A few past Chromebooks have even included innovative materials like display lids that double as scrawl-on whiteboards, giving kids additional creative leeway to customize their Chromebooks without leaving permanent damage. Amazon Echo Studio vs. Amazon Echo Show 10: Which should you buy? The best Chromebook to fit your needs is on this list. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. The Lenovo Flex is not a great Chromebook choice for outdoor use, since the display is pretty dim. Best Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook for Kids. At around $400, Lenovo's Flex 5 2-in-1 is neither a budget-first nor fancy-schmancy Chromebook, but it does a great job of playing the Goldilocks role: not too cheap, not too costly, not too heavy (under three pounds), not too sluggish (it has an Intel Core i3 CPU and lasted almost 14 hours in our battery test). Weve outlined our favorite kid-friendly Chromebooks we've tested below. Before I joined the tech-journalism ranks, I wrote on topics as diverse as Borneo's rain forests, Middle Eastern airlines, and Big Data's role in presidential elections. The Google Pixelbook Go is a well-built and stylish ultraportable, albeit one that costs far more than most of its Chromebook brethren. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 uses one of Acer's bright VertiView displays, a 13.5-inch 2,256x1,504-pixel touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It's a Chromebook they can feasibly use throughout middle school, high school, and potentially part of college. I've carried it around in a backpack all day before without my shoulders screaming at me, and while you'll probably want to pack along a charger if you intend to use it anywhere outdoors. But it wasn't all that powerful, the speakers were quiet, and the keyboard was uber-cramped, given the ultra-compact 10.1-inch size. Even demanding apps that use ARCore, Googles platform for building AR experiences, work on devices with as little as 4GB of memory and a dual-core processor. Below, we've made a roll call of our favorite kid-suitable Chromebooks from recent reviews. The real trick is finding one, as not many retailers stock them. The two-in-one design means you can use the HP Chromebook x360 as a tablet (though it's a bit heavy to use as a handheld device). Also, the keyboard can be a little cramped, but it's easy enough to adapt to for light emails and fighting on Reddit. After seven years of writing how-tos, buyer's guides, and reviews at Android Central, Ara brings a unique flair to her writings (and a lot of Disney references). Convertible Chromebooks with 360-degree hinges, however, are good alternatives, since they include a physical keyboard but can still be used as a tablet if needed. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. 4GB RAM is only acceptable for Chromebooks under $300, 8GB is good, but 16GB is better (if you can find it). Non-touch displays don't save you much money, and touchscreens are worth every penny if you're buying for a kid or regularly using Android apps. Whether it's an educational game, like Minecraft, or a popular Android game, you can do some basic gaming on most Chromebooks. This list of the best Chromebook models is updated periodically. For games like The Witcher 3 or even Civ VI, you NEED the i7 and its half-terabyte of storage for all those ridiculously large game files. Best Jumbo Stay-at-Home Chromebook for Kids. It was highly portable, dependable, and durable for less than $300. A third has the MT8183, and that's the one you should be buying in 2022. That's a lot, and more than most people need. This is more of a leisure/tertiary device that can double for a laptop in a pinch. The premium Chromebookstarts at $839, but fully loaded with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage and a 4K display, the total reachesa pricey $2,299. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I've gone two light workdays on the Duet 5 before, and on weekends of e-reading and solitaire, I've managed to eke it out to 2.5 days. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Now that we've got your attention, let us add that HP's Chromebook x360 14a has a 14-inch instead of squinty 11.6-inch screen (although it has the low 1,366-by-768 resolution of smaller models) and offers snappy performance in a handsome 3.3-pound package. But these machines, which hover in the $1,000 range, are overkill for most users, especially children. Now called the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook, it costs a bit more starting at $475. For kids that can be trusted to take care of the laptop or in middle/high school, seriously consider the Lenovo Flex 5i over the 11-inch models. Best Buy has take the X2 down to $300 and even as far down at $250 with near-constant sales. But Chrome tablets with removable keyboards are still a rarity. Another consideration for your kids Chromebook display is its resolution. Each model featured here was independently chosen by CNET's editors and includes a review and a deep dive into what makes it so great. The C536's big size makes it a bit big for an everyday carry laptop, but it's not in LINO territory yet (Laptop in Name Only). Some of the most innovative Chromebook designs weve seen recently are actually tablets, not laptops. A graduate of Middlebury College, I also have a master's degree in journalism and French Studies from New York University. The Chrome OS will handle typical usage seamlessly. Their simplicity and economy have made Chromebooks a hit in K-12 classrooms, with school districts large and small issuing them to students at little or no direct cost. While I'd love for everyone to enjoy the power of the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, you can get a better bang for your buck with the Lenovo Flex 5i or Duet 5. Chromebooks are now a staple of American education. Its 13.3-inch 1080p screen is clear and colorful. Your subscription has been confirmed. We can't say it better than our reviewer did: The IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook is "a great option to consider if you're in the market for a smart little tablet that doubles as a laptop." The main downside is that it's expensive on its own.

