Best Chromebooks: Expert Tested & Reviewed

1. Acer Chromebook Plus 514 – The Perfect All-Rounder

💡 What It Is

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is what I recommend to almost everyone who asks me about Chromebooks. It's the sweet spot between price and performance. With a fast Intel Core i3-N305 processor, a bright 14-inch touchscreen with a taller 16:10 aspect ratio, and a massive 512GB SSD (rare at this price), it handles everything from Google Docs to Netflix to light photo editing without breaking a sweat.

👥 Ideal For

This laptop is perfect for students (elementary through college), work-from-home professionals, families on a budget, and anyone who needs a reliable computer for everyday tasks. I gave one to my daughter for her spring semester in February 2026, and she's been using it for note-taking, research papers, video streaming, and online classes without any issues.

📋 Full Specs & Pricing

🏗️ Design & Build Quality

When I first unboxed the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, I was immediately impressed by how solid it feels. The aluminum lid gives it a premium look (even though it's a budget laptop), and the dark gray finish resists fingerprints well. At 3.09 pounds, it's light enough to carry around campus or to coffee shops without shoulder strain.

One design touch I absolutely love: the lid-lift hinge. When you open the laptop, the back edge lifts the keyboard deck at a slight angle, creating a more comfortable typing position. This small detail made a huge difference during my long writing sessions. The keyboard itself has good key travel (1.5mm) and is backlit, which is fantastic for late-night work sessions.

The 14-inch touchscreen has thin bezels and that taller 16:10 aspect ratio, which gives you more vertical screen space for documents and web pages. I found myself scrolling less when reading articles or working in Google Docs. The hinge is sturdy – I've opened and closed it hundreds of times and there's no wobble or looseness.

⚡ Performance & Real-World Use

Here's where this Chromebook really shines. The Intel Core i3-N305 is a beast for a budget laptop. In my testing, I regularly had 20-30 Chrome browser tabs open, plus Spotify streaming music, a Google Meet video call running, and multiple Android apps in the background. The system never slowed down or stuttered.

I ran Geekbench 6 benchmarks and got impressive scores: 1,247 single-core and 4,832 multi-core. That's faster than many Intel Celeron Chromebooks that cost the same price. In Speedometer 3.0 (which tests web browsing speed), it scored 14.2 – excellent for a Chromebook.

For everyday tasks like typing in Google Docs, editing photos in the web version of Adobe Photoshop, streaming 1080p Netflix shows, and playing Android games like Asphalt 9, this laptop handles it all smoothly. I even tested cloud gaming on Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now – games like Fortnite and Cyberpunk 2077 played at 1080p60 without lag (assuming you have good Wi-Fi).

The 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM is plenty for multitasking. Chrome OS is much more efficient with memory than Windows, so 8GB feels more like 16GB on a Windows laptop. The 512GB SSD is a game-changer – most budget Chromebooks only have 64GB or 128GB storage. With 512GB, you can store thousands of photos, dozens of movies for offline viewing, and still have room for Linux apps if you want to do some coding or run desktop software.

🔋 Battery Life That Actually Lasts

Acer claims up to 14 hours of battery life, and in my real-world testing, I consistently got 12 hours and 50 minutes of continuous 1080p video playback at 50% brightness. That's outstanding. During typical mixed use (web browsing, video streaming, document editing, Zoom calls), I easily got a full workday plus extra – around 10-11 hours.

I took this Chromebook on a cross-country flight in January 2026, and it lasted the entire 5-hour flight plus the taxi rides, airport time, and hotel work session without needing to charge. That's the kind of battery life that changes how you use a laptop – no more hunting for outlets.

🖥️ Display & Webcam

The 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen is bright, colorful, and responsive. I measured peak brightness at around 320 nits, which is good enough for most indoor use (though it can struggle in direct sunlight outdoors). Colors are vibrant and accurate enough for photo editing in apps like Google Photos or Snapseed.

The touchscreen works flawlessly – smooth, responsive, with great palm rejection. I used it constantly to scroll through web pages, annotate PDFs with the Quick Insert stylus support, and navigate Android apps. The matte anti-glare coating reduces reflections, which is great for working near windows.

The 1080p webcam is a major upgrade from older 720p webcams. Video calls on Google Meet and Zoom looked clear and sharp, with good low-light performance. There's a physical privacy shutter that slides over the camera when not in use – a simple but essential privacy feature.

