Chrome OS used to be the laughingstock of the OS wars, but today it holds a strong place in the market. Thanks to Android apps, the OS is only becoming more and more useful too. One of the hardest parts of Chrome OS, though, is picking a machine to run it on. So, let’s take a look at the best Chromebooks you can buy today…
Since the holidays are here, you’re probably looking at this list to find the best Chromebook as a gift for someone, so unlike our usual list, this month we’re going to give you a couple of top picks.
TOP PICK #1 – THE BEST OVERALL
Samsung Chromebook Pro
Samsung’s latest Chromebooks surprised us early this year as impressive options both for Chrome OS and for Android apps. The 2-in-1 design, stellar 2400×1600 IPS touchscreen display, and included stylus are huge selling points you won’t get anywhere else in this ecosystem.
The Chromebook Pro is our top pick because of its specs and price tag. At its current price of $499 (discounted from $549), you’re getting an awesome machine for a great deal.
The biggest differences with the Chromebook Pro over the Plus is what’s found under the hood. The Chromebook Pro has the same 4GB of RAM, but paired with an Intel Core m3 processor as opposed to the “OP1” ARM chipset in the Plus. The Chromebook Pro also offers a gorgeous matte black color as opposed to the silver found on the Plus.
If you’re interested in picking up a Chromebook Pro, it’s available from Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, Newegg, and more.
TOP PICK #2 – BEST FOR ANDROID APPS
ASUS Chromebook Flip C101
The first Chromebook with a 2-in-1 design was the ASUS Chromebook Flip a few years ago, and this year, ASUS has given it a refresh. Just like the original, the Chromebook Flip C101 has a 10.1-inch display on a 360-degree hinge, making it once again the smallest Chromebook on the market. Today, though, that means a lot more than it did thanks to Android apps.
The C101 also packs a little more power to run Chrome OS and Android apps. It has a newer Rockchip processor, 4GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage on its $299 base model, and that’s a pretty great little package if you ask me.
This machine clearly isn’t a power user’s device, but it’s about as ideal of a tablet replacement as you can get in a Chromebook today. It’s the best Chromebook on the market for Android apps right now, hands down. It’s even seen price cuts at various outlets, such as B&H Photo.
FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR
Google Pixelbook
Obviously, the new king of the hill when it comes to Chrome OS is the Google Pixelbook. Unveiled alongside the new Pixel 2 family and the rest of Google’s new gadgets, the Pixelbook is as premium a laptop as any, but with Chrome OS running the show (with Android apps, of course).
There are three configurations for the Pixelbook. The standard model has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD for storage. Stepping up from there you’ll get the same processor and RAM, but with a 256GB SSD.
The top-of-the-line model packs an Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and a massive (and faster) 512GB NVMe SSD. All models use Intel’s 7th generation Kaby Lake chipsets, and you’ll be getting killer performance across the board.
The display on the Pixelbook is a 12.3-inch LCD at 2400×1600, and you’ll also be getting dual-speakers, up to 10 hours of battery life, two USB-C ports with fast charging, and a 720p webcam. The keyboard is also backlit and there’s also an edge-to-edge trackpad made from glass.
The Pixelbook itself is built from an aluminum unibody just like the Chromebook Pixel of years past, and there’s even a glass panel on top that calls out to the design of the Pixel phones. Google says that glass will also help with wifi performance and reception.
The Pixelbook supports the new $99 Pen that can be used for drawing, but also the machine’s standout feature — Google Assistant. Just like the Assistant on your phone, you’ll be able to ask questions and more with your voice, but Assistant on the Pixelbook also works with typing and the dedicated keyboard key. With the Pen, you can even circle things on-screen and have Assistant give you information about it.
Of course, all of this comes at a price. The Pixelbook starts at a whopping $999 on the Google Store and goes all the way up to $1,650. That’s a lot to spend on a Chromebook if you ask me, but for enthusiasts, it could be well worth it. You can order it right now from the Google Store, Best Buy, or Amazon.
Samsung Chromebook Plus
One of the headliners in the Chrome OS market today is the Samsung Chromebook Plus. Samsung’s latest machine is a premium device designed for Android apps that is one of the more well thought-out machines in recent memory. It offers a 12.3-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio that comes in at 2400×1600. It’s a very sharp display which looks stunning, and with a responsive touchscreen that can flip all the way around, it makes for a solid tablet replacement.
