(Credit: PCMag / Amazon, Best Buy)
If you've been laptop shopping recently, you've probably noticed some pretty staggering portable prices. If you need a new laptop but don't want to sell a kidney, consider a Chromebook. These machines run Google's lightweight and well-supported ChromeOS, which is resistant to malware, killer at cloud applications, and enables epic battery life thanks to its low power requirements.
Asus Chromebook C203XA MediaTek 32GB eMMC 11.6" Laptop
New HP Chromebook Intel Celeron N4000 14-Inch Laptop With 32GB eMMC
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 Intel Celeron 32GB 11.6" Laptop
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Intel i3 128GB SSD Laptop
HP Chromebook Plus x360 14 inch Laptop, FHD Touchscreen, Intel Core i3-N305, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB UFS, Intel UHD Graphics, Chrome OS, 14b-cd0010nr (2024)
While Chromebooks have traditionally been ultra-budget setups, many manufacturers are pushing the envelope with more advanced models. No matter what kind of loadout you pick, though, you're not going to spend more than a few hundred bucks on even the most powerful Chromebook. Here are the best deals on well-reviewed models from ASUS, HP, Samsung and more that we found in September.
ASUS C203XA Spill-Resistant Chromebook
$249.99 Save $60.99
Laptops are built tough, but the unexpected can happen when you venture out of the security of your home or office. If you're looking for an inexpensive way to take your projects on the road that can take a beating, the Asus C203XA is a top pick. Made with military-grade durability, a spill-resistant keyboard, and an anti-scratch touchscreen, it's perfect for your less careful people. The internals are capable for the price, with a MediaTek quad-core processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. See how it stacks up on our rundown of the best cheap laptops.
HP Chromebook 14"
$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.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
$289.99 Save $67.99
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.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
$699.99 Save $246.77
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."
HP Chromebook Plus x360
$599.99 Save $200.00
HP makes a wide variety of Chromebooks to suit different needs, and one that hits the boundary between budget and more capable is the Plus x360. Featuring a full-swing hinge that lets you use it as a tablet, tent display or traditional laptop, it's a capable device with solid performance courtesy of an Intel Core i3-N305 processor paired with a generous 8 GB of RAM, more than you typically see in a Chromebook. In our review, we said that it was "a tempting choice for a 2-in-1 laptop on the cheap," lauding its port selection and power. This configuration ships with 128GB of eMMC internal storage.
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
- HP Chromebook Plus x360 Intel i3 128GB SSD 14" Touch Laptop for $519.99 (List Price $789.99)
- Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Intel i3 128GB 13.3" Touch Laptop for $699.00
- HP Chromebook 15 Celeron N45000 64GB eMMC 15,6" Laptop for $229.99 (List Price $329.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
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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