Searching for one of the best laptops under $500 can feel like a monumental task. Even the best budget models lack the flashier features of pricier machines, and it’s hard to know if you’re buying something that will last. But affordable laptops that nail the essentials — and even throw in a bonus feature or two — do exist.

Setting realistic expectations is crucial in this price range. If your needs are basic—web browsing, writing papers, streaming, or using productivity apps—there are solid sub-$500 laptops that can handle the job. These machines are great for students, kids, or anyone looking for a reliable secondary device without breaking the bank. While you’ll find Windows options here, the best Chromebooks often offer better value.

Naturally, some tradeoffs come with the lower cost. Don’t expect top-tier specs, high-end graphics, or premium materials. You should expect slower processors, limited storage, and decent displays. Still, the best budget models make smart compromises, and every laptop on our list has one standout feature: long battery life. If you know what you need, a budget laptop can absolutely be worth it.

This page is regularly updated with our latest reviews to reflect Laptop Mag’s top picks for 2025.

Update log

5/5/2025: Added FAQs, testing charts, and Acer Chromebook Spin 312. Updated "how to choose" section.

The Quick List

Best overall

If you're looking for a modern laptop that won't break the bank, we cannot recommend the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus enough. That's a mouthful, so I suggest it is a lot of work. But here it is, in all of its Intel Core i3 glory. Slap on 8GB of RAM and a 1080p display, and you have quite a decent laptop for just under $500.

While you might expect poor performance from a Chromebook, the IdeaPad Flex 5 averaged a Geekbench 6 multi-core score of 5,384, just above the 5,259 Chromebook average. It's also far above the performance of the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook's average of 1,727 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 (Intel)'s average of 3,841.

To make that performance even more valuable, this is a Chromebook. That means you won't run into intensive tasks as often as you would with a Windows laptop. On top of that amazing AI-backed performance, it also offers close to 10 hours of battery life. That'll take you into overtime (paid, or else call me).

One of my favorite features about the IdeaPad Flex 5i is its design. You won’t get stuck with a clunky laptop that looks like it came straight out of battling Windows 95. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this was a premium laptop by the looks of it. It comes in at 12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches and 3.6 pounds. It’s not the lightest or the thinnest, but it makes up for it by being a sturdy shoulder to lean on.

Yeah, its 14-inch, 1080p display isn't colorful, but its 16:10 aspect ratio gives you more vertical space to work with.

See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review.

Best under $300

The Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook has been at the top of this list for years, and that's only recently changed because we want to make room for more up-to-date products. However, that doesn't change the fact that it is an absolute champion.

Regarding our synthetic benchmark tests, the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook has some of the most underwhelming performance on this list. The Duet 5 Chromebook's Geekbench 5 multi-core average of 1,727 is well below the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (Intel)'s 3,841 average. It is above the Acer Chromebook 317's 1,137, though both laptops fall below the Chromebook average of 2,253.

This baby is packed with a 13.3-inch, 1920 x 1080 OLED display. It reproduced 85.2 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and averaged 361 nits of brightness. Those numbers we’d see in premium laptops — and some of those more expensive items don’t get as bright or colorful. And an OLED panel is an impressive addition. You’d find those in gaming laptops, MacBook competitors, and big TVs.

Speaking of dissing premium laptops, this detachable will also get you 13 hours and 31 minutes of battery life. That’s almost enough battery life to land on our laptops with the best battery life page. That alone is an excellent package for under $300. But there's more! This is a detachable 2-in-1, meaning it can go from a tablet to a full laptop. And unlike some pricier detachables, this machine includes the keyboard and cover (I wish that weren't boast-worthy, but it is).

The only downsides to this machine are its relatively weak performance and lack of a stylus. But for the price, it's pretty damn good.

See our full Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook review.

Best Windows laptop

It's a challenge to find a Windows laptop for under $500 that won't be DOA when it gets to your doorstep. That's where the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (Intel) comes in. Another chunky name for another star on this list. It's got everything you need to make a laptop work at this price — strong performance, over 14 hours of battery life, and a comfortable keyboard. The battery life alone is enough to sell me on this machine, as we've seen plenty of budget and premium laptops die before they could get across the 8-hour mark.

The IdeaPad Flex 5 performed well in our lab, but it failed to blow us away. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (Intel) averaged a score of 3,841 on Geekbench 5's multicore benchmark. This is above the Chromebook average of 2,253 and is also well ahead of the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook (1,727) and Acer Chromebook 713 (1,137). However, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus does have far snappier performance.

How was the keyboard so comfortable? Each stroke was met with a tactile click at the end, encouraging our fingers to tap dance across the deck at top speed. It was a little more shallow than we would’ve liked, but the typing experience was pleasant overall.

When we first reviewed the IdeaPad Flex 5 it hovered around $500-$650 depending on the configuration, but you can now find it for under $500 or even $400 for the base model, making it an even better value and easily the best Windows laptop under $500.

However, it might be more difficult to find the Intel version, but if you see the AMD Ryzen 3 model, it’ll likely offer the same benefits just with slightly different performance and battery life. Since we didn’t test it, we can’t say for sure.

See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 review.

Best for students

The best under $500 laptop for students is a Chromebook I wish every student at my school had access to: the Acer Chromebook Spin 312. It'd be a major upgrade from the pre-pandemic Dell's that fill the laptop charging cart in my classroom.

Its silver-coated chassis makes it look more expensive that it actually is. It's not the thinnest laptop we've ever reviewed, but it is one of the lightest at just under 3 pounds. (I wouldn't want to carry anything heavier between classes all day!) The battery can last up to 10 hours and 33 minutes fully charged, too.

A couple small, unique features make this laptop standout; Acer's OceanGlass touchpad is the smoothest I’ve ever felt on a budget laptop — even compared to some expensive Windows laptops. The Corning Gorilla Glass coating on the Spin 312's 12.2-inch display makes colors appear more vivid than what the IPS panel can actually produce.

According to Laptop Mag's tests, it covers only 55% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. But the colors don't look desaturated, and the contrasts are more dramatic, compared to how they would look on an IPS panel with the same color coverage and no coating.

The keyboard isn't the worst I’ve ever tried, even if it does have a strange clicky-squishy feel that makes the thinness of the plastic keycaps really noticeable. But the Spin 312 is a 2-in-1 laptop, so if taking notes by hand is more your style you won't need to worry about that — not until its time to type that essay on George Orwell's 1984, at least.

See our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

Benchmark comparisons

Recently reviewed

Not every laptop can make the best laptops under $500 page; we review new laptops every week and over 100 laptops yearly. But here's a look at our most recently reviewed laptops that didn't make this page either due to a fault, price, battery life, display brightness, or something else.

How to choose one of the best laptops under $500

To make your shopping process a little easier, we put together some tried-and-true guidelines to help you choose the best laptop for under $500.

Budget: What you get for the money

You can find decent Windows laptops and great Chromebooks for under $500. But pay close attention to the specs — everything from internal hardware to keyboard quality. We thoroughly the good and bad of cheap laptops in our reviews, so you'll know what laptops offer more or less for their price.

If we haven't reviewed it, we recommend typing the laptop's name into your favorite search engine followed by "review." You should find what you need to make an informed decision.

Screen Size: 12 to 14 inches for portability

Screen size can tell you a lot about a laptop's overall portability. 12-, 13-, and 14-inch models are generally the lightest and thinnest, and most $500 and under laptops come in these sizes.

Form factor: Clamshell or convertible?

Clamshell (traditional) laptops often have better features for a lower price, but there are a decent number of convertible laptops with a 360-rotating display (2-in-1s) or detachable keyboard that are just as inexpensive. If you want to use your laptop as a notebook or drawing tablet, either of those forms could work for you!

Just keep in mind that a 2-in-1 in tablet mode will be thicker since the display folds back to meet the bottom of the keyboard — and that also means the keys face outward. Laptops with detachable keyboards don't suffer from the same awkwardness.

Battery Life: 10+ hours

Even a sub-$500 laptop should have enough battery life to last an entire workday before it needs a charge. We recommend buying one with at least 10 hours of battery life, according to our tests.

Specs: What's the best for $500 or less?

If you come across a cheap laptop with 16GB RAM, a 256GB storage drive, and an Intel 13th-gen processor or newer, then you might have found one of the few options out there with the best specs for the price.

What you'll come across more often are sub-$500 laptops with some combination of 8GB RAM, 128GB or less of storage space (the slower, eMMC kind), and a MediaTek Kompanio or Intel N-series processor. You'll get more mileage out of those specs with a Chromebook than with a Windows laptop, though.

FAQs

Q: Are budget laptops worth it?

A: If you don't use a laptop for anything more than checking email, watching videos, or doing homework in Google Docs, there's a good chance you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality of today's cheap laptops. Some feature snappy processors, clicky keyboards, or colorful displays.

But as Laptop Mag reviews editor, Rami Tabari, points out, not all budget laptops are a great deal. Even on sale. It's crucial to keep the laptop's potential longevity in mind, especially when it comes to battery life.

Q: Are laptops getting cheaper?

A: There are lots of factors that ultimately determine laptop pricing (like tariffs), but the average price of a laptop has stayed relatively the same over the last several years while their overall quality has improved. If or when tariff hikes hit laptops, it's likely they'll be significantly more expensive — and it could become even harder to find a quality laptop under $500.

Q: When are laptops cheapest?

A: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are when you'll usually see the best deals on laptops, but many manufacturers and retailers have great deals throughout the year. (We keep track of the best laptop deals you can get right now, so check 'em out.)

How we test the best laptops under $500

We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and DCI-P3 color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5 and 6 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop to convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and to duplicate a 4.97GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier's Civilization 6 Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered for longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

After completing lab tests, each laptop heads to our expert reviewers for in-depth, hands-on evaluation. They spend several days using the laptop in their everyday workflows — writing, editing, video calling, streaming, and more — to get a feel for how it performs in the real world. This combination of technical analysis and lived-in experience helps us deliver a well-rounded, honest perspective on every laptop we review at Laptop Mag.

See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

Nothing is more cutting-edge in 2025 than the best AI PCs from Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Apple. Picking a new laptop is already tough, let alone when you want the latest and greatest technology, so I'm here to help you navigate these stormy seas.

I'll be your AI laptop deep-dive instructor as we find the best AI PC for you. As Laptop Mag's resident hardware enthusiast, I've lived and breathed AI PCs for over a year. I've spent hours going over AI PC performance and efficiency benchmarks, and I've reviewed over 30 AI PCs personally, while the Laptop team has reviewed over 100 laptops in this emergent category in our never-ending quest to find the best laptops.