Android apps are enabled out of the box on this one as well, meaning that users can easily use this machine both for tasks in Chrome and in their favorite apps. It also makes Samsung’s embedded stylus possible, with improved functionality through a couple of pre-loaded apps.
The Chromebook Plus runs on top of a hexa-core ARM-based chipset developer in collaboration with Google. The OP1 chipset is well optimized for Chrome and Android apps, and it works pretty well on the Plus. Paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, it makes for a solid experience overall.
Samsung has made the decision to go all-in on USB-C on the Chromebook Plus as well, leaving users with two USB-C ports for charging, data transfer, and output. It’s not ideal, but it’s also not a big deal on this sort of machine.
Priced at $449, Samsung is certainly going for the higher end of the market, but after using it, I certainly feel it’s worth the asking price. You can pick up the Samsung Chromebook Plus from Amazon (where it’s commonly on sale), the Google Store, Best Buy, and various other retailers.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA
The other big release we’ve seen in 2017 has been the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302CA. This machine closely rivals the Chromebook Plus with a premium design, but takes a slightly different approach with the overall package.
The C302CA offers Android apps (in the beta channel only for now) and was clearly designed with them in mind. The 12.5-inch 1080p touchscreen display is great for using apps, and the 16:9 aspect ratio feels natural when using media applications as well. It also offers an excellent backlit keyboard and all-day battery life, with charging support via the two USB-C ports, which are the only ports found on the machine.
ASUS has packed this Chromebook with Intel’s Core m3 chipset, 64GB of storage, and 4GB of RAM. That Intel chipset makes the C302CA a great choice for those who need some extra power, and it works very well.
Priced at $499, the C302CA isn’t necessarily for the first time Chromebook buyer, but it’s an excellent option that will become an even better value when Android apps make their way to the stable channel. Retailers such as Amazon, Newegg, and Best Buy offer it.
Acer Chromebook 15 (2017)
The Acer Chromebook 15 has been around for a while and it’s seen several revisions both as a high-powered and an entry-level machine. For 2017, Acer has refreshed the Chromebook 15 yet again, this time with USB-C and an aluminum build.
We’ve already reviewed the new Acer Chromebook 15 and in short, it’s an excellent option for its $400 price tag. You get a 15.6-inch 1080p display, Intel Pentium processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. That’s not exactly high-end, but given the size, speakers, and aluminum build, it’s a really nice package for Chrome OS.
That 15-inch display is, of course, a touchscreen so you’ll be able to use Android apps which work out of the box. The screen doesn’t flip fully around like on a lot of other Chromebooks, but it will fold down 180-degrees. USB-C is also included which is a nice touch for this new model. There’s one port on either side for data and charging, and a standard USB port on each side as well.
The Acer Chromebook 15 (2017) is available now from Best Buy and eBay for $400. At the time of publishing this month, though, it’s cut to just $359.
Acer Chromebook 14
Acer is one of the most popular Chromebook makers, and that’s why it has more than one option on this list. The first, though, is the Acer Chromebook 14. Offering up a metal build, Intel Celeron chipset, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage, this is a pretty respectable offering from the company. This is certainly a Chrome OS-first experience, though, as the screen doesn’t flip around, nor does the machine feature a touchscreen for using Android apps (although it will still receive them, eventually).
Priced at $299, the Chromebook 14 isn’t a bad deal. It lacks some of the newer perks of modern Chromebooks, like USB-C, but it’s definitely a good choice. It’s available in both silver and gold from retailers such as Amazon. You can learn more in our full review.
Acer Chromebook N7 (C731)
Education is the biggest market for Chrome OS, and hardware is constantly being released with that in mind. One of the more recent options has been the Acer Chromebook N7, launched back at CES 2017. This machine offers a lot for its $229 price tag, including an Intel Celeron chipset, 4GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and an 11.6-inch IPS touchscreen HD display.
Like many other Chromebooks with an education focus, the N7 offers improved durability with drop and water resistance. It unfortunately doesn’t feature USB-C, but does offer up two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, a full-size SD card reader, and, of course, a headphone jack. The Acer Chromebook N7 is available for purchase from Amazon, Newegg, Walmart, and other retailers.
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