Is there a good argument for a Chromebook in 2026? In my mind, there are two main reasons. The first is that if you need a laptop for less than $500, it’s not great. If this is your budget for a new laptop, whether for yourself or a family member, it’s best to buy a Chromebook rather than an old Windows laptop or MacBook.
Things get murkier if you can afford to spend a few hundred dollars extra. All of a sudden, you have to compare yourself to the heavy hitters of the world of budget laptops like the MacBook Neo or Dell 14 Plus. Not only do these laptops tend to have better specs, but they also have a more open and much less restrictive software platform than Chrome OS. But if you’re willing to be honest about your needs, I think you’ll find that even a more expensive Chromebook might be the best option for you — and I know just the one.
Serious Chrome
There’s no Chromebook like the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. Not since the days of Original Pixelbook There’s a piece of Chrome OS hardware that so badly wanted you to believe in the platform. The laptop’s chassis feels perfectly designed, and the keyboard and touchpad are a joy to use. Plus, for what often sells for $649, you get a laptop with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which I’d happily take over the $699 MacBook Neo. This laptop has twice the storage, but only has 8GB of RAM.
Battery life is also very long, which is an area where Chromebooks used to lead. But with all the recent advancements in efficiency on competing laptops, Chromebooks had fallen behind. Thanks to its ARM-based MediaTek processor, the Lenovo Chromebook 14 Plus bridges the gap. For those who are skeptical just seeing the name MediaTek, know that the performance here is also really solid. This is by far the most impressive chip you can find on a Chromebook. But you’ll pay extra for all that. The retail price is $749, and while it’s often discounted to $649, that’s still way more than most people are willing to pay for a Chromebook.
Acer
Chromebook Plus Spin 514
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is just behind the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. It’s about the same thickness and size, and also comes with the identical MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor. It has a great keyboard and touchpad, and the screen is vibrant and bright. These are table stakes. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 14 differs from its rival in two important ways. The review unit I originally tested had a higher resolution, which I thought really made the laptop feel premium. I even preferred it to the OLED screen of the Lenovo model. However, I can’t find the model available to purchase online at the moment, leaving only this more basic version of the laptop, this one which comes at a cheaper price. It’s not a bad trade-off, because you still get a faster, well-designed, and durable Chromebook.
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 also makes a difference by being a 2 in 1 laptopwhich simply means it comes with a 360-degree hinge and a touchscreen. You can flip it fully into tent mode or even pretend to use it as an oversized tablet if you really need to. Personally, I don’t find the 2-in-1 functionality very useful and I don’t like the stiffer hinges they have to use. But I still prefer a touchscreen. Beyond that, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 really showcases its all-white aesthetic (although I can only find the silver model for sale at the moment). It’s a wonderful little laptop. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 also comes with an additional USB-A port compared to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14.
Cheap Chromebooks That Are Worth It
As popular as they are, cheap Chromebooks suffer from the same problems as budget Windows laptops. Screen and touchpad quality tend to suffer because it’s easy to make compromises without stating it on a spec sheet. No Chromebook I’ve tested that costs less than $500 avoids both of these pitfalls. After all, they are very cheap computers.
I was pleased to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn’t skimp on a poor-quality touchpad. This goes a long way in improving the experience of actually using the laptop every moment. I wasn’t annoyed every time I had to click and drag or select a piece of text. The biggest weakness of this one is undoubtedly the screen, which is true of almost every cheap Chromebook I’ve tested. The colors are ugly and desaturated, giving the whole thing a sickly green tint. It’s also not the sharpest in the world, as it spans 1,920 x 1,200 pixels on a large 16-inch screen. But in terms of usability and performance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 offers excellent value for money, combining an Intel Core i3 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. For a Chromebook often on sale for $350, this is a steal.
While we’re here, let’s go even cheaper, shall we? Asus has two inexpensive Chromebooks that I tested last year and were mildly impressed with. THE Asus Chromebook CX14 and CX15. Note in the name that these are not “Chromebook Plus” models, meaning they can be configured with less RAM and storage, and even use less powerful processors. That’s exactly what you get on the cheaper configurations of the CX14 and CX15, which is how you sometimes get prices as low as $130. I definitely recommend the version with 8GB of RAM, but whichever one you choose, both the CX14 and the larger CX15 are mildly attractive laptops. You’d know that’s a high compliment if you’d seen how ugly Chromebooks of this price have been in the past.
With these, however, I appreciate the relatively thin bezels and chassis thickness, as well as the larger touchpad and comfortable keyboard. The CX15 even comes in a striking blue color. The touchpad isn’t great, nor is the screen. Like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516, it suffers from poor color reproduction and only goes up to 250 nits of brightness. It also only has a 720p webcam, which makes video calls a bit difficult. But this will be true for almost all competitors (and there aren’t many).
