Best Chromebooks of 2022
These Chromebooks from Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung can replace a Windows laptop, often at a lower price
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.
By Nicholas De Leon and Melanie Pinola
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to add another laptop to your household, a Chromebook may be the way to go.
Chromebooks are essentially laptops that use Chrome OS instead of macOS or Windows as their operating system. Chrome OS resembles Google’s Chrome web browser, so if you’ve spent any time using Chrome—and since it’s the most popular browser by far, there’s a good chance you’ve spent lots of time with it—you should feel right at home.
Chromebooks frequently have more modest specs than their Mac and Windows counterparts, so you’re not as likely to find very fast processors or super-spacious hard drives. Consequently, Chromebooks can often be found for under $500, making them a good value for consumers who don’t need macOS or Windows.
“Chromebooks will run word processing and spreadsheet programs, and you can use them to browse the web,” says Richard Fisco, who oversees electronics testing at Consumer Reports.
Chromebooks rely heavily on web apps like Gmail and Google Docs, which lessen the need for the sort of higher-end specs you’d find on a Mac or PC laptop. Those web apps are often just as capable as their desktop counterparts, too, so you’ll be able to take Zoom calls, participate in Slack chats, or trudge through your email in Outlook without skipping a beat.
Of course, you won’t be able to play the latest Mac or Windows games on a Chromebook, and serious photo and video editors will probably want the power and flexibility afforded by a Mac or PC. But a Chromebook could still be a good choice for consumers with more basic needs.
There are more than 40 models in our Chromebook ratings, all of which are made by well-known companies like Google, HP, and Samsung. The models highlighted below, listed in order of Overall Score, are plenty capable of tackling the everyday productivity tasks juggled by consumers.
HP Chromebook 14B-NA0010WM
Overall Score: 79
This 14-inch notebook has an AMD Ryzen 3 processor, 4 gigabytes of memory, and 128GB of solid state storage.
In addition to its long battery life (almost 14 hours) and light weight for its size (around 3 pounds), our testers also highlight the model’s display. It gets bright enough to easily use outdoors and offers wide viewing angles, so it can easily be shared by multiple people or viewed off-center without washing out.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Overall Score: 76
This 13.3-inch convertible has a bright red design. Though we don’t take that sort of thing into account when testing and rating computers, there’s no denying that it helps the Chromebook stand out from the crowd.
The specs and performance provide a good balance for the price. It has an Intel Celeron processor, 4 gigabytes of memory, 64GB of flash storage, and a battery that delivers almost 13 hours of web browsing in CR testing. That’s perhaps not quite what you expect from a traditional laptop but more than enough to handle typical office tasks or schoolwork.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go
Overall Score: 69
Another Galaxy Chromebook? Technically yes, but this one has a 14-inch display and is a traditional notebook. Which is to say, it’s not a 2-in-1 convertible like the above Galaxy Chromebook 2. As such, it costs a few hundred dollars less.
In terms of specs, you’re still looking at a reasonably capable Chromebook, one with an Intel Celeron processor, 4 gigabytes of memory, and 64GB of flash storage.
The “Go” implies portability, and that’s just what you get here, with a battery that lasts as long as 13 hours on a single charge and a relatively light weight of 3.1 pounds.
Our testers note that the display is just okay—it doesn’t produce very accurate colors, for one thing—so there are better choices if you want a portable video-streaming companion. But for ordinary productivity chores this simple machine should do the trick.
Asus Chromebook CXB170CKA-BCL64N6
Overall Score: 67
This 17.3-inch Asus CXB170CKA-BCL64N6 doesn’t have a name that rolls off the tongue, but it has the largest screen of any Chromebook we recommend. And you can usually find it for around $250 or less.
CR testers give the model top marks for its bright screen and large, comfortable keyboard and touchpad. Battery life is about average, lasting just under 12 hours on one charge.
The main trade-off? The model weighs 5.3 pounds, but that’s reasonable for a notebook of this size and with as much screen real estate.
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11
Overall Score: 64
If you’d prefer a smaller Chromebook for carrying in a backpack, this 11.6-inch model from Lenovo is worth a look. It not only is lightweight (2.6 pounds) but also has a long 14-hour battery life.
And you won’t find many laptops with this small price tag (under $200 at time of writing) and these specs: an Intel Celeron processor, 4 gigabytes of memory, and 64 gigabytes of flash storage.
The Flex 3 11 isn’t a speed demon or powerhouse by any means, but it can get the job done. CR testers find it to be slow compared to other Chromebooks but say it performs well enough for typical tasks like web browsing, word processing, and online gaming.
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