While the Chromebook’s original purpose was to provide a simple, low-cost computing solution to those with more basic tech needs such as young students, the laptop ecosystem has evolved a lot since the category’s 2011 debut. Today, Chromebooks are still staples of elementary and middle school classrooms, but they’re slowly making their way upmarket, with newer models featuring faster processors, more memory and storage space, higher quality screens and an all-around more compelling user experience.
The downside, of course, is that higher end Chromebooks cost more. In some cases, a lot more. While budget Chromebooks sell for as little as $250, high-end units typically cost at least twice that, and in some cases well into the thousands.
What to Look for
The biggest upgrade a high-end Chromebook can offer that a cheaper model can’t is performance. On industry standard benchmarks, you can expect to enjoy roughly triple the performance from most of the Chromebooks in this roundup compared to a budget model. But what does performance actually mean? Web pages load faster and complex applications (think browser-based graphics apps or video games) complete their tasks faster and run more smoothly. Critically, it also means you can have more tabs open simultaneously without slowing everything down.
Chromebooks can also now run more than just run a web browser. Since 2017, all Chromebooks can also download and run Android apps, and most can now run Linux apps as well. That opens the door to more complex applications that lower-end hardware just isn’t able to handle.
To help evaluate Chromebooks, I run three different tests. You can try them all for yourself on any computer, not just a Chromebook, to see how your system stacks up.
- Speedometer 2.0: This is the widely-used industry standard for web application performance. It’s a relatively simple test that gauges how fast basic web functions are completed.
- JetStream 1.1: This test measures JavaScript performance, along with several dozen more complex activities such as image manipulation, encryption, and other mathematical functions.
- Kraken 1.1: This benchmark is similar to JetStream, also focusing on encryption as well as image filtering and audio processing. Performance results for Kraken are measured in milliseconds rather than the typical “higher is better” score — on Kraken, lower scores are better.
Upgrading your Chromebook is about more than performance. All of the higher-end models reviewed in this comparison include 360-degree hinges that let you fold the display back against the base of the laptop and use the system as a tablet. And if you want to create more sophisticated art on your Chromebook, you’ll probably want a unit with pen or stylus support (three of the five laptops in this roundup offer that capability). These screens are generally higher in resolution than cheaper systems, and brighter, too.
Systems at a Glance
Unlike lower-end Chromebooks, higher-end systems tend to come in a wider range of styles and designs. If you want something utilitarian, you’ll find it in a system like the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 or the HP Chromebook x360 14, both of which are all-around strong choices. If you need a slim, sophisticated design, the Google Pixelbook is must be in the running, though it’s a poor performer and quite expensive.
For the average user, my top pick in this category is the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630. It’s the largest and the fastest machine in this roundup – but it stays affordable. The system looks good, too, and with the exception of pen support, it has a full complement of features that should satisfy almost any user, as long as portability isn’t a priority.
Acer Chromebook Spin 13
The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 immediately comes across as different than other laptops on the market, thanks to its highly unusual screen size and resolution. Pair that with its 360-degree hinge that allows the laptop to become a tablet, it’s clearly built with graphic design work in mind.
Design
The Spin 13’s most visible feature is its screen, a 13.5-inch display that features a resolution of 2,256 by 1,504 pixels. (This is the same size screen, though at a lower resolution, that the Microsoft Surface Book 2 features.) The size is a throwback to the laptops of yesteryear, before widescreen (a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio) became popular. The Spin 13’s aspect ratio of 3:2 means it’s much taller than the typical laptop, and when combined with the bezels around the screen, the machine looks like a square rather than the more traditional rectangle. For content creators, that’s not bad news. Illustrations and graphics are rarely served well by a widescreen format, so while this is annoying if you’re streaming Netflix, it works well if you’re putting pen to screen. To that end, you’ll find a passive stylus well-hidden in a sheath built into the chassis, within easy reach at the front of the keyboard. Also remember the Spin 13 is convertible, with a 360-degree hinge that lets you tuck the keyboard away when you don’t need it. Other than that, the largely aluminum chassis gives it a look that is durable and traditional.
Features
Aside from the oversized screen (one of the brightest in this roundup), the 360-degree hinge and the integrated stylus, unique features are few. The keyboard – fairly average in usability – is backlit, though a lot of light leaks around the edges of the keys, marring its appearance. The touchpad is average in both size and quality. At 3.3 pounds and 19 millimeters thick, the heft of the Spin 13 is average, and both metrics feel appropriate given the size of the screen.