Of the two models, I definitely prefer the CX14, as it doesn’t have a numpad or off-center touchpad, which I’ve always found difficult to use. Listen, no one will love using a computer that costs less than $200, but if that’s what you can afford, the Asus Chromebook CX14 will at least let you get away with it without too much frustration.
Whatever you do, don’t just go to Amazon and buy any old Chromebook that sold for $100 for your child. It’s worth spending more to get something with better battery life, a more modern look, and decent performance.
Other good Chromebooks we tested
We’ve tested dozens and dozens of Chromebooks over the past few years, reviewing every major release across the entire price range. Unlike Mac and Windows laptops, Chromebooks tend to last a little longer and don’t refresh as often. I stand by my picks above, but here are a few standouts from our testing that are still worth buying for the right person.
Photography: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for $750: Acer’s Chromebook Spin line has made a name for itself over the years, and its latest entry, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (9/10, WIRED recommends)maintains this reputation. For $699 (or less if you find it on sale), Acer packs a surprising amount of power into this laptop thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 115 processor. It exhibited brisk performance in my testing, and the chip’s dedicated AI processing power is a perfect complement to the AI features Google is building into ChromeOS. It’s a bit too expensive compared to some newer Chromebook Plus models.—Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus for $550: In many ways, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the successor to this Chromebook released a year earlier. It was one of the first Chromebook Plus models, and it remains a decent option with solid specs. However, I would opt for the better battery life and performance of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514, while still getting the 2-in-1 functionality.
Photography: Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Asus Chromebook CX34 for $499: Chromebooks don’t tend to be pretty, but Asus breaks from tradition with the Chromebook Plus CX34 (7/10, WIRED recommends). It’s wrapped in a beautiful white shell that, although made of plastic, seemed durable in my testing. I’ve reviewed many bland, gray Chromebooks, and found myself favoring the CX34 because of its attractive design. The CX34’s hardware is typical of a Chromebook Plus, and it felt responsive even when I had my usual complement of more than a dozen tabs and a handful of apps running. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t come with a backlit keyboard, and its 14-inch 16:9 display feels cramped compared to other Chromebooks I’ve used with larger 16:10 displays. If you can get past these flaws, the CX34 is a solid little workhorse that stands out.—Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 for $400: If you want a snappy laptop but don’t want to spend the extra cheddar for some of our other top picks, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (8/10, WIRED recommends) will do the job. It’s not elegant, but it keeps the price low by sticking to the basics. Inside is an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, which easily handles ChromeOS and up to 20 open tabs. Battery life is also enough to get you through a work day, and it managed 8.5 hours of full-screen video before shutting down in our testing. The 15-inch 1920 x 1080-pixel display isn’t anything fancy, but it’s sharp and won’t strain your eyes.—Daniel Thorp-Lancaster
What specs should you look for in a Chromebook?
Chromebooks can vary wildly in price, from $150 to $900, and so specifications may vary.
Processor: For the best experience, you should avoid older Chromebooks with Intel Celer processors we. The Chromebook Plus specs provide a good foundation for ensuring fast performance, and I’d recommend using at least an Intel Core i3, Core i5, or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 processor. Just be careful of overspending on setups with Intel Core i7 processors, unless you need the extra power for multitasking, Android games, Linux apps, and dozens of Chrome tabs.
While Intel and AMD dominate the processor scene, you’ll occasionally find Chromebooks using ARM processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2. These may be fine for very basic tasks, but they won’t do as well under sustained, intense loads. That said, a new generation of ARM chips is on the way, like the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 which powers the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14.
RAM: Always go for at least 8GB of RAM if you can afford it. You won’t find 4GB of RAM in anything other than very budget basic Chromebooks, and it severely limits your ability to multitask. If you want to avoid slowdowns, 8GB of RAM is the standard you should aim for, but if your budget is less than $300, this can be difficult.
Storage: Unlike a Mac or Windows PC, much of your work on Chromebook will be stored on the web. This means you can generally get away with less storage, but I wouldn’t recommend going below 128GB. If you can afford it, you’ll be much more comfortable with at least 256GB. You’ll get the best speed from an NVMe SSD, so look out for that on the spec sheet when comparing models.
Screen: The vast majority of Chromebook displays you find will be IPS LCD panels, and that’s great. OLED displays are finally starting to appear on Chromebooks, although IPS LCD displays are more common and offer a good balance of brightness, contrast, and color accuracy. If you’re shopping in the extreme budget range, look out for TN LCD panels, as they are generally lower quality and offer worse viewing angles. For resolution, 1920 x 1080 pixels (or 1200p for a 16:10 aspect ratio) should be your standard. You’ll get sharp visuals on 13- and 14-inch screen sizes, and it’s passable at 15 inches. Higher resolutions will look even better, but they’re pretty rare on Chromebooks.