We've seen all of this generation's AI processors from Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Apple, so this list presents the best of the best when it comes to AI-powered laptops with options to suit any need. Even if AI isn't part of your daily life today, it would be a mistake to ignore it as you buy a new laptop in 2025 as AI is more prevalent than ever.

If you want to jump straight to our top choices, our pick for the best AI PC overall is the Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406, which pairs a stunning OLED display with outstanding performance and efficiency thanks to the Intel Core Ultra Series 200V chipset inside. If battery life is your priority, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is your pick, with over 21 hours on our test. And for Apple enthusiasts, the MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025) is the way to go for the best combination of value, performance, and longevity.

That's just entering into the shallows of our top picks; here's my promised deep dive into the best AI PCs in 2025.

The Quick List

Here's a quick rundown of our top picks for the best AI PC laptops. You can also follow the links to the full review to learn more about any of the computers on this list.

The best AI PCs in 2025

Best Overall

The Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) rocketed to the top to become our favorite AI PC laptop. This laptop is one of the first to feature an Intel Core Ultra 200V series processor and at just $1,499, you get a fantastic balance of performance, full-day battery life, a stunning 14-inch OLED display, plus enhanced storage and memory. So you can keep open your 57 'emotional support' Chrome tabs while still streaming music and running ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion.

In our review, Madeline Ricchiuto writes, "From its stunning design to its vivid OLED display panel, there’s plenty to appreciate about the Asus Zenbook S 14."

The Asus Zenbook S 14 lasted 13 hours and 51 minutes on our battery life test, so you should have no trouble leaving your charge cable at home while you head to work or to class. The Zenbook also features a scratch-resistant Ceraluminum ultralight chassis and Asus' quality customer support so you don't need to worry about any tech-related meltdowns.

The Zenbook S 14's 3K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED display is vividly colorful, capturing 82% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. at 342 nits of brightness, it can contend with most screen glare.

If you need to save money, Some of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs are a bit cheaper. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is one of our favorites of the Copilot+ lineup and starts at just $1,199, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition starts at just $999 and features the same Copilot+ AI features as the Yoga Slim 7x. If you prefer an AI PC with a larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra has a stunning 16-inch AMOLED display. The Galaxy Book 4 Ultra also offers excellent battery life and the powerhouse combo of an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU.

See our full Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) review.

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Best battery life

One of the most highly anticipated features of the Copilot+ AI PC platform was the extended battery life offered by AI optimization combined with Qualcomm's ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite chip, and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has more than delivered on that promise.

In our review, Stevie Bonifield writes, "Battery life is one area where the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 really shines. It lasted 21 hours and 3 minutes in our battery test, longer than any of its rivals — longer than any laptop we’ve ever tested."

The ThinkPad T14s lasted an astounding 21 hours and 3 minutes on our battery test, outperforming even the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024), which lasted 20:46. It also stole the battery life crown from the Dell XPS 13 (9345), which had just claimed the title of laptop with the best battery life in July 2024.

But the ThinkPad T14s offers more than just incredible battery life, as it combines power efficiency with strong CPU performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (XIE-78-100) chipset and surprisingly light 2.72-pound chassis.

In fact, the ThinkPad T14s has more powerful multi-core performance than some of our favorite laptops, like the MacBook Air 13 M3 and Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M). On the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, the ThinkPad scored an average of 14,486 compared to the MacBook Air's 12,807 or the Zenbook 14's 12,358. The T14s also has better battery life than both, making it the best choice for power and longevity.

So what are the downsides? The ThinkPad T14s suffers from a tired design, sub-par graphics rendering, and an inaccurately calibrated display, which hold it back from taking the top spot in this category. But if you don't plan to use your AI PC for a lot of photo or video work, the ThinkPad T14s more than makes up for its shortcomings in terms of battery life and performance. In fact, with this ThinkPad, you can even dare to leave your charger at home.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review.

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Best budget

AI PCs offer good power efficiency, strong performance, and lightweight designs, even on budget-friendly systems. The Acer Aspire 14 AI benefits from an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor with powerful Intel Arc 130V graphics and a 40 TOPS Intel AI Boost NPU all integrated into the chipset. It also features 16GB of unified memory on-package, a 2TB SSD, and a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 display. Plus, it lasted over 14 hours on the Laptop Mag web surfing battery test and weighs just 3.2 pounds. And you get all that for just $699.

Claire Tabari writes in our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI, "The Acer Aspire 14 AI shines as a budget laptop, hitting an affordable price point for solid Lunar Lake processing speeds, excellent battery life, a satisfying keyboard, and a sturdy chassis."

Our testing revealed that the Aspire 14 AI "delivered a Geekbench 6 score of 10,043, which is fantastic for a budget laptop." The Aspire 14 also features a swift 1TB SSD, with a transfer rate of 1,746 megabytes per second.

While the Acer Aspire 14 AI's 14 hour and 15 minute battery life average is far from the most impressive on this list, it easily competes with our top AI PC pick overall, the Asus Zenbook S 14 (13:51), however, it is almost an hour behind our top Apple pick, the MacBook Air 13 M3 (15:13).

The Acer Aspire 14 AI does have a powerful second-gen Intel AI Boost NPU which offers 40 TOPS of performance. This means it is part of Microsoft's Copilot+ program and gets access to advanced AI features like Live Captions and studio camera effects.

See our full Acer Aspire 14 AI review.

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Best for business

Not everyone wants a 2-in-1 laptop, but the convertible form of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo makes it a handy, versatile tool. The Summit also features a Microsoft discrete trusted platform module (TPM) 2.0 and Microsoft Pluton security. So its versatile and secure.

Madeline Ricchiuto writes in our review of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo, "There are plenty of reasons to recommend the Summit 13 AI+ Evo. It offers almost 17 hours of battery life, dependable performance, a bright display, a satisfying keyboard, sturdy hinges, and it comes with 2TB of storage space and a stylus for just $1,599."

MSI has also put the Summit's durability to the test through the MIL-STD-810H durability testing. The Summit 13 AI+ Evo can survive high altitudes, extreme temperatures, and exposure to dust and humidity. Making it the perfect companion for your pitch meeting in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

Like the other Copilot+ laptops, the MSI Summit 13 has full-day battery life, solid performance, and a bright, vibrant display. Even if security is not your top priority, you're still getting a solid laptop that lasted 16 hours and 52 minutes on our battery test. On our other lab benchmark tests, the Summit was competitive with the likes of the Asus ExpertBook P5 and HP EliteBook Ultra G1q, with a Geekbench 6 score of 10,895 compared to the ExperBook's 11,259 and the EliteBook's 12,717.

While you could use one of the other Copilot+ or AI PC laptops, like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x or Dell XPS 13 (9350), as a business laptop, MSI offers additional security and durability features alongside a stellar all-around laptop experience.

With a starting price of just $1,499, most other business laptops can't compete.

See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.

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Best for AMD fans

This AI powerhouse isn't part of the Copilot+ PC program, but with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, it more than meets the requirements for NPU performance with 50 TOPS of AI processing power. So, if you want a top-of-the-line AI PC and Qualcomm's ARM chip won't work for you, the Asus Zenbook S16 is your best pick.

Rami Tabari writes in our review, "The Asus Zenbook S16 UM5606 has the makings of a great laptop, from its incredible performance and graphics to its long battery life and stellar design."

Of course, the Zenbook does have a few drawbacks, like an unsatisfying keyboard and slower SSD, but it makes up for those shortcomings by surviving an impressive 11 hours and 35 minutes on our battery test. And it starts at just $1,399.

The Zenbook S16 scored above most of its competition on Geekbench 6, with a multicore average of 13,282. That outpaces even the MacBook Air 15 M3's 12,052 average and the Intel Core Ultra-powered Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M), which scored an average of 12,717.

So, if you need a powerful AI PC that runs Windows 11 without needing software emulation, the Zenbook S16 is the most affordable, powerful option.

See our full Asus Zenbook S16 review.

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Best for Apple enthusiasts

We rarely give out 5-star ratings here at Laptop Mag, and the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 is one of the chosen few. Starting at just $999, with education pricing dropping it to $899, the new 13-inch Air is a laptop we can recommend for just about any purpose. It's affordable, especially by Apple standards, and it features an excellent keyboard, fantastic performance, and outstanding endurance, which makes it a great laptop for just about anyone's needs.

In our review, Sean Riley writes, "The MacBook Air 13-inch M4 feels like the return of the original M1 Air. It's an undeniable value that will give you years of excellent performance, even if you pick up the base model."

With macOS 18, the M4 chips have access to Apple Intelligence, making the MacBook Air 13 M4 one of the most affordable AI PCs on the market, with features similar to those found in Microsoft's Copilot+ PC system, like image and text generation, email summaries, and in-call recording and summaries.

Outside of the fancy new AI features coming to Macs this fall, the MacBook Air M4 boasts the same kind of all-day battery life as the other AI PCs on this list, lasting 15 hours and 42 minutes in our battery life test.

The MacBook Air is more than competitive with other AI PCs when it comes to performance, scoring a Geekbench 6 multicore average of 14,849 which outperforms the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (13,750) and Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (12,908).

Of course, you could choose the MacBook Pro 14 M4 instead. Thanks to its fan-cooled design and larger battery, it has better performance and longer battery life, but it has a much higher starting price: $1,599.

So, if you want to stick with macOS and get the best Apple Intelligence features at an affordable price, the MacBook Air M4 is the way to go.

See our full Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 review.

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Benchmark Comparisons

AI Benchmarks

We run all of our AI PCs through a series of AI-focused benchmarks, including the Geekbench ML and Geekbench AI test suites. However, because of how fast AI and machine learning is evolving, these benchmarks are often difficult to compare between versions.

Geekbench ML does not test the NPU at all, while Geekbench AI will test the NPU using the best AI inference software for that chipset, so it can be difficult to compare NPU results between chipmakers.

Though AI PCs are all identifiable by their integrated NPUs, AI workloads run off all three hardware accelerators, so we try to benchmark the CPU, GPU, and NPU in AI tests rather than just focus on the NPU alone.

But if you're curious as to how our best AI PCs stack up in the AI benchmarking stakes, here's a comprehensive chart of our testing data.

Recent reviews

We review dozens of laptops annually, and while some simply don't have what it takes to make our buying guides, others are still strong options that came up short for one reason or another. Here are some of our most recently reviewed laptops that didn't make the cut, which for this page could simply mean they aren't classified as "AI PCs."

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How to choose the best AI PC

There are several factors you should consider before buying an AI PC.

The benefits of AI laptops are multifaceted, but portability and battery life are some of the more tangible benefits of buying a laptop with a neural processing unit NPU. Courtesy of AI optimization, these laptops are more efficient than their non-AI counterparts, which helps shave off some weight with thinner, smaller batteries that can still last all day on a charge. Most AI PCs we've seen have lasted for more than 10 hours on our battery test, and many of the AI laptops we've reviewed and recommend go well beyond that, some even eclipsing 20 hours of battery life.

