If that five-year-old laptop computer that retains freezing throughout class is killing your back-to-school temper, it is time for an improve. College students have many choices for laptops which are nice for finding out, however light-weight and speedy Chromebooks are among the greatest. They sometimes value far lower than Windows PCs or Apple MacBooks, and are streamlined with ChromeOS, a light-weight working system.
ChromeOS makes it simple to navigate to in style apps like Google Docs, Google Drive, and Gmail so you possibly can keep on job and in contact with lecturers and classmates. They’re additionally excellent for submitting work on-line.
What’s the greatest Chromebook for college kids proper now?
ZDNET workers have in depth hands-on expertise with PC {hardware}, together with our top laptop choices and a wide range of Chromebooks. Whereas deciding on the most effective Chromebooks for college kids, I took under consideration this expertise in addition to buyer suggestions and pricing.
My favourite Chromebook for college kids is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE. This mid-range Chromebook has sufficient energy and sources for examine, plus a stable show appropriate for leisure functions. Count on to pay $600 with a promotional coupon accessible on the time of writing.
Additionally: The best laptops under $1,000
Learn the way every mannequin from manufacturers like Lenovo and HP stack as much as decide which Chromebook is greatest on your college and examine wants.
The most effective Chromebooks for college kids in 2025
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My high choose for a Chromebook appropriate for a scholar is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE.
Why we prefer it: Latest Chromebook Plus fashions are outfitted with extra strong processors, sleeker builds, and big leaps ahead in battery life. The 516 GE is not any exception. Acer’s newest top-tier Chromebook Plus is provided with all of the instruments wanted for finding out and resource-intensive purposes.
Overview: Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE
I reviewed Acer’s 516 GE Chromebook Plus, and praised its 120Hz show, noting that cloud gaming felt surprisingly clean — one thing that gamer college students will love throughout downtime. With minimal native storage, you do not have to fret about putting in enormous sport information on the laptop computer. Faculty-related duties keep entrance and middle.
Who it is for: Chromebook customers who need further energy. Many Chromebooks include 4GB of RAM, for instance, whereas the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE affords 8GB. The machine additionally sports activities fairly sturdy graphics.
It isn’t simply gaming that this laptop computer excels at. The slick show works properly for any sort of media, and its nice battery life implies that this machine will probably be nice for lengthy days on campus.
Who ought to look elsewhere: If $600 is greater than you are prepared to pay for a Chromebook, take a look at certainly one of my extra inexpensive choices as an alternative.
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE specs: Show measurement: 16 inches | Refresh charge: 120Hz | Decision: 2560 x 1600 | Touchscreen: No | RAM: 8GB | GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics | CPU: Intel Core 5 Collection 1 | Storage: 256GB SSD | Battery life: 10+ hours
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In case you’re transferring round an enormous campus, then an ultraportable, light-weight Chromebook might serve you greatest just like the Lenovo Flex 3i.
Why we prefer it: The laptop computer weighs about 2.75 kilos, has a large 12.2-inch show that helps touchscreen enter. It may also be folded right into a tented show or pill. Lenovo can also be outfitted the brand new Flex 3i with an Intel Processor N100. When paired with the 4GB of RAM, this must be greater than able to powering most scholar duties.
Overview: Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook
ZDNET examined the Lenovo Flex 3i and located it environment friendly sufficient to stream hours of content material, write and edit paperwork, in addition to have a number of tabs open directly.
The cherry on high is the shortage of noise sometimes present in fan-powered laptops. That makes this a distraction-free Chromebook, particularly when you’re churning out last-second papers within the library.
Who it is for: A lot of the Chromebooks on this shopping for checklist make the lower so far as portability is worried, however the Lenovo Flex 3i arguably provides you probably the most performance for its measurement.
It is also moderately priced at $358.
Who ought to look elsewhere: In case you want extra energy than the Intel processor and relatively low RAM can present, take a look at my different high picks.
Lenovo Flex 3i specs: Show measurement: 12.2 inches | Refresh charge: 60Hz | Decision: 1920 x 1200 | Touchscreen: Sure | RAM: 4GB | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | CPU: Intel Processor N100 | Storage: 64GB eMMC | Battery life: 12 hours
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One in every of my favourite hybrid choices is the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus as a result of it may be utilized in a wide range of positions.