Chrome OS, for example, offers nothing in the way of out-of-the-box video editing, unlike the simple but powerful tools built into Windows and macOS. And this Chromebook laptop has a long battery life, lasting 10 hours and 40 minutes in CNET's testing. Few machines make Chrome OS look better than the elegant and well-engineered Pixelbook Go. And, while your schoolkids may not need it, gaming on a Chromebook is a possibility they'll wantthough one most schools disable, for obvious reasons. The extra memory comes in handy when you're trying to multitask during video calls or juggling multiple monitors, and even with the extra performance of the 11th Gen i3, battery life should last a full workday and then some. Speaking of gaming, the Acer Spin 713 is one of the lucky models chosen for the Steam on Chrome OS Alpha test. This laptop regularly goes on sale for less than $500, but if you like the design and don't need its more powerful components, the Pentium Silver version is a bargain at closer to $300. (, Read Great Stories Offline on Your Favorite, PC Magazine Digital Edition (Opens in a new window), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook (2021) Review, Read Our Dell Chromebook 11 (3100) Review, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook Review, Read Our Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 (CM3000) Review, Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook (2021) Review, Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 (CM3000) Review, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (2022) Review, What to Do When Your Computer Screen Won't Show a Picture, The Best Laptops for College Students in 2022, The Best Laptops for Video Editing in 2022. Check out our guide to thebest Chromebooks overall. Lenovo's Duet 5 might be stealing all the limelight with that 400-nit touchscreen and the detachable keyboard. And at the risk of ruining our two-piece metaphor, it's actually a four-piece Chromebook, since you also get a rear kickstand and a rechargeable stylus that stashes in a slot at top left. He has been writing about and reviewing consumer technology and software since 2000. The process is much like installing apps on your smartphone, involving little more than a visit to the Google Play Store(Opens in a new window) or the Chrome Web Store(Opens in a new window). and more, 6 reasons to buy an Amazon Fire HD tablet. Ive covered the consumer tech world as an editor, reporter, and analyst since 2015.