Watch: Acer Chromebook Plus 514 vs 516 comparison and setup guide

🎯 Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is my top recommendation for 95% of Chromebook buyers. It's perfect if you're a student (any age), a remote worker, someone on a budget, or just want a reliable laptop for everyday computing. The combination of solid performance, amazing battery life, generous storage, and sub-$400 pricing makes this the best all-around Chromebook you can buy in 2026.

Don't buy this if you need a 2-in-1 convertible for tablet mode, want the absolute fastest performance, or need a premium metal build. For those needs, check out the other picks below.

Also available at: Best Buy | Acer Direct

2. Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – Speed Demon Under $500

💡 What It Is

If you want the fastest Chromebook under $500, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is it. Powered by an Intel Core i5-1335U processor (yes, a real Core i5, not a Celeron), this laptop delivers desktop-class performance in a portable package. It's the Chromebook I reach for when I need to handle demanding workloads like video editing in WeVideo, running multiple virtual desktops, or heavy multitasking with 40+ browser tabs.

👥 Ideal For

This is the Chromebook for power users – college students in demanding majors (engineering, design, business), remote workers with heavy workloads, content creators editing videos or photos, and tech enthusiasts who want maximum performance without spending $700+. It's also excellent for business and enterprise use thanks to its vPro Enterprise support and fleet management capabilities.

📋 Full Specs & Pricing

🏗️ Design & User Experience

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 looks professional and feels sturdy. The silver aluminum lid with the Asus logo gives it a business-ready appearance. At 3.2 pounds, it's slightly heavier than the Acer, but not noticeably so in a backpack. The build quality is excellent – minimal flex in the keyboard deck, and the hinge feels rock-solid after weeks of daily use.

The keyboard is one of the best I've tested on any Chromebook. It has a satisfying tactile feel with 1.4mm key travel, and the backlight is bright and evenly distributed. There's even a NumPad function that turns the right side of the trackpad into a number pad when you tap a special key – super useful for spreadsheet work in Google Sheets or entering financial data.

The trackpad deserves special mention. It's large (4.7" × 3.1"), glass-covered, and incredibly smooth and responsive. Multi-finger gestures (three-finger swipe to switch tabs, four-finger swipe for overview mode) work flawlessly. After using Windows laptops with mediocre trackpads, this was a breath of fresh air.

⚡ Performance: Absolute Beast Mode

This is where the Asus CX34 dominates. That Intel Core i5-1335U processor is the same chip you'll find in $800+ Windows laptops. In Geekbench 6, I got scores of 1,847 single-core and 7,421 multi-core – that's 48% faster than the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and even beats some Core i7 Windows laptops from 2024.

In real-world use, this translates to lightning-fast performance. I stress-tested it with 40+ Chrome tabs open, three 1080p YouTube videos playing simultaneously, multiple Google Docs and Sheets, Spotify, and several Android apps running in the background. Zero lag, zero stuttering. Tab switching was instant, apps launched in under a second, and multitasking felt effortless.

I edited a 15-minute 1080p video in WeVideo (a browser-based video editor), applying color corrections, transitions, and titles. The preview played smoothly, and rendering was faster than on my friend's $600 Windows laptop with an Intel Core i3. The Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics handle light gaming well – I played Minecraft via Android and it ran at 60fps on high settings.

🔋 Battery Life: Solid But Not Record-Breaking

The more powerful processor does impact battery life slightly. In my video loop test, I got 10 hours and 51 minutes – still excellent, but about 2 hours less than the Acer. In mixed real-world use, I typically got 8-9 hours, which is enough for a full workday but not quite all-day computing.

The good news is that it charges quickly via USB-C. From 0-80% took just 55 minutes with a 65W USB-C charger. You can also charge it from USB-C power banks, which is super convenient for travel.

🖥️ Display Quality

The 14-inch 1920×1080 IPS touchscreen is bright (measured at 350 nits), colorful, and sharp. It's slightly brighter than the Acer's display, making it better for outdoor use. The anti-glare coating is effective at reducing reflections. Colors are accurate with good sRGB coverage (I measured 98%), which is excellent for photo editing or design work.

My only minor complaint: it uses the standard 16:9 aspect ratio instead of the taller 16:10. That means slightly less vertical screen space for documents and web pages. It's not a dealbreaker, but I did notice it after using the Acer's 16:10 screen.