Why we prefer it: Lenovo’s versatile Chromebook Plus has all of the hallmarks of a stable scholar laptop computer, with options that creatives may even admire.
First, you may have the 14-inch touchscreen show that may be flipped a full 180 levels, turning the Chromebook right into a pill or different kinds. Pictures look nice on the display screen as it could possibly output a decision of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels.
Google Assistant is inbuilt, and you’ll simply use this machine for video streaming and conferences.
Overview: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Who it is for: For college students who desire a Chromebook able to additionally performing as a pill, this works properly as a light-weight, cost-effective laptop computer with a decent set of {hardware} that is versatile sufficient for use in a wide range of purposes.
Who ought to look elsewhere: This Chromebook sometimes prices $500, and so the value level — though honest for my part, contemplating its versatility — may be a deciding issue for some to analysis various Chromebooks.
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus specs: Show measurement: 14 inches | Refresh charge: 60Hz | Decision: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) | Touchscreen: Sure | RAM: 8GB | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | CPU: Intel thirteenth Technology Core i3 | Storage: 256GB SSD | Battery life: 10 hours
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The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook stands aside as a mannequin that is constructed in another way than the vast majority of Google-powered laptops I’ve encountered, and I imply that in a great way.
Why we prefer it: As a substitute of specializing in compromises, HP affords among the best, premium-tier Chromebooks accessible in the marketplace. It additionally exhibits with the Elite Dragonfly Professional’s skilled and versatile design, B&O audio system, enterprise-grade safety, and stable show.
The Chromebook’s B&O audio system are notable in the identical means as its full-sized keyboard, vary of ports, and fingerprint sensor.
Who it is for: Any scholar prepared to spend extra on a premium Chromebook that can final them for years to return. The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook prices $1,379. This is not the most cost effective laptop computer on this checklist, nevertheless it nonetheless undercuts many alternate options like Apple’s MacBooks with fashion.
Who ought to look elsewhere: The value level is considerably eye-watering. In case you want one thing extra inexpensive, there are many different suggestions you possibly can take a look at.
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook specs: Show measurement: 13.5 inches | Refresh charge: 60Hz | Decision: 2256 x 1504 | Touchscreen: Sure | RAM: 8GB | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | CPU: Intel Core i3 (as much as 4.4 GHz) | Storage: 256GB SSD | Battery life: Reported 6 – 8 hours
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In search of an inexpensive Chromebook? The Acer Chromebook 311 must be in your radar.
Why we prefer it: As a laptop computer that can work within the interim or one that can final a highschool scholar, the $129 Acer Chromebook 311 is a supremely inexpensive alternative.
It isn’t probably the most highly effective Chromebook accessible by an extended margin. To maintain prices down, this Chromebook would not have fancy options like a touchscreen or a backlit keyboard. It does present customers with an 11.6-inch show, 64GB of eMMC storage, and as much as eight hours of battery life in case you are not operating resource-intensive apps.
Who it is for: College students who want an entry-level, inexpensive Chromebook for primary instructional duties and each day on-line browsing.
In case you allow some parental controls, this Chromebook may additionally go well with youthful learners.
Who ought to look elsewhere: College students who want extra energy or a bigger display screen. This mannequin won’t be able to deal with many artistic apps or something that requires a excessive stage of computing energy, and so you may have to spend somewhat extra if that is why you want a Chromebook.
Acer Chromebook 311 Chromebook specs: Show measurement: 11.6 inches | Refresh charge: 60Hz | Decision: 1366 x 768 | Touchscreen: No | RAM: 4GB | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | CPU: Intel Celeron N4500 | Storage: 64GB eMMC | Battery life: As much as 8 hours
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What are the tariffs within the U.S.?
The current U.S. tariffs on imports from international locations like China, Vietnam, and India intention to spice up home manufacturing however are more likely to drive up costs on shopper electronics. Merchandise like smartphones, laptops, and TVs might develop into dearer as corporations rethink international provide chains and weigh the price of shifting manufacturing.
CNET: Tariff Pricing Tracker: We’re Watching 11 Products You Might Need to Buy
Laptops and PCs are additionally hit exhausting by the brand new U.S. tariffs, with import duties doubtlessly rising costs by as much as 35%. Many main manufacturers nonetheless depend on Chinese language and Vietnamese factories for meeting, that means customers may quickly pay considerably extra for the whole lot from finances Chromebooks to high-end gaming rigs.
