Chromebooks are nice choices for college students seeking to save on laptops, outfitted with a wide range of apps and extensions that will help you deal with your schoolwork. Positive, they may not be the most recent Mac or Home windows laptop computer, however they nonetheless pack highly effective efficiency able to deal with your workflow. With lessons about to begin, we rounded up the most effective Chromebooks obtainable in the marketplace proper now that will help you determine which Chromebook to put money into. All of our picks, from our best choice total – the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 – to an incredible worth choice, these are positive to serve you properly as you research.
Our picks for the best Chromebooks for students
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
Editor’s Choice
Best Chromebook for students overall
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 looks like a traditional Windows-based laptop, but it has a screen that flips around, giving it 2-in-1 functionality. For students, being able to switch between laptop computer functionality and a tablet comes in handy – especially if you go from typing text to note-taking using handwritten notes.
- 14-inch full HD touchscreen display
- Powerful AMD Ryzen 5 5625C Hexa-core processor
- Weighs 1.5kg
- Relies on eMMC storage
- No stylus included
Running on Chrome OS and using an AMD Ryzen 5 5625C Hexa-core processor, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 homes a premium characteristic set for a mid-range pc. Moreover, the unit affords a crisp 14-inch Full HD touchscreen show with Radeon Graphics, which is improbable for leisure. Configured with 8GB RAM and 128GB of flash reminiscence storage, there’s additionally loads of room on your faculty (and even gaming) recordsdata.
As you’d anticipate, you additionally get two inner audio system that generate HD stereo audio, a 1920 x 1080 pixel webcam, an inner microphone, in addition to an HDMI port, three USB ports, and a backlit keyboard with a touchpad. This spec-suite is nice for on-line lessons, conferences, and interviews. Battery life is as much as 10 hours, which is first rate for a pc that measures 322.6 x 223.5 x 17.3mm and weighs in at 1.5kg. For a Chromebook, the Spin 514 is priced a bit greater than most, however you additionally get a extra strong configuration with enhanced computing energy that enables it to simply multitask and effortlessly deal with a variety of purposes. Thus, you’ll be able to go from in-class note-taking to doing Web-based analysis by day, after which stream your favourite motion pictures and play cloud-based video games at night time.
Supply: HP
HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook
Premium Choose
A strong, premium Chromebook for productiveness
When you hit the $1000 and up value vary, you could find an Apple MacBook or Home windows-based laptop computer that’s highly effective, however do not rely the HP Dragonfly Professional out. It’s powered utilizing a twelfth Gen Intel Core i5 processor with Intel Iris X graphics and comes configured with loads of storage. These specs enable college students to deal with complicated spreadsheets, and graphic-oriented purposes with ease.
- twelfth Gen Intel Core i5 processor
- 14-inch WQXGA touchscreen show
- Excessive-resolution webcam
- Costly
- Lacks audio jack
The 14-inch WQXGA show affords touchscreen capabilities and 1200nits most brightness. The show showcases a 100 per cent sRGB coloration palette, so graphics look sharp, vivid, and vivid with coloration accuracy. Select this Chromebook should you want the flexibility to multitask and make the most of apps that require vital computing energy. Battery life is as much as 11.5 hours, however due to the Quick Cost choice, it could go from 0 per cent to 50 per cent battery cost in about half-hour.
For safety, the Dragonfly Professional features a fingerprint reader, and naturally, you get Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, together with a Thunderbolt 4 with USB 4 Kind-C port that allows you to join as much as two exterior 4K shows with a single cable. One other spectacular characteristic that units this Chromebook aside is the quad speaker configuration co-designed by HP and Bang & Olufsen. Weighing in at only one.5kg, it additionally slips completely right into a backpack or journey bag with out including an excessive amount of bulk or weight. So, between the lengthy battery life and vivid display screen, we expect college students will discover the Dragonfly Professional is quickly accessible wherever and every time it’s wanted.
Supply: HP
HP Chromebook 14 Laptop computer
Greatest Worth
A Chromebook with bang on your buck
$209 $290 Save $81
The wonderful thing about Chromebooks is that you simply needn’t lay our a fortune to accumulate a pc with first rate capabilities. Working example, this HP Chromebook 14 is extraordinarily inexpensive and affords a top quality 14-inch show.
