Chromebooks are great little laptops that don't break the bank or weigh a ton, and that's why we love them. With Chromebook Black Friday deals coming up, now is the best time to snag your new productivity machine.
Why are these gifts so good for you and others? Chromebooks can be the perfect laptop for work and play, as long as you keep your expectations in check, and the breadth of the Chromebook lineup means there's something for everyone. Chromebooks also come with special perks like three months of Canva Pro, YouTube Premium, Nvidia GeForce Now, and 100GB of cloud storage, which is a pretty impressive package.
There are so many types of Chromebooks it can seem a bit overwhelming, but we're here to help you make the right choice for your needs. From standalone Chromebooks to 2-in-1 convertibles and detachables, you're spoiled for choice.
Detachable Chromebooks are great for kids who can use them as traditional laptops during the school day, then at night and on weekends they can quickly remove the keyboard to turn it into a tablet. Meanwhile, convertible Chromebooks can be great for students who need to quickly go from writing term papers to attending classes virtually. There are so many uses that you can pull out the right Chromebook once you have it.
Black Friday is a great time to buy a Chromebook with all the deals and price cuts. The challenge with this, however, is the fact that there are so many offers on so many products that it can be a bit overwhelming. But we're here to help you find the best Chromebook for your needs.
So, without further ado, let's start looking.
What to look for...
As you explore all the different types of Chromebooks looking for the right one for you, the key is knowing exactly what you're going to do with a Chromebook. While having a large selection of models is great, it means you're more likely to end up with a device that's not right for you if you're not careful.
It's important to be honest about what you need and want from your device — you don't want to pay more for a detachable 2-in-1 Chromebook when all you need is a device for writing essays and reading emails.
Setting a budget early and really seeing what kind of Chromebook you can get for your budget is also very important, Chromebooks not only come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, but at different price points, so I'll find a laptop. that suits her.
...on a Chromebook for work or school
If you are a businessman
There aren't many differences between a Chromebook you'd get for school and a Chromebook you'd get for work. Either way, you'll be looking for something portable, lightweight, and reliable.
Users in both categories are likely to use their Chromebooks every day, and depending on your job or course, you'll want a machine that can handle a lot of demanding software. However, before proceeding, keep in mind that if you're using super specific software, you'll need to check if it works on ChromeOS.
If you're a business user looking to dive into the world of Chromebooks, you're looking for many of the features commonly found in a student laptop: good battery life, durability, and more. However, you may have a bigger budget to spend and can probably splurge on higher-end laptops. You might want to take a close look at a Chromebook's webcam specs, so you can look good in meetings. Also, with a larger budget, it is possible to invest in a nice and very stylish laptop like the HP Elite Dragonfly.
If you are a student looking for a device that gives you a good work-life balance:
A 2-in-1 Chromebook is probably your best bet. You can enjoy all the benefits of a small laptop and detach the keyboard, or fold the device up and have a tablet for taking notes or viewing lectures.
Chromebooks are great first laptops for kids because they're super durable and pretty easy to navigate if you're just looking for a few apps. Plus, most offer full parental controls so you can be sure your little ones won't go crazy over screen time or surf the web on their own. If you're buying a Chromebook for your child, you need a device tough enough to withstand drops or spills, and with enough battery life to last through the school day and beyond.
We've got a full list of the best Chromebooks for kids, with a number of great picks. One of our favorite recommendations on this list is the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook, which is an incredibly lightweight 2-in-1 that gives your kids the best of both worlds for a lot less. The IdeaPad has a 21-hour battery life, which is sure to help your kids through their school day and beyond, so they can seamlessly switch between a full-featured laptop for homework and power-on mode. tablet when they are done.
Whether it's a detachable 2-in-1 like the IdeaPad above or a convertible that lets you flip the screen like the HP Chromebook x360 12B, the touchscreen is definitely your friend. It's great for tactile learning and allows your kids to interact with their learning programs or the games they play in tablet mode, and gives them something to switch to if they're younger and just typing on a tablet. .
Chromebooks aren't really gaming devices, at least not yet. You'll be able to play all the games you'd normally find on the Google Play Store, but you'll also be able to use cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Amazon Luna if your internet connection is strong enough.
No matter who you buy a Chromebook for this Black Friday, you'll want to avoid these pitfalls.
First of all, if you're looking for a laptop for work, don't settle for less than 8 GB of RAM, especially if you plan to give presentations or use statistical analysis software on a daily basis. Your Chromebook will be your primary device and should be able to handle your workload and more, and anything less than 8GB won't do well. 8 GB of RAM might seem like a lot for Chromebooks because Chrome OS can run on machines with as little as 1 GB. However, if you're buying it to work on it, it's worth investing in a Chromebook with more than 1GB of RAM. RAM so you don't get frustrated with poor performance.
Second, it's tempting to just grab the most expensive Chromebook you see and think you're getting what you pay for. Don't get me wrong, Chromebooks are one of the cheapest laptop variants around, but that doesn't mean they can't get into expensive territory. The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a great piece of equipment but very expensive, and you don't need to shell out £1,149 (around £999 / AU$1,699) if you're just going to jot down a few notes while watching your favorite show. .
Third, don't head into Black Friday unprepared. There are plenty of Chromebook deals out there right now, and now might be the best time to get one, but do your research! As we said earlier, not all software is compatible with ChromeOS, so make sure you know you can use the software you need on the new OS before you buy it. Or think about how much you really need a Chromebook if you want to play PC games. Because there are not many games to play in these.
Some Chromebooks like the HP Chromebook X2 11 are basically tablets with a keyboard. They may be fine for younger kids, but they certainly won't work well as a college or professional setup, especially if you're connecting peripherals.
If you're looking for a place to start, we've got a full list of the best Chromebooks money can buy, and if you're ready for the next step, there are plenty of Black Friday Chromebook deals right now that could save you or them a buck. .
Today's best Chromebook deals
Today's best Chromebook deals