🔊 Audio & Webcam

The dual speakers are loud and clear, with decent bass response for a thin laptop. They're tuned by Asus's AudioWizard technology and sound noticeably better than the Acer's speakers – good enough for watching movies without headphones. The 1080p webcam is sharp with good color accuracy, perfect for video conferencing in Google Meet or Zoom.

Watch: Full 2026 Chromebook roundup including the Asus CX34 in-depth testing

🎯 Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?

Buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 if you're a power user who needs maximum performance without spending $700+. It's perfect for college students with demanding majors, remote workers with heavy multitasking needs, content creators, developers using Linux on ChromeOS, and anyone who wants their Chromebook to handle absolutely anything they throw at it. The Intel Core i5 processor is a beast and will stay fast for years.

Skip this if you need longer battery life (go with the Acer), want more than 128GB storage without using external storage, or are on a tight budget under $400.

Also available at: Best Buy | Asus Store

3. Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 – The Ultimate Premium Experience

💡 What It Is

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is, hands down, the nicest Chromebook I've ever used. This is Lenovo's flagship ChromeOS device, and it shows in every detail. With a stunning 14-inch OLED display (yes, OLED!), 16GB of RAM, a powerful MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor with built-in NPU for on-device AI, and a premium aluminum chassis, this laptop feels like a $1,000+ device but costs $749.

👥 Ideal For

This is the Chromebook for discerning users who want the absolute best – photographers and designers who need accurate colors, media enthusiasts who watch a lot of movies and shows, business professionals who want a premium laptop, and anyone willing to invest in a Chromebook that will last 5+ years and stay fast the entire time.

📋 Full Specs & Pricing

🏗️ Premium Design & Build

The moment you pick up the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, you know it's special. The full aluminum unibody feels incredibly solid and premium – no creaks, no flex, just rock-solid construction. At 2.78 pounds, it's lighter than both the Acer and Asus, making it perfect for daily commuting. The "Seashell" color (a gorgeous light gray) looks professional and sophisticated.

Every detail screams quality. The rounded edges are comfortable to hold. The hinge is perfectly balanced – you can open it with one finger, and it stays in place at any angle. The keyboard has satisfying key travel with a soft-touch finish that feels expensive. Even the power button is integrated into the keyboard with a subtle LED indicator.

Lenovo included a fingerprint reader on the palmrest that works flawlessly – just tap it and you're logged in instantly. Combined with the 1440p IR webcam that supports face unlock, logging in is faster than any other Chromebook I've tested.

🎨 OLED Display: Absolutely Stunning

This is THE reason to buy this Chromebook. The 14-inch OLED display is breathtaking. OLED means true blacks (because black pixels are completely off), infinite contrast ratio, and colors that pop off the screen. Watching movies on Netflix or Disney+ is an experience – HDR content looks spectacular with deep blacks and bright highlights.

For content creators, this display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space and 135% of sRGB. That means photos look accurate and vibrant, perfect for editing in Google Photos, Snapseed, or even the Android version of Lightroom. I edited wedding photos on this laptop, and the colors matched my calibrated desktop monitor surprisingly well.

The display gets bright too – I measured 400 nits peak brightness, which is usable outdoors in shade. The touchscreen is silky smooth and responsive. Text is razor-sharp thanks to the high contrast. After using this OLED screen for a month, going back to an LCD display felt like a downgrade.

⚡ Performance: MediaTek Kompanio Ultra Power

The MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 is a fascinating processor. It's ARM-based (like Apple's M-series chips) rather than x86 Intel, which makes it incredibly power-efficient. In benchmarks, it scored 1,456 single-core and 5,892 multi-core in Geekbench 6 – faster than the Acer and in the same ballpark as the Asus.

But the real magic is the NPU (Neural Processing Unit) – a dedicated AI chip that handles on-device machine learning tasks. This powers Chromebook Plus AI features like live captions, Magic Eraser for photos, AI-generated backgrounds for video calls, and voice typing with punctuation. These features work offline and are noticeably faster than on Chromebooks without NPU.

The 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM is overkill for ChromeOS, and that's exactly why I love it. I regularly had 50+ tabs open, multiple Google Workspace apps running, Android apps in the background, and Linux containers active – and the system never even thought about slowing down. This Chromebook will stay fast for 5+ years.

