It is not surprising that Chromebooks are increasing in popularity: there are many options and the price is often attractive. But the choice is also expanding. If you want to buy the best Chromebook, the choice can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. I'd love to help you with my personal favorites, but I'll also explain what a Chromebook is exactly.
What is a Chromebook?
Before I dive deeper into my favorite Chromebook right now, let's first answer the question: What is a Chromebook? A Chromebook is an affordable laptop that runs on Chrome OS, an operating system from Google Chromebook are affordable, secure and have a long lifespan.
Now that you know what a Chromebook is, let's go a little further in depth and discuss the pros and cons of a Chromebook, but also what it can be used for, what you can and cannot do on it, but also how it works together with Android and iPhones, whether there are viruses and much more.
- Relatively cheap (from ~200 euros)
- Start up quickly
- Long battery life
- Little chance for viruses
- Many apps available (also Android apps)
- Lots of choice in terms of model and manufacturer
- You need an internet connection to get the most out of a Chromebook
- May take some getting used to after Windows or Mac OS
- Running heavy apps not really an option (Photoshop/Video editors with heavy rendering)
Before I go on to explain what you can (and can't) do with this device, I want to share the best Chromebook with you. Over the past period I have tested many many and helped many people to buy a Chromebook. As a result, I have gained the necessary experience with which models are (or are not) suitable.
Best Chromebook Buy: My Favorite(s)
So if you want to buy a Chromebook, these choices are definitely right for you. Are you looking for more explanation and why I label these copies the best Chromebook: you can read this later in this article.
Battery up to 12 hours!
14 inch screen (full HD)
Good value for money
14 inches (full HD)
incl. touchscreen
60Hz
Storage and memory
64GB storage
4GB memory
Performance
Intel Celeron N4000 (Dual core)
Operating system
Chrome OS
Measurements and weight
32,5 × 23,2 × 1,97 cm
1,5kg
Battery life up to 12 hours
14 inch screen (full HD)
Bang & Olufsen speakers
14 inches (full HD)
incl. touchscreen
Storage and memory
64GB storage
4GB memory
Performance
Intel Pentium Silver (Quad core)
Operating system
Chrome OS
Measurements and weight
32,57 x 21,85 x 1,78 cm
1,46kg
Very fast Chromebook
13,3 inch screen
One of the best choices at the moment
13,3 inches (full HD)
incl. touchscreen
Can be used as a tablet (foldable 360 degrees)
Storage and memory
64GB storage
8GB memory
Performance
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Compute Platform
Operating system
Chrome OS
Measurements and weight
31 x 20,94 x 1,56 cm
1,2kg
What can and can't a Chromebook do?
Okay, we're almost there. Before I start with the list of the best Chromebooks, I want to briefly explain what you can do, but also what you can't do with a Chromebook. There are essential differences with, for example, Windows and Mac OS, two systems that are both aimed at 'traditional', but also online use.
Below is a short list of things that you can use a Chromebook for.
- Browsing, social media and email – a Chromebook has the ability to use it to browse the internet, of course you can also use social media and there are several mail apps available.
- Watching movies – You can simply go on a Chromebook Netflix, YouTube, Videoland and other services. Viewing local files is also possible on a Chromebook, but you have less storage space. So you have to take this into account
- Stream music – The same applies to streaming music, you have access to apps like Spotify, Deezer and other services. You can also play local files, but there is limited storage space.
- Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc.) – Also possible. You have this choice to use the apps from Microsoft (Microsoft 365 subscription), but there are also alternatives from Google such as Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides and others. The latter can also be used offline.
- Playing games (gaming) – There are many Android games that can be played, but you can also play heavy games through Google Stadia. You can find more info in our dedicated Gaming on a Chromebook article. Here you will also find out immediately if you Fortnite, Minecraft en Roblox can play.
- (Video) calling – Video calling is simply possible on a Chromebook, because there is a microphone and speakers. Also apps like Google Meet, Zoom, Skype, Teams and others are just available.
- Print – on a Chromebook you can also print on a suitable printer. This requires a number of (simple) steps, but you can print without any problems.
