The best budget Chromebooks you can get in 2022

Publish date: 2023-07-09

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

Chromebooks have come from being the basic computing devices running Google services to the versatile computing machines that they are today. While they’re still not really a complete replacement for Windows laptops and MacBooks, they’ve come to offer a range of functionality and specifications, which has increased the average price of a Chromebook.

The core appeal of a Chromebook still lies in being a low-cost online computing machine. As such, we’ve rounded up the best budget Chromebooks to buy in 2021.

Buying the best budget Chromebook for your needs

Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system made by Google. It centers around the Google Chrome browser. When it debuted, it was basically Chrome and its apps expanded into an operating system. Over the years, Chrome OS has come to support Linux apps, as well as Android apps.

Chromebooks offer a ton more choices with specifications today. However, the sweet spot for Chromebooks is around $350. Some of the best budget Chromebooks retail around and below this price. The best budget Chromebooks offer a solid balance between enough hardware power to carry out the basic tasks while not consuming too much power, which means a better battery life. At the $350 mark, traditional laptops can’t quite match Chromebooks in this aspect. This is mostly due to Windows running heavier than Chrome OS.

While picking a budget Chromebook, it's important to consider whether Chrome OS will be able to satisfy your needs.

Chromebooks are meant for folks whose workloads reside mostly in a browser. For budget Chromebooks, this is even more true. The best budget Chromebooks will do well for run-of-the-mill home, office, and educational use.

Important things to consider in a budget Chromebook include the screen size, weight, and form factor, depending upon your portability and usage requirements. If you’re going to be using the Chromebook for media consumption, you can pick one with a convertible two-in-one design.

Chromebooks come with a range of CPUs, going from low-power ARM-based CPUs to more powerful x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD. The choice of the right CPU is crucial when it comes to making your pick from the best budget Chromebooks. While the ARM options have a battery life advantage in most cases, the x86 CPUs, especially those from Intel, will give you the best balance between battery life and performance in this budget.

See also: The best Chromebook tablets you can buy

If you’re still not sure which Chromebook would be the best for you, below are our picks of the best budget Chromebooks to buy in 2021 across multiple categories and price points.

The best budget Chromebooks to buy in 2021

Editor’s note: We will be updating this list of the best budget Chromebooks as new ones are released and old ones retired.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13-inch: The best budget Chromebook overall

Eric Zeman / Android Authority

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13-inch 2-in-1 hits a sweet spot in the middle of our best budget Chromebooks. At 13.3-inches, the screen is large enough but not overwhelming. It’s a Full HD LED touch display that’s complemented by integrated Intel UHD graphics. The setup sticks with Intel for the CPU, relying on an 11th-gen Core i3 processor to get work done. Lenovo’s large chassis allows for a backlit keyboard that’s comfortable to type on, and the touchscreen supports a built-in stylus.

When it comes to memory and storage, you should have no problem working with the 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 128GB of PCle SSD storage. The flexible 2-in-1 design helps set the Chromebook Flex 5 apart when it comes to media and creativity. An all-aluminum body houses two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a headphone jack, and a microSD port.

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Cons

Acer Chromebook 514: The best budget Chromebook with a low-key design

The Acer Chromebook 514 covers many important basics. It features an aluminum chassis, a Full HD touch screen, and a backlit keyboard. These ensure that you can be productive day or night. The battery lasts well more than a full work or school day (12 hours), and the Gorilla Glass trackpad is a nice touch of luxury. It’s a standard clamshell, but the stylish design feels like a premium pick.

You’ll find a quad-core Intel Celeron processor with 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage under the hood. It boasts two DisplayPort USB-C ports, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and an HD webcam. The 514 weighs a respectable 3.09 pounds.

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Samsung Chromebook 4 Plus: The cleanest-looking budget Chromebook

Samsung has been making cutting-edge displays for years, and the Chromebook 4 Plus brings that quality to a budget-friendly package. The minimized bezels help to draw you into the large 15.6-inch Full HD display that’s boosted by Intel UHD 600 graphics. You should have no problem working all day long from just about anywhere with up to 10.5 hours of battery life.

On the inside, Samsung has loaded the Chromebook 4 Plus with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 64GB of storage. You can take full advantage of two USB-C ports and a USB-A option for older peripherals. While the Chromebook 4 Plus is only equipped with Bluetooth 4.0, a headphone jack and microSD card reader help keep your options open.

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Asus Chromebook C523: Budget Chromebook with the best display

Asus has some great laptops and Chromebooks in the market, and Chromebook C523 is its best budget option. It has a rather simple and clean design that reminds you of MacBooks because of the sleek Aluminium chassis. The real winner is the display here, a nice 15.6-inch Full HD panel, but you can opt for an HD-ready resolution version for a lower price as well.

