Being a 21st-century student isn’t cheap. Regardless of whether you’re still working through your senior year of high school or suffering an empty wallet in collegiate life, classroom expenses can make it difficult to succeed. One thing most modern students can’t function without is a laptop that allows them to work virtually anywhere. Though typically costly, if you’re in the market for a new laptop, these best Chromebooks for students can deliver the necessary functions and suitable specs at a wallet-friendly price.
There’s an option for all budgets and needs, from Chromebooks with large hard drives to an option with LTE functionality. Pinpoint the model that suits you best; be mindful of overall portability, hard drive sizes, RAM, and price. While your new laptop won’t need a mouse, the best mice for Chromebooks minimize the inevitable frustration caused by using the trackpad.
Source: Lenovo
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Best overall
Source: Acer
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023)
Premium pick
Source: Acer
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
Best value
Source: Best Buy
HP 15a-nb0013dx Chromebook
Great battery life
Source: Acer
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Best for college students
Source: Lenovo
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
Best for middle school students
Source: Asus
Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable (CM3001)
Best of both worlds
Source: Acer
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024)
Ideal for work and games
Top Chromebooks for students
Best overall
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
The right mix for most students
The 14-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a cut above many Chromebooks, with a mid-range processor, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD sure to satisfy every schooling need. While not a high-performance model for gaming, the distraction-free model will keep students focused on what matters.
Pros
Intel Core delivers strong performance
Plenty of ports
2-in-1 offers versatility
Cons
Unimpressive battery life
Construction on the cheaper side
When you’re a student, multitasking is a necessity to thrive. So, with the right tool, like the Lenovo 14-inch IdeaPad Flex, multitasking can be a breeze. There’s no shortage of ways this Chromebook can help with daily needs. Whether the 14-inch convertible laptop is used in tablet mode or its standard keyboard layout, the 13th Gen Intel i3-1315U six-core processor powers a feature suite to help students of any grade level.
The midweight Flex 5i’s 8GB RAM keeps taxing programs running, so whether you’re editing the cover image of your presentation in Photoshop or jotting down pages of notes in Word, the IdeaPad won’t falter. There’s also plenty of space to store a semester’s worth of work on the 128GB SSD, and the flash-based drive offers a rapid boot-up and quick access to all of your files.
The 14-inch model may have a dim screen at only 300 nits, but it features a 1080p HD front-facing privacy camera, two 2W Waves MaxxAudio speakers, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. With one USB-A 3.2, dual USB-C 3.2, and a universal microSD card reader, the Chromebook Plus offers an array of ports, though it lacks a Thunderbolt port. If high-speed input is needed, you can always work with one of our picks for the best Chromebook docks.
Premium pick
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023)
Also great for college students
Acer's refreshed Spin 714 for 2023 brings the durable and versatile build we love, packed with fresh 13th Gen Intel Core CPUs, lots of RAM and storage, and a better 2K webcam. If you'd like one of the best laptops around for students especially at college age this one should be considered.
Pros
14-inch tough display with FHD+ resolution
Durable and versatile convertible build
2K webcam with privacy shutter
13th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU
Cons
Can be very expensive
No built-in stylus
If you're looking to land one of the best convertible Chromebooks for your student, Acer's Spin 714 should be a top choice. Its 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U processor (CPU), 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD will easily handle anything you throw its way, and the battery can go and go. Acer claims 10 hours on a charge, with fast charging capabilities to boot.
In our review, we managed to get a solid 10 hours of battery life, but you can expect that number to drop a bit if you push the Core i5.
The 14-inch touch display has a crisp 1920x1200 (FHD+) resolution, made taller thanks to the 16:10 aspect ratio. This makes it ideal for mature students tackling large projects and more involved tasks requiring heavier multitasking. The Spin 714 can handle inking with a USI pen, but there's no longer one included with the laptop. The charging silo has also been scrapped. Acer bumped the webcam up to a 2K resolution for this generation, making it even better at video conferencing. If you have a student working remotely, this will do a great job.
The Chromebook Spin 714 costs more than many of the other picks in this roundup. However, the performance, display, battery life, and convertible design with military-grade durability certification make it worth the price for students who need a reliable and versatile laptop. Be sure to check out our roundup of the best Acer Chromebooks for more options if this one is out of a reasonable price range.
Best value
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
An affordable powerhouse
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 has multiple configurations starting from under $350. A typical machine sports the Intel Core i3-N305 processor and 8GB of RAM, which is plenty of power for most ChromeOS applications. The standard storage is 128GB, but Acer makes models with up to 512GB inside.
Pros
Built strong
Excellent performance
Good software support
Cons
Unhelpful touchpad
Keyboard flex
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 falls between entry-level Chromebooks and more premium designs. It offers fantastic value and outclasses many more expensive options. The Chromebook Plus 514 boasts the Intel Core i3-N305 processor, an eight-core CPU first launched in early 2023. With a turbo clock speed of 3.8GHz, this is a more powerful platform than ChromeOS normally experiences, making this design suitable for those who want to get the most from their Chromebook.
