Best Chromebook 2023: Our 8 expertly-tested ChromeOS laptop picks

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) is everything a Chromebook should be – simple, portable and fast. It’s not the cheapest ChromeOS device around but, if you splash the cash, you won’t be disappointed.

This isn’t the most refined and eye-catching laptop but its focus is getting the job done. For productivity, the Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) destroys whatever you’ll throw at it, with the 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U and 8GB RAM combination proving more than you need, frankly. You can go wild with many Chrome tabs with this machine and do plenty of multi-tasking too.

You may only get a Full HD panel but it offers generous colour and the 14-inch display is surrounded by supremely thin bezels. Getting your words onto this screen is joyous too, with a keyboard that offers a surprising amount of tactility and good travel.

The complete package is a great showcase for the simplicity that a Chromebook can offer, from the thin-and-light design to no-nonsense performance.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) review

Would you turn your nose up at the idea of a near-$1000 Chromebook? Well, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023) may not be for you but, if you have considered a high-end ChromeOS device then this excellent machine could sway you.

We must note that this laptop isn’t available in the UK just yet, but it is widely available in the US. If you are able to get your hands on it however then you’ll find one of the most interesting laptops of recent years. It’s a rare high-end Chromebook that feels like it earns its price, in the same way the Google Pixelbook Go did several years ago.

Despite sporting a 12th Gen Intel chip, rather than the latest 13th Gen, performance is impressive as it fulfills all the key productivity requirements a ChromeOS device could ask for. The productivity sell is rounded out with a joyous keyboard that has some pleasing RGB lighting playfully bundled in.

The 14-inch panel gets wonderfully bright and the QHD+ resolution offers more than enough detail. With a 16:10 ratio, it’s another win for productivity too with plenty of space for multiple windows and apps. The superb screen is matched by surprisingly good speakers for such a slim machine, with some delightful detail to boot.

You’ll be perfectly fine slinging this laptop around in your work bag too as it offers robust build quality and even looks the part, with a stylish matte off-white colour offered.

Reviewer: Chris Smith
Full review: HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (2023) review

Even though it may feel like it, not every laptop out there costs the earth. If you’re looking for a Chromebook that won’t break your bank account then you will want to take a look at the 4.5-star HP Chromebook x2 11, which has a very reasonable $599/£499.99 starting price. 

The Chromebook x2 11 is a two-in-one device, so it can be used as both a tablet and a laptop. Unlike most traditional two-in-one devices, the Chromebook x2 11 is a tablet that comes with two detachable accessories – a keyboard and a back cover – allowing it to be used as a proper tablet. The keyboard offers solid travel and a decent level of tactility while the trackpad has more than enough real estate for the price.  

The 11-inch display comes with a Quad HD (1440p) resolution and a quoted brightness of 400 nits; our reviewer found that the display offered excellent detail with generally vibrant images and solid colours. The integrated Bang & Olufsen speakers pumped out plenty of volume, although we did note that they can sound a little thin on occasion. 

HP opted to kit out the Chromebook x2 11 with a Snapdragon 7c chipset. It provided enough power for day-to-day tasks and didn’t falter with multiple Chrome tabs open. It also managed to stay cool and quiet during our review period, making it a reliable option for anyone who conducts their work in either word processors web browser-based applications. If you’re in need of a Chromebook that is capable of more intensive workloads, then you will want to take a gander at the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) or Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook.

Overall, anyone who’s on the lookout for an affordable ChromeOS device should look no further than the HP Chromebook x2 11. Its versatile design combined with its dependable performance make it an easy choice for students and hybrid workers alike, and it’s one of the few budget Chromebooks out there that isn’t let down by its 2-in-1 design. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: HP Chromebook x2 11

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a fantastic option for those craving a 2-in-1 device, giving you the dual functionality of a laptop and a tablet in one convenient package.

Its Media-Tek Helio P60T processor features eight cores, which we found to make it nippy during testing when we were using it for general web browsing. The battery life of around 13 hours is also stellar, and puts it up against more expensive laptops, even beating off the likes of the Dell XPS 13 OLED.

We also found that the 2-in-1 design means it’s extremely portable and great for those on the move, weighing just 450g. The keyboard cover it comes with is also detachable, enabling you to use the Chromebook Duet as a tablet.

We found its 10-inch touchscreen to offer up some really good colours, which worked great for everyday usage, whether we were indulging in some cloud gaming or enjoying episodes of BoJack Horseman. In darker scenes, the Chromebook Duet did struggle a little during testing. But overall, its display performed reasonably well. There are plenty of other Chromebook laptops that flaunt a 2-in-1 design, but the Lenovo Chromebook Duet remains our favourite due to the bargain price and extremely lightweight design.

Reviewer: Ryan Jones
Full review: Lenovo Chromebook Duet review

The idea of a gaming Chromebook may puzzle some, and the closure of Stadia certainly hasn’t helped Google’s push into gaming-focused ChromeOS machines, but the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is undoubtedly a strong option in its own right.