Specs
A 1.6 GHz Core i5-8250U CPU powers this notebook, one of the most powerful processors in this roundup. A standard 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB — not much — of flash storage support. Ports include two USB-Cs (either can charge the device), a single full-size USB 3.1 and a micro SD card slot, standard for the category.
Performance
With a high-end CPU, I expected outstanding performance from the Spin 13, and it beat out by all of the competition but one. The Spin 13 scored 7 percent below average on the industry standard Speedometer 2.0 benchmark (which measures the responsiveness of web applications), and 1 percent below average on the JetStream 1.1 test, which looks at more advanced operations, including graphics and audio processing, as well as encryption. On the similar Kraken 1.1 test, the machine was 11 percent above the average — though this is misleading due to one very slow outlier dragging down the overall score on this test.
Battery
With 9 hours and 15 minutes of battery life, the Spin 13 redeemed itself by managing the best overall mark on my full-screen video playback test. That’s 45 minutes longer than the second-place finisher and more than 3 hours longer than the Chromebook with the worst showing. It’s a machine with great longevity when you’re running unplugged.
Conclusion
The model I tested lists for $900, but other models of the Spin 13 are as low as $680, if you’re fine with poorer specs. Other sellers will also likely have lower prices for all models, but even with a good discount, it’s pricey for the storage and performance offered. But if the unusual screen size appeals to you, the Spin 13 may be worth stronger consideration (particularly given its exceptional battery life), though I recommend trying it out in person before you buy.
Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630
With its massive 15.6-inch screen, you might think the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630 was just a traditional laptop, but even at that size it is convertible, making it one of the largest tablets on the market.
Design
The Yoga Chromebook C630 is a beast, featuring a huge 15.6-inch touchscreen. Though it only offers 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution, an extra $250 will upgrade you a screen with 4K resolution, unheard of in the Chromebook universe. The 360-degree hinge allows the notebook’s screen to fold all the way back so that it’s flush against the chassis, turning the laptop into a tablet, perfect for note-taking or illustrating. The C630 doesn’t include a stylus in the box, nor does it offer pen support, a distinct negative. The chassis, built from aluminum and painted dark gray, is solid and sturdy, with minor give and flex.
Features
Sheer size is the centerpiece here. The C630’s keyboard is not backlit, but it is spacious — a numeric keypad wouldn’t have been out of place. The keys themselves lack travel and action, but the trackpack is the perfect side and has good clickability. The screen is dim, and the downward-firing speakers are average for the category — not deafeningly loud, but clear. Finally, while a machine of this size necessarily comes with significant weight – 4.1 pounds, in this case – the C630 is surprisingly thin. At 20 millimeters, it has the same thickness as the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14, which has a much smaller screen.
Specs
The Yoga Chromebook C630 features the same CPU as the Acer Spin 13, a high-end 1.6 GHz Core i5-8250U. And with 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of flash storage, the system has the overall most powerful configuration in this roundup. Ports are par for the category: two USB-Cs (either can charge the device), a single full-size USB 3.0 and a micro SD card slot.
Performance
If you want power, the Yoga Chromebook C630 won’t let you down. This system was the top performer on all three of the Chromebook benchmarks I ran for this roundup. On the industry standard Speedometer 2.0 benchmark (which measures the responsiveness of web applications), the C630 was 12 percent faster than the average of the field, while it was 7 percent and 15 percent faster on the JetStream 1.1 and Kraken 1.1 benchmarks. These tests consider more advanced operations, including graphics and audio processing and encryption. The bottom line is that no matter what you’re looking to do with this Chromebook, you should have no trouble; it just doesn’t get faster than this.
Battery
Large screens suck up a lot of juice, but I still squeezed 8 hours of battery life from the Yoga Chromebook C630 on my full-screen video playback test. That put this system squarely in the middle of the five units I tested for this roundup, and should be fine for most users.
Conclusion
If you’re in the market for a Chromebook with a larger screen, the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630 should be at the top of your list. It has almost everything you could ask for, with the exception of stylus support, and its feature set and performance are unparalleled. Lenovo lists it for $792, but you can easily find it cheaper elsewhere.
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Google Pixelbook
The Google Pixelbook is widely considered the best Chromebook on the market, and at first glance it’s certainly compelling. The incredibly thin and stylish design is almost enough to make you forget the price tag, which starts at a whopping $1,000 and goes up from there.
