The best Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and Chrome OS tablets you can buy now (Spring 2019)

Chromebooks came long from the original CR-48, and for many, a complete workflow is now possible in the confines of Chrome OS with the addition of support for Android and Linux applications. But there are many choices, and some are better than others. For your convenience, we have put together a small list of some of our favorite choices, categorized according to your main consideration.

This list is obviously not exhaustive. There are many Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, and many new hardware is still on the horizon, but these are our recommendations for the best devices running Chrome OS, in a range of price and utility categories.

Best to get: Google Pixelbook

We have a year and a half, but the Google Pixelbook, which is a first part, is still a very good Chromebook. On paper, devices such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 far exceed the specs, but the overall experience is more than that, and the Pixelbook is again global king – in our opinion, anyway. We also see frequent discounts, so the exorbitant price is not a deterrent.

I would not recommend the 16GB / 512GB i7 model, which is more expensive, because most of the benefits of increasing RAM, storage and processing power are a bit lost under Chrome OS, but the base model i5 8GB / 128GB can be used longer. reasonable price.

Alternatives

However, if you absolutely need a little more CPU power and you're ready to accept from other angles, a higher power device like the Acer Spin 13 Chromebook or the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 , could satisfy you.

Mid-range: Samsung Chromebook Plus V2

The update of the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 comes with some compromises over the original, which is to give up the crazy V1 2400×1600 screen implied for a pedestrian 1080p panel and reduce essentially metallic construction quality to get more plastic. But it's a pretty powerful midrange device with all the features you'd expect from a modern Chromebook.

Of course, you do not get the build quality of the Pixelbook, but you get a similar transforming form factor, built-in stylus, and support for Linux / Android applications, all for much less. You can read our article on the LTE equipped version for more details, as it is usually the same (although we do not recommend it, given the higher price).

Alternatives

It lacks a true midrange section for Chromebooks. Although some older models, such as the Acer Chromebook R 13 and Acer Asus C302, can sell in this price range, they are harder to recommend nowadays, given their age. . . Yet, they are technically available.

Budget choice: Lenovo C330

I've spent a little time using the C330 and, for the starting price of $ 280, it's a good deal. You get a MediaTek SoC of 1.7 GHz (I know, but at least that's not a Celeron N-Series, is not it?), A 768p IPS display of 11.6 ", 4 GB of RAM, eMMC storage of 32 to 64 GB, 2×2 MIMO AC Wi-Fi, and a battery of 45 W. The keyboard is shallow and, in the configuration of the tablet, it does not have magnets needed to stand closed, but the build quality is surprisingly good.

It's a bit heavy at 0.77 inches thick and quite heavy for a 12-inch laptop at 2.64 pounds, but the price of $ 280 to $ 300 mitigates all those concerns. Without having the habit, it is difficult to find a better offer than the Lenovo C330.

Alternatives

If you need something a little bigger, also think of ASUS Chromebook C423. It's slow, and the screen is pretty poor, but it's hard to complain for $ 270.

Drummer: CTL NL7TW-360

Sometimes the price of something does not matter. If you know that you are the clumsy guy who is subject to abuse on a laptop, sustainability is first and foremost a priority – and beyond that, a good price is convenient when he ends up succumbing to your terrors. . If this is your case, you may want to consider a brand that you may not have heard of: CTL.

We took a look at CTL NL7TW-360 in poetic name. Although it does not win any awards in terms of performance, it is a durable and inexpensive Chromebook, which nonetheless manages to incorporate many modern features, such as USB Type-C ports , 1 design, stylus stand and even a built-in retractable handle. The Apollo Lake Intel N Series processors might break your business (and your workflow), but it has a spill-resistant keyboard, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC memory, and durable design. all for only $ 329.

Of course, it is technically made for education, but we are all children of heart, right?

Tablet / Slate: Pixel Slate

I feel the need to start with a warning: there is no objectively good tablets running Chrome OS. That said, the list is small and there is technically a "better" tablet.

I know. We are sorry.

Objectively speaking, Google's Pixel Slate presents the best specs for all Chrome OS tablets, with options covering the latest m3 up to an i7 (all 8th generation Y series CPUs, 5- 7W), and one of the best screens. you can get, crammed into an attractive and securely built tablet. It even has a good battery life and a unique fingerprint scanner.

However, in addition to this list of features is a stack of problems, including a dubious general experience, difficult ergonomics, the dubious benefit of touch design first on an operating system previously driven by the mouse and keyboard , and a very high price. Although it's ultimately up to you, Pixel Slate has many disadvantages and compromises to simply introduce a new form factor.

Yes, it's the "best", but please, do not buy one.

Alternatives

The HP Chromebook x2 offers a tablet-like design, but with a rigid hinge on a detachable keyboard, rather than a crutch. Its 12.3 "2400×1600 screen is rather nice and the performance of the 7th generation of Intel m3 is sufficient, although the 4GB of RAM it is associated with certainly are not.

Although the keyboard offers excellent tactile feedback and many displacements, it is not the most durable. I would not recommend taking the camera through the front corners because the deck is too flexible. For $ 600 it's a d & # 39; agreement alternative to the Pixel Slate, although I personally believe that its shortcomings always exceed the price.

If you want to use cheaper, Acer's Chromebook Tab 10, targeting education, has even less success with a SoC ARM, but its price is also less than about $ 330.

Box / Office: CTL Chromebox CBx1

Chrome OS is not only good for laptops, it's actually a nice environment for light-weight desktops (and a good way to provide your elderly parents with a computer that's easy to use). they can not break). The performance is by far the best they have: even a low-end Kaby Lake Celeron processor can fly. More than in almost every other product category, you do not need to spend a lot of money to buy a lot of things on a Chromebox. That's why the CTL Chromebox CBx1 is our most sought after.

It includes an Intel Celeron 3865U pedestrian processor, a 4GB RAM base (with 8 and 16GB options), a 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi connection, and a useful port stack, all for a modest starting price of $ 219. There is no screen, no battery, and no portability, but if you just need a simple box for a browser, as well as the convenience of Android and Linux applications , the CBx1 will be obliged.

Honorable Mention

Some older Chromebooks are still good options, but they do not compare to the latest models. The ASUS C302 and ASUS C101 still perform well, although the latter has recently experienced an unexpected and brutal increase in price, which has pushed it off the list. Either choosing the right price could be a good deal, however.

Many other Chromebooks and Chromeboxes, like the Acer CXI3 and the Acer Chromebook 514, were also well received, even though they did not manage to stand out from the competition.

Keep an eye open

The long-awaited successor to the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 is about to land, and it may prove to be the first choice. We anticipate a future revision of C434, and if this happens, we will be sure to let you know.