It’s a traditional notebook (not a laptop/tablet hybrid) with a MediaTek processor, 4 gigabytes of memory, and 32GB of flash storage space, which is similar to but slower than the solid-state drives found in premium laptops. You should be able to find this 14-inch Chromebook for just under $300. The following list features some of the best low-cost options ranked in order of Overall Score. Right now there are 53 Chromebooks in our ratings (available to CR members), all of which are made by well-known companies such as Acer, Asus, and HP. The goal is to give you an accurate, easy-to-understand idea of what it would be like to own the device. We also take display quality into account, evaluating how accurately the screen represents colors and how wide the viewing angle is. We look at how well the processor performs under different workloads, how comfortable the keyboard is to type on, and how long the battery lasts. Our Chromebook tests are similar to those for Windows and Mac laptops. These apps can be downloaded from the Google Play store, just like you’d do on an Android smartphone. So if you’re a Chrome user, getting up and running on Chrome OS isn’t hard.Ĭhromebooks can also run Android apps, unlocking the ability to use an even greater variety of software, including popular options like Adobe Lightroom for editing photos. But that’s not as big a problem as you might think, in part because Chromebooks use less-demanding cloud-based apps and you don’t need a ton of oomph to run, say, Gmail or Google Docs.Ĭhrome OS, the operating system that powers Chromebooks, greatly resembles Google Chrome, the world’s most popular web browser.

While a new Mac or Windows laptop can easily cost you $1,000, a well-made Chromebook-one that can tackle everyday tasks, including video calls-can be purchased for as little as $300.Ĭompared with a pricier counterpart, a Chromebook may have lower-end components, such as a slower processor and a smaller hard drive. Need an extra computer at home? These inexpensive models from Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung will get the job done.įor those in need of a no-frills laptop-a device for checking email, surfing the web, and doing homework or basic word processing-a Chromebook is a great way to save money.

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