- Very inexpensive
- Good battery life
- Restricted inner storage
- Depends closely on cloud-based purposes and knowledge storage
- Lacks the computing energy of higher-end Chromebooks
Whereas this Chromebook homes first rate capabilities – particularly given its wallet-friendly price ticket – be aware that the configuration is a bit scaled down. For instance, there’s solely 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC for storage, which is not horrible however in no way a hub for extra recordsdata. It additionally runs utilizing an Intel Celeron N4120 processor, which doesn’t precisely operate at lightning quick pace, however should you’re utilizing it to easily write in Phrase, Docs, or browse the net, dwelling in Excel, crunching numbers, or sending out huge emails, it is greater than succesful and also you most likely will not even discover a “slower pace.”
Moreover, it could deal with video or music streaming – and with stereo audio system – the quantity is evident and crisp. Battery life can also be improbable, lasting as much as 14 hours as a way to go from the library to class with out dashing to seek out an outlet. With out compromising a standard laptop computer pc design with no touchscreen show, it prioritizes a light-weight form-factor, weighing only one.47kg and simply becoming right into a backpack.
Supply: Lenovo
Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook
Greatest compact Chromebook for college students
Compact with out compromising functionality
Whereas nonetheless being inexpensive, the Flex 3i affords 2-in-1 performance with a 12.2-inch LCD, touchscreen show. This makes the pc a bit extra compact than many different Chromebooks, however its {hardware} configuration is restricted to only 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC for storage.
- Presents 3 USB ports and 1 HDMI port
- Helps Wi-Fi 6
- 2-in-1 design
- Efficiency might be higher
- Not nice for gaming
- Generic design
The Flex 3i’s Intel N100 processor can deal with most on a regular basis computing duties throughout class, whereas nonetheless effortlessly streaming audio or video content material after an extended day within the library. At simply 1.25kg and 19.1mm thick, the light-weight design makes this two-in-one laptop accessible in each carry and productiveness. Nevertheless, the smaller 12-inch display screen dimension might make multitasking, cut up display screen view, or gaming more difficult. However as a pill, the gadget does nonetheless match quite comfortably in a single hand.
Moreover, the interior webcam makes it straightforward to take part in video calls, digital lessons, and interviews. On the subject of battery life, this Chromebook is usually a bit finicky, with a shorter battery life ensuing within the extra duties you demand. Nevertheless, should you use for primary net browsing and phrase processing, you might anticipate as much as 12 hours per cost from the 2023 mannequin.
Lenovo 3i Chromebook
Greatest giant show Chromebook
A succesful Chromebook with giant show
$250 $440 Save $190
Whereas many Chromebooks provide a show that is 14-inches (or smaller), what we like in regards to the Lenovo 3i is its spectacular 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen show. What we don’t like in regards to the display screen, nevertheless, is that its most brightness is simply 300nits.
- 15.6-inch show
- Inbuilt headphone jack and MicroSD card slot
- Good connectivity choices
- Dim display screen
- Primary RAM and storage configuration
The Lenovo 3i is powered utilizing an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor and makes use of built-in Intel UHD Graphics. So, along with a bigger display screen, it could deal with taking part in cloud-based video games and multitasking when dealing with your on a regular basis computing wants. You additionally get one HDMI port, one USB Kind-C port, and two USB Kind-A ports, together with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 assist for connectivity. The built-in microSD reminiscence card slot means that you can simply broaden inner storage which is beneficial for storing an enormous quantity of knowledge regionally.
As for its configuration, you get 4GB RAM and 128GB eMMC storage and a 720p HD webcam with twin array microphone. The additional display screen dimension makes it simpler to multitask, resembling when it’s essential to carry out on-line analysis whereas phrase processing to effectively full an task.
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3
2-In-1 Design
Greatest 2-in-1 Chromebook for college students
The Flip CM3 from Asus incorporates a modern, 2-in-1 design and incorporates a 12-inch show that rotates on a 360-degree hinge.
- Light-weight (2.5 kilos) and skinny (0.66 inches)
- Consists of stylus
- Glorious battery life
- MediaTek Kompanio 820 processor
- Show doesn’t remove glares properly
Because of the smaller dimension of the display screen and pc itself, this makes it preferrred for simply transporting the CM3 round after which switching from a flexible pocket book computer-style gadget to a pill in seconds. For a pupil that enjoys note-taking by handwriting on the display screen throughout a category or lecture, the dimensions of the gadget stays comfy to make use of, even throughout longer lectures.