- Edit photos and videos (limited) – For editing photos and videos you are limited to a number of (online) tools, such as Snapseed, Canva or other Chromebook apps.
There are also tasks for which a Chromebook is simply less suitable. This has to do with, for example, storage or graphics performance. If the points below are important to you, then it is better not to buy a Chromebook.
- Advanced photo and video editing – If you want to get started with all the functions of Photoshop, Adobe Premiere or another program, the Chromebook is simply not suitable.
- Run graphically demanding games – Playing graphics-intensive games like you can on a Windows PC is not possible with the Chromebook. Playing games via Stadia is (more on this later)
- Work offline – There are possibilities to work offline with, for example, Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets and Sliders, but the possibilities are somewhat limited.
- Windows or Mac apps – You cannot run Windows programs or Mac apps on a Chromebook. You only have this option if the developer has specifically made it available.
So there are many things you can do on a Chromebook, but not all. If you have previously used a Windows computer or switched from Mac OS, you will quickly get used to using a Chromebook.
💡 Read our guide about Chromebook special characters for a quick start with your new device!
Chromebook market share and sales
More and more Chromebooks are appearing in schools, workplaces and kitchen tables, but how many are actually being sold? We have dived into the figures and have listed the sales figures of Chromebook for you.
Chromebook sales per year
| Year | Sold Chromebooks |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 106 miljoen |
| 2020 | 206 miljoen |
| 2021 | 240 miljoen |
| 2022 | 222 miljoen |
Dates through trend force, graphic: Chromefans
Chromebook sales growth numbers are also interesting, with a clear effect of the Pandemic. People who buy a Chromebook here are, for example, students, (home) workers and students.
Chromebook growth every year
| Year | Growth (Year on Year) |
|---|---|
| 2019 | -0,6% |
| 2020 | + 28,7 % |
| 2021 | + 16,4 % |
| 2022 | -7,3% (expected) |
So here we see that the number of sales is expected to decrease further, but a significant number of Chromebooks are still being sold.
The market share in the Netherlands for Chrome OS desktop/laptop has also steadily increased in recent years. This table shows the market share of Chromebook in the Netherlands in recent years.
Chromebook market share (Netherlands)
| Year | Windows | Mac OS | Chrome OS | Other (including Linux) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 72,19 | 20,37 | 2,47 | 4,97 |
| 2020 | 70,12 | 24,42 | 2,75 | 2,71 |
| 2021 | 72,18 | 21,24 | 3,15 | 3,43 |
| 2022 | 72,95 | 20,13 | 3,67 | 3,25 |
Chromebooks for school and study
More and more schools and educational institutions are using Chromebooks themselves. The reason for this is that more and more education is being given online. This does not only apply to the lessons or lectures themselves, but also the teaching materials can usually be found in an online environment. A Chromebook for school is actually a logical choice.
💡 With a Chromebook for school, things like battery life, portability and screen size are essential. If you want to know more about it, check it out Chromebook for schoolarticle where I go into much more detail!
💡 Chromebook for School Advice: Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-1HT-C6XM
The reason many schools switch to a Chromebook for school is because they are cheap and are particularly suitable for working online, even if Microsoft is used, for example.
That is also the reason why more and more students are opting for a Chromebook. It is a reasonable all-rounder in this area. In addition, many educational tools can be used in the browser or via apps, making a Chromebook very suitable.
Buy the best Chromebook: with this choice you are always right
Below I share my recommendations of the moment, including my favorite Chromebook. In addition, a high-end model, a budget model and a model with a smaller screen. If you want to buy a Chromecast, these choices are always right for you!
Of course you are always looking for the best Chromebook and with the selection below you always have a choice that suits your budget, but also your wishes. Before I discuss the products in detail, first a brief overview
De best Chromebooks of 2023 are:
- Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-1HT-C6XM
- HP Chromebook 14a-na0170nd
- Acer Chromebook Spin 513 CP513-1H-S4MH
Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-1HT-C6XM
- 14 inch full HD screen
- Includes touch screen
- 4GB RAM / 64GB storage
- Battery life 12 hours
The Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-1HT-C6XM is of course quite a mouthful, but let's start simple: this Acer Chromebook is just a very good Chromebook. Especially when we look at the price-quality ratio, you get a lot for your money.
