prices you see. Many laptops are costly because they're built for high performance. But if you’re looking for something barebones and affordable for light computing, a Chromebook is right up your alley.
Before buying a Chromebook, you should consider which specs and features are essential to you. Some Chromebooks cost well over $500, but you can find many reliable and high-quality laptops for as low as $150 on Amazon.
In this article: Lenovo IdeaPad 3 11-inch Chromebook Laptop, HP 11-inch Chromebook Laptop and Samsung Chromebook 4 11-inch Laptop.
A Chromebook is a laptop, but they run Chrome OS instead of a Windows operating system. Chrome OS is user-friendly and more secure than Windows since it has an inherent anti-virus system. Chrome OS offers a streamlined experience that appeals to those who want to use their laptop for basic school or work tasks. It's also perfect for occasional leisure activities, such as light gaming or streaming movies.
Storage is a crucial consideration, whether you’re buying a laptop or Chromebook. Chromebooks don’t have hard disk drives, meaning you won’t be able to store too many files locally. However, Google’s cloud-based storage system offers plenty of options for storing your files online. Also, Chromebooks have a flash memory drive, usually 32 or 64 gigabytes of storage space, so you can keep some files on your device and access them quickly without internet access.
Chromebooks are more lightweight than standard laptops, making them ideal for traveling. The screen size of a Chromebook ranges from 11 to 17 inches. The larger the screen, the heavier the Chromebook. But if you want more room to work on documents or watch movies, you’ll want a bigger display.
Laptops are notorious for having poor battery life, most lasting just three to five hours on a full charge. Since Chromebooks require less power to run, they have considerably longer battery life than laptops and can last 10 to 12 hours. Note that smaller Chromebooks usually have a longer battery life than larger ones.
If you want a laptop with the versatility to double as a tablet, you can get a two-in-one Chromebook. These Chromebooks usually have a hinge that lets you rotate the display so that it’s in front of the keyboard, offering a more practical way to watch movies, make video calls, play games and draw or take notes with a stylus (if it has a touchscreen).
The more random-access memory a computer has, the more apps and software you can run without experiencing a noticeable decrease in performance. Chromebooks don’t have as much RAM as most laptops, but at the very least, you should look for one with 4GB. This RAM is sufficient for running basic computer tasks efficiently.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 11-inch Chromebook Laptop
This lightweight Lenovo Chromebook has a Celeron processor and thin bezels on three sides of the display for improved clarity. It lasts up to 10 hours on a full charge, and the dual 2-watt stereo speakers deliver solid sound quality.
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It doesn’t have a full HD display like some more expensive Chromebooks, but it’s a steal at its listed retail price. It has 4GB of RAM, 32GB of flash memory, a Celeron N3350 processor and an Intel HD 500 graphics card.
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Samsung Chromebook 4 11-inch Laptop
This Chromebook has a durable build and a lightweight design, making it ideal for traveling. It supports Gigabit Wi-Fi connectivity for super-fast uploading and downloading, and the battery lasts up to 12 hours on a full charge.
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Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11-inch Laptop
Optimized for those who want high performance and a touchscreen, this Chromebook is an excellent value pick. It has 64GB of flash storage, a PowerVR GX6250 graphics card and 4GB of RAM.
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Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Convertible Laptop
If you’re looking for a laptop with the versatility of a tablet, this Chromebook is an excellent option. It's convertible, sporting a 360-degree hinge that allows for rotation to any angle. It also has an anti-microbial and durable Gorilla Glass display and an HDR-compatible webcam.
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This high-performance Chromebook has a MediaTek MTK8173C processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash memory. It’s slightly more robust than 11-inch models, weighing 3.3 pounds, but the wide 14-inch display makes it excellent for school and office work.
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This Chromebook offers military-grade durability and is an excellent buy if you want something basic for school and office work to take with you on the go. It has a 12-inch display, weighs just over 3 pounds and offers up to 12 hours of battery life.
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Asus Chromebook 17-inch Laptop
You won’t find a better Chromebook for streaming movies and light gaming at such an affordable price. It’s an excellent bargain pick, thanks to its crisp 17-inch full HD display, Intel UHD Graphics Integrated graphics card and long-lasting battery life.
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Acer Chromebook 315 15.6-inch Laptop
If you love streaming content, watching your favorite movies or TV shows on this Chromebook’s full HD 15.6-inch display is excellent. It has an Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor, an HDR webcam and an Intel HD Graphics 400 graphics card.
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HP Chromebook 14-inch HD Laptop
This Chromebook has a sleek design and a stylish mineral silver finish. The anti-glare micro-edge WLED-backlit display is broad enough for gaming, streaming movies and office work. The HP fast charge gets the battery from 0% to 50% in 45 minutes.
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Asus 14-inch Nano-Edge Chromebook Laptop
This Chromebook has a stylish metallic finish and is perfect for casual school or office work tasks. The full HD display delivers dazzling colors and outstanding picture quality, and it offers 32GB of storage and 4GB of RAM.
Sold by Amazon
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Kevin Luna writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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