Chromebooks have been quite a competition to both Apple and Windows devices. Schools have been Chromebooks' biggest market. Such success is attributed to a balance of power, performance and price. They are not as expensive as Apple and Windows laptops.
Chromebooks run on Chrome OS. They are mostly intended to be used online. There has been a number of Chromebooks since its debut in 2011. But we are going to pick the best Chromebooks of 2016. Here are their specs, features and price.
Asus Chromebook Flip
The Asus Chromebook Flip is one of the best Chromebooks. It has the bragging right of being the world's first 10-inch convertible Chromebook. Design-wise, it definitely stands out. You can always choose to use it either as a tablet or laptop.
Students would prefer to use the keyboard because they think the touchscreen won't offer such productivity. According to Tech Radar, however, it has decent touchscreen functionality.
As a laptop and tablet hybrid, the screen can rotate. The Chromebook Flip is both portable and convenient to use. It's not the cheapest Chromebook but its performance is worth the price. The Chromebook Flip is powered by a Rockchip 1.8 GHz processor, which some believe is not as good as an Intel processor. It has a 10.1-inch LCD screen with 1280 x 800 resolution.
The small screen may be an issue. However, it certainly makes up for it with a long battery life. It can last up to about 9 hours of use, according to Android Authority.
The Chromebook Flip has 2 GB of RAM but can be configured up to 4 GB. It will cost from $249 to $279. In addition, it can hold up to 16 GB storage.
Acer Chromebook 15
The Acer Chrome has a bigger screen than the other Chromebooks. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD. However, it is a bit heavier and less portable.
It is powered by Intel Celeron and can be upgraded to Core i5. That's actually more than the usual models. Thus, you should expect an efficient performance for a Chromebook. It should actually cost more than its current price, which is around $220.
It has 2 GB to 4 GB of RAM but the storage can be configured up to 32GB SSD. According to Make Use Of, it offers improved audio quality. It also has more room for the keyboard and trackpad. People who type a lot will love it.
Toshiba Chromebook 2
The Toshiba Chromebook 2 offers a smooth performance at a reasonable price. It's neither too small (11.6-inches) nor too big (15.6 inches). It has the perfect screen at 13.3 inches. It's powered with a 5th generation Intel Celeron processor. In addition, it can be upgraded to Core i3 processor. That being said, it is one of the fastest Chromebooks.
Its biggest attraction is the Full HD 1,920 x 1,080p IPS display. Like the other Chromebooks, it has 4 GB of RAM. However, its 16 GB of storage is lower than that of Acer Chromebook 15. Though its backlit keyboard is a plus. In Toshiba Chromebook 2, you get more than its $300 price.
Google Chromebook Pixel
The Google Chromebook Pixel looks too big to not notice among other Chromebooks. If you don't mind spending, the Chromebook Pixel is for you. It is a monster for a Chromebook. But its power and performance make for its weight and lack of portability.
It's powered by Intel Core i5 processor that can be upgraded to an i7 processor. It has 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM. That's about two times more than the other Chromebooks. They don't measure up to the Pixel's power. It has 32 GB to 64 GB of storage.
It has a high resolution at 2560 x 1700. The battery life is also long at 12 hours of use. The Chromebook Pixel also lets you open countless tabs and multi-task.
The Chromebook Pixel is the most expensive. It will cost you about $1,000. You might want to consider spending it on Windows-based devices instead.
Acer Chromebook R11
The Acer Chromebook R11 is also convertible but has a bigger screen than the Chromebook Flip at 1,366 x 768 display. It only has an HD touch display. Its trackpad can be problematic. Though its biggest assets are its long battery life and flexible 360-degree hinge.
If you like a simple design, the Chromebook R11 is for you. It's powered with the usual Intel Celeron processor and 2 GB to 4 GB of RAM. It also has up to 32 GB of storage. It costs around $260. The Acer Chromebook R11 is a good alternative for Asus Chromebook Flip.
Final Verdict
Chromebooks are not known for its power. They are inexpensive but are useful alternatives for Windows and Apple devices. However, it really depends on the user. Chromebooks can provide portability and decent performance. You still have to consider that other than its cheap price.