Due to its slim bezel, extra display screen actual property has been match right into a smaller area, which makes it preferrred for note-taking, phrase processing, streaming video, or net browsing, for instance. That is additionally one of many few Chromebooks that comes with a stylus (on this case, the Asus Pen) which helps any app suitable with the Common Stylus Initiative (USI). Ideally suited for college students always on the transfer, the CM3 affords a battery lifetime of as much as 16 hours. Its weight is simply 1.13kg. Due to the interior microSD reminiscence card slot, you’ll be able to broaden its 64GB eMMC storage as much as 1TB. You additionally get 100GB of Google One cloud-based storage, plus a beneficiant assortment of ports. Having immediate entry to all knowledge, paperwork and recordsdata when no Web connection is offered is a characteristic college students will certainly recognize.
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5
Greatest battery life
A Chromebook with strong battery and show
Between it is long-lasting battery, 13.3-inch, crisp OLED show, and connectivity choices, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is highly effective sufficient to fulfill most pupil’s on a regular basis computing wants.
- Stunning and vibrant OLED show
- As much as 12 hour battery life
- 2-in-1 design
- Makes use of a kickstand design to carry up show
- No stylus included
Weighing in at simply 1.01kg, the Duet 5 is extraordinarily transportable whereas nonetheless providing the ports and connectivity choices most college students require, resembling Wi-Fi Professional 6E assist for quick on-line connectivity. Due to its affordability and all-day battery life, this 2-in-1 gadget can deal with your entire on a regular basis computing and streaming wants. And for a pupil who repeatedly must view detailed and vibrant photographs, video, or graphics, a crisp 13-inch OLED show is well worth the funding. Plus, the contact display screen makes for simple navigation and productiveness in both pill or laptop computer mode.
Powered utilizing a Qualcomm Snapdragon SC7180 processor with an octa-core design, this Chromebook affords as much as 2.55GHz pace, which is spectacular for the budget-friendly Chromebook line. It additionally comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC flash reminiscence for storage should you’re seeking to home a number of recordsdata regionally. No one buys (or can purchase) a pill for the cameras, although it is also value noting that the front-facing digicam on this tablet-laptop duo is succesful for dealing with digital lessons and video calls.
How we selected these Chromebooks
The Pocket-Lint crew started by specializing in the common wants and funds college students have for a laptop computer pc, after which did in depth analysis and a few hands-on testing to create this roundup of the most effective Chromebooks at present obtainable for college students in a wide range of classes. When evaluating every Chromebook, we targeted on its dimension, weight, value and {hardware} configuration, in addition to its total design. Our objective was to supply conventional laptops and 2-in-1 choices at a wide range of value factors.
Why select a Chromebook?
The ChromeOS working system was created by Google and permits customers to run Android-based apps which are sometimes as strong as their Home windows and macOS-based counterparts. You additionally get free entry to a variety of in style (and free) Google apps and companies – from the Chrome net browser to the Google Docs phrase processor, Google Sheets spreadsheet software, and Gmail for e mail.
Chromebooks are sometimes cheaper as a result of their technical specs are sometimes extra restricted. These computer systems rely far more closely on cloud-based purposes and knowledge storage, so to make full use of those computer systems, a steady Web connection is usually wanted.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is highly effective, but compact and has a 14-inch show, which is why it was chosen as the most effective Chromebook for college students total. Should you actually need a souped up machine, take into account the HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook, which we chosen as our decide for the most effective premium Chromebook for college students, whereas for somebody in search of a extra value-oriented mannequin, you’ll want to take a look at the HP Chromebook 14.
Similar to different laptops, Chromebooks are available in a wide range of design configurations with completely different dimension shows. Some provide 2-in-1 performance with a touchscreen show, whereas others operate extra like a standard laptop computer. Since Chromebooks at the moment are obtainable from firms like Acer, Asus, HP, and Lenovo, select a design and system configuration that’ll finest meet your computing wants as a pupil.
Greatest Chromebooks: The underside line
For a pupil searching for a Chromebook, there are many choices that vary in value from beneath $300 to properly over $1500. On the similar time, it is potential to decide on between an ordinary laptop computer pc design, or a extra versatile 2-in-1 design. After a lot analysis and our private hands-on testing, we chosen the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 as our decide for finest Chromebook for college students total. It affords the options and features wanted by college students, plus it is supplied at a good value. Should you’re in search of a Premium choice, the HP Dragonfly Professional Chromebook has a premium GPU and CPU, able to strong energy for on a regular basis workflow and leisure. And should you’re seeking to save as a lot as potential, the HP 14 Chromebook offers you the most effective bang on your buck, able to on a regular basis features and nonetheless promising a complete Chrome app-suite at an ultra-budget value.
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