Last updated on January 24th, 2025 at 12:23 pm
Introduction
While selecting a Chromebook, price is the first concern, especially among casual users who just want basic functionality of a Chromebook. However, there are other things to consider like more power, processors, memory and storage for the desired performance. Chromebooks are highly used for their durability and low power consumption. Size is really an important factor, as the most portable Chromebooks range from 10 to 15 inches, striking a balance between screen space and portability. This size range ensures they are compact enough for easy transportation yet large enough for comfortable viewing movies and other documents. Chromebooks are also great at cloud usage and also cloud gaming and is useful for the huge office based cloud tools of google.
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Our picks of the best Chromebook under $500
1.Acer – Chromebook Plus 515 – 15.6″ Full HD Laptop
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Model: CB515-2H-31NY
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
- Processor: Intel 12th Generation Core i3
- Storage: 128GB
- Memory: 8GB
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a powerful laptop with a 12th Gen Intel Core i3-1215U processor which has two Performance cores, four Efficient cores, and eight threads, providing a good balance of performance for everyday office tasks using cloud along with its 128GB storage and 8 GB memory. The laptop sports a 15.6-inch non-touch screen with a Full HD resolution (1920 by 1080 pixels) which is great for watching streams in your Chromebook. It features a Full HD Facial Auto Exposure Camera, fast wireless connectivity, and long-lasting battery life, allowing users to transition smoothly between work, home, and personal projects.
The Chromebook Plus also offers file sync, making Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides accessible online or offline. Its DTS Audio and fast-charging battery provide all-day energy, making it perfect for on-the-go entertainment. It also offers great connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E useful for browsing, Bluetooth 5.1, a built-in HDMI port, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A, and dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports. The Chromebook Plus is stylishly rugged and meets MIL-STD military-grade durability certification.
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2.Lenovo – IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Laptop 14″ – 2K Touch
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Model: 83EK0000UX
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)
- Processor: Intel 13th Generation Core i3
- Storage: 128GB
- Memory: 8GB
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a versatile 2-in-1 convertible computer with a 13th Generation Intel Core processor, great for office works and other single thread activities but is kind of laggy for multitasking. The 14-inch full-HD multitouch screen provides great view of documents. Powered by Intel UHD graphics and equipped with 8GB of system memory, the Chromebook Plus ensures efficient performance for a Chromebook. Whether you’re browsing the web, editing photos, or running lightweight applications, this device has you covered.
With a 128GB solid-state drive (SSD), you’ll have ample space to store your files, photos, and videos. The Chromebook Plus offers four versatile modes, including laptop, tablet, tent, and stand, and features built-in stereo speakers. The device weighs 3.52 lbs. and measures 0.78″ thin, making it ultrathin and ultralight for maximum portability. It features a built-in media reader, HD webcam with microphone, backlit keyboard, Google Photos, powerful creative apps like Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Express, and enhanced video tools. The Chromebook Plus also has additional ports, including a microphone-in/headphone-out combo jack. It does not include a built-in DVD/CD drive.
You can read its review we referred on Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review.
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3.ASUS 14″ 2-in-1 Chromebook Plus Laptop
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Model: CM3401FF-R3128BLX
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
- Processor: AMD R-Series SOC
- Storage: 128GB
- Memory: 8GB
- Graphics: AMD Radeon
The ASUS Chromebook Plus is a 14-inch laptop with an AMD Ryzen 3 processor, offering twice as fast performance as its predecessors. Its compact NanoEdge display maximizes screen real estate and minimizes bezels, making it easy to carry around. The laptop has a long battery life and is compatible with Google and Adobe apps, including Photoshop web and Adobe Express Premium plans. With a 1920 x 1200 resolution, 8GB of system memory, and a 128GB SSD, it’s perfect for mobile computing, offering a smooth and responsive experience for browsing the web, streaming content, and running demanding applications.
It features a 2-in-1 design, built-in cloud support, and a built-in media reader for photo transfer. It also has wireless/wired connectivity, a built-in HD webcam with microphone, and built-in virus protection and Google products. The Chromebook Plus is usable for Minecraft, allowing users to mine, craft, explore, and survive in a vast open world.
