Short answer: the best Chromebook for most people is the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 ($649): a 14-inch OLED screen, a fast and efficient MediaTek Kompanio Ultra chip and an aluminium build, and Tom’s Guide calls it “the best Chromebook you can buy right now”. For a thinner laptop with a bigger OLED, look at the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus. On a budget, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus i 15 ($469.99) and Acer Chromebook 315 cover school and web work. Google’s new Googlebooks went on sale in October 2026, and Chromebooks are still worth buying: Google will keep updating ChromeOS until mid-2034.
How we put this together: this guide is based on manufacturers’ specifications, Google’s support statements and published reviews (linked below). It is not based on hands-on testing by iTech Level. Prices are list or launch prices at the time of writing and change often. See how we choose products.
Best Chromebooks compared
| Chromebook | Best for | Screen | Chip / memory | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 | Best overall | 14″ 1920×1200 OLED | MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910, 12–16GB | $649 ($749 touch) |
| Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus | Thinnest, biggest OLED | 15.6″ AMOLED | Intel Core 5 120U | Premium; check current price |
| Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (2026) | Best premium 2-in-1 | 14″ 3K IPS touch, 60Hz | MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910, 12GB | Premium for a Chromebook |
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus i 15 | Big screen under $500 | 15.3″ 1920×1200, 400 nits | Intel Core i3-N355, 8GB | From $469.99 |
| Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 | Budget convertible (on sale) | Touch and pen | Intel Core 3 N355, 8GB | $579 list, often $429 |
| Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 (2024) | Tablet with a keyboard | 10.95″ 2K | MediaTek Kompanio 838, 4–8GB | About $340–$400 |
| Acer Chromebook 315 | Cheapest for school | 15.6″ Full HD touch | Intel N100, 8GB | Budget |
Chromebook or Googlebook?
Google launched Googlebooks in the US on October 4, 2026. They run Googlebook OS, a new Android-based operating system that combines ChromeOS and Android, and come from Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP and Lenovo, starting at $899. Every launch model has at least 16GB of memory, a touchscreen and an AI chip, and Google says they’re built to work closely with Android phones (Android Authority).
Chromebooks aren’t going away. Google says the Chromebooks you buy today will keep getting updates through their supported lifetime, and ChromeOS will get regular updates and security patches through mid-2034. It also says “many” of its newest Chromebooks, which a later note describes as newer commercial models, will be able to move to Googlebook OS, and that qualifying Chromebooks whose 10-year support runs past 2034 will get a transition path. It hasn’t yet published which models qualify (9to5Google).
- Buy a Chromebook if you want a capable laptop for the web, Google Docs and school for well under $900. Most Chromebooks cost far less than the cheapest Googlebook.
- Consider a Googlebook if you’re spending $900 or more, use an Android phone, and want the newest hardware and Google’s newest software.
- Don’t buy a Chromebook expecting Googlebook OS. Google has only said “many” of its newest models will be eligible, and a later note refers to newer commercial (business) Chromebooks. Until it publishes the list, judge a Chromebook on what it does today.
The best Chromebooks in 2026
1. Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: best Chromebook
The Chromebook Plus 14 was the first Chromebook with a built-in AI chip (NPU), in its MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910. It pairs that with a 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED, 12GB or 16GB of memory, Wi-Fi 7 and a fanless aluminium body weighing 2.58 pounds. Tom’s Guide calls it “simply put, the best Chromebook you can buy right now”, praising the premium build, “mesmerizing” OLED, speakers and battery life, and PCWorld found it surprisingly strong for a fanless Chromebook.
Good to know: it costs $649, or $749 for the touchscreen with 16GB and 256GB. Tom’s Guide notes that’s pricey for a Chromebook, and PCWorld found the function keys hard to read. There are no HDMI ports, just two USB-C and one USB-A.
Check the Chromebook Plus 14 on Amazon →
2. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus: thinnest, with the biggest OLED
Samsung’s Chromebook looks more like a MacBook than any other here: 11.8 mm thin and 1.17 kg, with a 15.6-inch AMOLED screen. Trusted Reviews, which names it the best Chromebook overall, found its Intel Core 5 120U fast in everyday use and measured 15 hours 25 minutes of battery life, which it says is up to two days of real use.
Good to know: Trusted Reviews found the speakers a little thin. It’s one of the more expensive Chromebooks, so compare its price with the Chromebook Plus 14 before buying.
Check the Galaxy Chromebook Plus on Amazon →
3. Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (2026): best premium 2-in-1
The 2026 Spin 514 uses the same Kompanio Ultra 910 chip as the Chromebook Plus 14, with 12GB of memory, and adds a 360-degree hinge so it folds into a tablet. Trusted Reviews praises its 14-inch 3K screen, keyboard and solid performance, and its battery lasted over 13 hours in testing.
