The Best Budget Chromebooks for 2022 / 2023

When it comes to laptops, Chromebooks are hard to beat in terms of value and price. Here are the best budget Chromebooks that you can get your hands on.

Buying Guide for Best Budget Chromebooks

Chromebooks are a great budget option for those who need a laptop for light computing tasks. When choosing a Chromebook, you should keep a few things in mind.

First, consider the tasks you’ll use the Chromebook for. If you’re primarily going to be browsing the web and using apps, any Chromebook will do. However, if you plan on doing more demanding tasks like video editing or gaming, you’ll need to get a more powerful Windows laptop or Macbook.

Second, take into account the size and weight of the Chromebook. You’ll want a lighter model if you carry it around often. Conversely, if you don’t mind a heavier laptop, you can get one with a larger screen size. If you want to use your Chromebook for watching videos and other forms of media, you can get one with a convertible two-in-one design.

Third, Chromebooks use many processors, ranging from energy-efficient ARM-based CPUs to powerful x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD. When comparing the best affordable Chromebooks, keep the CPU in mind. You can get longer battery life out of an ARM computer, but for the money, you’ll get a better overall performance-to-battery life ratio from an x86 CPU, especially one made by Intel.

Finally, consider the price. Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. We’ve only listed the best affordable Chromebooks you can buy in 2022 and hopefully early 2023, given the chipset shortage.

The best budget Chromebooks to buy in 2022: A Roundup

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13-inch: The best Chromebook overall

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13-inch 2-in-1 is at the top of our list of the best Chromebooks on budget. At 13.3 inches, the screen is big enough but not too big. It has a Full HD LED touchscreen and Intel UHD graphics. The CPU is made by Intel, a Core i3 processor from the 11th generation. Lenovo’s large chassis has a backlit keyboard that is easy to use, and the touchscreen already has a stylus.

The 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 128GB of PCle SSD storage should be enough for memory and storage. The 2-in-1 design of the Chromebook Flex 5 helps it stand out regarding media and creativity. An all-aluminum shell holds two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, a headphone jack, and microSD support.

Specifications

• Core i3 11th Gen Processor
• Full HD LED Touch Screen
• Backlit Keyboard
• 8GB RAM / 128GB PCIe SSD
• USB C Port x 2 | USB A Port x 1 | Headphone Jack | MicroSD card slot

Acer Chromebook 514: Don’t let the understated design fool you

The Acer Chromebook 514 has several essential features that make it a good choice. It has a frame made of aluminum, a touch screen in Full HD, and a keyboard that lights up. These make it possible for you to work at any time of day or night. The battery lasts much longer than a typical work or school day (12 hours), and the Gorilla Glass trackpad adds a touch of luxury. It’s just a regular clamshell, but it looks like it costs more.

Under the hood is a quad-core Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. It has a dual-band Wi-Fi connection, Bluetooth 4.2, an HD webcam, and two USB-C DisplayPort ports. At 3.09 pounds, the 514 is not heavy.

Specifications

• Intel Celeron Processor
• Gorilla Glass Trackpad
• 12Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 64GB Storage
• USB C Port x 2 | Headphone Jack | DisplayPort

Samsung Chromebook 4+: Best in its class

For years, Samsung has been known for making displays at the cutting edge of technology. The Chromebook 4 Plus brings that brilliance to a more affordable price point. The thin bezels around the 15.6-inch Full HD screen, powered by Intel UHD 600 graphics, pull you into the device. Since the battery can last up to 10.5 hours, you should be able to work from almost anywhere during the day.

The Chromebook 4 Plus comes with a Celeron N4020 processor from Intel, 4GB RAM, and up to 64 GB of internal storage. You can connect older devices with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Even though the Chromebook 4 Plus only has Bluetooth 4.0, it has a headphone jack and a microSD card reader so that you can use headphones and connect to external storage.

Specifications

• Intel Celeron N4020 Processor
• 15.6 inch Full HD Screen
• 10.5 Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 64GB Storage
• USB C Port x 2 | USB A Port x 1 | Headphone Jack | MicroSD card slot

Asus Chromebook C523: Budget Chromebook with the best display

The Chromebook C523 is the best budget alternative to Asus’s Chromebooks. Because the frame is made of thin aluminum, the overall design is simple and clean, making me think of Apple’s MacBook computers. The best thing about this device is its 15.6-inch screen with Full HD resolution. You can also buy a version with an HD-ready resolution for a lower price.