Design
While many Chromebooks are utilitarian in appearance, the Pixelbook is beautiful. The aluminum chassis features accents built for both the eyes and the body. A transparent panel on the cover adds a fanciful touch of class to the exterior, while silicone wrist rests provide a built-in way to keep your palms from getting roughed up while typing. As with the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, the 12.3-inch touchscreen has a 3:2 aspect ratio – and the 2,400 x 1,600 pixel resolution is the most detailed in this lineup. The machine is also, of course, 360 degrees convertible While this can be clunky in other systems, the thin, lightweight design of the Pixelbook make this orientation feel completely natural.
Features
The Pixelbook is compatible with the Pixelbook Pen (sold separately for $100), an impressive, active stylus that supports pressure sensitivity and tilt detection, giving wannabe artists incredible control over their digital creations. There’s no built-in storage slot (nor even an external loop or magnet) to store the pen though, so you’ll need to take special care not to misplace it. The Pixelbook keyboard is average, while the touchpad is somewhat unusual, a clickable surface that isn’t imbedded in a depression in the usual manner but is built into the palmrest, extending all the way to the base of the laptop. After using it for a few hours, it’s tough to go back to the normal design. Of course, one of the biggest selling points of the Pixelbook is its size. At just 2.4 pounds and 11 millimeters thick, it is by far the lightest and thinnest Chromebook I’ve ever tested. How light and thin are we talking? It’s half the size of the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630. Finally, the screen brightness is fantastic, considerably brighter than any other Chromebook I’ve seen.
Specs
The Pixelbook is currently available in three configurations. We reviewed the entry-level system, which costs $1,000 – but upgrades can take that up to a whopping $1,650. This base configuration includes a relatively slow 1.2 GHz Core i5-7Y57 CPU, a seventh generation model that’s now two years old. On the plus side, the full 8 GB of RAM and a beefy 128 GB of flash storage are respectable. Given the thin profile of the Pixelbook, there’s not a lot of room for expansion ports. All this system provides are two USB-C ports (either can charge the device), so come prepared with a USB-C hub if you have significant peripheral needs.
Performance
The Pixelbook’s outdated CPU drags its performance down considerably. It was the slowest performer in all of my tests, including a Speedometer 2.0 benchmark score (which measures the responsiveness of web applications) that was 16 percent slower than the field. Things were better with the JetStream 1.1 benchmark (12 percent slower than average), but on the Kraken 1.1 benchmark, the system was a whopping 53 percent slower than the average. These benchmarks test more advanced operations, including graphics and audio processing and encryption, so keep these scores in mind if you have higher-end computing needs.
Battery
The Pixelbook has little room for a big battery and it showed, with the system eking out just 6 hours of run time on my full-screen video playback test. That’s the low mark for this roundup, and one of the shortest running times I’ve encountered to date on any Chromebook.
Conclusion
The Google Pixelbook is easily the best-designed Chromebook you’ll find. It’s the lightest and thinnest system, and it features a breathtaking display. On the other hand, it’s also the slowest machine in this roundup and has the worst battery life and the highest price. How much do you value good looks and a featherweight design? If that answer is up to double the cost of competing systems, then consider the Pixelbook. Other users, look elsewhere.
HP Chromebook x360 14
As the name implies, the HP Chromebook x360 14 is both a laptop and tablet. A capable performer but with few unique selling points, it’s an all-around good choice for a good price.
Design
Aside from the screen, which rotates through 360 degrees on a hinge that allows it to fold back against the base of the system, the HP Chromebook x360 has a lot in common with the company’s more traditional laptops. This 14-inch system (an 11-inch version is also available) offers the standard 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution on its touchscreen, and the chassis is clad entirely in matte-finished aluminum, with a lid painted eye-catching white. Otherwise, you’ll find a fairly standard keyboard and touchpad, neither of which gave me any trouble, and dim keyboard backlighting.
Features
The HP Chromebook x360 14 does not include nor support a stylus, but the bigger issue is how dim the display is. Side by side against brighter machines like the Google Pixelbook or the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, the HP’s screen looks like it’s lying in shadow. Redeeming that to some degree is the inclusion of Bang & Olufsen speakers, which are located above the keyboard to fire upward instead of built into the underside of the device, a common and misguided design on other machines. With a weight of 3.5 pounds and a 19-millimeter thickness, the system’s heft is average for its size.