These tariffs might speed up efforts to maneuver manufacturing to areas like Mexico or India, however buyers can anticipate increased prices and fewer reductions within the quick time period.
Proper now, it appears to be like like some tech could also be exempt from the issued tariffs, however because it’s all the time altering and creating, we’re maintaining a tally of it and can replace you on the newest.
Additionally: Tariff exemptions for electronics offer a break for tech – but not for long
|
Chromebook |
Beginning Value |
Storage |
Show |
Digicam |
Battery life |
|
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE |
$600 |
256GB |
16-inch |
1080p |
10 hours |
|
Lenovo Flex 3i |
$358 |
64GB |
12.2-inch touchscreen |
720p |
12 hours |
|
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus |
$380 |
256GB |
14-inch touchscreen |
1080p |
10 hours |
|
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook |
$1,379 |
256GB |
13.5-inch touchscreen |
5MP |
6 – 8 hours |
|
Acer Chromebook 311 |
$129 |
64GB |
11.6-inch |
720p |
8 hours |
|
Select this Chromebook… |
If you would like.. |
|
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE |
A Chromebook that is excellent for classwork and resource-intensive purposes, making it my high choose general. It is filled with {hardware} and a large show that works properly with the same old tasks of college whereas additionally catering to leisure. |
|
Lenovo Flex 3i |
A Chromebook that delivers probably the most options for the cash. It additionally helps contact inputs, and the 2-in-1 type issue helps you to streamline your workflow by eliminating the necessity for a separate pill. |
|
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus |
A Chromebook with a versatile type issue that comes with a stable set of {hardware} designed for creatives. It’s highly effective sufficient to deal with some extra resource-intensive apps. |
|
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook |
The most effective premium choice for college kids. The HP Elite Dragonfly capitalizes on the ChromeOS platform by pairing the clear software program with premium {hardware}, together with a robust processor and a crystal-clear touchscreen. |
|
Acer Chromebook 311 |
A budget-friendly Chromebook. Accessible for under $129, this feature will make sure that college students can examine on-line and not using a downside, though it will not be appropriate for greater than primary duties. |
ZDNET completely researches and stays updated with the Chromebook market. We slender down our searches for the most effective Chromebooks for college kids by analyzing buyer suggestions, technical specs, and worth adjustments.
Together with choosing based mostly on hands-on, knowledgeable testing, ZDNET additionally chosen these Chromebooks for college kids based mostly on CrXRPT 2.0 benchmarks. This check tells you how briskly a Chromebook handles belongings you do each day, together with enjoying video video games, watching films, and modifying photographs and offers an general rating. The upper the rating, the higher.
This benchmark consists of six state of affairs checks: picture results, face detection, offline notes, inventory portfolio dashboard, DNA sequence evaluation, 3D shapes with WebGL and three extra video, music, and sport participant checks.
- Picture Results: Applies three results — Sharpen, Emboss, and Glow — to 2 photographs every, a set of six photographs complete.
- Face Detection: Checks for human faces in a set of 5 photographs in low decision.
- Offline Notes: Measures the time to encrypt, retailer, and show notes from native storage.
- Inventory Portfolio Dashboard: Calculates and shows totally different graphical views of a inventory portfolio.
- DNA Sequence Evaluation: Measures the time it takes to course of eight DNA sequences for open studying frames and amino acids.
- 3D Shapes with WebGL: Generates equation-based 3D shapes and shows them with WebGL.
- Video Participant: Performs a two-minute 1080p H.264 video clip in a browser from the native system.
- Music Participant: Performs an audio clip for 3 minutes.
- HTML5-based sport: Runs an affect.js-based sport for about two minutes.
All checks have been run utilizing ChromeOS 89. Wi-Fi was on, however Bluetooth was disabled throughout the benchmarking. The screens have been set to 80% brightness.
We use a mixture of strategies to check laptops right here at ZDNET. First, we purchase information from benchmarking software program to research a system’s metrics beneath the hood and evaluate these to marketed numbers. Then, we spend a couple of week or two with the laptop computer utilizing it the identical means a standard shopper would. This lets us analyze its portability, type issue, and the way properly the battery truly holds up, amongst others. For an in depth breakdown, take a look at our complete laptop testing methodology.