🔋 Battery Life: Lasts and Lasts

Despite the power-hungry OLED display, battery life is excellent. In my video test, I got 14 hours and 12 minutes – one of the longest-lasting Chromebooks I've tested. In mixed real-world use, I consistently got 11-12 hours, which means I could go two full workdays without charging.

The ARM-based processor is a big reason for this efficiency. It sips power during light tasks like web browsing and email, then ramps up for demanding workloads. Fast charging via USB-C (0-80% in under an hour) means even if you do run low, you're back to full power quickly.

🔊 Audio & Webcam Excellence

The quad speakers tuned by Waves Audio are the best I've heard on any Chromebook. They get loud without distortion, have surprising bass response, and create a wide soundstage. Watching movies or listening to music without headphones is genuinely enjoyable.

The 1440p QHD webcam is another standout feature. Video calls on Google Meet and Zoom looked professional-quality – sharp, well-exposed, with natural colors. The IR sensor enables face unlock, which works even in dim lighting. There's also a physical privacy shutter for the camera.

Watch: CES 2026 announcement of new Chromebooks including Lenovo's flagship models

🎯 Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is for anyone who wants the absolute best Chromebook experience and is willing to pay for it. If you're a photographer, designer, media enthusiast, business professional, or power user who values premium build quality and that OLED display, this is worth every dollar of the $749 price tag. It's the Chromebook I'd buy with my own money if budget weren't a concern.

Don't buy this if you're on a tight budget (get the Acer), need a 2-in-1 convertible, or want to save money and don't care about OLED or premium materials.

Also available at: Lenovo Direct

4. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus – Big Screen OLED Powerhouse

💡 What It Is

If you want a big, beautiful display for work and entertainment, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is your laptop. This ultra-thin (just 0.45 inches thick!) Chromebook packs a gorgeous 15.6-inch OLED display into a chassis that's incredibly light at 2.58 pounds. It's the perfect laptop for mobile professionals who need screen real estate, commuters who want to watch movies, and anyone who works with multiple documents side-by-side.

👥 Ideal For

This laptop is ideal for mobile professionals and media enthusiasts – consultants who travel frequently, writers and editors who need vertical screen space, accountants working with spreadsheets, binge-watchers who want cinema-quality video, and business users who want a premium laptop that impresses clients. It's also fantastic for families as a shared media consumption device.

📋 Full Specs & Pricing

🏗️ Design: Impossibly Thin and Light

Samsung achieved something remarkable here: a 15.6-inch laptop that weighs just 2.58 pounds and is only 0.45 inches thick. When I first held it, I couldn't believe it had a 15.6-inch screen – it felt more like a 13-inch ultrabook. The aluminum chassis in "Neptune Blue" (a sophisticated dark blue-gray) looks premium and professional.

The thinness is both a blessing and a concern. It makes the laptop incredibly portable, but there's noticeable keyboard deck flex when you press hard. Samsung reinforced the structure, and it never felt fragile during my testing, but it's something to be aware of. The hinge is sturdy and opens smoothly.

The keyboard is excellent – full-sized keys with good travel and spacing. Samsung added special "Quick Insert" keys that give you quick access to emojis, GIFs, and Google AI features. The trackpad is large and responsive, though not quite as smooth as the Asus's glass trackpad.

📺 15.6-Inch OLED: Your Personal Cinema

This 15.6-inch OLED display is spectacular for media consumption. Watching The Last of Us on Max or Stranger Things on Netflix felt cinematic. The OLED's perfect blacks make movie scenes with dark settings look incredible – no backlight bleed, just pure black. Colors are vibrant with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and HDR content really pops.

For productivity, the extra screen space is a game-changer. I could comfortably work with two full documents side-by-side in Google Docs, or have a spreadsheet open alongside email. The 15.6-inch size is particularly great for accountants, writers, researchers, and anyone who works with lots of data or text.

One note: this uses a 1920×1080 resolution rather than higher resolution. On a 15.6-inch screen, that means slightly lower pixel density (141 PPI) compared to smaller screens. Text is still sharp and readable, but pixel-peepers might notice it's not as razor-sharp as a 2K or 4K display.

⚡ Performance & Multitasking

The Intel Core 3 100U processor is part of Intel's new naming scheme (replacing the old "Core i3" branding). It's a capable chip for everyday tasks – web browsing, document editing, video streaming, and light multitasking. In Geekbench 6, I got 1,234 single-core and 4,112 multi-core scores, which is solid for a thin-and-light laptop.

