The best Chromebook you can buy in 2025

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You is perhaps tempted to get a Chromebook as your subsequent laptop computer and we wouldn’t blame you. Chrome OS has come a good distance: Chromebooks at present have a superb mixture of construct high quality, battery life and energy whereas additionally supporting years of software program updates that may take you years into the longer term. For those who primarily browse the online, or don’t want a ton of additional software program regularly, a Chromebook generally is a highly effective each day driver.

Whereas Google did make issues less complicated final fall by introducing the Chromebook Plus initiative (extra on that beneath), there are nonetheless a number of issues to remember when searching for a brand new Chromebook. The market is saturated with machines at totally different value factors and energy ranges; I’ve been testing and reviewing Chromebooks for years and know what you ought to be searching for, and what you may anticipate out of those laptops.

Greatest Chromebooks in 2025

Chromebook FAQs

What’s Chrome OS, and why would I take advantage of it over Home windows?

That is in all probability the primary query about Chromebooks. There are many cheap Home windows laptops available on the market, so why trouble with Chrome’s working system? Glad you requested. For me, the straightforward and clear nature of Chrome OS is a giant promoting level. Chrome OS is predicated on Google’s Chrome browser, which suggests a lot of the packages you may run are internet primarily based. There’s no bloatware or undesirable apps to uninstall such as you usually get on Home windows laptops, it boots up in seconds, and you’ll fully reset to manufacturing unit settings virtually as rapidly.

After all, simplicity can even be a significant downside for some customers. Not having the ability to set up native software program generally is a dealbreaker if you happen to’re a video editor or software program developer. However there are additionally loads of individuals who do nearly all of their work in an online browser, utilizing instruments like Google Docs and spreadsheets for productiveness with no need a full Home windows setup.

Google and its software program companions are getting higher yearly at supporting extra superior options. For instance, Google added video editing tools to the Google Photographs app on Chromebooks – it received’t change Adobe Premiere, but it surely must be useful for lots of people. Equally, Google and Adobe introduced Photoshop on the web final 12 months, one thing that brings a lot of the ability of Adobe’s desktop apps to Chromebooks.

Chromebooks may also run Android apps, which drastically expands the quantity of software program accessible. The standard varies extensively, but it surely means you are able to do extra with a Chromebook past simply web-based apps. For instance, you may set up the Netflix app and save movies for offline watching. Different Android apps like Microsoft Workplace and Adobe Lightroom are surprisingly succesful as effectively. Between Android apps and a basic enchancment in internet apps, Chromebooks are extra than simply portals to a browser.

What do Chromebooks do effectively?

Put merely, internet searching and actually something internet primarily based. On-line procuring, streaming music and video and utilizing numerous social media websites are among the many most typical each day duties folks do on Chromebooks. As you may anticipate, in addition they work effectively with Google companies like Photographs, Docs, Gmail, Drive, Preserve and so forth. Sure, any pc that may run Chrome can try this too, however the light-weight nature of Google Chrome OS makes it a responsive and steady platform.

As I discussed earlier than, Chrome OS can run Android apps, so if you happen to’re an Android consumer you’ll discover some good ties between the platforms. You will get a lot of the identical apps which are in your telephone on a Chromebook and maintain information in sync between them. You can too use some Android telephones as a safety key on your Chromebook or immediately tether your 2-in-1 laptop to make use of cellular knowledge.

Google continues to tout safety as a significant differentiator for Chromebooks, and it’s undoubtedly an element value contemplating. Auto-updates are the primary strains of protection: Chrome OS updates obtain rapidly within the background and a quick reboot is all it takes to put in the most recent model. Google says that every webpage and app on a Chromebook runs in its personal sandbox as effectively, so any safety threats are contained to that particular person app. Lastly, Chrome OS has a self-check referred to as Verified Boot that runs each time a tool begins up. Past all this, the straightforward reality that you just typically can’t set up conventional apps on a Chromebook means there are fewer methods for dangerous actors to entry the system.

For those who’re fascinated about Google’s Gemini AI instruments, a Chromebook is an effective choice as effectively. Each Chromebook in our high picks comes with a full 12 months of the Google One AI Premium plan — this combines the same old Google One perks like 2TB of storage and 10 % again in purchases from the Google Retailer with a bunch of AI instruments. You’ll get entry to Gemini in Gmail, Google Docs and different apps, Gemini Superior (which runs on the 1.5 Professional mannequin) and extra. Provided that this plan is $20/month, it’s a fairly strong perk. Chromebook Plus fashions additionally embody instruments just like the AI-powered “assist me write,” the Google Photographs Magic Editor and generative AI backgrounds you may create by filling in a couple of prompts.