Port : USB-C ports have become commonplace on Chromebooks, so there’s no excuse to buy one without them. Try buying one that charges via USB-C so you can charge with a portable power bank while you’re on the go. A microSD card slot can also be useful if you want an easy way to expand your storage on the fly. You will find that some Chromebooks support Thunderbolt 4 also via their USB-C ports. While this is a great option if you plan to plug your Chromebook into some high-end monitors, it’s not necessary for most people. Instead, you can get similar support for an external monitor (and spend a lot less) with an HDMI port or DisplayPort support over USB-C.
Almost all of the Chromebooks we recommend have “Chromebook Plus” in their name. This is a Google initiative launched at the end of 2023 with its hardware partners to deliver a new category of Chromebooks designed for a better, more premium experience. To be considered a Chromebook Plus, a laptop must meet or exceed the following hardware requirements:
- Processor: Intel Core i3 12th generation or higher; AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series or higher
- RAM: 8 GB or more
- Storage: 128 GB or more
- Webcam: 1080p or higher with temporal noise reduction
- Display: Full HD (1080p) IPS or higher
The result? A new benchmark that guarantees a certain level of performance when you see the name Chromebook Plus. With the rise of remote working, Google is working hard to ensure Chromebook Plus laptops deliver a superior video calling experience, with higher standards for webcams and AI-powered camera enhancements. It is also gradually folding new AI features in Chrome OS who benefit additional material weight. In fact, when you purchase a new Chromebook Plus laptop, you currently get a free 12-month subscription to Google AI Prowhich gives you access to AI features like NotebookLM and Gemini, as well as 2TB of cloud storage.
Classic Chromebooks aren’t gone, and you’ll still find ultra-budget Chromebook models without the nickname “Plus”. Chromebook Plus models start at $399 and range up to $800, although you’ll often find them on sale for less. Expect non-Plus Chromebooks focused on more basic needs to continue hitting stores in the sub-$300 range.
How long do Chromebooks receive updates?
In 2023, Google announced a new policy which guarantees 10 years of automatic updates for all Chromebooks released in 2021 or later. That’s probably well beyond the usual upgrade cycle for most people, but it ensures that used Chromebooks and those used in schools continue to stay secure and benefit from new features for a long time. When a Chromebook receives its latest automatic update, ChromeOS will send you a notification to let you know it’s time to throw in the towel.
The 10-year automatic update period starts when a Chromebook is first released. You can check at any time when your Chromebook is set to receive its final update in the “Update Schedule” section of its settings menu (Settings > About ChromeOS > Additional Details > Update Schedule). Google also maintains a handy list of automatic update times for each Chromebook model on its support site.
What is the downside of a Chromebook?
There are a lot of things you can’t do on a Chromebook. Although you can download and organize files, you can’t install apps like you can on a MacBook or Windows laptop. Everything you do should happen in a web browser. You can open Chrome windows and tabs as you wish, but when you download the desktop version of Photoshop or Microsoft Word, you’re stuck. Proprietary school or work apps probably won’t work, and you definitely won’t be able to play Steam games. However, you might surprise yourself by how much work you actually get done in a browser window these days.
Android apps can fill some gaps, however. With access to the Google Play Store, you can install Android games or use certain versions of Android apps. This can be useful in a pinch, although I’ve often found that web versions of these apps work better on Chromebooks if they’re available. (Google recently announced a proposed merger ChromeOS and Android on its laptopsso stay tuned for future improvements here.)
Other drawbacks of Chromebooks have to do with hardware. Most Chromebooks are made of plastic and use cheaper components. As with many budget laptops, touchpads and displays tend to be areas where laptop manufacturers compromise. Although Chromebook Plus laptops have made a notable change to this trend, it remains true that truly high-end hardware is often unavailable on Chromebooks.
Finally, you may encounter compatibility issues with certain accessories. Standard peripherals like mice, keyboards, and external storage shouldn’t give you any problems, and even most printers are compatible. These are the niche devices designed for very specific uses that simply won’t work. For example, I use a USB colorimeter to test display quality which is not supported on Chromebooks.
Google has hinted, not so secretly, that it is working on a new operating system that could replace Chrome OS in the long term. Aluminum operating system is the popular name, and Google has publicly confirmed that it will launch this year. To put it simply: Google finally wants to find a way to merge the worlds of Chromebooks and Android tablets.
Unsurprisingly, the rare glimpses we saw of this future operating system looks a lot like Android, with the benefits of Chrome OS. In other words, it’s Android completely rebuilt for a desktop environment. Chromebooks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and support isn’t going to suddenly end either. But over the coming years, it certainly seems like Google is trying to carve out a new space for itself that could be its alternative to both the iPad and MacBook Neo. Google has already gone this route (anyone remembers the Pixel Slate?), but consider me cautiously optimistic about this project.
Power up with unlimited access to CABLE. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe today.