What a gaming Chromebook gets you is boosted specs across the board and a better keyboard than your average laptop, as such, these devices become worth anyone’s consideration. The Chromebook 516 GE dons a quality 120Hz QHD+ panel, ideal for productivity, video-watching and game streaming services which support the higher resolution. You won’t find an OLED here but there is plenty of detail on this display along with some eye-catching colour and delightfully smooth navigation.

Its gaming slant means you get a much-improved keyboard compared to key Chromebook rivals, dodging the mushiness some offer. There is strong travel and a satisfying tactile feel, with some backlighting to boot too.

For performance, the Chromebook 516 GE is powered by an Intel Core i5-1240P chip and 8GB RAM, which is more than enough to tackle your run-of-the-mill ChromeOS tasks. Plenty of tabs and a bunch of multitasking is the order of the day here. It’s a speedy performer.

Those specs are, of course, more than enough to run Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. If you have a strong Wi-Fi connection and suitable broadband speeds, you’ll have a jolly old time taking your games for a spin on the great display and keyboard that this machine offers. Of course, native PC gaming isn’t an option here though.

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full review: Acer Chromebook 516 GE review

The Google Pixelbook Go is a brilliantly designed laptop with a minimalistic, matte black frame. Tipping the scales at just over a kilogram in weight also means we found it to be a great option for those wanting something wonderfully portable.

The mid-tier model, complete with an eighth-gen Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB, offers a speedy performance for ChromeOS, but it’s really the software that restricts the Pixelbook Go. Google’s own premium Chromebook occupies an odd position where it’s a premium laptop on the outside with a less powerful OS on the inside, and splashing out on a high-class laptop for simple tasks seems like a backwards purchase.

A 4K model is available if you’re willing to spend four figures on a Chromebook, but our sample’s 1080p panel is perfectly functional with crisp colours and touch input. It’s serviceable for day-to-day usage, but if having a top display on a Chromebook is a top priority, then the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook with its 4K OLED panel may be a better bet.

We found the Pixelbook Go’s battery life to be stellar too, with it offering a good amount of endurance. During testing, we found it lasted for nearly 12 hours before conking out in our battery loop test, and lasted for a working day comfortably with around 20% juice to spare.

The Google Pixelbook Go hits the sweet spot between performance and price, making it a great alternative to more expensive laptops for those who only need a machine for web browsing, video streaming and word processing.

Reviewer: Max Parker
Full review: Google Pixelbook Go review

Best performance Chromebook

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is a brilliant high-powered Chromebook for those who want more oomph to power their ChromeOS experiences.

We found its Intel Core i5-10210U processor to deliver a good performance for tasks that a Chromebook is traditionally designed for: web browsing, video streaming and basic office tasks. The 8GB of RAM also provides good headroom for multitasking, with no real faltering with a load of browser tabs open simultaneously.

The 13.3-inch Full HD panel on the Flex 5 is also a major plus point. It’s also a touchscreen, which we found make this a very versatile laptop. In actual fact, it’s a better display than some Windows laptops that occupy the same £500 or so price point, including one of our favourite budget laptops, the Surface Laptop Go from Microsoft.

The Flex 5 also features a good battery life too. We measured it to last nearly 13 hours before conking out in our video loop test, which puts it firmly ahead of similarly-priced Windows laptops, and allowed it to smash Lenovo’s own quoted 10 hours of battery life.

Overall, this is a great Chromebook with good performance to back it up. Just watch out for the thin-sounding speakers and plastic trackpad, which we weren’t big fans of. But if you’re after power in a Chromebook at a more affordable price, the Flex 5 is an excellent option.

Reviewer: Andrew Williams
Full review: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook review

The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is a solid Chromebook with a gorgeous, durable design and an environmentally-friendly chassis. 

The Vero 514 has a speckled grey chassis composed of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics that makes it stand out from the crowd. The trackpad includes recycled ocean-bound plastic, while PCR plastic can be found in 30% of the chassis/screen bezel and 50% of the keycaps and speakers. Of course, the packaging is eco-friendly too, consisting of recycled paper, cardboard and other natural fibres. 

The 14-inch IPS touchscreen delivers solid detail and brightness with decent colours that pop when watching content. 

The keyboard is compact with a 65% layout and offers good tactility and travel. The legends are also clearly visible in all lights, while the backlighting makes it possible to work after dark. The trackpad meanwhile is a good size, leaving plenty of space for functions, though the Gorilla Glass can feel a bit too smooth at times. 

Performance-wise, the Vero 514 offers excellent power for a Chromebook with a good quantity of RAM and storage. This allows the laptop to feel especially nippy for the light computing tasks that ChromeOS is designed to handle. 

The Chromebook’s Geekbench 5 scores even outperformed one of our favourite similarly-priced Windows laptops, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2. 

Finally, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 has an all-day battery life that managed to last 11 hours and 28 minutes in our testing. This was with the keyboard backlighting switched off and the brightness halved. 

If you’re after a powerful Chromebook with an eco-friendly build, the Vero 514 offers snappy performance for day-to-day tasks. 

Reviewer: Reece Bithrey
Full Review: Acer Chromebook Vero 514