As for when to keep away from Chromebooks, the reply is easy: For those who rely closely on a particular native utility for Home windows or a Mac, likelihood is you received’t discover the very same choice on a ChromeOS system. That’s most true in fields like photograph and video modifying, but it surely may also be the case in regulation or finance. Loads of companies run on Google’s G suite software program, however extra nonetheless have particular necessities {that a} Chromebook may not match. For those who’re an iPhone consumer, you’ll additionally miss out on the best way the iPhone simply integrates with an iPad or Mac. For me, the large draw back will not be having the ability to entry iMessage on a Chromebook.

Lastly, gaming Chromebooks aren’t ubiquitous, though they’re turning into a barely extra affordable choice with the rise of cloud gaming. In late 2022, Google and a few {hardware} companions introduced a push to make Chromebooks with cloud gaming in thoughts. From a {hardware} perspective, meaning laptops with larger screens which have larger refresh charges in addition to optimizing these laptops to work with companies like NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Sport Move and Amazon Luna. You’ll clearly want an web connection to make use of these companies, however the excellent news is that taking part in trendy video games on a Chromebook isn’t inconceivable. You can too set up Android video games from the Google Play Retailer, however that’s not what most individuals are considering of once they need to sport on a laptop computer.

What are a very powerful specs for a Chromebook?

Chrome OS is light-weight and runs effectively on pretty modest {hardware}, so a very powerful factor to search for may not be processor energy or space for storing. However Google made it simpler to get constant specs and efficiency late final 12 months when it launched the Chromebook Plus initiative. Any system with a Chromebook Plus designation meets some minimal necessities, which occur to be similar to what I’d advocate most individuals get in the event that they’re searching for the best laptop they will use day-after-day.

Chromebook Plus fashions have at the very least a Twelfth-gen Intel Core i3 processor, or an AMD Ryzen 3 7000 collection processor, each of which must be greater than sufficient for most individuals. These laptops even have a minimal of 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage, which ought to do the trick until you’re actually pushing your Chromebook. All Chromebook Plus fashions must have a 1080p webcam, which is sweet in nowadays of fixed video calling, and so they additionally all must have at the very least a 1080p FHD IPS display.

After all, you will get larger specs or higher screens if you happen to need, however I’ve discovered that principally every part included within the Chromebook Plus goal specs makes for an excellent expertise.

Google has an Auto Replace coverage for Chromebooks as effectively, and whereas that’s not precisely a spec, it’s value checking before you purchase. Final 12 months, Google introduced that Chromebooks would get software program updates and help for a formidable 10 years after their launch date. This support page lists the Auto Replace expiration date for nearly each Chromebook ever, however a superb rule of thumb is to purchase the latest machine you may to maximise your help.

How a lot ought to I spend on a Chromebook?

Chromebooks began out notoriously low-cost, with listing costs usually coming in below $300. However as they’ve gone extra mainstream, they’ve transitioned from being basically trendy netbooks to a number of the finest laptops you’ll need to use all day. As such, costs have elevated: At this level, you need to anticipate to spend at the very least $400 if you’d like a strong each day driver. There are nonetheless many Chromebooks on the market accessible at a low value which may be appropriate as secondary gadgets, however a superb Chromebook that may be an all-day, every-day laptop computer will value extra. However, notably, even the perfect Chromebooks often value lower than the best Windows laptops, and even the perfect “common” laptops on the market.

There are many premium Chromebooks that method and even exceed $1,000 that declare to supply higher efficiency and extra processing energy, however I don’t advocate spending that a lot. Typically, that’ll get you a greater design with extra premium supplies, in addition to extra highly effective internals and further space for storing, like a higher-capacity SSD. After all, you additionally generally pay for the model title. However, the specs I outlined earlier are often sufficient.

See Additionally:

Different Chromebooks we examined

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus

Samsung’s new Galaxy Chromebook Plus is among the extra distinctive Chromebooks on the market. It’s extraordinarily skinny and lightweight, at 0.46 inches and a couple of.6 kilos, but it surely manages to incorporate a 15.6-inch show in that body. That display is a 1080p panel that’s sharp and shiny, however its 16:9 facet ratio made issues really feel a bit cramped when scrolling vertically. Efficiency is superb, and the keyboard is strong, although I’m not a fan of the quantity pad because it shifts every part to the left. At $700 it’s not low-cost, however that feels honest contemplating its dimension and capabilities. For those who’re searching for a giant display laptop computer that can also be tremendous mild, this Chromebook deserves consideration, even when it’s not the best choice for everybody.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/laptops/best-chromebooks-160054646.html?src=rss

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