Tech Talk

If you’re looking for an affordable laptop alternative, Chromebooks are a great option to consider. Yet there are several kinds on the market these days, and it can be overwhelming to pick the right for you and your needs. Some are better suited for basic work tasks, for example, while some of the higher-end models can even rival some of the best laptops you can buy. Moreover, just because one Chromebook has more features than the other doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you or the best value for your money.

That’s why we’ve curated this comprehensive list of the best Chromebook deals. Each varies in price and comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, but all of them come recommended for one reason or another. And if you’d like to do even more research before buying a Chromebook, we’ve also compiled a guide to the best options on the market, which you can use to help you determine which ChromeOS machine is right for you.

Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

If you’re on a budget, our top pick for you is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. The portable 2-in-1 device is a great Chromebook you can take on the go, with a detachable keyboard and kickstand cover. This is especially true given the device’s lengthy battery life, which allowed us to use it for nearly 11 and a half hours while making Zoom calls and running through a variety of tabs and apps, including Gmail, Slack, and Facebook. It also uses a version of Chrome optimized for tablet use and supports a gesture-navigation system, so you can easily switch between apps with a few finger swipes.

Given it starts at just $299, however, there are some tradeoffs. This includes the Duet’s small keyboard, its single USB-C port, and lack of a headphone jack. With its MediaTek Helio P60T processor, 4GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of storage, it’s also not necessarily great for more advanced tasks, either. However, it’s fine for browsing and everyday work and right now you can buy it for $249 at Best Buy instead of $299. Read our review.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

If you’re considering a Chromebook, Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 is one of the best Chromebooks on the market right now. It’s the first Chromebook to feature a QLED panel —allowing for vivid colors and high contrast — and it offers better battery life than the convertible’s predecessor, which couldn’t even make it five hours on a charge. Admittedly, we weren’t fans of the Chromebook 2’s plasticky feel or its expensive price tag, but we were happy with the Chromebook overall and liked the red model’s bright, vibrant design.

At the moment, the $799.99 model we tested is on sale at Amazon with an Intel Core i3 1011OU processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage for just shy of $700. Read our review.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5

Yes, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is the most expensive model on our list. However, given it’s such a superb device, that steep asking price shouldn’t be as much of a deterrent. It’s a solid machine that can hold its own against midrange Windows laptops, with a sturdy build, wide port selection, vivid display, and comfortable keyboard. All of this makes for impressive performance and battery life, the latter of which can last all day on a single charge. In our testing, the CX5 even managed to deliver some of the loudest audio we’ve heard from a Chromebook. The only real drawbacks were the Chromebook’s 16:9 aspect ratio and the trackpad, which can be a bit stiff.

If you’re okay with a smaller display and midrange performance, you can pick up the Flip CX5 on Amazon with a stylus in the 14-inch configuration with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and an Intel Core i3-1110G4 processor for $723.18 instead of $769. Read our review.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

We’ll be frank: the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is on the lower end as far as performance goes. However, it could be an option to consider if you’re trying to save as it still comes with a comfortable keyboard attachment and a terrific, 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen. It also excels when it comes to battery life, offering between 10 and 12 hours of use when tackling everyday tasks such as browsing, chatting, and Zoom. The handsome Chromebook doesn’t come with a stylus and lacks biometric authentication, however, and functions far better as a laptop than a tablet given its larger size, at least in our testing.

Flaws aside, the Duet 5 is a decent convertible that’s currently on sale with a Snapdragon SC7180 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage for $379 instead of $499 at Best Buy. Walmart is also selling the model with the same processor but with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $399 instead of $469.99. Read our review.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

HP Chromebook X2 11

We liked HP’s Chromebook X2 11 less than we did the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 mentioned above. We found its performance to be choppy, at least in our testing, and the detachable keyboard felt cramped and awkward when used in our lap. However, we do think it’s a decent buy if you can get it on sale. Unlike the Duet 5, the X2 11 comes with a USI stylus in the box and is smaller, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The dimensions and aspect ratio make the Chromebook X2 11 better than the Lenovo when it comes to hand-held use, with a shape that closely resembles Apple’s iPad. The tablet’s 1440p resolution and built-in fingerprint scanner are also nice bonuses, the latter of which makes it easy to log in.

Again, this isn’t our favorite Chromebook, and it doesn’t offer great value for your money at the detachable’s typical price of $600. However, HP is currently running a promotion that makes it worth a look. Right now, you can buy the X2 11 with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a Snapdragon 7c Gen 1 processor for $419.99 instead of $679.99. Read our review.