Just asGoogle's Pixel phonesoffer the best pure Android experience, the Google Pixelbook Go is built to deliver the best of Chrome OS. Thats because younger students are typically the target audience for augmented reality (AR) or drawing apps that require multiple cameras, touch screens, and digital pens. Older students who are primarily taking notes and writing term papers may not need these features as often. That amount should get you at least 4GB of memory and at least 32GB of storage space. But it's certainly small enough to move around the house, and with more than 10 hours of battery life according to my tests, you can work all day and still have time left for a video chat with family, gaming or streaming a movie. We hope you like the items we recommend and discuss! Priced under $400, the Chromebook 317 boasts a full HD (1080p) display, four USB ports, and Wi-Fi 6. Kick start your smart home with 7 Prime Day deals under $100, The best e-readers in 2022: Kindle, Kobo, Boox. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Dell adds that the keyboard can shake off 12 ounces of spilled liquid, too. You and your kids might have never used a Chromebook before, but youre almost certainly familiar with how one works. Chromebook buffs need no longer be jealous of 17-inch Windows laptopsthe Acer Chromebook 317 is a budget-priced, big-screen browsing machine. and sponsored partnerships, so we receive a share of the revenue from some of your purchases. Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. Joshua Goldman is a senior editor for CNET Reviews, covering laptops and the occasional action cam or drone and related accessories. These laptops run on Google's Chrome OS and are known for being lightweight, having long battery life and being more affordable. Many inexpensive Chromebooks have proprietary charging cables, which could be difficult to replace if theyre lost. It'll get updates for six more years, and the battery usually lasts well over 9 hours on a single charge before it needs to find a USB-C power delivery charger. That 512GB of storage can store dozens of UHD movies for those long international flights, and the 400-nit 2K touchscreen will make them look awesome. Lenovo also added a privacy shutter on the webcam so you can physically block it when it's not in use. We'd like it more if it were slightly brighter or if there were an HDMI monitor port, but you can't have everything. Thinking about buying one for yourself, too? You will also find a considerable library of kid-friendly apps designed for Chromebooks, and not just games: tools for note-taking, podcasting, book publishing, drawing, screencasting, and other 21st-century schoolwork. The HP X2 11 also fits PERFECTLY in the iPad sleeve of my decade-old Dakine crossbody satchel and every other travel bag, purse, or sling proof positive that this beauty was tailor-made for travel and leisure. Chromebooks have (Auto Update) Expiration dates, after which Google no longer guarantees updates. You might not be able to find a Chromebook in your budget that passes trueMIL-SPEC testing, but you can find other rugged options. 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. AndroidPolice has affiliate Unlike the Acer Spin 713 and ASUS CX9, the C536 is just the standard 250-nit brightness, so once you leave the great indoors, you'll be cranking it up to full brightness quickly. As with any laptop screen, youll want to avoid displays with resolutions below full HD (typically 1,920 by 1,080 pixels, or 1080p) if you can. This is a higher-end configuration, though, and its regular price is $699. It has a full HD display as well as excellent performance and battery life for the money, thanks to an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 4GB RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive. Designed to withstand the rigors of daily life in the classroom, at home, and in between, the Dell Chromebook 11 hits a trifecta: rugged, affordable, and great for kids. I've appeared on CBS News, in USA Today, and at many other outlets to offer analysis on breaking technology news. Its webcam makes you look bad, but the Asus Chromebook Flip CM5 is an otherwise excellent choice among big-screen, small-price convertibles. The latest version of this Chromebook runs on an 11th-gen Intel processor and was the first to receive Intel's Evo verification, which means you'll be getting the best possible mobile experience with this model. