10 Chromebooks That Get the Job Done: The 2022 CRN Mobile 100
Chromebooks aren’t just for child’s play anymore. The pared-down PCs have become the go-to for education and cost-effective work machines.
It’s not hyperbole to say that Chromebooks really saved the day during the pandemic, particularly for educators and students forced into remote learning—as well as workers handling jobs remotely on their Chromebooks.
Chromebooks are generally less expensive and easily deployed in large numbers, making them perfect for struggling school districts and employers who don’t need to offer all the bells and whistles. But demand for higher-end, higher margin Chromebooks is also flourishing. Chip companies like AMD have taken notice as well, crafting Chromebook-specific hardware to power the machines.
Mike Turicchi, vice president of Gaineville, Va.-based NCS Technologies, told CRN that Chromebook business is booming, and demand is especially strong for more powerful units. “We are seeing more interest and demand for the higher-end Chromebooks,” he said, noting that inventory of Intel-based machines can be low. “End users want the performance and features of a business-class laptop on Chrome devices now, too.”
And the world rewarded the Chromebook by giving it a huge market share valued at $23.12 billion in 2020, according to Reports and Data, which also believes the Chromebook market will continue to expand to a staggering $44.27 billion haul by 2028. The largest Chromebook vendors worldwide were Acer and Lenovo, with a respective 23 and 18.9 percent market share, according to a report from Statista. Chromebooks have certainly proven they can compete with more robust machines.
As part of the 2022 Mobile 100, CRN examines the wide range of Chromebook offerings available in 2022.
Here are 10 Chromebooks that ge the job done:
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 comes with a full HD 13.3-inch screen at 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution. The unit also includes a dual-core Celeron 5205U and packs quite a punch. The QLED screen offers a similar-but-more-affordable version of the companies loftier AMOLED display. It gives you the HD resolution, without the 4K overkill. Weighing in at a reasonable (but not svelte) 2.71 pounds, the book could be a touch lighter. But the Wi-Fi 6 and Blutooth connectivity add a higher-end touch. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a starting price of $699, placing it just above entry-level Chromebooks.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
It wasn’t enough for Lenovo to come in hot with a 2-in-1 Chromebook entry, the company went and did it with a battery that lasts a stunningly long time. The Chromebook Duet plays double duty as a notebook/tablet at an entry-level price point of $279. The Chromebook Duet has a MediaTek Helio P60T processor, ARM G72 MPE GPU, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. It comes with a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200-pixel display and weighs in at just about 2 pounds. Its starting price is less than $300.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
The 13.5-inch Acer Chromebook Spin 713 gives ample ports, zippy processing power and looks and acts the part of a non-Chromebook. The machine offers processing from an Intel Core i5-1135G7 at a speed of 2.4GHz, 8 GB of RAM, 256 GB of SSD storage and Intel’s Iris Xe Graphics. The display offers native resolution of 2,256 x 1,504 pixels with a screen refresh rate of 60Hz. It also offers a touch screen, Wi-Fi 6 support and weighs in at 3.2 pounds. The Chromebook Spin is priced at $699 but can be found regularly for under $500.
Google Pixelbook Go
The Google Pixelbook Go offers many of the specs one would see on pricier laptops, while retaining the easy Chromebook operating system. The Go is juiced with a 1.3GHz Intel Core i5-8220Y dual-core processor with a boost up to 3.9GHz. Graphics are handled by Intel’s UHD Graphics 615 at 300MHz. With awesome battery life, a 1080p webcam, great keyboard, it’s a great way to introduce yourself to the Google lineup. With a 13-inch full HD LCD touch screen at 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, the Pixelbook Go weighs in at 2.3 pounds. Pricing starts at $849.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
For anyone who doesn’t need the compute power of a Macbook but likes the sleek styling, this slick-looking Chromebook fits the bill. The Chromebook Spin 311 2-in-1 convertible uses an Intel Celeron N400 processor with a speed of 1.1GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of storage and a screen size of 11.6 inches. This might be best suited for the student who wants ample performance without breaking the bank and on that front, this machine delivers. It’s not the smallest or fastest Chromebook on the market, but that’s the price of variety. This is the tried-and-true good-is-good-enough approach for an entry-level machine with a few perks that may push it beyond other entry-level offerings. It is priced at $249, and market price is even lower at the moment.
Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
A deep look at the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook will leave users impressed with its value. The midrange Flex 5 offers an Intel Pentium Gold 7505 with a speed of 2GHz, 4 GB of DDR4 RAM, Intel UHD graphics processing, a 13.3-inch 1,080p touch screen and Wi-Fi 6 capability. This is a fantastic value for Intel’s 10th Gen processors and gets you in the door with touchscreen and stylus support at a reasonable price. It’s tough to find a lot to complain about, but will leave you short on bragging rights. This is a machine that is about compromises and value. Weighing 2.97 pounds, the Flex 5 is priced at $389 but deals abound.
HP Chromebook x360 14c
HP’s Chromebook x360 14c might be the perfect choice for someone looking for a 2-in-1 touch screen on a budget. The device gives business users a solid conferencing tool at an affordable price, but don’t expect a top-of-line machine here. The specs are just fine for the money and for those who don’t need a desktop killer. The Chromebook x360 14c holds an Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor with 1.1GHz of speed, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. An intel UHD Graphics 605 GPU is plenty to handle the 14-inch, 1,366 x 760 screen with 60Hz refresh rate. Weighing in at 3.3 pounds, the x360 costs $330 but market price is currently a bit less.
Dell Chromebook 11 (3100)
A 5-year-old clumsily banging around on tech gear can make for a bad scene. Luckily, there are options like the Dell Chromebook 11 3100, a sturdy Chromebook to stand up to a curious child’s rambunctiousness. The Chromebook 11 3100 offers plenty of student compute power with an Intel Celeron N4020 running at 2.8GHz with 4 GB of RAM. The laptop has 16 GB of storage, a screen size of 11.6 inches at 1,366 x 768 pixels, and a spill-resistant keyboard. The unit weighs in at 2.85 pounds and comes at a price of $339.
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3
The Chromebook Flip CM3 has an attractive metal chassis and the sheen of a glossy screen. Asus gets back to its roots as a prime maker of affordable crowd pleasers—the company was built for the Chromebook space. The 2-in-1 convertible uses an ARM-based MediaTek Kompanio 820 processor clocking in at 2.2GHz and has 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage. Its native display resolution is 1,366 x 912 pixels. The unit weighs in at 2.5 pounds and starts at a price of $329.
Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook
Lenovo brings its sure-handed touch to the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, offering plenty of creature comforts. Lenovo has always excelled at build quality and the C13 Yoga does not disappoint in that regard. The company has mastered the art of building a comfortable and excellent keyboard—and that’s true on this 2-in-1 laptop. The C13 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500C clocked at 2.1GHz with 8 GB of RAM and a 256-GB SSD. Its screen provides 13.3 inches of real estate at a resolution of 1,920 x 1080 with a refresh rate of 60Hz. These Chromebooks are aimed at professionals who require a bit more compute power. It comes at a starting price of $584 (a bit lower at current market rates).