On-device AI is another key benefit of the AI PC platform, though we are still in the early days of generative AI, so those features will be upgraded and added as Microsoft, Apple, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm flesh out their AI platforms. But at a minimum, all of the AI PCs have a dedicated NPU and can tackle on-device AI tasks like AI image and AI text generation. While some have more powerful NPUs than others, all of these AI PCs can run your favorite large language model.

Regarding minimum specs, we recommend a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, AMD Ryzen 8000 series, Intel Core Ultra 100 series, or Apple M2. You'll also want to go for at least 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD minimum for extra memory and storage for your AI tasks.

Other deciding factors that can make your AI PC life even more successful are the same as most other laptops, including a comfortable keyboard, a sensitive touchpad, and a bright, vivid display. So you can enjoy your laptop for more than just its generative AI capabilities.

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FAQs

What makes a laptop an AI PC?

While there are many definitions for what counts as an AI PC, the one commonality between all laptops and desktops marked as "AI PCs" is the presence of a neural processing unit (NPU) machine learning core.

AI workloads will often use the CPU, GPU, and NPU of a machine, with certain tasks favoring one hardware accelerator over another. But to get the most use out of on-device AI, you'll want a computer with a strong chipset that has CPU, GPU, and NPU cores.

What does an AI PC do?

AI PCs are specialized laptops built to run AI workloads. They also offer great battery life and general performance. All laptops will be AI PCs at some point in the future, but for now, they're a bit more of a niche category. Essentially, any computer with an NPU machine learning processor is an AI PC.

You can use an AI PC to run on-device AI models like GPT-4 or Stable Diffusion. AI PCs can generate AI text and AI images and provide live AI translations or better video filters for your next Zoom meeting. One of the key differentiators is that these tasks are handled, at least in large part, by the NPU, which helps free up the CPU and GPU for other tasks.

You can also use an AI laptop for typical computing tasks like browsing the web, playing games, editing photos and videos, or productivity tasks if this is a work laptop. They're a versatile category of powerful, efficient laptops that fill various needs.

What specs do I need for a good AI PC?

While you can run generative AI programs like GPT-4, Stable Diffusion, or Dall-E on older processors, you'll want to opt for a newer, high-end CPU, GPU, and NPU combination if you plan to do a lot of on-device AI.

Different AI programs run through different hardware accelerators, so you'll want to have all-around powerful hardware.

An AMD Ryzen AI 300 processor gets you the most powerful NPU and a solid CPU and integrated GPU. Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series processors offer the best combination of powerful NPU and CPU performance with top-end battery life. The Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" series gives you a strong NPU with solid CPU and GPU performance for additional AI support and great battery life. The Apple MacBook Air M3 gives you access to the Apple Intelligence AI software suite, alongside Apple's fantastic build quality, performance, and battery life at an affordable price. The M4 is better optimized for AI workloads and will be the superior choice once the M4 chipset hits the MacBook Air line.

If you're using mostly cloud-based AI software, you can use a processor with a less powerful NPU because the cloud server will run the AI model for most of your AI usage. However, in that case, you'll still want a laptop with a decent processor and at least 16GB of RAM to get a timely response.

Do I need a Copilot+ PC to have a good AI PC?

While having a powerful NPU rated to at least 40 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) can make certain AI programs run more smoothly, the requirement for at least 40 TOPS of NPU performance was based on Microsoft Recall. That particular segment of Microsoft's Copilot+ AI suite hasn't fully launched yet, but it is available in Preview Mode for Windows Insiders.

AI PCs can do more than just Microsoft Copilot+. Many other AI workloads, including webcam background blur, AI audio effects, and generative AI can be handled by smaller NPUs or can be run through the CPU or GPU instead of the NPU. So you can still get a quality AI PC experience with a lower-spec NPU than you'll find on Copilot+ PCs.

But if you want an NPU that can last for the next few generations of AI and you want access to every AI feature, you'll want to opt for a Copilot+ PC.

Should you get a discrete GPU for your AI PC?

Depending on the AI you intend to use, you may want a more powerful GPU. However, the integrated graphics tiles on the Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200 series are powerful enough for some light gaming and get solid GPU-based AI performance.

Of course, if you're going to be getting into heavy on-device AI that requires high graphics demands, getting a laptop with an Nvidia RTX 40-series or RTX 50-series GPU wouldn't be a bad idea.

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How we test AI PCs

We put each laptop we review through extensive benchmark testing using synthetic and real-world tests before it goes to our reviewers. Our reviewers evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 6 and 3DMark professional graphics tests. A Geekbench 6 multicore score of 10,000 or higher is needed for AI workloads. While AI PC laptops don't need to be great at gaming, a higher score on 3DMark benchmarks can indicate good image generation capabilities.

With AI PC laptops, we also use machine learning benchmark tests like Geekbench ML, Geekbench AI, UL Procyon Computer Vision, and UL Procyon Image Generation. These tests use real AI workloads and models to test a laptop's AI performance capabilities. Most of these tests can target CPU and GPU performance on AI workloads, but as NPUs are the defining factor of AI PCs, we tend to focus on NPU performance for these benchmarks.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop with compressing a 4K video to 1080p resolution and duplicating a 25 GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p and native resolution. On gaming laptops, we run additional benchmarks, including Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cyberpunk 2077, and Assassin's Creed: Mirage.

We also test the laptop's cooling capabilities by playing a 15-minute 4K video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop, such as the keyboard, touchpad, and underside, to determine whether it is too hot to be safely used on your lap or if it should be relegated to a desktop.

Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 or Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered longer than 5 hours deserve praise. We expect over 10 hours of battery life with AI PCs, though many AI PC laptops get around 14 hours of battery life.

Following these tests, the laptop is given to our expert reviewers for extensive hands-on testing. Our reviewers will spend days using the laptop as part of their typical workflow to get a sense of the real-world performance and live with the laptop to come away with a thorough understanding of the hardware and software experience. This blended lab testing and hands-on approach allows us to offer you a clear and comprehensive view of every laptop that comes through Laptop Mag.

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Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over a hundred laptops yearly, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100 percent independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Future Publishing, one of the world's largest technology publishers, enforces our editorial trustworthiness. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

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The best Chromebook deals in June continue to offer solid discounts on today's best ChromeOS laptops. Whether you need a computer for yourself, surprising a grad, or gifting dad, it's a great time to save on a Chromebook.

I'm sharing today's best discounts on Chromebooks made by Acer, Asus, HP, Lenovo, and Samsung in partnership with Google. For example, the newly released $649 Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 might be the Pixelbook Go successor I've been waiting for. It has the same premium build, top-firing dual speakers, and ribbed base as my beloved Pixelbook Go.

With a starting weight of just 2.6 pounds, a MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 chip inside, and up to 17 hours of battery life (rated), the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is thoughtfully engineered to be portable, powerful, and reliable.

Generally speaking, Chromebooks are fast-booting, battery-efficient, and easy to use. Chromebooks also support native Linux and Android apps, which is ideal for programmers and developers.

More importantly, Chromebooks are secure, less prone to viruses, and offer smooth, unproblematic system updates. You will never have to worry about seeing that dreaded Blue Screen of Death.

Many of today's Chrome OS laptops, like the Intel Core i5-charged Acer Chromebook 516 GE and Intel Ultra 5-charged Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, are as powerful as their counterparts. These premium Chromebooks are adequate for day-to-day tasks, video editing with Adobe Photoshop, and cloud gaming.

So if you're looking for a Mac and Windows laptop alternative, plenty of Chromebook deals are up for grabs.

From budget Chromebooks to powerful ChromeOS laptops for cloud gamers, students, and business pros, here are today's best Chromebook deals:

Best Chromebook deals right now — Quick links

• Acer Chromebook 311: was $229 now $129 at Best Buy
• HP Chromebook x360: was $429 now $279 at Walmart
• Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook: was $499 now $299 at Best Buy
• Asus Chromebook Flip CX5: was $599 now $349 at Best Buy
• Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714: was $699 now $579 at Best Buy
• New Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: $649 at Lenovo
• Amazon: Chromebook deals from $179 at Amazon
• Best Buy: Chromebook deals from $129 at Best Buy
• Walmart: Chromebook deals from $279 at Walmart

Best Chromebook deals right now

Google has a plan to ensure that Chromebooks can keep up with the blistering pace of Google AI updates and it involves turning to the Android tech stack.

According to a Chromium Blog post published on Wednesday, Google will "be embracing portions of the Android stack, like the Android Linux kernel and Android frameworks, as part of the foundation of ChromeOS."

For reference, a tech stack is defined as "the set of technologies used to develop an application, including programming languages, frameworks, databases, front-end and back-end tools, and APIs" by Heap.

Google plans to bring these Android-based components to ChromeOS as part of an effort to "continue rolling out new Google AI features to users at a faster and even larger scale."

More specifically, incorporating the Android tech stack into ChromeOS will enable Google to "accelerate the pace of AI innovation at the core of ChromeOS, simplify engineering efforts, and help different devices like phone and accessories work better together with Chromebooks."

Let's take a closer look at what's in the Android stack, as well as the pieces ChromeOS will be incorporating sometime in the "future." 

What parts of Android are coming to ChromeOS?

According to the Android Developers website, "Android is an open source, Linux-based software stack" comprised of System Apps, the Java API Framework, Native C/C++ Libraries, Android Runtime, a Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL), and the Linux Kernel.

If ChromeOS is gaining the Linux Kernel and Android frameworks from the Android stack, what does that mean for your Chromebook?

Well, the Linux Kernel is known as "the foundation of the Android platform," essentially responsible for all basic functions. On an Android smartphone, it's in charge of power management and houses drivers for your audio, display, keypad, Bluetooth, camera, shared memory, and Wi-Fi.

This will likely replace the foundation of ChromeOS, allowing for generative AI features that are already available on Android, like AI-generated wallpapers and Magic Editor in Google Photos.

Furthermore, "the entire feature-set of the Android OS is available to you through APIs written in the Java language." Put simply, the Java API framework provides the building blocks needed for developers to create Android apps that mesh well with the OS.

Android apps are already available on ChromeOS, but incorporating this framework will make them work seamlessly. 

By bringing the base components of Android OS into ChromeOS, Google will be able to roll out AI-related updates more easily and frequently for Chromebooks, ensuring they don't get left behind while Android phones start debuting cool AI-powered features.

Unfortunately, there's no timeframe for this major change. According to the Chromium Blog post, "These improvements in the tech stack are starting now but won't be ready for consumers for quite some time."