Hardware-wise, you get an Intel Celeron N3350, a typical central processing unit found in cheap Chromebooks. You also get 64GB of storage through eMMC, which isn’t the best, but a microSD connector makes up for it. In addition, it has 4 GB of RAM, two USB-A connectors, and two USB-C ports for connecting to other devices. The package also comes with a 3.5mm audio jack.

Specifications

• Intel Celeron N3350 Processor
• 15.6 inch Full HD Screen
• 7 Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 64GB Storage
• USB C Port x 2 | USB A Port x 2 | Headphone Jack

HP Chromebook 14-inch: An affordable and practical Chromebook

The HP Chromebook 14 is one of the more extensive options on our list of the best affordable Chromebooks. It is made to the highest standards and comes in a sleek ceramic white. In terms of looks, HP’s Chromebook is a big step up from the standard black or silver models you can find in most stores. This is because the HD or Full HD 14-inch screen is what makes up most of the weight. There is a full-sized keyboard for people who need to type for long periods of time without getting tired. This is possible because the chassis has a lot of room. This could be helpful for both authors and students. There are also four levels of brightness for the light on the keyboard.

You can use the Intel Celeron N4000 processor and its 4GB of RAM. There is no way that 32GB of space is enough. There are two USB-C ports, one USB Type-A port, a MicroSD slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. B&O tuned the stereo speakers for the best audio quality.

Specifications

• Intel Celeron N4000 Processor
• 14-inch Full HD Screen
• 10.5 Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 32GB Storage
• USB C Port x 2 | USB A Port x 1 | Headphone Jack | MicroSD card

Acer Chromebook Spin 311: The best cheap Chromebook that is small

This is a shorter version of the other one. The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is one of the devices made by the company that can be used in most ways. It is small (11.6 inches) and comes with a good mousepad. Even though the Spin 311 is made of plastic all the way through, it has a brushed finish that makes it look and feel more expensive.

The only processor that can be bought for the Spin 311 right now is the Intel Celeron N4020, which runs at 1.1GHz and has a burst speed of up to 2.4GHz. It has a 4MB cache and a clock speed of 1.1GHz. At the moment, this is the only choice that can be made. Other parts, like the Intel HD Graphics and the 4 gigabytes of LPDDR4 RAM that run at 2.4 gigahertz, also help the system run well. The Spin 11 can only store up to 32 gigabytes of data, which is standard for Chromebooks and not very unusual. This device has a USB-C port, a USB-A port, a headphone jack, and a DisplayPort.

Specifications

• Intel Celeron N4020 Processor
• 11.6 inch Full HD Screen
• 10.5 Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 32GB Storage
• USB C Port x 1 | USB A Port x 1 | Headphone Jack | DisplayPort

Lenovo 300e Chromebook: An Affordable Entry Chromebook

The whole body of this cheap Chromebook is made of plastic, but the Lenovo 300e Chromebook can change into a portable, easy-to-use, and easy-on-the-eyes tablet. Even though the AMD A-series dual-core processor is a bit of a letdown, it should be able to handle Chrome OS’s low processing needs just fine.

This computer has 4 gigabytes of RAM, which should be enough to make up for any slowdown caused by the processor. Also, 32 gigabytes of flash storage should be more than enough for your local storage needs. In that case, the device has an SD card slot on the same side as the USB 3.0, HDMI, and USB-C ports.

Specifications

• AMD A-series dual-core processor
• 11.6 inch Full HD Screen
• 11 Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 32GB Storage
• USB C Port x 1 | USB A Port x 1 | Headphone Jack | HDMI | SD card slot

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3: The best 2-in-1 Chromebook

The Asus Chromebook Flip has many great features and a low price. You will think you paid more than $1,000 for it because it can be used in two ways simultaneously and has a slim but robust design. This device has a Mediatek 8183 processor, 4 gigabytes of random access memory (RAM), and 32 gigabytes of storage space for your crucial documents.

The Chromebook Flip has a 12-inch 3:2 display, making it look almost like a square. In practice, this gives the device more room on its body for a trackpad, which the software takes full advantage of. Also, the battery on this cheap Chromebook can last up to 16 hours, which is more than enough for some people to stay for a few days.

Specifications

• Mediatek 8183 processor
• 12-inch Full HD Screen
• 16 Hours Battery
• 4GB RAM / 32GB Storage
• USB C Port x 1 | USB A Port x 1 | Headphone Jack | SD card slot