Best Chromebooks for 2018
Looking for a Chromebook? Lightweight, secure and reasonably priced, Chromebooks are an excellent alternative to normal laptops.
Chromebooks are thin and light and in most cases look far more expensive than they really are. They don’t run Windows or iOS operating systems like normal laptops and instead run the highly optimised Linux based Chrome OS. For those of you not familiar with Chromebooks, check out my post to learn more about Chrome OS.
The Google Play store is also available on Chrome OS, so Chrome and Android apps can also be run. If you’re happy working with cloud based apps and internet surfing then most of your favourite Android apps and games are available.
Chromebooks also double up as superb Linux laptops with a bit of tweaking or you can use crouton to install Linux inside of Chrome OS similar to a virtual machine. For Linux users Chromebooks offer amazing value and great performance.
Here’s my list of top 5 Chromebooks to buy in 2018:
| Size | CPU | RAM | Storage | Weight | Battery | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixelbook | 12.3" | Intel i5 | 8GB | 128GB SSD | 2.40 lbs | 10 hrs | Check Price |
| ASUS Chromebook Flip | 12.5" | Intel Core m3 | 4GB | 64GB eMMC | 2.65 lbs | 10 hrs | Check Price |
| Acer Chromebook 14 | 14" | Intel Celeron Quad-Core N3160 | 4GB | 32GB eMMC | 3.42 lbs | 12 hrs | Check Price |
| Acer R11 Convertible | 11.6" | Intel Celeron Quad-Core N3160 | 4GB | 32GB SSD | 2.76 lbs | 10 hrs | Check Price |
| Acer Chromebook 15 | 15" | Intel Celeron 3205U | 4GB | 32GB SSD | 4.85 lbs | 9 hrs | Check Price |
Google Pixelbook
12.3” | Intel i5 | 8GB RAM | 128GB SSD | 2.4 lbs | 10 hrs
This is Google’s top end Chromebook with a touch screen and a powerful Intel i5 processor. The keyboard and trackpad are premium quality and both Chrome and Android apps are easy to use. Chromebooks are known for how affordable they are but this Chromebook is on the high end and expensive side. Think of this Chromebook like the Ferrari of Chromebooks it might be expensive but if you want the best Chromebook money can buy, this is the one to go for.
It’s light and really stylish as well as being versatile with four modes that you can flip into: laptop, tablet, tent and entertainment modes. Other features include aluminium casing, gorilla glass, a backlit keyboard and USB-C fast charging.
I like this Chromebook and wish I could afford it because it does productivity, portability, entertainment and creativity (with the pen) with beautiful style.
ASUS Chromebook Flip
12.5” | Intel Core m3 | 4GB RAM | 64GB eMMC | 2.65 lbs | 10 hrs
This is another Chromebook where the hinges turn full 360 degrees allowing you to use the Chromebook in different positions along with a touch screen. It’s thin and light and is in between an 11 inch and 14 inch laptop at 12.5 inches.
It’s a best seller on Amazon because of its clear and bright display, comfortable keyboard and trackpad and USB-C charging port.
This is an attractive Chromebook with a beautiful aluminium body that easily looks like it should be double the money that it’s selling for. The backlit keyboard adds value and the fast Intel core m3 processor justifies the slight higher price tag than other Chromebooks on this list.
Acer Chromebook 14
14” | Intel Celeron Quad-Core N3160 | 4GB RAM | 32GB eMMC | 3.42 lbs | 12 hrs
You could be forgiven for mistaking this Chromebook for a MacBook because of its sleek look and aluminium casing. This Chromebook has a very respectable Celeron quad core processor and gets everyday tasks done.
The screen is a full HD IPS display and 14 inches is a good choice for compactness while allowing comfortable viewing for those that prefer larger screens. This Chromebook is perfect for those that want to carry it around with them everywhere because it’s thin and light and lasts for about 12 hours.
Acer R11 Convertible
11.6” | Intel Celeron Quad-Core N3160 | 4GB RAM | 32GB SSD | 2.76 lbs | 10 hrs
The idea of laptops that can flip so that you can use it in different positions is becoming more and more common and this Chromebook can be used as tablet, laptop and bent to stand on the table to watch movies for example.
With an 11.6 inch screen and a slim 0.8 inch chassis, this Chromebook is light and compact. The specs are fairly standard for this price range with a N3160 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space but a touch screen is also included.
At a very affordable price any students and bargain hunters should look to this Chromebook if they need an 11.6” laptop.
Acer Chromebook 15
15” | Intel Celeron 3205U | 4GB RAM | 32GB SSD | 4.85 lbs | 9 hrs
The main selling point for this Chromebook is that it’s 15 inches which is large for a Chromebook. The extra size means it’s heavier than all of the Chromebooks in this post and the battery life comes it at around 9hrs.
Although a small, thin laptop is great for carrying around, some people only use their laptops at home on a desk or on the sofa and prefer a larger screen. This Chromebook is for you with its full HD display and IPS screen.
Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system without the bloat and baggage of Microsoft and Apple systems. Cloud apps and services have become the norm on phones and tablets and the Chromebook easily fills the gap for a laptop to use those apps and services.
Chromebooks are a great alternative to normal bulky laptops at the same price and have quickly become the go to laptop for those looking for affordable laptops that are thin and light. If you can afford it, Google’s Pixelbook is the best Chromebook out there.