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. One has the same MediaTek MT8173 processor, the same as the C330. Before we get started, here are three things you'll want to keep in mind no matter your price point or priorities: The 2020 model of the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 was a head-turner and a fantastic deal, given frequent sales that would bring it down to $529 or even the $400s. The Lenovo is a first-class Chromebook convertible. For power users looking for an "it just works" laptop or parents needing a computer that kids can't break/infect every week while "looking for free Fortnite," Chromebooks are the perfect low-maintenance, high-security laptops. The simplicity of Chrome OS means that it allows fewer openings for bugs and security risks. (While we're on the subject, please ignore any underpowered Pentium models you might come across; the i3 models are selling for about the same price these days.). Like many Chromebooks, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 lacks an HDMI port, so you have to fuss with a USB-C adapter to connect an external monitor. That's the AUE date, after which Google no longer guarantees updates to the Chrome OS system. All rights reserved. There's almost always a sale running on one or both of these models. Slotting in nicely under the 13.3-inch IdeaPad Flex 5, the Duet 3 offers 5-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras; a bright, colorful 2,000-by-1,200-pixel touch screen; and a snappy Qualcomm CPU. I was later the editor in chief of Home Office Computing, a magazine that promoted using tech to work from home two decades before a pandemic made it standard practice. HP built a premium tablet and demanded a premium price tag at launch. Then you've caught me testing gear and editing reviews of laptops, desktop PCs, and tons of other personal tech. Gaming makes the battery life take a big hit, but if you're not constantly playing Steam games, it should last about 7 hours with over a dozen tabs and the display set to around 40% brightness. Assuming its got an internet connection, a Chromebook will keep itself secure and updated. Shop your favorite products and well find the best deal with a single click. If your child needs one for schoolwork or playtime, here's help with the specs, the features, and everything else you need to know before you buy. Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes 10-inch to 17-inch, budget to premium, laptop or tablet and we'll help pick your next one! Three USB ports (two Type-C and one Type-A) and a comfortable keyboard round out its attractions. And its a requirement if your child will be lugging his or her Chromebook to school every day. Designed to make shopping easier. A Chromebook tablet or 2-in-1 convertible will have a touch-enabled screen by necessity, since their keyboards arent always at hand. (Reading this at night? The aluminum unibody design feels solid and rich, and the 11-inch touchscreen is 2K resolution with 400 nits of brightness. Best Compact Detachable 2-in-1 Chromebook for Kids. They're also your surefire bets for gaming, but it's a significant investment not everyone can make, especially while Steam on Chrome OS is just starting publicly available testing. wont affect the price you pay and helps us offer the best product recommendations. Other shopping and advice resources you might want to check out include our general roundup of budget laptops, as well as our roundup of Android, Apple iOS, and Amazon Fire OStablets for kids. Theyve been slow to catch on among mainstream buyers, but they have great potential as a classroom learning tool. The HP Chromebook x360 14a is a value-priced convertible that delivers zippy performance at a good price, while still being good enough to handle the needs of students and the demands of casual internet users on tight budgets. But most conventional laptop Chromebooks have non-touch displays, at least in their default configurations. The 317 is essentially a portable all-in-one Chrome OS desktop, otherwise known as a Chromebase. Two USB-C and two USB-A ports, plus a microSD card slot. But as a desktop replacement that can fold into kiosk or easel mode for presentations, the Flip CM5 is a lively performer with a peppy AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 128GB solid-state drive, and two features that are rare on Chromebooks: an HDMI port (so you can plug in an external monitor without a USB-C dongle), and a keyboard with real Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys (so you needn't learn new navigation-key combos for Chrome OS). The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a 10-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad. (Lower resolution usually manifests itself as a screen with a 1,366 by 768 resolution.) One final Chromebook buyer tip: leave the in-box 45W charger at home and buy a more compact Chromebook charger. All three will get system updates until June 2029 assuming you can keep it safe and unbroken that long but the Flex 5i has 80% of the power for 50% of the price (or less, depending on the sales). A $300-to-$400 Windows laptop with a Celeron processor and 4GB of memory might be unpleasantly sluggish in everyday use, but a Chromebook with those same specs should offer an adequate experience for kids who are generally doing just one thing at a time on the machine. It's not a 2-in-1 like most Chromebooks these days, but that means the hinge is sturdier and won't start going out after a year or so the way some convertible Chromebooks do. Click through for deep-dive reviews of each. Im the deputy managing editor of the hardware team at PCMag.com. Plus, we have the option for 8GB of RAM instead of being stuck with 4GB, a real boon for multitasking. Speaking of tabs, feel free to hoard them; unless you perpetually keep hundreds open in a dozen different windows I love you, dad, but that's monstrous the Spin 713 will handle even heavy workloads easily. Steam does require that