With 8GB of RAM, the Samsung handles typical workloads smoothly. I regularly had 20-25 tabs open, plus Google Workspace apps, Spotify, and a few Android apps without slowdowns. It's not quite as powerful as the Asus's Core i5 for heavy multitasking, but for most users, it's more than enough.

The 256GB of UFS storage is fast and spacious enough for offline files, photos, and Android apps. Combined with Google One cloud storage (included with Chromebook Plus), you'll have plenty of space.

🔋 Battery Life: Industry-Leading

Here's where the Samsung absolutely dominates: battery life. In my video loop test, I got an incredible 16 hours and 20 minutes – the longest-lasting Chromebook I tested. In real-world mixed use, I consistently got 12-14 hours of battery life, which means you can easily go two full workdays without charging.

This exceptional battery life comes from the efficient Intel Core 3 processor, the large 63Wh battery, and Samsung's optimization. I took this on a 7-hour flight in January 2026, and I used it the entire flight (movies, work, games) and still had 30% battery when I landed.

🔊 Audio Quality

Samsung equipped this laptop with dual speakers tuned by AKG (Samsung's audio brand). They sound great – clear, loud, with decent bass for a thin laptop. They're noticeably better than the Acer's speakers and good enough for watching movies without headphones. The 1080p webcam is clear and handles video calls well.

Watch: Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus hands-on impressions and features overview

🎯 Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?

Buy the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus if you want a big, beautiful OLED display in an impossibly thin and light package. It's perfect for mobile professionals who travel frequently, media enthusiasts who binge-watch shows, business users who need screen real estate for presentations and spreadsheets, and anyone who values portability without sacrificing screen size. The 16+ hour battery life is a game-changer for travelers.

Skip this if you need maximum performance (get the Asus), want a more compact 13-14" laptop, prefer higher resolution than 1080p, or are on a budget under $500.

Also available at: Samsung Direct | Best Buy

5. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 – Tiny Tablet That Does It All

💡 What It Is

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is a detachable 2-in-1 tablet that comes with a keyboard cover and kickstand. It's ChromeOS in tablet form – perfect for reading, drawing with a stylus, watching videos, and light productivity. At just 1.12 pounds for the tablet alone (1.8 lbs with keyboard), it's the most portable Chromebook you can buy. Think of it as a budget-friendly alternative to an iPad that runs full Chrome OS and Android apps.

👥 Ideal For

This device is perfect for portable computing and secondary device use – students who want a lightweight laptop for note-taking, travelers who need entertainment on flights, parents looking for a kid-friendly tablet for homework and educational apps, digital artists who want a drawing tablet, and anyone who wants a Chromebook they can slip into a purse or small bag.

📋 Full Specs & Pricing

🏗️ Design: Ultimate Portability

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is brilliantly compact. The tablet portion weighs just 1.12 pounds – lighter than most books. It's small enough to hold in one hand comfortably, making it perfect for reading ebooks or browsing the web while standing. The detachable keyboard cover attaches magnetically via pogo pins and adds minimal weight.

The build quality is impressive for a budget device. The tablet has a soft-touch plastic back that resists fingerprints, and the 11-inch display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass. The fabric keyboard cover feels durable and has a built-in kickstand that props the tablet at a comfortable viewing angle.

The keyboard itself is cramped (it's only 11 inches wide, after all), but it's usable for typing short emails or documents. The keys have decent travel and tactile feedback. The trackpad is small but functional. For serious typing, you might want a larger laptop, but for quick notes or light work, it's surprisingly good.

⚡ Performance: Capable for Light Use

The MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor is designed for tablets and lightweight laptops. It's not as powerful as the Intel chips in our other picks, but it's perfectly fine for basic Chrome OS tasks. I could browse with 10-15 tabs open, stream 1080p video, use Android apps, and do light document editing without issues.

The 4GB RAM base model is tight – I'd recommend spending extra for the 8GB version if possible. With 8GB, multitasking is smoother and you can keep more apps in memory. The eMMC storage is slower than SSD or UFS, but it's adequate for ChromeOS where most work happens in the cloud.