The 14-inch screen has a full HD resolution (including touchscreen), making this Chromebook not only suitable for 'daily' things such as browsing and emailing, but also good enough for streaming. For example, think of Netflix or YouTube videos.
Furthermore, at 1,5 kg, it's not exactly heavy, so if you're often on the road, you can easily take this Acer Chromebook with you. Furthermore, everything is actually present that you would expect from one of the best Chromebooks: a webcam, USB and USB-C connections, a battery that lasts 12 hours and stereo speakers.
This Chromebook is also available without a touchscreen and is then one bit cheaper.
This Chromebook is my recommendation at the moment for several reasons: the price-quality ratio is good, but the 15,6-inch screen also works well. In addition, the other specs are more than sufficient for daily use.
If you want to buy a Chromebook and you intend to ask a lot of it (multitasking, dozens of tabs open at the same time and more intensive tasks), then you better opt for a somewhat higher-end model. Nevertheless, this Acer Chromebook is a very good choice!
? View all information about this Acer Chromebook
- Relatively light at 1,5 kg
- 12 hours battery life
- Good value for money
- Anti reflective screen
- Nice size screen
- Includes touch screen
- Housing is made of plastic
HP Chromebook 14a-na0170nd
- 14 inch full HD screen
- No touchscreen
- 4GB RAM / 64GB storage
- Battery life 12 hours
If you're looking for an affordable Chromebook that can perform most tasks flawlessly, then the HP Chromebook 14a-na0170nd is a very good choice.
This HP Chromebook is relatively affordable and still offers the necessary options and is therefore suitable for streaming content, for example, but you can of course also do schoolwork with it. Expect it to be slightly slower than more expensive models.
Nevertheless, this 14-inch Chromebook has a full HD screen and offers a battery life of 12 hours. This makes it also suitable for use on the go.
The 14a-na0170nd does not have a touchscreen, but you can of course operate it via the trackpad or a Chromebook mouse.
If you want to buy a Chromebook and not spend too much, then this is definitely a suitable choice that will last you for years to come!
→ View all information about this HP Chromebook
- Relatively light at 1,46 kg
- 12 hours battery life
- Good value for money
- Affordable
- No touchscreen
- Generally a bit slower
Acer Chromebook Spin 513 CP513-1H-S4MH
- 14 inch full HD screen
- Includes touch screen
- 8GB RAM / 64GB storage
- Battery life 10 hours
- Fast performance
With this Acer Chromebook you don't have to worry about performance: it is a lot faster than the average Chromebook and therefore extremely suitable for multitasking.
The 13,3-inch screen can be operated via touch and, as the name suggests, you can also open it 360 degrees. This means that you can use it not only as a laptop, but also as a tablet.
This way you have multiple control options, but also more applications. For example, you can also easily give presentations on it.
With the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 CP513-1H-S4MH, you're buying a particularly good Chromebook that you'll enjoy for years to come.
→ View all information about this Acer Chromebook
- Good performances
- Battery life of 14 hours!
- Good value for money
- Bright 13,3 inch screen
- Includes touch screen
- More expensive than average Chromebook
Chrome OS: the operating system, but what can you do with it?
Chrome OS has been mentioned a few times, the operating system for Chromebooks, is made by Google. This can be confused with the Chrome browser, which is now used by millions of people worldwide.
The operating system of a computer (for example Windows, MacOS and therefore Chrome OS) is actually the basis: without an operating system you have an empty piece of hardware.
Chrome OS: the basics
Chrome OS is the operating system of Chromebooks and focuses on security and speed. Google releases updates quickly and the system doesn't need powerful hardware to perform too well. If you want to know more about Chrome OS, check the link below!
Chrome OS was designed with the idea that everyone is connected to the internet these days. It is therefore mainly aimed at using your laptop (or Chromebook in this case) online.