Specs
The 2.2 GHz Core i3-8130U CPU that powers the x360 isn’t very impressive, but the high clock speed does at least compensate for the otherwise lower-performing CPU to some degree. The included 8 GB of RAM is good, but the 64 GB of flash storage not so much — that’s low. For ports, you’ll find two USB-Cs (either can be used for charging), a full-size USB 3.1 and a micro SD card slot. That’s a strong selection and as good as it gets in the Chromebook world.
Performance
I was surprised to see the HP Chromebook x360 pump out benchmark scores that landed it in second place across the board among the five systems in this roundup. The system even handily beat out the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, despite Acer’s inclusion of a Core i5 CPU instead of the weaker Core i3 here. Against the average, the x360 was 8 percent faster on the standard Speedometer 2.0 benchmark (which measures the responsiveness of web applications). It was just 3 percent above the average on the JetStream 1.1 test but a full 14 percent faster on Kraken 1.1, both of which are more advanced benchmarks that consider graphics and audio processing, plus encryption. Those are good scores that should serve any user well.
Battery
I managed to get 7 hours of running time out of the HP x360, which is a bit short of all-day power but probably good enough for most users. Nonetheless, it’s a couple of hours shorter than the top performer in this roundup and the second shortest overall running time in the comparison.
Conclusion
At just $600, the HP Chromebook x360 14 gives you a lot for the money, and it comes in a fairly sophisticated package. But while the performance is outstanding for the price, the dim screen and lackluster battery life drag things down. And if you want a stylus, the x360 is definitely a non-starter. But more casual users looking to save some cash ought to keep it on the consideration list.
Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14
With the exception of its 360-degree screen (and the Chrome operating system), the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 could probably pass for any of the company’s corporate laptops. Slate gray with black accents, its averageness extends not just to its design, but to its performance, too.
Design
The Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 isn’t exactly overloaded with design flourishes. A curvy undercarriage contains a roomy, but not backlit keyboard with a small passive stylus tucked away underneath. The 14-inch screen (the same size as the HP Chromebook x360 14) offers the usual 1,920 by 1,080 pixel resolution, and that screen can fold back to rest against the base of the laptop for tablet mode. The curves around the edges of the screen and base make the all-aluminum laptop awkward to firmly grip when using it in this configuration, but otherwise the system works well, with few hiccups.
Features
The inclusion of a stylus is the big sell here, as the keyboard and touchpad both offer basic plain usability and average performance. Screen brightness and the 20-millimeter thickness are average as well, but the 4.0-pound weight of the system is heavy for a machine of this size, tipping the scales at a half pound heavier than the HP Chromebook x360 14, which has a screen of the same dimensions. That heft is noticeable in regular use, and the machine weighs you down when using it for an extended period of time, particularly in tablet format.
Specs
The Dell Chromebook 14 has the same 2.2 GHz Core i3-8130U CPU as the HP Chromebook x360 14, and while it features 128 GB of flash storage, Dell has dropped only 4 GB of RAM into this system (all other laptops in this roundup have 8 GB of RAM). That’s a big weakness, and the lack of RAM clearly restricts performance. Ports include two USB-Cs (either can charge the device), a single full-size USB 3.1 and a micro SD card slot, a standard array.
Performance
The Core i3 CPU isn’t the fastest on the market, but it’s really the lack of 8 GB of RAM that holds the performance of the Inspiron 14 back. Overall, this system’s performance was as close to average as it gets, with a Speedometer 2.0 benchmark (the industry standard, which measures the responsiveness of web applications) 3 percent above the average of the field. On the JetStream 1.1 test, which looks at more advanced operations like graphics and audio processing, as well as encryption, the Dell scored 2 percent above average, while it mustered a score 13 percent above average on the similar Kraken 1.1 test. Those numbers put the Dell squarely in the middle of the pack, across the board.
Battery
The Inspiron Chromebook 14’s battery lasted for 8 hours and 30 minutes on my full-screen video playback test. That’s a good score, and only 45 minutes shorter than the Acer Chromebook Spin 13, which led this roundup.
Conclusion
While the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 feels awfully average on most fronts, it’s definitely not when it comes to price. Just in the weeks I spent working with the system, its price dropped from $600 to $500 on Dell’s site (let alone other sellers), making it a massive bargain in a category that sees competing systems flirting with the $1,000 mark. I’m not thrilled about the relatively beefy size or the relatively lackluster performance, but if price is at all a concern, it’s a system well worth looking at.