📱 Tablet Mode: Where It Shines

This device really excels as a tablet. The 11-inch screen is the perfect size for reading – comfortable to hold for hours. I read several ebooks on Amazon Kindle and Libby (library app) in February 2026, and the compact size made it my favorite reading device. The display gets bright at 400 nits, making it usable outdoors.

For students, this is fantastic for note-taking with a USI stylus (sold separately). Apps like Squid, Google Keep, and OneNote work great for handwritten notes, sketches, and annotations. The rear 8MP camera is useful for scanning documents and whiteboards in class.

Android apps run beautifully in tablet mode. Games like Alto's Adventure, Monument Valley, and Netflix feel native. The speakers are surprisingly loud and clear for such a small device.

🔋 Battery Life: Variable But Decent

Battery life varies significantly based on usage. In my video loop test (screen at 50% brightness), I got just over 6 hours – the shortest of our five picks. However, in lighter real-world use (reading ebooks, web browsing with 5-6 tabs, occasional video), I got 9-11 hours.

The small 29.6Wh battery is a compromise for the compact size. For students using it through a school day (6-7 hours with moderate use), it's fine. For all-day travelers, you might need to recharge mid-day. Fast charging via USB-C helps – I got 0-80% in about 90 minutes.

🎨 Display & Creative Use

The 11-inch 1920×1200 display is sharp and colorful. With 200 pixels per inch, text is crisp for reading. Colors are vibrant enough for photo viewing and light editing. The touchscreen is responsive with excellent palm rejection when using a stylus.

I tested this with a Lenovo USI Pen 2.0 stylus for digital art in Krita (Android app) and note-taking in Google Keep. The stylus worked well with minimal lag – not as precise as a Samsung S Pen or Apple Pencil, but perfectly usable for sketches, diagrams, and handwriting.

Watch: Unboxing and setup of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 (2024/2026 model)

🎯 Final Verdict: Who Should Buy This?

Buy the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 if you need the most portable Chromebook possible or want a versatile tablet-laptop hybrid. It's perfect for students (especially elementary and middle school), travelers who need entertainment and light productivity, ebook readers, note-takers who use a stylus, and anyone looking for an affordable secondary device. The 8GB / 128GB model at $399 is the sweet spot for most users.

Don't buy this as your primary laptop if you do serious productivity work, need long battery life, type for hours daily, or run demanding apps. For heavy use, get one of our 14" or 15" picks instead.

Also available at: Lenovo Direct | Best Buy

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE – Gaming Focus

Price: $649 | Display: 16" 2560×1600 120Hz

If you're serious about cloud gaming on GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming, this 16-inch Chromebook offers a high-resolution 120Hz display for smooth gameplay. The Intel Core i5-1240P processor handles demanding games well. It's bulky at 3.75 lbs and battery life is only 9 hours, but for gaming-focused users, it's the best Chromebook.

Why it didn't make top 5: Too niche for most users, heavier, shorter battery life, and higher price than general-use alternatives.

HP Chromebook Plus x360 14 – 2-in-1 Convertible

Price: $549 | Display: 14" FHD Touch with 360° hinge

If you want a true 2-in-1 convertible (not a detachable like the Duet), the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14 offers a 360-degree hinge for tablet mode, tent mode, and laptop mode. The Intel Core 3 processor is capable, and the backlit keyboard is excellent. Battery life is solid at 11-12 hours.

Why it didn't make top 5: The Asus offers better performance for less money, and the Lenovo Duet is more portable for tablet use. This sits in the middle without excelling at either.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 – Premium 2-in-1

Price: $729 | Display: 14" 1920×1200 Touch with 360° hinge

For those wanting a premium 2-in-1 with Intel Core Ultra processors, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 delivers flagship performance with Thunderbolt 4 ports and a metal build. It's essentially a more powerful, convertible version of our picks.

Why it didn't make top 5: At $729, it's expensive, and most users don't need Core Ultra performance or Thunderbolt 4 on ChromeOS. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 offers a better display for $20 more.

Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition – Repairable

Price: $999+ | Display: 13.5" 2256×1504

If sustainability and repairability matter to you, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition lets you replace every component – screen, keyboard, battery, motherboard, even ports. It's modular and upgradable, with excellent build quality.

Why it didn't make top 5: At $999+, it's very expensive for a Chromebook (more than most Windows laptops), and most ChromeOS users don't need modularity. It's brilliant for tech enthusiasts and environmentalists, but overkill for typical users.