r/chromeos • u/AutomaticWar2640 • 7d ago
Buying Advice Best Chromebook to buy right now??
Hey everyone,
I’m looking to pick up a Chromebook but there’s so many out there that I’m not sure which one is actually worth it. I don’t need anything crazy, just something that runs smooth for school, work, and maybe some Netflix on the side.
Are there certain models that stand out as the best Chromebook to buy? I’ve seen everything from Lenovo to Acer to Dell, but it’s hard to figure out which one gives the best value.
Any advice or recs would be very helpful! If you’ve bought one recently, what’s been your experience?
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u/Background-Raise6389 6d ago
Definitely the Lenovo IdeaPad. It has super fast processor, touchscreen, and has solid battery life
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 | Lenovo Flex 3i 8GB 12.2" 7d ago
This question gets asked on a daily basis by now and is the new "how to install Windows". Anyway I googled "best Chromebook" for you and found this article. Click with your left mouse button on the link:
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u/AutomaticWar2640 7d ago
Thanks! I don’t have much savings, so I just want to make sure I buy something that’s really worth it and good value for money.
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u/jader242 7d ago edited 6d ago
Hey as somebody else who doesn’t have much savings, you’re going to find a lot of people recommending 8gb ram devices that cost $400+ (which is crazy for a Chromebook in my opinion, you can get a used thinkpad for less and it will do so much more). What my broke ass ended up doing was waiting for a Best Buy sale and I picked up a brand new acer cb315 (n6000 model 4gb/128gb) for $120 out the door. It only having 4gb of ram only impacts the android side of things tbh, which was pretty unusable. Also the Google play services were eating up 50-75% of the ram at all times, even when idle, which lead to all around performance being pretty bad (I think this is where everyone gets the idea that 4gb models are unusable). But after turning off Google play the ram usage is comfortably around 15% when idle, and stays with around 1gb free when doing heavy tasks (multiple tabs, YouTube video in background, multiple Linux apps running) and the performance is solid. I also dual boot Linux mint when I need to get stuff done that’s not possible on chromeos and even that side of things runs great
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u/AutomaticWar2640 6d ago
Thank you, I appreciate this!
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u/CurtLandsman 6d ago
I have been watching Best Buy Chromebooks for sale prices. I happened to pick up an HP 15a-nb0013dx for $149 on sale. It's usually $400+.
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u/Romano1404 Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 | Lenovo Flex 3i 8GB 12.2" 6d ago
don't buy a Chromebook just because its cheap. Buy a used Windows laptop instead. And if you buy a Chromebook, please don't buy a 4GB device. Yes it works if you disable Android but you can get a 8GB Chromebook for little money nowdays.
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u/jader242 6d ago
A $120 windows laptop would either be used to shit with an old dead battery, or it will be new with absolutely abhorrent specs. Either way I’m happy with my cheap Chromebook
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u/popsicle_of_meat Samsung CB+ V2::Optiplex Chrome OS Flex 7d ago
I wonder if it's even worth setting up and maintaining a "current best product" page for each budget range like other tech subs do. Probably not.
OP asked for "best chromebook to buy right now" but apparently that's not accurate since they "don't have much savings" and don't even give a budget. The "best" chromebooks are not cheap. And the "best" machines also usually aren't a good value vs cheaper ones.
It's great that Google allows other OEMs to make chromebooks, but it REALLY makes the selection very broad and confusing.
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u/otterland 6d ago
I'd get the 250 buck Acer from Costco.
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u/HuckleberryNo504 6d ago
What a deal! Sadly I am not from the US but what a deal that N355 for 250 with 512gb of storage and 8gb of ram should at least cost 450 here in Europe
The processor isn't that powerful in single core but multicore it's 2x better than the old n100
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u/otterland 6d ago
We have both an Acer and my personal one is a Lenovo IdeaPad convertible. Both of these were near top of the line 5 years ago and they're still running as if they're brand new. I think we paid about $300 for the Lenovo and $500 for the Acer.
We got them both from Costco where they give you a 3-year warranty on electronics. But I feel like these things will outlast me.
