Chromebook usage has been growing all over the world nowadays. One of the many reasons why people prefer Chromebooks rather than laptops is based on the price point. Yes, Chromebooks generally perform similarly to laptops. However, the price difference is a significant factor that makes these two devices in contrast. Chromebooks are typically much cheaper than laptops, with prices ranging from under $200 to around $700.
Chromebooks let people on a tight budget to run basic software that normally are found on a laptop, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft 365, or Gmail. Unfortunately, the reason it is significantly less expensive than standard laptops is due to specifications that are typically far more inferior to a laptop. Comparing both devices side by side, you will find the laptop outperforms the Chromebook easily. This is because the Chromebook is not designed to handle demanding tasks like laptops are, meaning you will only be able to do simple things like doing your homework or completing a task for work in Excel sheet.
Chromebooks are typically used by people who have a high demand for office work or assignments, such as office workers and students. This is an excellent device for students, as most of them require it for basic tasks such as Microsoft Word and Power Point. Another reason it is suitable for students is that they generally don’t have a large budget for buying a laptop with decent specifications, so Chromebooks are available to assist them with all of their school or university assignments without having to pay too much.
If you are a student looking for this type of device, you should know what to look for in a Chromebook. Though some people may want something different from the gadget they want to buy, there are some basic factors to consider when selecting a recommended Chromebook, so you don’t regret choosing one that you don’t need.
Here are some things to consider before purchasing this device
Battery Life
One of the most important factors to consider appears to be the battery life. Mobility is important for a student because you will need to go to places to complete your tasks, such as the library, school, campus, or any other place that may need you to bring it. As a result, you will require a reliable device that supports your work and can run for an extended period of time. This is the most important time when decent battery life is really needed. You might not want to charge the Chromebook all the time, especially when you are outside, so having a model with a good battery life is a great option for this particular purpose. You will also need to open various software to complete your tasks or assignments, which consume a lot of battery power, so you need to pay attention on this matter before you decide which one to buy.
As per recommendations from experts, 8 active hours is an ideal battery life for a Chromebook for each full charge. However, it really depends on the level of usage you are going to have. If you are a really busy person who needs to have access to the Chromebook at all times, then you should look for one with the best battery life. 10 active hours should cover all your needs, so always double check the battery capacity before you choose one specific model.
Hardware
Yes, it is understandable that Chromebooks don’t perform as well as laptops in most cases. However, this doesn’t mean that you should accept a Chromebook that runs slowly. Hardware specifications play a significant role in determining whether or not your Chromebook will perform as you expected. The main components of hardware to focus on are the CPU, GPU, and RAM. It is better to have balanced composition than to have a powerful part and the rest of the parts are unable to match the power, resulting in a bottleneck.
In terms of storage, regardless of the size, SSD should always be priority over HDD. This is due to SSD speed being much faster than HDD speed, allowing you to boot up and run applications much faster. The difference between these two is significant, which is why you should always check whether or not the storage is SSD-based. You don’t want to buy a Chromebook that slows down over time, do you?
Touchscreen
Touchscreens are no longer luxury items for gadgets as technology advances by the time. At the moment, touchscreens can be found in almost all phones.
This doesn’t apply to Chromebooks because not all of them have a touchscreen for the display. As a result, it is critical to consider whether or not you require this feature from your screen. To get the best one for you without spending more money, you must first decide whether a touchscreen is important for your daily tasks.
If you only intend to use the Chromebook for schoolwork, the touchscreen feature is unnecessary, and you can avoid it to get a cheaper Chromebook. However, if your purpose includes drawing on it, the feature will be very useful to support your productivity.
Standingdesktopper's pick
Best Budget Options For Kids
To find the best Chromebook options that fit to your budget, we have to consider the factors mentioned above to find out whether they are worth the value to buy.
Since we are going to focus about the Chromebooks for kids and teenagers, you will not have to worry about the specifications because they will probably only use the device for basic tasks like homework and Google searches. So, without further ado, let’s find them all.
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3
ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3
- Size: 12" Touchscreen HD, with the NanoEdge Display
- MediaTek 8183 Processor
- Arm Mali-G72 MP3 GPU, 32GB Storage,
- 4GB RAM, support the Wi-Fi 5
The first model we recommend is Asus Chromebook Flip CM3.
This Asus Chromebook has the majority of the features that a student needs to complete their tasks or homeworks. The display size of the device is unusual, with a 12-inch touchscreen display and 3:2 aspect ratio, it is different compared the other models but still enjoyable when used in portrait mode. This model includes a stylus pen, which allows for more custom and complex input such as drawing or writing on the screen. The minimal delay provided by the stylus pen is extremely beneficial for precision drawing, allowing you to feel like drawing on a piece of paper with a regular pen.