you hop to the Dev channel, which may not appeal to new owners or anyone using this as their only computer. Plenty of manufacturers make their own Chromebook laptops, including Acer, HP, Samsung and Lenovo. While the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 compute platform may not be the most powerful processor, it knows how to sip battery like 50-year-old whiskey. Sporting a 13.3-inch, 16:9 touchscreen with 1080p resolution and 400 nits of brightness as well as four much louder speakers, the Duet 5 is an even better tablet for content consumption than its predecessor. Chromebooks are laptops famous for low cost and simple operation, based on Google's ultra-friendly, browser-centric Chrome OS operating system. Ive also covered the launches of dozens of groundbreaking technologies, from hyperloop test tracks in the desert to the latest silicon from Apple and Intel. Otherwise, it's hard to fault this $549.99 compactnot only is it a 2-in-1 convertible whose 13.3-inch screen flips and folds between laptop and tablet modes, but its Intel Core i3 CPU and solid-state drive (instead of the usual smaller, slower eMMC flash storage) deliver lively performance, and it limbos under the three-pound line. This Lenovo Chromebook's small size might be a little limiting as a primary Chrome OS device, though you can connect to an external display via its USB-C port. Look for the 802.11ac or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standards, and avoid the older 802.11n standard. It is big and heavy compared with all the smaller Chromebooks here, so it's not a great option if mobility is a priority. Big-screen convertibles are always overweight for tablet use, but that and a punk webcam are the only things about the Asus we don't like. The MT8173 models are on an older board that will stop getting Chrome OS updates around 2025, and the Intel version didn't handle apps quite as well as the MediaTek models. Once upon a time, Lenovo ruled the cheap Chromebook market with the Lenovo C330 Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2021) is a bit more expensive. Most importantly, the HP Chromebook 11a will last you twice as long as its most popular budget competitors. A USB Type-C charging cable is better, especially if you have other USB Type-C devices, since you can usually swap charging cables between them in case your kid loses one. In addition to web surfing with the Chrome browser and keeping in touch with Gmail, they're capable productivity platforms with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (or the online or Android versions of Microsoft Office) and ready for relaxation with YouTube, Netflix, or online or Android games. Obviously there are faster and fancier Chromebooks with bigger, better screens (the Dell's 1,366-by-768-pixel resolution isn't much). Larger issues include missing capabilities that have been a staple of modern computing for years. Read our Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review. High-end Apple or Windows laptops are tempting to drop money on, but a Chromebook might be a better fit and can cost far less. Older, cheaper Chromebooks perpetually flood the market, but you have to be wary of older models because all Chromebooks come with an expiration date. It has two cameras, the usual webcam facing you and an 8-megapixel "world-facing" camera on the back for snapping a photo of a whiteboard or classroom experiment. The disadvantages of this simplicity? If portability and panache are your priorities, your kid will be delighted with this marathon runner. That's where the Acer Spin 713 shines as a powerful, long-lasting laptop that works even better than its Windows competitors. Power, performance, and prestige make the Asus Chromebook CX9 your pricey-but-perfect laptop. It won't load Civ VI again, early-stage testing but games like Catan, Stardew Valley, and Civ V play smoothly (though Civ V will start to lag after about 300 turns). You can do light-to-medium work on the Duet 5, but know upfront that the 7c Gen 2 will not match an Intel Core i3 and it isn't trying to. Even if you're not looking to game, the CX9 still makes a wonderful case for itself as a Chromebook as premium on the outside as it is powerful on the inside. Bluetooth is also nice to have for connecting a wireless mouse or streaming audio to external speakers. It was also the first with Thunderbolt 4 support, which lets you connect to multiple external displays and provides fast data speeds and networking. The HP 11a's MediaTek 8183 may not be the most powerful processor on the block, but it's one we know works well for Chrome OS for homework, casual browsing, and even light to medium workloads, so long as you don't go tab-crazy. The 2-in-1 convertible may not be as sexy as a detachable, but it's worlds better to use on the couch, the bed, the bus, and anywhere you aren't sitting immediately in front of a table or desk. Built for the family room instead of the classroom, the Acer 317 is low on frills (it has a Celeron processor and 64GB eMMC storage) but a handsome homework station or browser kiosk for shared surfing or email. This Lenovo 13-inch Chromebook two-in-one is a better bet than the Duet if you need a laptop for all-day use.