The Best Chromebooks in 2025

The Best Chromebooks in 2025


Chromebooks can offer amazing value for the money, whether you’re looking for a laptop for studying, work, or just casual web browsing. There are even Chromebooks for gaming (and they’re more impressive than you might expect). Don’t let the low price tags on these laptops fool you – they’re little workhorses.

Keep an eye out for Chromebook Plus models in particular. They feature more advanced hardware and stronger performance compared to basic Chromebooks. They also come with perks like a free 12-month Google AI Pro subscription, which includes access to Google Gemini and 2TB of Google Cloud storage.

TL;DR – These Are the Best Chromebooks:

Chromebooks aren’t a perfect fit for everyone, though. Keep in mind these laptops can’t run Windows or Mac apps, so depending on what your must-have apps are, you might be better served with one of the best laptops or MacBooks. With that said, Chromebooks are a great choice if you mainly use web-based tools like Google Drive or only need a laptop for basic tasks like web browsing and word processing. They also make great budget laptops – every Chromebook I picked is well under $1,000.

1. Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

Best Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14

High-end Chromebook that sports a stylish design, a sharp OLED display, and jaw-dropping battery life powered by a speedy MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910.

Display

14″ (1920 x 1080) OLED touchscreen display

CPU

MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910

GPU

ARM Immortalis-G925 integrated graphics

Size

12.37″ x 8.63″ x 0.62″

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 has a lot going for it, but where it really shines is battery life, lasting up to 17 hours. That’s incredible for any laptop, but it’s especially impressive considering this one costs less than $800. That might be thanks to the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 CPU, which is designed to offer great power efficiency.

As if the stellar battery life wasn’t enough, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 also sports a stunning OLED display and a sleek, ultra-portable design. It weighs less than three pounds, making this a great pick for students, commuters, and frequent fliers.

With 16GB of RAM (as opposed to the more common 8GB in Chromebooks), you’ll also be able to run more resource-intensive apps and games. Like most Lenovo laptops, the Chromebook Plus 14 also has a top-notch keyboard. What’s not to love about this Chromebook?

2. Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Best Budget Chromebook

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Ultra-affordable Chromebook that nails all the basics with reliable battery life, a solid IPS display, and your choice of an AMD or Intel processor.

Display

14″ (1920 x 1200) IPS display

CPU

AMD Ryzen 3 7320C or Intel Core i3-N305

GPU

AMD Radeon integrated graphics or Intel integrated graphics

Size

12.56″ x 0.78″ x 8.94″

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 packs a lot of value into its ultra-affordable price tag. It normally costs $350, but frequently goes on sale for much less, even dropping below $300.

For that low price, you get a capable Chromebook that’s perfect for studying or basic everyday tasks like web browsing. There are two models available, one with an AMD processor and another with an Intel chip. They’re comparable in terms of processing power, so it’s really a matter of which manufacturer you prefer and which you can find for the lowest price.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 also offers surprisingly strong battery life, considering how affordable it is. You can get around 10 to 12 hours of battery life per charge, which is easily enough to get through a full day of school or work. The only downside is that this Chromebook only has 128GB of storage – though it is a Chromebook, so you won’t need to store much locally anyway.

3. Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Best Chromebook for Students

Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

A strong mid-range Chromebook perfect for students thanks to its versatile 2-in-1 design, great display, and snappy backlit keyboard.

Display

14″ (1920 x 1200) IPS touch display

GPU

Intel UHD integrated graphics

Size

12.42″ x 9.02″ x 0.78″

If you’re looking for a Chromebook for getting schoolwork done, you need something that balances solid performance with an affordable price. That’s exactly what the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus offers.

It features a versatile 2-in-1 design, a decent display, a snappy backlit keyboard, and plenty of ports for connecting all the accessories you need. The inclusion of a microSD card slot is a pleasant surprise and makes this an especially good pick for students who want to get some creative work done on their Chromebook or use it to back up photos to Google Cloud. The 2-in-1 design is also perfect if you want tablet mode functionality for tasks like drawing or taking handwritten notes with a stylus.

Expect to get around 8 to 10 hours of battery life per charge, which should be enough for a full school day for most students. The only real downside with this Chromebook is the storage – 128GB may be low for some students, but you can always supplement it with Google Cloud or another external storage medium.

4. Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

Best Chromebook for Gaming

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

One of the most powerful Chromebooks you can buy, perfect for casual or cloud gaming, especially with its stellar 120Hz display and RGB backlit keyboard.