When it's time to roll out the new ChromeOS with integrated Android stacks, it'll be a "seamless transition to the updated experience." 

To close out the post, Senior Director of ChromeOS Engineering Prajakta Gudadhe and Senior Director of ChromeOS Product Management Alexander Kuscher write, "We've never been more excited about the future of ChromeOS."

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When Google revealed the program lineup for Google I/O 2024, the company said we'd "Get a glimpse into the exciting future of ChromeOS." 

Over the past few months, rumors for ChromeOS haven't been nearly as prevalent as rumors for Android 15 and upcoming Pixel phones. But with how much Google has been pushing generative AI for all of its devices, we're expecting many of those "future of ChromeOS" updates to be AI-powered.

At Google I/O 2024, Google may announce a system-wide AI Help Me Write tool, AI-generated video backgrounds, and wallpapers, features shown to Chrome Unboxed in April.  

We're also hoping Google may talk about things to come for ChromeOS at Google I/O, like Spatial Audio, even if the feature isn't demoed or launched at the event tomorrow. Nonetheless, 2024 will be an exciting year for Chromebook users who want AI-assisted features and room-filling audio.

3. Spatial Audio

Chromebooks may soon get Spatial Audio, a virtual surround sound feature that's already available to Android users. A recent ChromeOS code change revealed the possible Spatial Audio feature and mentioned a ShowSpatialAudioToggle flag being introduced to "hide the toggle to control spatial audio." 

This code change doesn't necessarily guarantee Chromebooks will get Spatial Audio, but it's a strong indicator. It's not clear yet whether the feature will be supported system-wide or only by specific apps, but users may be able to test it soon in a ChromeOS Canary build or by force-enabling it through chrome://flags.

Because features typically appear in ChromeOS Canary or as a developer flag before shipping on Chromebooks, Google won't officially launch the feature at I/O 2024. That said, Google might announce the feature's timeline or discuss how spatial audio will work on upcoming Chromebooks.

2. A system-wide Help Me Write feature

Two ChromeOS features that Google will likely discuss at I/O 2024 include a system-wide Help Me Write feature and AI-powered video backgrounds and wallpapers. Google exclusively demoed these features with Chrome Unboxed and gave the outlet shareable video clips of each feature.

The Help Me Write feature is currently available on Chrome, but the version Google's working on for ChromeOS will be a "larger model" with "more capability and reach" to work on a system-wide level. So you'll be able to use this generative AI feature to help reword emails in your browser, texts from your linked phone, and more.

1. AI Video Backgrounds and Wallpapers

Then, ChromeOS will use generative AI to create custom backgrounds for video calls and unique wallpapers for your desktop.

Using AI Video Backgrounds, you'll have a series of prompts to get started, and then you can change some of the words to find precisely what you're looking for. For example, in the background of "A cozy cottage cafe," you could change up the words "cozy" and "cottage," with AI giving you suggestions for each.

Similarly, the AI Wallpapers feature shows a ton of unique prompts as a jumping-off place. Then, you can customize specific words to change the art style, the main subject of the image, or the wallpaper's overall vibe. This feature is basically a built-in generative AI image model that lets you easily switch up your wallpaper.

In addition to ChromeOS updates, Google plans to talk about Android 15, "beautiful and functional web experiences," and new features for the Gemini API, Google AI Studio, and Gemma. If you want to catch the action in real time, here's how to watch Google I/O 2024.

I woke up this morning to the fascinating news that Huawei, the corporation behind the MateBook series of laptops, would be developing its own operating system for PC called HarmonyOS (via ghacks). But the news of this wasn't a simple announcement of its occurrence, but instead spun by some websites with an angle regarding the current dominance of Windows.

Apparently HarmonyOS could pose a serious threat to Windows, but does anyone believe this for a second? It sounds like nothing more than an attempt at stirring up a pot that barely exists within its current form. In reality, HarmonyOS doesn't stand a chance against Windows.

HarmonyOS can't compete and it won't have to

Everything stated within this article is speculation. It's entirely possible that HarmonyOS will dominate the market, but I have serious doubts. This is the equivalent of saying Linux has a chance at finally dethroning the unstoppable champion that is Windows. But the truth is that Microsoft has its hands within nearly every corner of a PC user's life.

Chromebooks have become popular because they fulfill a specific niche within the market for those in need of inexpensive, lightweight operating systems which let them focus on a specific suite of apps. Does anyone truly think that Chromebook can compete against Windows? Of course not, and it doesn't need to. The same can be said for HarmonyOS.

These two don't have to be in competition just because both are PC operating systems. We can already see how much both ChromeOS and macOS have struggled within the gaming space regardless of their many attempts to try and appear relevant. I'm sure many of us have seen those awful Chromebook YouTube ads showcasing celebrities gaming on ChromeOS.

Gamers are nowhere near the exclusive population making up PC users, but they're a factor that cannot be ignored. 30 million Steam users are currently online at the time of writing this article. 96.61% of users in August have played using a Windows device according to Valve's hardware surveys. I've seen arguments that Windows 11's lack of popularity will ensure HarmonyOS can thrive, but 39.22% of those who contributed to the survey were using Windows 11.

Can Windows be a total pain the in butt sometimes? Absolutely. But what makes it the most popular consumer choice is that it is everywhere and can be used for everything. HarmonyOS would not only need to be a system that can do everything, from running the biggest games to having compatibility with important applications, Huawei would need to make deals with the biggest manufacturers in the world. 

If Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Razer, HP, Dell and far more aren't using HarmonyOS for a line of laptops, this system launch will feel like the company has tossed a pebble into the ocean. And that's completely okay.

HarmonyOS doesn't need to be a grandiose masterpiece that undoes the reign of Windows. It's fine for it to have its own special use case, like how ChromeOS fulfilled a market niche for those who need inexpensive hardware. Apple also continues to thrive with the sleek simplicity of MacOS, alongside its incredible line of apps. Huawei doesn't need to be the next Windows, it can simply do its own thing and that's more than enough.

Chromebooks are the vegans of laptops. They're lean and light machines that are designed for users with simplistic, Google-based workflows: browsing Chrome, checking Gmail, exploring YouTube, and playing Android apps from Google Play.

However, in recent years, there's been a push to force-feed hearty, resource-intensive tasks (e.g., gaming) down ChromeOS' throat. Laptop manufacturers have been trying to make fetch happen with so-called "gaming Chromebooks." For example, I reviewed the world's first gaming Chromebook — the Acer Chromebook 516 GE — earlier this year.

However, "gaming Chromebook" is a bit of a misnomer. "Chromebook optimized for cloud-gaming services" would be a more fitting name; it's just a ChromeOS system that features the best specs for Nvidia GeForce Now and its ilk.

Now when it comes to running games natively on ChromeOS, and I'm talkin' intensive games (not the lil' Subway Surfer games you may like to play), Google has been working on it — and it's been struggling.

How it all began

We first knew about Google's ambitious plans to bring a native Steam client to Chromebooks in 2020 after an interview Android Police.

Last year, Google reiterated those plans at the Google for Games Developer Summit, adding that an alpha-quality version of Steam would be coming to Chrome OS. When the alpha version finally launched, Google announced that it could only support seven Chromebooks.

"Because many games have high performance demands, we’ve focused our efforts thus far on a set of devices where more games can run well," Google said. The search-engine tech giant says that Steam requires at least 8GB of RAM and a Core i5 processor.

Chromebook users who tested the alpha version, including Nathan Ingraham from Engadget, reported what we expected. Chrome OS handled older, lighter games (e.g., Half-Life 2 and Portal 2) with ease, however, triple-A games are too meaty for such vegan-esque machines. "[2018's God of War] was a totally unplayable slideshow. That's no surprise, though, as God of War calls for either Nvidia's GTX 960 or AMD's R9 290 graphics cards," Ingraham said, who played the title on an Asus Chromebook CX9.

Chromebooks have integrated GPUs that simply don't have adequate power to handle some of the best triple-A PC games. So the solution is, "Let's get some discrete GPUs inside some Chromebooks," right? Not to fast! Nvidia reportedly axed its not-yet-announced plans to bring its dedicated GPUs to Chromebooks.

"It seems like someone within Google or at the PC companies has decided that Chromebooks with dedicated GPUs aren't worth the effort," Ars Technica commented.

Let's dive into the other roadblocks Google has been facing with releasing a native Steam app on Chrome OS.

5 roadblocks to Steam on Chromebooks

It's 2023 and Steam still hasn't upgraded to a stable channel version for Chromebooks. It entered beta in November 2022, but since then, there hasn't been much progress.

On the plus side, Google has made some headway with bringing the Linux-based Steam app to Chrome OS because the operating system is based on Linux, too. However, Steam on ChromeOS is still running into a gaggle of issues. Let's talk about 'em.

1. ChromeOS' Steam app doesn't play nice with external monitors

Don't bother trying to hook up one of the best external monitors with your Chromebook to play games. Users have reported a drop in performance, cursor misalignment, steam notifications blocking one's view, incorrect aspect ratio, game crashing, rendering glitches, and more.

2. Some games only work with 16GB of RAM

If you want to try to play a memory-intensive game on a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM or less, you'll run into some issues. There are a great number games that will crash or perform terribly on such under-powered Chromebooks, so either get yourself a Chrome OS system with 16GB of memory or settle for less RAM-intensive titles.

3. Steam sometimes freezes if the Chromebook goes into sleep mode

Imagine taking a break to make yourself a sandwich before coming back to your Chromebook to wake it up. When you try to exit sleep mode, you notice that your game is no longer responding. Yikes! If you didn't save your game, that means you'll have some lost progress and you'll have to restart the Steam app and the game.

4. First few minutes of gameplay is poor

For some titles, users have reported poor gameplay within the first few minutes as the title renders shaders. However, after some time, the performance increases to a reasonable level. This has been particularly an issue with Grand Theft Auto V and Dota 2.

5. Games with anti-cheat do not work properly

Games with anti-cheat software often found in multiplayer games don't work properly on Steam for Chromebooks, including Elden Ring, Brawlhalla and Arma 3. Users are reporting launch fails, crashing, or hanging.

Bottom line

With Nvidia backing out of the Chromebook GPU game, Google's struggles with Steam seem insurmountable. However, as it stands now, it looks like you can still enjoy some light Chromebook gaming with Steam's casual games.

Just make sure you have a Chromebook with minimum of 16GB of RAM. And don't use an external display. Oh, and don't download games with anti-cheat software. And try to preventing your Chromebook from entering sleep mode. With these tips, you should be juuuust fine.

Google faces another setback in its seemingly never-ending Odyssey to find the first rung of the gaming ladder. Today marks the death of one of the brand's more promising ventures, Chromebooks with Nvidia GPUs.