The standard model comes with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 14-inch IPS screen with a natural 1080p resolution. However, some outlets offer variations with more memory and storage for a few dollars more. The screen is touch-capable, enabling it to be used with Google’s AI image creation tools to highlight areas quickly for modification.
The trackpad and keyboard are less wonderful, with the pad being criticized most for its lack of responsiveness. The keyboard works fine, but the built-to-a-price nature of the Plus 514’s construction tends to offer more keyboard flex than we’re happy with. If you can cope with the trackpad or prefer a mouse anyway, this is an excellent choice for those who want the best Chromebook on a reasonably tight budget.
Great battery life
HP 15.6-inch Chromebook Plus 15a
It just keeps on going
If you aren't a fan of convertible laptops, and you don't care about having a touchscreen, then the HP 15.6 Chromebook Plus 15a should be on your shortlist. This Chromebook will have no issue keeping up with our studies thanks to its traditional laptop design, solid performance, large display, and fantastic battery life.
Pros
Solid overall performance
15.6 -inch FHD touch display
Fantastic battery life
Cons
Not a 2-in-1 design
Only 250 nits of screen brightness
No touchscreen
Going to school may require you to be away from an outlet for an extended period, or maybe you want the peace of mind that comes with having great battery life. The HP 15.6-inch Chromebook Plus 15a gives you fantastic battery life, as well as solid overall performance to help you focus on learning.
This HP Chromebook Plus 15a lets you stay away from the charger with up to 13 hours of battery life. That's an amazing feat considering it comes with a large 15.6 inch, 1920 x 1080 display to get some serious work done. While the display is sharp overall, its 250 nits of peak brightness is going to make it difficult to see it outside under direct sunlight.
Keeping up with your studies is going to require more than just a good display and great battery life. It's also going to need decent performance to get you through all those assignments. You should have no trouble with performance thanks to its Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 128GB of storage. The Core i3-N305 processor features 8 total cores to ensure you have no issues with your productivity needs.
This HP Chromebook doesn't offer a convertible design, instead relying on the tried and true laptop design. It doesn't come with a touchscreen, which may be a deal-breaker for some. It also lacks an external display connection, such as an HDMI port. It does have two USB-C 3.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and a combo jack for your headphones and microphone.
Best for college students
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Built for productivity
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers tremendous value for students of any age. Thanks to its Chromebook Plus features, and the solid overall performance of the Intel Core i3 processor, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a fantastic option for many college students.
Pros
Good overall performance
Solid battery life
Top firing speakers
Cons
No keyboard backlight
Only 250 nits of screen brightness
College students need something a bit more than your standard low-cost Chromebook and Acer had that in mind when they built the Chromebook Plus 515. Students in college, or even in high school demand a combination of power, battery life, and overall usability to ensure they can get through a full day of writing papers and note-taking.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core i3-1215U processor, 8GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 128GB of storage. The i3 processor with its two performance cores, four efficiency cores, and eight total threads will handle all but the most intense workloads with ease. The ample 8GB of RAM will help with all those Chrome tabs open when researching your latest paper.
Research requires ample screen space to have all of your windows open or work with apps side by side. The 15.6, 1920 x 1080 display provides both the screen real estate and the sharpness to tackle all of your research needs. Its 250 nits of screen brightness is more than enough for working indoors, but you may struggle to see the display when outside.
Battery life is not a concern with this Acer Chromebook thanks to its 10 hours of battery life. You also get an HDMI 1.4 port, two USB-C 3.2 ports, a USB-A 3.2 port, and a headphone jack. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is more than enough to get the job done and will happily keep up with your needs.
Best for middle school students
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
Detachable keyboard and touchpad
The Duet 5 Chromebook's keyboard and touchpad can detach from the display, giving you a notebook or tablet experience as desired. The OLED display is gorgeous, you get lots of storage and RAM, and it's powered by a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chip.
Pros
Versatile 2-in-1 build
13.3-inch FHD touch display
Up to 8GB of RAM, 128GB eMMC storage
Cons
On the pricey side
Limited ports
Having a 2-in-1 Chromebook that can fully detach is a great way to set your student up for any situation they might encounter. With the keyboard and touchpad hooked up, the Duet 5 can be used as a normal laptop, while removing it turns the laptop into a true tablet. It has a gorgeous 13.3-inch OLED touch display with crisp 1920x1080 (FHD) resolution, 100% DCI-P3 color, and up to 400 nits of brightness. The only downside is its glossy finish, but the extra nits combat that. A pen isn't included, but you can add a Lenovo Active Pen separately for inking.