Display

16″ (2560 x 1600) 120Hz IPS display

GPU

Intel integrated graphics

Size

14.04″ x 9.83″ x 0.84″

Battery life could be better

Chromebooks aren’t known for being gaming beasts, but this one might surprise you. If you want to get into gaming on a tight budget or want a Chromebook that offers gaming-focused features, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is the way to go. It’s a great Chromebook in its own right, but its stellar display, RGB backlit keyboard, and surprisingly strong processor make it a stand-out choice for gamers.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is mainly meant for cloud gaming with services like Nvidia GeForce Now or Boosteroid. Cloud gaming looks and feels great on this Chromebook thanks to its sharp, vivid 120Hz display, which is a joy to game on.

However, you might be surprised to hear that you can also play games on Steam on the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE. While you’re limited by its hardware (including an underwhelming 8GB of RAM), you can play lightweight titles like Hollow Knight or Stardew Valley locally through Steam thanks to Valve’s Proton compatibility layer, which allows certain Windows games to work on Linux and ChromeOS. Unfortunately, battery life isn’t this Chromebook’s strong suit – expect to get around 8 hours of use per charge, and less if you’re gaming.

5. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Best 2-in-1 Chromebook

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

A stylish, premium 2-in-1 Chromebook that pairs a vibrant display with an eye-catching design and great speakers.

Display

14″ (1920 x 1200) IPS touch display

CPU

Intel Core Ultra 5 115U

GPU

Intel integrated graphics

Size

12.35″ x 8.84″ x 0.71″

Battery life could be better

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is a sleek, premium 2-in-1 with a vibrant display, stellar speakers, and great all-around build quality. The keyboard is a joy to type on, too, which makes this Chromebook a good pick for students and writers.

The design is the real star of the show. The metallic gray chassis feels sturdy and premium, especially with the stylish bronze accents on the hinges and around the edges of the display. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 looks and feels much more expensive than its $799 price tag (which often goes down below $600 during sales) would suggest.

The touch screen is wonderful, as well, with good color and contrast. It’s responsive enough to keep up with precise touch controls in games or even with a stylus for tasks like drawing or writing. However, the battery life on this Chromebook is a bit underwhelming at around 9 to 10 hours.

How to Choose the Best Chromebook

Choosing the right Chromebook starts with deciding on a budget and one or two must-have features. The vast majority of Chromebooks cost well under $1,000, with higher-end models ranging from around $600 to $800, mid-range models landing between $400 and $600, and budget options covering anything less than $400.

Beyond price, battery life and design are often deal-breaker features. Ideally you don’t want to settle for less than 8 hours of battery life unless you’re on a very tight budget. Even then, it may be worth saving a little extra money to get a Chromebook that can hit 8 hours. If you travel frequently or commute, it’s a good idea to aim even higher, ideally around 10 hours or more.

Design comes down to whether or not you care about 2-in-1 functionality. Chromebooks mainly rely on the Google Play Store for apps, which can be a drawback but also means you can use apps designed for tablets if your Chromebook has a tablet mode. For instance, Goodnotes is a great notetaking app designed for tablets that could come in handy for students with a 2-in-1 Chromebook.

It’s also important to consider how much storage you’ll need. Most Chromebooks include 128GB or 256GB of storage. It’s possible to find some with 512GB or more, but those models are less common and more expensive. Also keep in mind that if you get a Chromebook Plus model, you’ll get a free year of Google AI Pro, which includes 2TB of Google Cloud storage.

Chromebook FAQ

Can Chromebooks use the same apps as Windows?

No, Chromebooks can’t use Windows apps, but some Windows apps may have ChromeOS versions. Chromebooks are mainly limited to apps from the Google Play Store. Even then, not all apps on the Play Store are designed to work on Chromebooks. So, it’s a good idea to double-check that your must-have apps are available on ChromeOS before switching from Windows or MacOS.

Can Chromebooks run Steam?

Some may be surprised to hear that Chromebooks can run Steam and play certain Windows games from Steam through Valve’s Proton compatibility layer. Steam for Chromebook is currently available as a Beta app, but has the full Steam experience. Unfortunately, not all Chromebooks are eligible, so check Google’s list of hardware requirements and supported Chromebook models to see if yours qualifies.

What is the difference between a Chromebook and Chromebook Plus?

Chromebook Plus laptops are a collection of Chromebooks with more powerful hardware, allowing them to handle more advanced apps and run Google’s Gemini AI. Most new Chromebook Plus laptops also come with perks, like a free year of Google AI Pro, which gets you full access to Google Gemini and 2TB of cloud storage.

Stevie Bonifield is a freelance tech journalist who has written for IGN, PC Gamer, Tom’s Guide, and Laptop Mag, covering everything from custom keyboards to gaming on Linux.


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