Listen closely and you might just hear the flump as the body of the most anticipated Chromebook feature to date falls lifelessly into Google’s gaming grave. Stadia can rest in peace, no doubt keeping a spot warm for the upcoming launch of YouTube Playables.

Gaming on ChromeOS? ChromeO-No

There were Great Expectations for gaming on ChromeOS after it was reported that Google would be bringing Nvidia RTX graphics to Chromebook. Combined with an ongoing collaboration with Valve to bring Steam to the machine’s Linux-based operating system, the dream of Chromebook gaming was closer than ever.

However, the best-laid plans Of Mice and Men often go awry and Google's plans may have amounted to Moby Dick. According to comments found in Google code spotted by About Chromebooks, projects "Herobrine", "Hades", and "Agah" have all been canceled. The latter two being codenames of the Chromebooks said to have housed Nvidia RTX GPUs.

Holding out hope, or clutching at straws?

No doubt the news will leave Chromebook fans Les Misérables, but that's not to say that Google's dedicated graphics goals are completely Gone With The Wind - just that their partnership with Nvidia could no longer be on the cards.

It kind of defeats the idea of a Chromebook anyway, as the budget, small-form, on-the-go device would have to balloon in size, power, and price in order to accommodate such an upgrade. It’d still be a Chromebook, but the book in question would likely be War and Peace.

However, all hope might not be lost. In an entirely speculative notion, with no backing in reality whatsoever, While it was the technology of the Steam Deck that propelled Google to chase better gaming performance in its Chromebooks, there's potential for the technology that powers the ROG Ally to be what has made their Nvidia RTX dreams come to an end.

Other options exist

Powerful chipsets like the AMD Ryzen Z1 might be designed for handheld gaming, but they're considerably more powerful than integrated options and draw a level with desktop Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 graphics cards. Could it be that Google has been lured away from Nvidia's ray-tracing GPUs by AMD's handheld workhorse?

Another option is Intel's new discrete option the Intel Arc mobile GPU. Intel's Arc may be a newcomer to the mobile laptop scene, but its first-gen offering hasn't been the disaster many thought it might be. While on the low end of the mobile GPU scale, future generations could greatly improve performance and eventually make Intel a key player in the mobile GPU space. Though, admittedly, at present it's practically The Invisible Man.

Outlook

It's unsure if Google has bid A Farewell to Arms comes to the Brave New World of true gaming Chromebooks, but this is a definite sign that things aren't going as smoothly as hoped. While there's still some hope for Google to make good on its plans, for now at least ChromeOS gamers may have to come to terms with a Paradise Lost.

For news, rumors, and updates on all things Chromebook and tech, follow Laptop Mag on Twitter, Facebook, and Flipboard for the latest word as it arrives.

The HP Chromebook x360 14b is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops for students on the go. And thanks to Best Buy's back to school sale, it's down to a stellar price. 

Right now, you can get the HP Chromebook x360 14b for just $289 at Best Buy . It normally costs $289, so you're saving $130. This is the lowest price we've seen for this HP laptop and of the most affordable Chromebook deals out there.

HP's Chromebook x360 as its name hints at, features a 360-hinge design to let you easily use it to work, write, watch, and play. The HP Chromebook x360 features stereo speakers tuned by audio experts B&O provides a rated battery life of up to 13.5 hours on a full charge.

This machine packs a 14-inch (1966 x 768) 250-nit touch screen, Intel Celeron N4500 dual-core CPU, 4GB RAM, Integrated Intel graphics, 64GB of microSD-expandable eMMC storage. That's all you need to create documents, web browse, and stream videos on Google's lightweight Chrome OS. With the Chromebook x360, you'll enjoy near-instant startups, snappy performance and secure logins. The

As with all Chromebooks, you also get 15GB of free Google Drive cloud storage and tons of useful Chromebook perks. Although we didn't test it, 2022 HP Chromebook 14 reviews average 4.5 out of 5-stars at Best Buy. Happy customers praise the laptop's fast, solid performance, lightweight design, and beautiful display. Others love the crystal clear audio and microphones built into the Chromebook's HP Wide Vision 720 camera. 

At 3.7 pounds and 0.7 inches thin, the HP Chromebook 14 is fairly portable. It's on par with its industry rival, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (3.2 pounds, 0.7 inches). For connecting external devices, you get 2 x USB-Type C ports, 1 x USB Type-A port, and a headphone/mic combo jack. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth covers your wireless connectivity needs.

In short, the HP Chromebook x360 14b is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop that gives you your money's worth. If you're looking for a versatile Windows alternative for work and play, this is the Chromebook you want.

Is the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 twirling on a record player? Because this laptop is singing my tune. It’s not overpriced (I’m lookin’ at you $1,000 HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook), its battery life beats Chromebooks’ typical 10-hour runtime, and it sports a flexible, convertible design that may earn it a spot on the best 2-in-1 laptops.

If you’re a casual user, and you’re engrossed in the Google ecosystem with apps like Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more, the Chromebook Spin 714 is ideal for you. However, like all laptops (no machine is perfect), this Chrome OS system has its faults, so allow me to break down the pros and cons of Acer’s newly refreshed Chromebook.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 price and configuration options

You can snag the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 for $699 on Best Buy, but keep in mind that it’s regularly discounted. For example, as of this writing, the Chromebook Spin 714 dropped to just $569. What a bargain!

It comes with a new 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB NVMe SSD, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel touch display.

Want to look at other options within the same price range? Check out our best laptops under $1,000 page.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 design

The Chromebook Spin 714 is the most attractive Chromebook I’ve ever tested — this bad boy looks good! From the lustrous, golden Acer logo stamped on the center-left position on the lid to the gold accents adorning the hinges, this Chromebook, sporting a dark-gray finish, looks luxurious despite its sub-$700 price tag. (I love gold accents, so Acer’s speaking my language with this color theme.)

Open the lid, and you’ll find an island-style keyboard with white characters and symbols contrasting perfectly with the deck’s dusky, dark-gray hue. (How’s that for alliteration, eh?) Beneath the space bar is a small touchpad with a light-gray trim. Looking at the 14-inch display, both the chin and top bezel are thick; the former features a silver Acer logo while the latter houses a 1440p webcam (more on that later).

As its name suggests, the Chromebook Spin 714 can transform into a number of different positions, thanks to its sturdy 360-degree hinge, including tent mode and tablet mode.

Overall, I dig that the Chromebook Spin 714’s chassis is resistant to fingerprints and grease. Feel free to eat Cheetos, fried chicken, and other junk foods while using this Acer laptop — no one will ever find evidence of your questionable eating habits.

However, one thing that surprises me about the Chromebook Spin 714 is that it isn’t as lightweight as I expected it to be. No, it’s not remotely heavy, but it’s not a featherweight system either. I can’t complain too much, though — there are Chrome OS rivals that are even heavier than this 14-inch laptop.

At 3.2 pounds and 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.71 inches, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is negligibly thicker, but lighter than the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches, 3.3 pounds). Throughout this review, I’ll be pitting the Chromebook Spin 714 against the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook. Although the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is $300 pricier than its Acer rival, I suspect it will still struggle to keep up with the Chromebook Spin 714 in some categories.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 ports

The Chromebook Spin 714 has a decent array of ports.

On the left side, you’ll find a Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI port, and a headset jack. On the right side, you’ll find another Thunderbolt 4 port and a USB Type-A port.

If you need more ports, check out our best USB Type-C hubs and best laptop docking stations page to expand your I/O options.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 display

The Chromebook Spin 714 has a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel panel. And of course, it’s a touchscreen — what good would be a 2-in-1 laptop without touch capabilities, right? Whether it’s in tablet mode or tent mode, the Chromebook Spin 714’s panel was highly responsive to my touch gestures (e.g. pinch to zoom and scrolling).

Keep in mind that this is a sub-$700 laptop, so no, this isn’t a dazzling display that covers a wide color gamut and delivers cutting-edge picture. But for streaming your favorite shows and films, the Chromebook Spin 714 does the job.

Timothée Chalamet looked sufficiently crisp and sharp on the Chromebook Spin 714 when I fired up the Wonka trailer on YouTube. In one scene when he was standing directly under a lightbulb, I could see tiny hairs budding from his upper lip. Although muted colors like lavenders and light browns aren’t this display’s forte, it does well with striking hues like bright greens and burnt orange. In one scene where an Oompa-Loompa is trapped inside a glass prison, his emerald green hair and tangerine skin were eye-catching. If you’re a display snob, it may not be as vivid and rich as you like, but for the average Joe, this screen is perfectly fine.

According to our colorimeter, the Chromebook Spin 714 covers 76% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which doesn’t quite beat the average Chromebook (77.8%) nor the HP Dragonfly Chromebook (77.8%). However, it’s worth noting that the delta between the Acer and HP Chromebooks isn’t that significant (even though the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is significantly pricier).

When it comes to color accuracy, the Chromebook Spin 714 bested the HP Chromebook with a Delta-E score of 0.3 (closer to 0 is better). This score isn’t great; it's worse than the average Chromebook score of 0.25. The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has a much better color accuracy score of 0.09.

At 389 nits, the Chromebook Spin 714 delivered a below-average brightness score (a typical Chromebook has a 506-nit display). However, the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has one of the brightest displays, if not the brightest display, we’ve ever tested with a jaw-dropping luminance of 1,276 nits.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 keyboard and touchpad

My fingers felt immediately at home on the Chromebook Spin 714’s keyboard. No, this keyboard won’t win any trophies or awards, but it delivers just the right amount of clickiness and satisfying tactile feedback to keep up with my clickity-clack flow.

On the 10FastFingers.com test, I reached around 90 words per minute, which matches my 87-90 wpm average. Of course, this keyboard on this sub-$700 Chromebook isn’t made of premium materials — I can tell by the plasticky feel of the keys. Still, compared to other budget-friendly Chromebooks and laptops I’ve tested, the Spin 714 has a solid, sturdy build. I tried to wiggle the keys to test their robustness, but there was very little give — they’re as stiff as the King’s Guards.

The 4.3 x 2.6-inch touchpad positioned below the spacebar is a little small, but come on, you don’t need a whole football field to navigate your mouse, right? f it was any smaller, I’d probably throw a fit, but much like Goldilocks’ tireless search for porridge at a correct temperature, the size is just right Chromebook gestures such as three-finger tab switching, two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom were highly responsive on the smooth-as-silk touchpad.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 audio

The Chromebook Spin 714 has one top-firing speaker that runs the length of the keyboard. I fired up the Hot Hits USA playlist on the Spotify app. The first song to launch on the DTS-tuned speaker was “Die for You (Remix)” by The Weeknd and Ariana Grande.