Don't worry, even without an internet connection you can do the necessary things on a Chromebook. For example, offline versions of Gmail (email program) and Google Docs (Word), Google Sheets (Excel) and other programs are available.
Yet Chrome OS is mainly focused on online, with many things being done either in the (Chrome) browser, or via the apps and extensions that can be installed. More about installing apps and the combination with Android (and iPhone) later in the article.
Not quite sure whether you want to use Chrome OS and do you still have an old laptop or PC? You can do that easily these days Install Chrome OS Flex. This makes it easy to actually use Chrome OS before purchasing!
So we now know that Chrome OS is the operating system of a Chromebook, but of course there is much more to say about this, which we will do in a separate article. We will continue to see what the advantages, but also certainly the disadvantages, of a Chromebook are.
Working in the cloud: Google Drive
If you use a Chromebook, you ideally work a lot in the cloud. You store your files in the cloud (Google Drive or Dropbox for example) and you are online all day long.
The big advantage of this online storage is that you have the data available anytime, anywhere. As a result, you are not location-bound, which is very pleasant. Suppose you are abroad, without a laptop and urgently need files, then you can log in to any PC with an internet connection and view, edit or manage your files. Always do this in a safe, sensible way, of course.
Working in the cloud may take some getting used to at first, but after a while you don't really want anything else. It ensures that you are ultimately much more efficient.
Free additional cloud storage for Chromebooks
? With Chromebooks you get 100GB of free storage in Google Drive: very handy of course!
? This way, you can activate 100GB of free Google One storage on a Chromebook
There are of course also a number of disadvantages of working in the cloud. For example, you don't have a local backup of your files, so if you don't remember your password and there are no recovery options, you do have a problem.
A Chromebook is specially designed to work in the cloud as much as possible and I would therefore advise doing this as much as possible.
How safe is a Chromebook (and are there viruses)?
In a world full of hacks, ransomware and other nasties, I thought it would be good to also devote a bit to how secure a Chromebook really is. Here's actually "good" news.
Maybe you once owned a Windows PC and remember all those updates. That you have to wait another 10 minutes before you can actually shut down your PC or laptop. This is arranged differently with the Chromebook.
- Chrome OS – The operating system and apps are all controlled or approved by Google. Chrome OS is therefore automatically updated. This applies to both new features, but also to security patches that may be rolled out.
- Sandboxes – For example, apps, but also Internet pages are stored in so-called sandboxes rotated. As a result, every website (including every tab) is placed in a separate container, so if something malicious happens to someone, they can only access this small piece in the container. Other apps (and even tabs) cannot be reached.
- verified boat – If anyone knows the sandbox an additional measure has been built in. This one is called verified boat. The Chromebook checks for each boat (startup) whether there are any irregularities, problems or damage. In this way, problems can be solved quickly. In fact, if any issues are found during this verified boat then these are often automatically resolved by Google.
- Data encryption – Finally, I would like data encryption name, where local files such as downloads, cookies and cache of the browser are stored encrypted. This means that this data is encrypted and can only be unlocked by the user himself and not remotely.
Google has therefore taken the necessary measures in Chrome OS to make a Chromebook secure, but common sense is of course always a good guideline. If something is too to be true, it usually is. Especially online.
💡 Virus scanners are not necessary on a Chromebook: the system is set up in such a way that a lot is captured by Chrome OS. There are a few things you can do for a secure Chromebook.
Free extras for (new) Chromebook users
Of course, Google, together with the manufacturers, is trying to persuade as many people as possible to buy a Chromebook. For example, there are always certain useful and, above all, free extras that are made available to (new) Chromebook users.
Standard is as an extra 100 GB free cloud storage in Google Drive to obtain. So you get 100GB of online storage space within Google's cloud service for a year.
To activate this and any other promotions that apply when buying a Chromebook, follow the step-by-step plan below.
- Start up your Chromebook and log in with your Google account (or create one)
- Go to this one special site from Google
- Select the benefits you want to use here
It can be that simple! Now you have at least 100GB of extra storage space for the first year on your Chromebook.
