Tired of the massive prices that Windows and Mac laptops seem to carry? Don’t need a mega-powerful portable to get your traveling tasks done? If you need a new laptop but don’t want to go into debt for it, consider a Chromebook. These machines run Google’s lightweight and well-supported ChromeOS, which is super-resistant to malware, excels at cloud applications, and is power-efficient.
Manufacturers offer Chromebooks at a number of different price points and performance levels. Take even more off and you can get a solid portable for a few hundred bucks… or less! Here are the best Chromebook deals on well-reviewed models that we’ve found in August.
Let’s lead off this roundup with a solid discount on a highly-rated Chromebook from Lenovo. We gave the IdeaPad Duet 5 an Editors’ Choice award in our review, saying that the portable PC was “the best detachable Chromebook,” praising its gorgeous OLED screen, high-quality dual cameras and included kickstand and keyboard cover. As a detachable, it can be used as either a tablet or a full-on laptop, adding additional portability and versatility to the package. The Snapdragon SC7180 is decently speedy, and 4GB of RAM is on the high end for Chromebooks at this price range. This configuration also comes with 64GB of onboard storage.
HP Chromebook 14″
A no-frills laptop perfect for back to school
$195.99
at Amazon
$309.99
Save $114.00
Shockingly, summer is halfway over, and for many people, it’s time to think about returning to the classroom. Chromebooks are beloved by educators for their relative ease of use and lack of gaming support, and this is a tremendous discount on a HP laptop that’s potent enough to handle homework at under $200. Outfitted with a capable Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC flash memory, it’s not a powerhouse but definitely capable. With solid battery life and fast charging, this machine hits the sweet spot for Chromebooks in many ways as a “good enough” PC at a very nice price.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 tries to give you the best aspects of a laptop and a tablet, with a 360 degree rotating hinge that lets you fold it flat while still using the touchscreen. When we reviewed it, we called it “a diminutive, spiffy Chromebook convertible,” saying that it’s an affordable unit that’s great for students. This configuration ships with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 32GB of eMMC internal storage. Battery life is also respectable, with 10 hours between charges.
This is definitely not one of the most impressive Chromebooks on the market, but when you can slash $150 off of the purchase price, cutting it nearly in half, it demands attention. In our review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, we said that it provides “decent everyday performance, a broad array of ports, and a 12-hour battery.” Sometimes, that’s all you really need! With a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, 4GB of system memory, and 64GB of eMMC storage, it hits the typical performance metrics for Chromebooks, and it performed well in our benchmarking.
Recommended by Our Editors
Samsung is known for high-end hardware, and its approach to Chromebooks is a little different than other manufacturers. These are still affordable portables, but they harness the power of Chrome OS with better components. In this case, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 runs off of an Intel Core i3 processor that clocks up to 2.1 GHz, coupled with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. In our review, we praised its really nice QLED touch screen and stylish design, saying “the keyboard has a snappy and comfortable typing feel.”If you ever wondered how we test laptops, wonder no more! We wrote a deep dive into our extensive process.
More Chromebook Deals To Explore
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
FAQ
What is the cheapest but best Chromebook? Chromebooks in general come in lower on the price scale than Windows or Mac laptops, but the tradeoff is that they’re often lower-powered in terms of processor speed, RAM and internal storage. Buying a good one is all about finding the best value for money. In our roundup of the best chromebooks, we chose the Lenovo Flex 3 for budget shoppers, noting its nice screen, good construction and port selection.How much should I pay for a Chromebook? With low pricing still one of the most popular reasons to pick up a Chromebook, you should be able to get a capable model for $300 at the absolute maximum. The more advanced Chromebook Plus models can go up to four figures, but for most users those aren’t necessary and you’d be better suited with a traditional Windows laptop. You can get a solid HP, Acer or Lenovo Chromebook for $200.Why are Google Chromebooks so cheap? If you’re a little suspicious thanks to the low prices on most Chromebooks, you might be wondering why they are so affordable. We go deep into the differences in our “Laptop Vs. Chromebook” feature, but in short, Chromebooks run the much more limited Google Chrome OS, which prioritizes the Chrome web browser, Google Drive cloud storage, and extensions from the Chrome Web Store and Google Play Store. They’re significantly less flexible and customizable than your basic Windows laptop.What to look for in Chromebook deal? Our Chromebook buying guide has some key metrics to consider when you’re buying one of these inexpensive laptops. Chromebooks typically have less hardware variability than Windows laptops, but we recommend an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of memory for light use and no multitasking, boosting to an Intel Core or an AMD Ryzen if you want to push it a little harder. Chrome OS is optimized for touchscreen use, so it’s worth getting a model that supports that.Best Chromebook deals under $250?$250 is the sweet spot for Chromebook pricing, and in our rundown of the best budget laptops, we spotlight the extremely competent Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3, which is a detachable touchscreen model that’s fast enough and has a bright, colorful screen. This usually retails for a little over $250, but it goes on sale fairly often.
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About Karl Klockars
Even after testing dating apps for PCMag, Karl Klockars remains happily married to his wonderfully understanding and awesome wife, Nora, and lives in Chicago. He is the author of Beer Lovers Chicago, runs the guysdrinkingbeer.com site, writes for outlets including AskMen, Chicago Magazine, and Thrillist, and recently entered the world of voice-over artistry.
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About K. Thor Jensen
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K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
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