Immediately, I noticed that the speaker was too quiet. When I sought to amplify the volume, I was disappointed to find out that it was already set to the max. While the speakers perfectly captured The Weeknd’s sultry vocals and Ariana’s powerful belting, the driving beat sounded a little too tinny for my tastes. However, I can’t expect much from a $700 Chromebook, right? The speaker does the job. *Shrug*

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 performance

The Chromebook Spin 714 comes with an Intel Core i5-1335U CPU and 8GB of RAM, which should be more than enough if you have a lightweight workload (this laptop targets casual users anyway). I tested out my workflow on the Spin 714, which typically consists of 30 Google Chrome tabs with several playing YouTube videos simultaneously. I launched a new document on Google Docs and began typing away. Fortunately, I didn’t experience any lag nor slowdowns. 

Now, this is where it gets interesting. On the Geekbench 6 overall performance test, the Chromebook Spin 714 delivered a multi-core score of 6,335. Although the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook costs $300 more, its performance is significantly worse with a measly score of 4,263 — it couldn’t even beat the average Chromebook score (5,299).

On our JetStream 2.0 benchmark, which tests how quickly large web pages load, the Chromebook Spin 714 achieved a score of 250.2, which bests the Chromebook average (240), but not the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook (256.7)

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 battery life

The average Chromebook lasts 9 hours and 56 minutes on a charge, but we tested the Chromebook Spin 714’s battery life three times and it survived for an average of 12 hours and 43 minutes, according to the Laptop Mag battery test (which consists of continuous web surfing over WiFi at 150 nits.)

In other words, this Acer Chromebook can last nearly three hours longer than a typical Chrome OS machine. The HP Chromebook Pro Chromebook, on the other hand, continues to disappoint with a poor runtime of 9 hours and 17 minutes. Gross!

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 webcam

No, the Chromebook Spin 714 doesn’t have a 720p webcam — and it doesn’t have a 1080p shooter either. Imagine my surprise when an Acer rep told me that this Chromebook sports a QHD, 2460 x 1440-pixel webcam. I was not expecting that on a Chromebook in this price range.

I’m used to looking like a grayish blob on most Chromebook webcams, but on the Chromebook Spin 714, this 1440p shooter perfectly captured my brown complexion. My fiery t-shirt, filled with stunning hues of yellows, oranges and pinks, looked realistic and vivid on the camera. However, images on this webcam tend to be warmer and there's still a great deal of noise. Conversely, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has one of the best laptop webcams I’ve ever seen with its 8MP shooter.

If you’re seeking ultra-sharp, super vivid picture that a laptop webcam can’t deliver, consider getting an external webcam. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 heat

The Chromebook Spin 714 remained temperate on our heat test, which involves running a 1080p video for 15 minutes. 

The center of the keyboard (75.4 degrees Fahrenheit), touchpad (80.8 degrees), and underside (83.3 degrees) all remained cool and under our 95-degree comfort threshold.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 software and warranty

It dawned on me that one thing I love about Chrome OS is that I don’t have to go through the hassle of installing Chrome via Microsoft Edge, which isn’t shy about hounding you about how it’s so much better than its Google counterpart. Uh-huh — sure! Plus, after inputting my email and password, I get instant access to my personalized Google accounts via the bottom taskbar.

If the majority of your workflow involves Google apps, I’m talkin’ Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, YouTube, and more, the Chromebook Spin 714 will meet all your needs. I particularly loved the Google Messages app, which allowed me to pair my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra with my review unit in seconds. All I needed to do was scan a QR Code, and bam, I could see all of my conversations.

You can also download apps from Google Play’s incredibly vast library, but keep in mind that not all apps are optimized for Chromebooks. For example, I downloaded the new ChatGPT app, but a window popped up saying, “This app is designed for mobile.” In other words, by default, the app just takes up about a third of the display. However, for Android-based apps, you can choose from three modes: Phone, Tablet, and Resizable. I chose the latter; I got a warning that the window “may not resize well” or the app may crash. Fortunately, although the new ChatGPT app isn’t native to Chrome OS, I maximized the window to fullscreen without any issues

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 comes with a one-year warranty. See how Acer performed on our Tech Support Showdown ranking.

Bottom line

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is the best Chromebook Laptop Mag tested this year. It’s got great battery life (over 12 hours), competition-beating performance, and an attractive 2-in-1 design — all for less than $700. Hell, the HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook has a jaw-dropping $1,000 price tag and can’t even match what the Chromebook Spin 714 offers.

Its only flaws are its quiet sound system and it’s not as lightweight as one might expect, but those are negligible foibles. Say hello to the newest addition to our best Chromebooks page (I’ll also let it sit at the best laptops under $1,000 table, too.) 

Chromebooks have never resonated with me. They're not gamer-friendly (even though OEMs are trying to 'make fetch happen' with 'gaming Chromebooks'), some of my favorite apps can't run natively on them, and they're web-based, rendering them useless if you're offline.

But what really grinds my gears is that Chromebooks have fooled the masses into thinking they have a reputation for having good battery life, but in my experience as a laptop reviewer, their runtimes are too mid to confidently say they're power efficient.

However, a brand spankin' new Chromebook was dropped on my desk, and I thought, "Oh great. Another boring ol' Chrome OS system with nine hours of battery life I bet." Boy, was I wrong.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 shut me up good, exceeding my expectations in almost every aspect. I still won't be getting a Chromebook anytime soon, but for once, I've finally reviewed a Chromebook that I'd recommend in a heartbeat. 

Without further ado, here are three reasons I've fallen in love with the Chromebook Spin 714.

Where to buy? The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is $569.99 at Best Buy

1. It has excellent battery life

We tested the Acer Chromebook Spin 714's battery life three times. Here are its runtimes:

• 12 hours and 20 minutes
• 13 hours and 12 minutes
• 12 hours and 41 minutes

On average, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 lasted for 12 hours and 43 minutes. That's nearly 13 hours. To put this into perspective for you, according to Laptop Mag's records, the average Chromebook lasts 9 hours and 56 minutes. In other words, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 delivers two more hours compared to a typical Chrome OS system.

This is much better than its predecessor. The last-gen model lasted only 7 hours and 25 minutes. Gross.

Keep in mind that Chromebooks have been disappointing me lately. For example, the HP Dragonfly Chromebook Pro, a $1,000 Chromebook that is way overpriced, only lasted for 9 hours and 17 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test. (The Verge recorded an even lower runtime of two and a half hours.)

We also reviewed the Chromebook 516 GE, a "gaming Chromebook" (someone get me an aspirin). It only lasted 7 hours and 40 minutes on a charge. With these poor runtimes I've seen seeing this year, I wasn't expecting much from the 2023 Acer Chromebook Spin 714, but it blew my expectations out of the water.

2. Its performance beat a $1,000 Chromebook

While HP had the audacity to slap a $1,000 price tag on a Chromebook that doesn't perform up to standard (i.e., the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook), Acer priced the Chromebook Spin 714 at less than $700 — and it runs better than its $1,000 rival.

Don't believe me? I've got the numbers to prove it. 

We ran Geekbench 6 on both laptops. The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 delivered a multi-core score of 6,335. The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, on the other hand, notched an embarrassing score of 4,263. Are you not ashamed, HP? This system costs $300 more, and yet, it cannot perform better than a sub-$700 Chromebook. If I were HP, I'd sheepishly disappear into a bush à la Homer Simpson's infamous hedge GIF. (It's a good thing they came out with the HP Dragonfly G4, an absolute masterpiece of a laptop, to help us forget the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook.)

3. It's less than $700, but offers so much

The Chromebook Spin 714 has an MSRP of $699, but it's often on sale. As of this writing, it's $569 at Best Buy.

Let me give you a rundown of all the awesome features you're getting for less than $700

• Nearly 13 hours of battery life
• A decent, comfortable keyboard
• An attractive dark-gray chassis with gold accents
• A QHD, 2460 x 1440-pixel webcam (most Chromebooks in this category sport a 720p or 1080p shooter)

The unit I reviewed comes with an 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB NVMe SSD, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel touch display.

Bottom line

Oh, and let's not forget that the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a 2-in-1. In other words, you can transform this laptop into several other modes, including tent and tablet. 

If you're looking for a good Chromebook as you head back to school, I'd recommend the Chromebook Spin 714. As I mentioned at the outset, Chromebooks aren't my thing (I prefer Windows or macOS), but if they were, the Chromebook Spin 714 would be my daily driver.

After a 3-month beta process that saw it used by 1.7 million people to transfer more than 50 million files; Google's Nearby Share for Windows app is officially available. If you are wondering how to use Nearby Share for Windows, then you are in the right place and the good news is that it is quick and easy to set up and even easier to use.

If you aren't sure what Nearby Share for Windows is, don't worry we've got you covered there too. Nearby Share is a wireless file transfer app to send photos, videos, or whatever kind of file you like between your Android or ChromeOS device and a Windows laptop or desktop. This is Google's answer to AirDrop in the Apple ecosystem.

While our data increasingly lives solely in the cloud, there are times when you need to share your files between devices, and if you live in the Windows and Android ecosystems this just became one of the simplest ways to do it, so here's how to use Nearby Share for Windows.

How to set up Nearby Share for Windows

Step 1: Download Nearby Share for Windows from Google. Be aware that the official app is rolling out now, but you may still get the beta as I did. There are a couple of updates in the official app including the time remaining on a download, but the basic functionality and these instructions remain the same for both versions.

Step 2: Install Nearby Share for Windows. Just double-click on the .exe file that you downloaded and it will install automatically in a few seconds.

Step 3: Sign into your Google account. Click on the "Sign in" button in the upper-right corner of the Nearby Share app and then you will be prompted to sign into your account in your browser of choice. 

Step 4: Set your Visibility preferences to determine who or what can share files with your Windows laptop through Nearby Share. You can select to: Receive from everyone, Receive from contacts, Receive from your devices, or Device is hidden. I would recommend against that first choice in most cases, but any of the others will allow for safe and secure sharing without worrying about random people tossing files your way.

Step 5: That's it, you're ready to start nearby sharing!

How to use Nearby Share for Windows to send files from Android

Now that you've got the Nearby Share for Windows app up and running, it can just sit in the background until you need it. First, let's look at how to use Nearby Share for Windows from Android.

Step 1: On your phone open whatever file it is you want to share.

Step 2: Tap on the Share icon.

Step 3: Select Nearby Share.

Step 4: Tap on the device you wish to share the file to.

That's it, your file(s) will transfer right away.

How to use Nearby Share for Windows to send files to Android

What if the crucial file is on your Windows laptop and you want to send it to your Android device? Not a problem.