Coming to the internals, you get the Intel Celeron N3350, a common CPU in budget Chromebooks. You also get 64GB eMMC storage, which isn’t the best, but a microSD port makes up for it. There’s also 4GB of RAM on board, and the ports include two USB-A and two USB-C ports. You also get a 3.5mm jack for audio.

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HP Chromebook 14-inch: The best balanced budget Chromebook

The HP Chromebook 14 is one of the larger options in our list of best budget Chromebooks. It has a premium build and comes in a ceramic white finish. HP’s Chromebook is a step up as far as the design is concerned, particularly compared to the common black or silver options lining store shelves. The 14-inch HD or Full HD screen necessitates most of the bulk. Thanks in part to the large chassis, you’ll find a full-sized keyboard for a comfortable day of typing. This could be a boon to writers and students alike. Further, the keyboard has four levels of backlighting.

You’ll be treated to an Intel Celeron N4000 processor as well as 4GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the storage is a bit tight at just 32GB. You’ll find plenty of ports, including two USB-C, one USB Type-A, microSD, and a headphone jack. Other features include B&O-tuned stereo speakers and a Kensington lock.

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Acer Chromebook Spin 311: The best budget Chromebook in small size

Here’s a compact option. The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is one of the most flexible machines from the company. It comes in a small 11.6-inch form-factor, and it’s bundled with a good-quality mousepad. Although the construction is fully plastic, the Spin 311 is rocking a brushed finish for a premium feel.

Only a single processor option is currently available to the Spin 311, and that’s the Intel Celeron N4020 clocked at 1.1GHz with a 4MB cache and a burst speed of up to 2.4GHz. Other specs that play a role in performance include the Intel HD Graphics and 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM at 2.4GHz. The Spin 11 is also limited to just 32GB of storage, though that’s not unheard of in Chromebook territory. You’ve got USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as a headphone jack and a DisplayPort.

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Lenovo 300e Chromebook: The best entry-level Chromebook

This cheap Chromebook might be a sleeper hit— the body is fully plastic, but the 300e Chromebook from Lenovo can turn into a lightweight, easy-to-use tablet. The dual-core AMD A-series processor is a bit of a bummer, but it is likely more than enough for light work inside Chrome OS. 

The 4GB of RAM in this machine should pick up any slack left behind by the processor, and 32GB of flash storage should be enough for your local storage needs. If not, there’s an SD card slot on the side of the device, right next to USB 3.0, HDMI, and USB-C.

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Asus Chromebook Flip CM3: The best 2-in-1 Chromebook

Asus’ Chromebook Flip is premium on a budget. With a thin and sturdy build and its 2-in-1 form factor, you’ll feel like you paid $1,000+ for it. This machine is powered by a Mediatek 8183 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage for your important documents. 

The screen on the Chromebook Flip is a 12-inch 3:2 display, making it almost a square shape. In practice, this gives the body more space for a trackpad, and it takes advantage of it. This budget Chromebook will also last up to 16 hours, which is more than enough to last multiple days for some people. 

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Budget Chromebooks v/s budget Windows laptops

The $350 budget will give you a ton more options with budgets Windows laptops than with Chromebooks. So the question is, should you be picking one over a Windows laptop? Chrome OS is still not a full equivalent to Windows, and as such, this question can be a bit tricky to answer.

The primary factor in making your pick between a budget Chromebook and a budget Windows laptop is going to be the purpose of your new machine. There are some things that a Chromebook just can’t do, like gaming and full-fledged video editing. In that case, you would be better off with a Windows laptop even though $350 laptops don’t have the best performance with such workloads. As such, the higher your budget, the less sense it makes to pick a Chromebook over a traditional laptop.

If you’re planning on using your new machine for tasks you can generally do in a browser, then a Chromebook will serve you better. Chromebooks offer a much lighter experience than traditional laptops. They can run Linux apps and Android apps, so the app library isn’t bad. The key is to not think of Chromebook as a complete replacement for a full-fat laptop. 

If you’re still not sure whether to go with a budget Windows laptop over these affordable Chrome OS devices, check out our detailed Chromebook vs laptop comparison.

Picking the best Chromebook accessories

Now that you have a feel for the best budget Chromebooks to buy, you might want to get some accessories with the cash you saved on your Chromebook purchase. Here are some of our favorite Chromebook accessories:

Other frequently asked questions

Q: How much does a Chromebook cost?
A: Chromebooks are available in varying price brackets, with many options available under $200 and some going over a thousand dollars. The best budget Chromebooks can be found around the $350 mark. If you want to extend your budget and pick a beefier Chromebook, you can go for the top pick in our best Chromebooks list, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713.

Q: What’s the best Chromebook tablet?
A: We have a list dedicated to the best Chromebook tablets, but our top recommendation is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet.

Q: What is the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop?
A: A Chromebook is a type of laptop that runs Chrome OS, as opposed to traditional laptops that run Windows, or MacBooks, which run macOS.

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