- Benchmarking: First, we run a sequence of checks to place the pc’s {hardware} by the wringer with a view to see what it is able to. Cinebench is likely one of the most commonly-used {hardware} testing suites, which checks the laptop computer’s rendering efficiency on single and a number of CPU cores. PCMark 10 is one other highly effective program that covers all kinds of duties carried out within the office, and there are a lot of others that we use in tandem to collect as a lot information as we are able to. Some elements we run checks on embody:
- Processor: The “mind” of the laptop computer, and one of the vital essential elements that determines efficiency. The 4 greatest producers that make many of the CPUs present in laptops in the present day are Intel, AMD, Qualcomm, and Apple — in their very own machines solely. That is examined in benchmarking software program.
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The show: The scale of the show is measured diagonally from nook to nook. That is additionally what dictates the laptop computer’s general measurement and play a giant function within the laptop computer’s value. Brightness is measured in “nits”, and coloration spectrums are examined in benchmarking software program.
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The graphics processor (GPU): Whether or not it is built-in into the CPU or a devoted graphics card, how properly the machine handles graphics is a key issue on the subject of demanding visible duties like video modifying, rendering, and naturally, gaming. We check the GPU with a mixture of benchmarking software program, gaming, and media playback.
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Bodily type issue: Lastly, the laptop computer’s general look and bodily type issue encompasses its weight, thickness, how the keyboard and trackpad really feel, and whether or not or not it has a show that may be folded again to type a pill. We stock the laptop computer round for no less than every week and notice how properly it commutes.
- Battery testing: We check a unit’s battery in just a few methods. A handful of benchmarking packages have their very own battery testing elements, however we additionally will simply let the laptop computer run for so long as it could possibly beneath a medium load. We guarantee screensavers and hibernation mode are turned off, set the show’s brightness and audio at 50%, load up a livestream on YouTube in Chrome, and wait ’til the top.
- The human component: As we talked about earlier, metrics and system information is essential, however numbers alone do not provide the full image. That is the place we weave in our private expertise with the machine and faucet into the sensible use instances that customers truly care about.
Finally, our purpose is to interrupt down the capabilities of every laptop computer we check into digestible phrases that actual folks can discover helpful. There’s a number of noise and confusion on the subject of navigating the laptop computer and laptop shopper market, so we hope to deliver an intuitive component to the entire course of by leveraging our workforce’s many years of expertise.
Chromebooks are good for nearly any job, however they’re nice for college kids. If a scholar can use an internet browser, they’ll use a Chromebook. They’re simple to navigate and wouldn’t have the complexity or the identical studying curves as a Home windows, Mac, or Linux-based machine might have.
For lecturers and faculty directors, Google additionally offers G Suite for Education and Google Classroom to assist them make distant studying as simple as potential.
A Chromebook could be a nice laptop computer alternative for college kids of all ages. They’re extra primary than their Home windows counterparts, which implies even very younger youngsters will be capable to use them. Additionally they have much less highly effective processors and graphics capabilities, decreasing the temptation to play video games all night time relatively than end up homework.
A Chromebook’s battery life is its greatest promoting level, with many fashions sporting no less than 10 hours of use on a full cost. This implies your children will not need to preserve observe of charging cables with a view to use their Chromebook all through the college day.
Chromebooks are glorious for informal, each day use and duties corresponding to utilizing e-mail, browsing the net, and finishing homework assignments. Nevertheless, they have an inclination to lack the processing energy and storage of many Home windows and Mac laptops, and they aren’t appropriate for duties that require a number of computing energy.
In case you want a PC able to dealing with artistic purposes, video modifying, or gaming, a Chromebook in all probability is not the fitting alternative.
It’s potential, and there might even be just a few benefits. Chromebooks typically have nice battery life, so that they’re excellent for taking notes in lectures or finishing assignments.
Nevertheless, if a school course requires the set up of particular software program apps sometimes accessible on Home windows or Mac, it may not be suitable with ChromeOS. As well as, the machine may not have the ability to deal with them anyway.
Are there various Chromebooks for college kids value contemplating?
There are many choices on the market when you’re on the lookout for a Chromebook geared in direction of college students of all ages. This is a brief checklist of alternate Chromebooks:
- In ZDNET’s Might replace, we made information format adjustments and up to date our high picks with the newest information and pricing. We additionally changed a number of discontinued choices.
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