Good to know: it’s expensive for a Chromebook, the screen is only 60Hz, and there’s no HDMI port, so you’ll need a USB-C adapter for an external monitor.
Check the Chromebook Plus Spin 514 on Amazon →
4. Lenovo Chromebook Plus i 15: best big-screen Chromebook under $500
Announced at CES 2026, the Chromebook Plus i 15 starts at $469.99 (Notebookcheck). It pairs an Intel Core i3-N355 with 8GB of memory and a 15.3-inch 1920×1200 screen rated at 400 nits, with an optional 120Hz touchscreen. Lenovo rates its 65Wh battery at up to 11 hours, and you get a number pad, a fingerprint reader, a 5MP webcam with a privacy shutter, HDMI and a microSD slot.
Good to know: it’s the pick for Google Docs, Classroom and web apps on a big screen. If you need Windows software, see our best Lenovo laptops under $500, which compares it with Windows options.
Check the Chromebook Plus i 15 on Amazon →
5. Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1: best budget convertible, on sale
At its $579 list price this 2-in-1 is hard to recommend, but Chrome Unboxed reports it has dropped to $429 several times. At that price it’s a well-made convertible with a rigid chassis, what the review calls a fantastic keyboard and trackpad, a responsive touch and pen screen, plenty of ports and a fingerprint reader.
Good to know: the Intel Core 3 N355 is “only fine”, it comes with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage, it has a fan, and real-world battery life is about 7 hours.
Check the Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 on Amazon →
6. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 (2024): best Chromebook tablet
The Duet 11 is a 10.95-inch 2K tablet with a detachable keyboard in the box, powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 838. Notebookcheck calls it a “mobile energy-saving champion”. It launched at about $340 with 4GB of memory or about $400 with 8GB and 128GB.
Good to know: get the 8GB model. 9to5Google’s review is titled “Ruined by RAM” because 4GB isn’t enough for a modern Chromebook. The small keyboard isn’t made for long typing sessions.
Check the Chromebook Duet 11 on Amazon →
7. Acer Chromebook 315: cheapest Chromebook for school
If most of the work happens in a browser, Google Docs or Classroom, the Chromebook 315 is a sensible low-cost pick: a 15.6-inch Full HD touchscreen, an Intel N100, 8GB of memory and up to 12 hours of battery. Trusted Reviews names the 2026 Chromebook 315 its best Chromebook for students.
Good to know: configurations with only 64GB of storage fill up quickly, and like every Chromebook it can’t run Windows apps or most PC games. Check the exact model year and memory in the listing.
Check the Acer Chromebook 315 on Amazon →
What to look for in a Chromebook
- Chromebook Plus: Google’s badge for Chromebooks that meet higher minimum specs and get Google’s AI features. Every pick here except the Duet 11 and Chromebook 315 is a Chromebook Plus.
- 8GB of memory or more: 4GB isn’t enough for modern ChromeOS, as 9to5Google found with the 4GB Duet 11.
- Update date: every Chromebook has an auto-update expiration date. Newer models get updates for longer, so avoid old stock sold cheaply.
- Know the limits: Chromebooks run web apps, Android apps and Linux apps, but not Windows software such as full desktop Office or most PC games.
Our verdict
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the best Chromebook for most people, with an OLED screen, strong performance and long battery life for $649. Choose the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus for the thinnest design and biggest OLED, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 for a premium 2-in-1, the Chromebook Plus i 15 for a big screen under $500, the Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 on sale, the Duet 11 as a tablet, and the Acer Chromebook 315 for the lowest price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Chromebook in 2026?
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 for most people. It has a 14-inch OLED screen, a MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 chip with a built-in AI processor, up to 16GB of memory and an aluminium build for $649. Tom’s Guide calls it the best Chromebook you can buy.
Is it still worth buying a Chromebook now that Googlebooks are out?
Yes, if you want a capable laptop for well under $900. Google says current Chromebooks keep getting updates through their supported lifetime, and ChromeOS will get regular updates and security patches through mid-2034. Googlebooks start at $899 and are aimed at the premium end of the market.
Will my Chromebook get Googlebook OS?
Possibly, if it’s a newer model. Google says many of its newest Chromebooks will be eligible to move to Googlebook OS, but it hasn’t published the list of qualifying models yet. Older Chromebooks will keep running ChromeOS with updates through their supported lifetime.
How long do Chromebooks get updates?
Each Chromebook has an auto-update expiration date, and newer models get updates for longer. Google says ChromeOS will receive regular updates and security patches through mid-2034, and qualifying devices whose support runs past 2034 will be offered a move to Googlebook OS.
Should I get a Chromebook or a Windows laptop?
Get a Chromebook if you mostly use a browser, Google Docs and web apps: they’re simple, secure and usually cheaper. Get a Windows laptop if you need desktop software such as full Microsoft Office, specialist school or work apps, or PC games.