Good to know: Chromebook and Office (Word, Excel, etc.)
Everyone knows Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These apps are part of Microsoft and fall under the Office package. The question is of course: can you use Word, Excel and Powerpoint on a Chromebook?
The answer is: yes, but….
There is one Office 365 for Chromebook necessary to do this properly. This makes it possible to run apps such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint on a Chromebook (online). The costs for personal use are 69 euros per year.
If you do not want to spend this, it is of course also possible to opt for alternatives, for example using Google Docs, Google Sheets or other services.
If you are looking for ways to print your Office documents or other files, that can also be done easily. You can find more about this in our extensive Printer for Chromebook article.
Frequently Asked Questions about Chromebooks
How much does a Chromebook cost
There are Chromebooks in several price ranges, so giving a concrete price is difficult. The cheapest Chromebooks start under 200 euros and this rises to around 600-700 euros.
Can I use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) on a Chromebook
There are of course many other options on a Chromebook such as Google Docs, Sheets and Slides, but if you also want to use Word, Excel and Powerpoint on a Chromebook, you can.
What is a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is a – sort of – laptop with Google's operating system. There are countless possibilities of what you can do (and not do) with it. We explain this in detail in this article.
Chromebook: Finally…
If you want to buy a Chromebook, that is in most cases a good decision. These laptops are ideal for working on, doing school work, but also streaming Netflix or conducting video calls with Zoom or Skype simply works fine.
If you are looking for a device with powerful performance, then a Chromebook is not really suitable. Then you better choose Windows or Mac OS.
The Chromebook continues to gain market share and hundreds of millions of units are sold worldwide. Its popularity is also increasing in the Netherlands. Hopefully this article helped you! If you have any questions or comments, leave them in the comments or check the official ones support from Google. You can continue Chromefans find a lot of information about Chromebooks, who knows, that might already answer your question!
Dear Ruud, considering a purchase;
Which do I need for a navigation program such as Waterkaart.nl.
If I just download a Chrome OS on my Laptop, will I still be in control of the Windows set-up?
So if I understand correctly, you have a Windows laptop on which you want to install ChromeOS?
Then only one operating system is running on your laptop/PC, so no Windows is running next to it. Or have I misunderstood your question?
Can you watch Ziggo-Go on a chromebook?
Yes, you can do it via the app, but also via the browser!
Hello Ruud, I read your article about the chromecast how to install and use it without WiFi.
Followed every step as described, asked various people for help and even bought a new chromecast…
All those people I ask for help say that installing and using without WiFi is not possible at all..
What about now? Is that article you wrote true? I'm actually starting to doubt that.. Do you know someone who can help me with that?
I'm looking for a download for the Chrome OS operating system.
Dear Ruud,
I am trying to make a Chrome OS usb stick according to your manual.
Everything goes well until Etcher checks the saved image.
Then the program is aborted with an error message.
I used this file : CARMOS-20220109210135.img.
Something has been written to the 8 Gb USB stick, because I can no longer format it
I'm using an Acer laptopSwift 3 , fairly new
Can you help me further please?
Mvg Cees
I had the same problem and found the simple solution
Look at the video there are 4 options
I use the first CMD option and it works perfectly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbilvIapJyE
Hi, does a chromebook have a usb port? Thanks!
Yes, a Chromebook (almost always) has a USB port. Handy for a mouse or other peripherals, for example!
Spotnet is not available for Android and therefore not for Chromebook. However, there are great alternative newreaders and Usenet downloaders available that work on Chromebook such as NZB360 or Holmez.com
Hallo,
I'm hesitating between a tablet or chromebook. I only want to use it for Facebook, Gmail, Netflix, my Rabobank, You tube. I would also like to know (very important to me) whether you can download Spotnet on a chromebook to put books on my ereader from these. know that you can't do that on a tablet!
Good question! All the things you mention first are possible anyway! However, I have no experience with Spotnet myself, but I don't think there is a Chrome or Android app for this. So I doubt a Chromebook is available for this.
Maybe Storytel is an option :-)