Step 1: Open Nearby Share from Google

Step 2: Drag and drop or select the file(s) or folder(s) that you want to transfer

Step 3: Click on the device that you want to send the file to.

That's it, just wait for the transfer to complete and you are all set to go.

Many of the best Amazon Prime Day deals are still available this week. So if you sat on the sidelines of the online retailer's big sale, there are tons of after Prime Day discounts to be had. Beyond Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart offer epic sitewide and in-store summer sales this month. 

So if you're looking for the best deals after Prime Day deals, you have plenty of options. See our hand-picked recommended Prime Day deals still available below.

Best Prime Day 2023 deals still available — Quick links

• Amazon Devices: up to 60% off Kindle, Fire Tablet, Fire TV Stick and more
• Laptops: up to $1,000 off Windows, macOS, Chrome OS notebook PCs
• Apple: up to $400 off MacBook, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch
• Headphones: up to $50% off AirPods, Beats, Bose, Sony & more
• Tablets: up to $200 off iPad, Galaxy Tab, Surface and more
• Phones: up to $400 off Motorola, OnePlus, Google, Samsung, Sony
• Wearables: up to $70 off Fitbit fitness and wellness trackers
• Monitors: up to $400 off Acer, Asus, Dell HP, Samsung, and more
• Anker PC accessories: up to 50% off USB-C hubs, cables, chargers
• Smart TVs: up to $1,000 off Fire TV, Hisense, LG, TCL, Samsung, Sony 

Best Prime Day deals 2023

Top deals

• Apple 15" MacBook Air M2 (512GB): $1,499 $1,399 Amazon
• Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Pro: $1,449 $1,249 @ Amazon
• Microsoft Surface Laptop 5: $999 $883 @ Amazon
• Apple MacBook Air M1: $999 $749 @ Amazon
• HP Envy x360 2-in-1 Laptop: $1,119 $1,019 @ Amazon
• Apple iPad 9th Gen: $329 $249 @ Amazon (via on-page coupon)

Amazon devices

Laptops

Gaming laptops

Tablets

Monitors

Headphones

Smartwatches

Phones

Gaming

Storage

TVs

The best Photoshop alternatives for Chromebooks might have you scratching your head. After all, many people think that Chromebooks aren't really optimal for photo editing; good thing that's just a myth.

Contrary to popular belief, you can edit photos on a Chromebook. In fact, there are tons of Photoshop alternatives for Chromebooks available online and in the Chrome Web Store.

Given that Chromebooks made in 2016 and later run Android apps, you can also download and install Photoshop alternatives from the Google Play Store.

While you won't get the full-blown Adobe Photoshop experience, the right app can get the job done. If you want to edit photos or create high-quality visual content on your ChromeOS machine, here are the best Photoshop alternatives for Chromebooks.

The best Photoshop alternatives for Chromebooks: Canva 

Canva is among the more feature-robust Photoshop alternatives for Chromebooks out there. This popular design program is easily accessible through the Chrome web browser and has a user-friendly interface. Whether you’re a beginner or pro, the possibilities of creating with Canva are endless.

Whether you want eye-catching graphics for a presentation, website, storefront, social media platforms, or flyers, Canva covers it all. Choose from a large collection of customizable templates with easy-to-follow step-by-step guides to create a range of visual content.

Canva’s extensive library of images, fonts, and graphics makes it easy to design high-quality visuals even if you’re a beginner. Canva’s free tier gives you plenty of tools to create with, and the paid tier gives you access to more advanced features and design elements. Canva is also available as a free Chrome extension in the Chrome Web Store.

Photopea

Photopea is one of the best Photoshop alternatives for Chromebooks, and personally, my photo editor of choice. This free online image editor is basically a Photoshop clone as it has a nearly identical user interface and many of the same editing functions. This powerful design tool lets you edit and create layers and features, blending modes, filters, and more. It also supports just about all of the same files as Photoshop, like JPEG, PNG, PS,D and others.

Photopea is a convenient option for anyone who wants to edit images without having to install desktop software. Like Canva, Photopea is available in both free and paid “Pro” version,s with the latter offering advanced functionality.

Photopea is also available as a free Chrome extension in the Chrome Web Store.

Pixlr

Pixlr is one of the most popular editing tools for all of the best Chromebooks. You can access it directly from your Chrome browser via the internet or download it as an Android app. Pixlr’s user-friendly interface makes it ideal for amateurs, photographers, and graphic designers alike.

Beyond basic image editing like cropping, resizing, and rotating, Pixlr lets you add filters and effects, edit layers, add text, and create collages. Recently, Pixlr added a whole new way to design and create with the debut of Pixlr 2023 with AI technology. Among the new features are smart resize, AI image generation, and text warp just to name a few.

GIMP

GIMP has been around since the 90s. Short for GNU Image Manipulation Program, this free, open-source imaging editor is ideal for more advanced photo manipulation. This feature-rich popular Photoshop alternative for Chromebooks is great for image retouching, color correction, layer management, and more. It also supports a broad range of file formats like BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, PCX, PDF, and PSD.

To install GIMP on your Chromebook, navigate to Settings > Advanced > Developers and enable Linux development environment. From there, open the Linux Terminal and type the command, “sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install gimp” and enter “Y” when prompted.

Polarr Photo Editor

Polarr Photo Editor is another free online Photoshop alternative for Chromebooks. It’s also available as an Android app from Google Play. Like its counterparts, Polarr packs a broad range of editing features and tools into an easy-to-use interface. It’s a great solution for photographers and creators who want to quickly enhance their images.

With Polarr, you can make adjustments to color, lighting, vignette, and tone. Other basic tools let you add filters, add text, adjust skin tone, and remove blemishes from faces. There’s also a pro-grade paid version of Polarr Photo Editor which offers unlimited access to more advanced features like effects and lens distortion. What really sets Polarr Photo Editor apart from other Photoshop alternatives is its useful YouTube tutorials. Improve your photo skills with video walkthroughs that teach you everything from the basics to advanced use cases.

Steam on Chromebooks finally moves to beta on ChromeOS. After the alpha build of Steam on Chrome OS arrived earlier this year, allowing select Chromebook users to play iconic PC games such as Portal 2, Half-Life 2, Stardew Valley, and more, it's now more widely available on the ChromeOS 108.

Available in the beta channel of ChromeOS 108, which many spotted in the Chromium Gerrit, Steam can be accessed by a select list of Chromebooks outlined in Google's Chromium page. As developers note: "When borealis enters the beta development phase we will allow compatible Chromebooks on the beta channel to install it."

As gaming Chromebooks are starting to emerge, including Acer's first gaming Chromebook announced in October, bringing Steam support makes playing on Google's laptops a reality. While the full release of the popular gaming platform has yet to arrive, a selection of Chromebooks will be able to access the beta, which aims to be more stable than the alpha build. 

Chromebooks that support Steam 

Steam already came to a small set of Chromebooks with specific specs. Chromebooks needed to have at least an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU and a minimum of 7GB of RAM. However, a new generation of Chromebooks now offer an updated list of specs.

According to Acer, the updated list of Chromebooks that support Steam in beta include models that are powered by 12th Gen Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 5000 C-Series Ryzen 3 and higher CPU, with at least 8GB of RAM. This list includes the following: 

• Acer Chromebook 514 (CB514-1W)
• Acer Chromebook 515 (CB515-1W)
• Acer Chromebook 516 GE
• Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-3H, CP514-3HH, CP514-3WH)
• Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (CP713-3W)
• Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (CP714-1WN)
• Acer Chromebook Vero 514 

During the alpha build, Chromebooks needed to have at least an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 or i7 CPU and a minimum of 7GB of RAM. The list included:

• Acer Chromebook 514 and 515
• Acer Chromebook Spin 713
• Asus Chromebook Flip CX5
• Asus Chromebook CX9
• HP Pro c640 G2 Chromebook
• Lenovo 5i-14 Chromebook

We'll update this page with more Chromebooks that support Steam when they become available, as the list is expected to grow closer to the official release of Steam on Chrome OS.

Previously, news outlets 9to5Google (video) and Chrome Unboxed (video) have both showcased hands-on impressions of how Steam runs on Chrome OS, playing a selection of titles Google recommends and more. Games such as Portal 2 and Half-Life 2 reportedly ran smoothly at 60 fps without any input lag or performance issues. Other titles including Stardew Valley and Slime Rancher also played well, but settings needed to be adjusted or put on low graphics settings.

Now that Steam is available in the beta channel, more games are set to be available with stable performance. However, since it is in beta, users are expected to run into some errors and hiccups.

You can check out the full list of games available on Steam in the ChromeOS beta here, which includes Portal 2, The Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Disco Elysium, Tekken 7, Hollow Knight, and plenty more.

We can't wait to try out Steam on Chromebooks capable of running the gaming client, espeically once it's officially released. In the meantime, check out the best gaming Chromebooks on the market. 

Customizable laptop maker Framework launched its latest do-it-yourself laptop featuring modular, swappable parts, and a selection of upgrades. Surprisingly, it's a Chromebook, but an upgradeable Chromebook may be what we need to shake things up.

Frameworks' concept behind this is taking "the best parts of the Framework Laptop and merging those with the powerful simplicity of ChromeOS to create a high-performance, upgradeable, repairable, customizable Chromebook."

The Framework Chromebook will be available immediately for pre-order in the US and Canada, with delivery expected to begin in early December. The highly expandable Chromebook comes with a starting price of $999. Framework uses a "batch pre-order system, with only a fully-refundable $100 deposit required at the time of pre-order."

Framework Chromebook 

Framework's Chromebook Edition features a familiar design you will recognize from the company's Windows-powered Framework Laptop DIY Edition. The Framework Chromebook features a 2256 x 1504 resolution, 3:2 aspect ratio display, a comfortable 1.5mm key-travel keyboard, and milled aluminum housing — all while remaining extremely portable at 0.6-inches thick and 2.8 pounds.

The Framework Chromebook is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P processor, which is more than enough to run even the heaviest ChromeOS workloads. Users can enjoy the simplicity of ChromeOS, the productivity of Google Workspace, and download apps from Google's Play Store.

The Chromebook Edition features Frameworks Expansion Card system, letting users choose the ports they want and which side they want them on. The available ports are USB-C, USB-A, MicroSD, HDMI, DisplayPort, Ethernet, and high-speed storage.

The Framework Chromebook's memory and storage are socketed, which enables you to swap out parts and load up whenever you’d like. Frameworks' pre-built configuration comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD storage, and users can upgrade it up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM and 1TB of NVMe SSD storage.

Who would have thought we'd see the day when a Chromebook could get up to 64GB of RAM. That said, since you're able to play PC games on Steam with it, I guess all that RAM would be helpful.