This device is non-detachable but foldable, allowing you to use it as a laptop or tablet by simply bending the hinges 360 degree without having any issue. Despite the fact that it is made of plastic, the frame is comfortable to hold and is ideal for carrying around without a bag. The stylus pen is made of aluminium that feels solid and premium when you hold it for the first time. However, the connectivity appears to be minimalistic. It only has a single USB A and USB C port, a microSD port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This could be a problem if one of the USB ports fails to work properly, as there are no other same USB ports available in this model.
In terms of specification, Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is powered by MediaTek Kompanio 820 CPU and Arm Mali-G72 MP3 GPU. This will do the job if you just need to do basic things one at a time. However, the CPU power will not be enough to open multiple applications or numbers f Google tabs at the same time. For gaming, this Chromebook is not powerful enough to play modern games, but it can still run games that are less demanding on the CPU and GPU such as CS:GO.
Last but not least, it is the battery life that you need to consider about. Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 has a standard battery life, which is not ideal if you want a long-lasting option. With only 7 hours of active usage as per test result, it falls short behind the other models, though the official website claims that the battery will last up to 16 hours. However, if you want to use it while plugged into a charger, this will not be an issue and you can use it as long as you want. Because of the small size, the charger can also be brought anywhere without taking up too much space.
- Official website: https://www.asus.com/us/laptops/for-home/chromebook/asus-chromebook-flip-cm3-cm3200/
HP Chromebook X360
HP Chromebook X360
This X360 14" version has basic specs: The Intel Celeron N4500, only has 4GB RAM and small storage of 128GB
HP has always been a main player in the technology industry. In terms of Chromebooks, HP Chromebook X360 should be on the list for you if you want to use it for school. The battery life on this Chromebook is one of the most impressive features among the others. When compared to other competitors, this has one of the best battery life, with a total duration of 13.5 hours on a single charge. This may give you the secure feeling to use the device anywhere without having to bring the charger.
This HP Chromebook X360 has a convertible screen that can be flipped and folded 360 degrees to change it into a tablet. This could be a useful feature for students to help them access the touchscreen without being bothered by the keyboard. However, the stylus pen is not included in the package, so you need to buy it separately if you want to draw or do anything else with the extra pen. Despite the lack of a stylus pen, the connectivity on this Chromebook is another highlight of this device. There are some USB ports with type-C (super speed) and 3.1 type-A, plus a microSD slot for storage expansion.
This Chromebook provides an excellent value to performance ratio, with a 1080p display. However, the CPU, GPU and RAM could be improved. The Intel Celeron N4500 Processor are enough for the simple tasks, but you should never expect much from this specification. Another downside is the RAM that is very limited in the capacity with just 4GB. One more of the downside is that the screen is not bright enough for use outside, a bit annoying when you can see the glare from your screen every time you use it outside.
In the end, for budget option under $500, the HP Chromebook X360 is one of the decent options available, especially for those who value battery life for extended use. However, make sure you are aware with all the flaws of this Chromebook before you decide to buy it.
- Official website: https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/pdp/hp-chromebook-x360-14a-ca0040nr
- If you need more gaming options, check this: Top 5 HP Gaming Laptops for 2024
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
With the small dimension size and weight of only 1.05 kg, this Chromebook is extremely portable. The 11-inch size is even smaller than an A4 paper, allowing you to take it anywhere without taking up too much room. According to the official website, the battery life is impressive, providing 15 hours of use on a single full charge, giving you a good portability if you need to go somewhere without any option to charge.
The final suggestion for a good Chromebook for kids is Acer Chromebook Spin 311. The model may not be as impressive as the others because the screen is not a touchscreen and the bezels are thick, giving it the appearance of an old device. However, with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor and an Intel UHD Graphics 6000 GPU, the Chromebook is good enough for basic tasks and casual gaming. The operating system makes the difference between Acer Chromebook Spin 311 to the other Chromebooks. Instead of using ChromeOS, this device runs in Windows 10 OS, which is easier for kids to use because it is one of the most commonly used operating systems for laptops. You can also bend the hinges into 360 degrees to make the Chromebook turns into a tablet.
Unfortunately, Acer Chromebook Spin 311 has a massive flaw in terms of storage. Internal storage of 32GB will undoubtedly be insufficient for large files. The good news is that you can still add storage by getting an external microSD card which you can insert into the microSD slot. This will help you in dealing with any future storage problems, though it may still not enough.
Overall, for a super-budget price tag, it is an excellent choice for students who will only use the Chromebook for tasks and internet browsing without the needs of running demanding applications. The portability and battery life of this device are the impressive aspects for being able to bring it anywhere you want. However, because the processor is not as good as the other competitors, Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is only suitable for those with a light workload.