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u/HuckleberryNo504 6d ago
I got a Chromebook just because I found it 47 bucks open box but has a weak processor mt8183 still does everything I need I don't feel regret as I used my gaming laptop for school and you can only imagine the trouble I had. This thing can last up to 15 hours with some battery optimization and it even charges with a 5w USB charger! Like I know it won't charge but it will last longer maybe with a powerbank No laptop in the world can accept a 5w charger
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u/otterland 6d ago
I got mine because I fell in love with the picture editor Snapseed and Chromebooks can run android apps. Yes I can use Photoshop or Gimp like a pro, but all I usually do is curves and white balance so my $300 Chromebook feels sleeker and faster for my hobby workflow than a $2k MacBook. 😄
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u/actiondefence 7d ago
Lenovo Flex 5i and Acer Spin 713 are great picks. Both have solid performance, good screens, and excellent value.
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u/WorriedAd3371 6d ago
Has Lenovo fixed the hinge issue on the flex? My (windows) flex from 2022 just broke off at the hinge for no particular reason, seems to be a common problem.
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u/Intelligent-Depth-55 7d ago
I heard the lenovo chromebook plus 14 is really good!! unfortunately i don't have it rn but it seems that the chromebook has ALOT of good reviews
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u/oriolorrick 7d ago
Literally any Chromebook Plus device. But I would personally go for either ASUS CX34, Expertbook CX54, or Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. The CX34 is definitely the cheapest option, but still has fantastic performance.
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u/Mission_Fix2724 6d ago
I personally recommend HP or Dell for Chromebooks. If you want, check Chromebooksrus, you might find specs that match your needs. Thank me later!
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u/aweaselonwheels 6d ago
What you are looking for is a Chromebook Plus, this means they have to hit various performance targets and are suitable for business use and not just been made as cheap as possible. Brand doesn't really matter just go for the best specs in your budget.
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u/LegAcceptable2362 6d ago
Isn't asking an open-ended question like this without providing specific selection criteria only going to produce responses that leave you more confused? If you make the effort to list your criteria (which only you can do) then use the selection filters that pretty much every online retailer provides the resulting list should probably be pretty short.
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u/Baardmeester 6d ago
How hard is it to specify things like (screen)size, laptop or 2in1 and budget?
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u/moosiest 6d ago
HP dragonfly from wisetek. The Costco one is a safe bet, but the dragonfly is a convertible and the most premium feeling option still. (I actually use the tablet format, if not then yeah any CB plus, I'd go with eh $249 from Costco.)
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u/CanaryResponsible143 6d ago
I just buy refurbished from Acer authorise repair company, get it half price during eBay promote.
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u/Eleison23 Acer 516GE CBG516-1H | Stable 6d ago
It seems like you intend to use a single device for "school, work and [personal use]".
This is a super bad mistake idea.
Do not use the same advice for personal use as for your employer.
It looks like your employer and your school will not be recommending or issuing devices and they are strictly BYOD. This is a tragedy.
So if I were you, I would select one device to use for work, and another for school, and it won't hurt to put your personal account on the "school" device as long as we're talking about college. You're not in middle school, we can assume, since you're employed?
Best case scenario, you would have 3 machines and doing your personal stuff entirely separate from work OR school. Best case, your scholarships or grants are paying for your educational device and you're not so worried about the cost of the education. Best case, your employer somehow subsidizes or offsets the cost of your work-related devices, or you're a self-employed entrepreneur, and you're taking some tax deductions on the stuff.
Now that you've separated out the roles you intend for your devices, then you can begin to specify their specs for how you're going to use them.
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u/Confident-Dot5878 6d ago
I bought a refurb touchscreen for $50 to see if I’d like it. So far so good.
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u/oldschool-51 6d ago
I just bought a brand new (factory sealed) 2019 PixelBook Go - still the best - for $250.
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u/josh1mid 4d ago
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, although it is on the higher end of prices, got mine on a deal on Amazon think I paid £450
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u/GroundbreakingView55 4d ago
If you’re in the NYC area I have some decent Chromebooks for sale if interested.
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3d ago
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u/BigGrizzwald 2025 Lenovo CB Plus 14 7d ago
Lenovo Chromebook plus 14. Nothing on the market comes close right now