The Duet 5 isn't all looks. It's powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor with 8GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. It'll run through productivity work with relative ease and won't mind multitasking. Lenovo claims the battery can go up to 15 hours, and even if that comes down a bit with regular use, you're still getting through a full school day. This helps make it one of the best Lenovo Chromebooks you can buy today.
Four speakers pump out quality audio, and the dual-camera setup is perfect for conferencing or stills; the back camera hits 8MP while the front camera hits 5MP. The laptop's compact size means ports are limited to dual USB-C 3.2, but you can always connect a dock or quality USB-C hub made for Chromebooks.
Best of both worlds
Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable (CM3001)
Sporting a detachable keyboard
The Chromebook CM30 is Asus' new 10.5-inch ChromeOS tablet. It's the 2024 successor to the CM3 detachable, and it's loaded with cool features for on-the-go users. With a built-in kickstand, a convenient keyboard combo, and a stylus pen for effortless scrolling and note-taking, the CM30 is perfect for all your digital needs.
Pros
Small but effective keyboard
Integrated pen included
Cons
Base model needs to be avoided
Not made to take knocks
A typical problem with 2-in-1 systems is that if you only want to use the tablet functionality, you are carrying around keyboard hardware for no purpose. The new Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable elegantly avoids that scenario with a detachable keyboard, enabling it to become a tablet if that’s what you want. That functionality and a siloed USI pen are the best aspects of this design, along with the $300 price tag.
Where that price point starts to bite back somewhat is the quality of construction, which won’t take much abuse. If you are buying a Chromebook for a student, it might be prudent to see how they treat their phone, because the CM30 isn’t a friend of the careless or clumsy.
The other design weakness is that Asus chose to offer a model with only 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. This won’t impact users who primarily surf or use online tools, but it could be an issue for those with local documents. Avoid that and get the one with 8GB and 128GB, as it appears to sell for the same price from some sources.
Overall, the CM30 looks like a bargain, but when more deeply investigated, that price seems a bit too good to be true.
Ideal for work and games
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024)
Powerful and feature-rich
Designed as a suitable system for work and play, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) has a premium price to reflect the elevated specifications at its heart. Sporting a new Raptor Lake Intel Core i5 class processor and all the good things that come with it, this Chromebook is built for the most demanding users.
Pros
Anti-glare screen coating
Steam friendly device
Ethernet and HDMI ports
Cons
Not lightweight
Screen ratio is not 16:9
Chromebooks are often made from the same basic materials as Windows PCs, and the overlap in platform and parts is never starker than in the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE. This is a Windows Core i5 laptop with all the features you’d expect, such as a 2.5GbE Ethernet port, a large 16-inch 2560x 1200 resolution IPS display, and even HDMI out. Instead of pre-installing Windows 11, this machine runs ChromeOS, enabling it to extend the battery life past a full working day.
Acer added special Chromebook features, including a gaming dashboard. This functionality allows you to record and share your most epic battles with friends and foes alike. This processor is from the latest Intel Raptor Lake generation, so it supports the enhanced AI features that Google is rolling out and Nvidia GO gaming.
On the face of it, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is easily worth the asking price, but be aware that at 3.81 pounds, this isn’t the lightest Chromebook to carry around on campus. And a good game session can chew through the battery much faster than typical workloads, so it's best to be at a power outlet for those.
For those who want a Chromebook that can play games, stream movies and edit documents, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a highly plausible option, even if it isn’t perfect.
Boosting your education with the best Chromebook
There are dozens of Chromebooks on the market. How do you know which is best suited for an educational setting? It’s difficult to pinpoint, but any of the models listed above will deliver the performance and functions needed to keep up with yearly studies. And to comfortably keep up with work, grabbing a great mechanical keyboard for writing papers or a sleeve to carry the Chromebook in for protection on the go.
The best overall pick, Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, is a fantastic balance between cost and power. Despite its lower price tag, it offers a midrange processor and plenty of storage and RAM to keep up with your homework.
To save a little more on your Chromebook purchase, consider our best value pick, Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514. Amazingly, the Plus 514 offers one of the best hardware specs at any price, with the Intel eight-core I3-N305 CPU delivering lots of horsepower and even AI acceleration. For those who are willing to pay a little more for a Chromebook than the absolute minimum, this design rewards with plenty of excellent features and performance benefits.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 2023 edition is on the higher end of the pricing spectrum, but it's stacked with components ideal for curriculum requiring more power. Younger students should focus on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5, while the ASUS 14-inch Chromebook Plus will serve distance learning students best. Just don't forget to grab some must-have accessories to unlock your Chromebooks full potential.
Best overall
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Jack-of-all-trades
The 14-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a cut above many Chromebooks, with a mid-range processor, 8GB RAM, and a 128GB SSD sure to satisfy every schooling need. While not a high-performance model for gaming, the distraction-free model will keep students focused on what matters.