As noted in our Framework Laptop review, we're fans of the overall design of Framework laptops, and we look forward to getting our hands on the Chromebook and seeing what it is capable of. A stylish, super-powered Chromebook could be game-changing. However, with a starting price of $999, some consumers may be a bit skittish about dropping nearly $1,000 on a Chromebook when they could buy a MacBook Air with M1 for about the same price. 

A recent code change spotted on ChromeOS shows offline diction will soon be available for Chromebook users, which will be a big step toward improved accessibility.

Spotted by Chrome Story, the code was found via the open-source program Chromium Gerrit with two flags added to the ChromeOS code for a dictation extension and offline dictation.

The new accessibility feature is expected to come out in an upcoming Chrome OS Canary Channel update — with Canary being Google's pre-beta web browser targeted at developers, seasoned techies, and browser enthusiasts. 

• How to download Chrome Canary or Beta Browser
• The best Chromebooks in 2021
• Best Chrome extensions for productivity

The offline feature may not seem like much, but this is a big step forward in regards to Chromebook accessibility to a wider audience. Essentially, the offline diction will do exactly as it says on the tin: transcribe and dictate text without an internet connection.

Other extensions, including Otter, let people transcribe Google Meet calls and even caption meetings in real-time, and are an essential online feature, so a feature coming to cheaper Chromebooks in places where an internet connection is fleeting is a step in the right direction.

There are no further details on when the new offline feature will be available, but these other best Chrome extensions are sure to help you out in the meantime. 

In a recent update reported by Android Central, Chrome OS joined the rest of the computing world by adding a recycle bin.  It's seen by many as a tip of the cap to the growing market share Chrome OS has been capturing via Google's popular  Chromebooks. 

The newly titled Trash folder is a welcome addition to Chrome OS which has been rapidly growing its user base. It signifies that the operating system is evolving past functioning as a web-first platform. The recycle bin on other operating systems, such as Windows and macOS, has long been the home of recently deleted material from our computers. 

In the past due to Chrome OS not starting out as a desktop competitor, anything a user deleted simply vanished forever, never to be seen again. Instead of jettisoning old files into oblivion, the Trash folder allows us the opportunity to have a change of heart and restore previously deleted material.

• How to personalize Chrome OS
• Chrome OS and Android may add this feature
• The best Chromebooks in 2020

Along with the new recycle/Trash bin, Chrome is adding a screen recorder, and a light and dark theme setting. With Chrome OS gaining in popularity, it seems that Google will be bringing other functions that are considered old hat on Windows 10 or Mac. 

Within recent weeks the Trash feature has been available for testing in a "#files-trash" feature Flag within Chrome OS Canary within My flies. Once enabled you will find a new Trash folder within My Files. 

As an original adapter of Android and Google when I purchased one of the very first G1 Google phones via T-Mobile, it truly is amazing to see how far Google has come these past twelve years. Who knew getting a garbage bin would bring so much joy. 

As the epic operating-system battle continues between OS X and Windows, a lesser-known contender is slowly gaining ground. Google's Chrome OS is built on the assumption that users spend a majority of their computer time online, and that Internet connectivity is becoming ubiquitous. Since its release in 2009, Chrome is already on version 25, which brings with it a better Flash engine, multimonitor support and improved Bluetooth connectivity. Can a Chromebook successfully replace a notebook running OS X or Windows? Or does Google's Web-based operating system still lag behind the competition?

Interface

Click to EnlargeChromeOS has a look and feel most similar to Windows 7 and various windowed Linux distributions, such as Ubuntu and Fedora. Upon launch, users are greeted with a large desktop background image and a transparent menu bar "launcher" along the bottom. This launch bar has links to Chrome, Gmail and Google+ as well as a window that pops up with icons of all installed apps. Much like Apple's dock, currently open apps will be added alongside these quick-launch icons and then disappear once they are closed.

Like the Windows tray, the right side of the launch bar shows the time, volume, Wi-Fi signal strength, battery level and a profile image. Clicking anywhere in this area of the launch bar opens a menu with various ChromeOS settings, such as detailed Wi-Fi and volume controls, Bluetooth, the ability to lock or shut down the notebook and access to a full settings panel.

Click to EnlargeThis, however, is where the desktop experience ends. Users can't save app shortcuts or files to the desktop and most of the ChromeOS configuration is performed through the Chrome browser. Gmail doesn't open a dedicated Gmail app, but rather in a new tab in the browser. It's the same with any Chrome app, including games, with the exception of the downloads and Google Drive file browsers, which have their own windows.

Despite a lack of functionality, the desktop provides a very important purpose. Without a desktop, the user feels trapped in the Chrome browser, bullied into single-tasking despite the option for multiple tabs and functions. Even if it's not as useful as Windows or OS X, the desktop allows users to toggle between full-screen view and windows, as well as view multiple browser windows side by side.

ChromeOS version 25 has dual-screen support, allowing users to connect to an external monitor for both mirroring and extended display. Our external monitor was immediately recognized and usable when we connected via VGA on the Acer C710 Chromebook and could adjust options in the display settings menu accessible through the dock bar.

MORE: How to Set Up Chrome Remote Desktop on Your Chromebook

Apps

Click to EnlargeChromeOS is optimized for users who already use Google's numerous applications. The three quick launch apps on the launchbar are the Chrome Web browser, Gmail and Google+. Within the apps drawer, the Google love continues, with YouTube, Google Calendar, Maps, Drive and more all present. Every installed application ends up in this app drawer, but the default apps are all from Google.

Unlike Windows or OS X, these app icons function more like bookmarks rather than independent applications. Instead of opening new windows, each icon opens a new tab in the Chrome browser to the desired Web app.

Like Windows 8 and OS X, ChromeOS has an app marketplace, where users can download and install a large selection of apps. According to Google, there are tens of thousands of Chrome apps in the online Web store, which connect to different Web services and provide most of the functionality afforded in desktop apps.

But herein lies the main problem with ChromeOS, a setback that's preventing a multitude of users from truly investigating making the switch to a Chromebook. Since the vast majority of this operating system exists online, it's pretty much useless when not connected to the Internet.

Click to EnlargeGoogle addresses these concerns with an Offline Apps category, which features applications that do not require Internet connectivity to run. Included are most of Google's own applications, such as Gmail, Calendar and Drive, and games such as "Angry Birds." According to Google, there are now thousands of Chrome apps that do not require Internet connectivity.

We were able to easily set up offline mode for Gmail, Calendar and Drive by installing a designated offline app from the Web store and enabling offline mode. Users using Google Apps on a custom domain will need an admin to enable offline syncing for Drive, while Gmail and Calendar don't require any extra permissions.

Despite the conveniences afforded by offline apps, ChromeOS users still don't have access to every app available in the Chrome Web store. Unity3D, a 3D rendering engine that's used in many popular games, such as "Counter Strike CS Portable," is not available for ChromeOS. These apps can be still be played on Windows and Mac computers, but won't work on Google's operating system.

MORE: Top 20 Chrome Apps for Your Chromebook

Extensions

Additional functionality can be added to ChromeOS through the use of extensions. These are also available through the Chrome Web store, but behave slightly differently than apps. While apps generally behave as bookmarks, extensions add features to the Chrome Web browser itself.

Google Chat is available as an extension rather than an app, which separates the chat feature from its usual home within Gmail. This is not as useful, though, as it is on other operating systems. Since this extension puts Google Chat in its own window, and ChromeOS doesn't support two windows concurrently, the Web browser is hidden anytime a user receives a message or switches to Chat. The only way to get around this would be to use a second monitor.

But other extensions can be incredibly useful, such as the Evernote Web clipper, which can automatically add websites, text snippets or pictures to your Evernote account. Facebook Notifications added a handy button that showed the number of current notifications. Since these were Chrome extensions rather than apps, they followed us around the Web as part of the browser, constantly available.

Chrome Remote Desktop

Click to EnlargeOne of the most powerful apps is Chrome Remote Desktop. This cross-platform app allows you to access a remote Windows or Mac computer from a Chromebook, greatly increasing ChromeOS' capabilities.

We connected a Chromebook to a MacBook Air by installing the Chrome Remote Desktop app on both notebooks. The entire setup took around three minutes, and the Chromebook was mirroring the Air's screen in near real-time.

Our only frustration was using the Chrome Remote Desktop app on the Chromebook Pixel, which uses a 16:10 different aspect ratio rather than the 16:9 ratio on most modern notebooks. As a result, there were large gaps at the top and bottom of the screen when using our Air through the Pixel and the display size was much smaller than on the native notebook. There was no way to change the resolution or aspect ratio; the only two options were Shrink To Fit and Full Screen.

This remote desktop tool isn't as powerful as similar programs such as LogMeIn or GoToMyPC. While you're able to use the remote computer and copy and paste text across devices, you can't copy files back and forth and there's no access to any advanced controls.

Cloud Print

As with most other features of the operating system, printing is supported through the Chrome Web browser with Cloud Print. This allows ChromeOS notebooks to connect wirelessly to cloud-ready printers, including certain models from Canon, Epson, FedEx, HP and Kodak. Chromebooks can also print through wired printers by networking with another computer that is attached to the desired printer.

For those who only print occasionally, Cloud Print has a feature that will print your document at a local FedEx office, providing a retrieval code that will print the desired document at any location.

Limitations

Click to EnlargeDespite the evolution of ChromeOS, there are still some significant limitations. While there are a growing number of offline apps, the OS still relies heavily on connectivity.

On our PC, we do a lot of photo editing, using both the PicMoney Web app or the desktop version of Photoshop Elements, depending on the individual task. Photoshop Elements isn't available for ChromeOS and, while PicMonkey works, it requires Internet connectivity to run. While there is a very basic photo editor built into ChromeOS, which supports cropping, brightness and image rotation, we were unable to find a photo editor with additional features that worked offline, greatly reducing our productivity were we to experience a network outage.

Additionally, simple tasks such as printing are also unavailable once the Internet is disconnected. Despite the USB ports that grace the sides of Chromebooks, ChromeOS does not have any printer drivers, instead relying exclusively on Cloud Print. While many users won't miss this feature, users with a spotty Internet connection and numerous printing needs may want to look for a different operating system.

Verdict

Click to EnlargeWhile it's still a step down from featured-filled desktop operating systems such as Windows and OS X, ChromeOS will satisfy the computing needs of a large number of users whose needs are basic. Now gracing budget and premium notebooks alike, from the $249 Samsung Chromebook Series 3 to the $1,499 Chromebook Pixel, Google imagines a future where the Internet is front and center, rather than simply another application among many others. The world may not yet meet ChromeOS' expectations, but as mobile and home broadband edge closer to ubiquity, ChromeOS' limitations will slowly disappear.

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