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4.HP – 15.6″ Full HD Chromebook Plus Laptop
- Screen Size: 15.6 inches
- Model: 15a-nb0033dx
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
- Processor: Intel 12th Generation Core i3
- Storage: 128GB
- Memory: 8GB
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
The Chromebook Plus by HP is a compelling blend of power and affordability, boasting a spacious and vibrant display that enhances your computing experience. Equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor, it delivers reliable performance for various tasks, from browsing the web to running productivity apps. The inclusion of HP Chrome OS ensures seamless integration with Google’s ecosystem, providing access to a plethora of built-in Google apps, including Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Express, along with the innovative Adobe Firefly generative AI for enhanced creativity.
In terms of hardware, the Chromebook Plus impresses with its full HD IPS display, Intel UHD graphics, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM, and ample 128GB UFS storage, offering smooth multitasking and ample space for your files and applications. It prioritizes security with features like never-had-a-virus protection and built-in Google Photos, ensuring peace of mind while using the device.
Furthermore, the Chromebook Plus excels in connectivity, boasting Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 capabilities, along with a range of convenient features such as a camera shutter for privacy, tuned stereo speakers for immersive audio, and a True Vision FHD camera for crisp video calls. The Chromebook Plus comes with its fast-charging capability, allowing you to recharge up to 50% of the battery in just 45 minutes, ensuring you stay productive on the go.
The review we referred to write about this laptop is HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch Review.
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5.ASUS Chromebook Plus CX3402 14″ Laptop
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Model: CX3402CVA-I5128
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
- Processor: Intel Core i5 1335U
- Storage: 128GB
- Memory: 8GB
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
The ASUS Chromebook Plus features a great display of 14-inch display and operates on ChromeOS, driven by a powerful 13th-gen Intel Core i5 processor which is more than enough for basic tasks better than the i3. Equipped with 8GB of RAM and a speedy 128GB SSD, it ensures smooth performance and ample storage capacity. The laptop integrates seamless cloud support and offers both wireless and wired connectivity options, along with a built-in FHD webcam and microphone for effortless video calls and conferences.
Weighing just 3.17 lbs. and measuring a slim 0.74 inches thick, it’s designed for maximum portability without compromising on functionality. While lacking a built-in DVD/CD drive, its robust security features safeguard against online threats effectively. Notably, purchasers benefit from a complimentary 12-month subscription to the Google One AI Premium plan, enhancing productivity with advanced Gemini features integrated into Gmail, Docs, and other applications. The ASUS Chromebook Plus represents a versatile choice for users seeking a blend of performance, mobility, and integrated cloud capabilities in their computing experience.
We read the review of the i3 version on Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Review.
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What to look for while buying a Chromebook?
Chromebooks are low-power laptops with good battery life and quiet operation, making them great for light tasks like browsing the web and watching OTT platforms . They are virus-free and have only basic amount of RAM and storage necessary for basic tasks. However, hardcore gamers or video editors need more power than Chromebooks can provide. So its not great option to buy a Chromebook for playing graphic intense games. Some basic things to consider while buying a Chromebook under $500:
- Processor: Chromebooks have some the basic processors. Intel Celeron and Pentium Processors are entry-level processors suitable for basic tasks like web browsing and email. We recommend at least Intel Core i3 processor for some basic usage of cloud based software’s and basic games for timepass.
- Operating system: Although every operating system has its own benefits, but ChromeOS is the most user friendly and one can easily make the of it. And ChromeOS is the exclusivity of Chromebooks. Chrome OS is a Linux-based operating system developed by Google. It is designed primarily for devices such as Chromebooks
- Memory: Most Chromebooks under $500 have 4GB of RAM, which isn’t a lot. Chromebooks are web-based machines, so you need a fair amount of RAM to keep those tabs open and running smoothly. So we have made this list keeping in mind than the RAM should be 8GB at minimum.
- Storage: As you will be using cloud based applications you will manage most tasks with 64GB storage. But we have tried to have picks with minimum 128GB storage.
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