Best Chromebooks for 2024

We round-up the best Chromebooks we've tested and run through what you need to know about Chromebooks before you buy.

The best Chromebooks are fast, have a bright screen that won't strain your eyes and are comfortable to use. A good Chromebook should also have a decent battery that won't let you down when you're out and about.

Because Chromebooks run a basic operating system called ChromeOS, which means you do all your work online via your browser, some people think it doesn't matter which model you buy. We know it does. Our tough tests separate the best Chromebooks from the ones that will be annoying to use and make you less productive.

Whatever your budget, our lab tests reveal which models are worth your money and which aren't. See our expert pick of the best laptops.

Best Chromebooks

These are the Chromebooks we recommend right now, based on the results of our tough, independent lab tests.

Only logged-in Which? members can access our recommendations. Not yet a member? Join Which? to unlock our best Chromebooks and to get access to all of our reviews, including laptops, computer monitors and electric cars. 

(Recommendations checked September 2024.)

Can't see the model you're interested in or want to see more choice for your budget? Take a look at our expert laptop reviews.

How much do Chromebooks cost?

Chromebooks typically have more modest tech specs than their Windows or Apple counterparts and are thus often pretty cheap. 

As such, most Chromebooks are very cheap and not particularly fast. They’ll be fine for basic tasks, but not for editing huge photographs and videos. There are some more expensive models around but the majority still cost less than £350.

Chromebooks under £200

Budget Chromebooks are often the thinnest and lightest laptops on the market and tend to be very small as well. They’re not powerful by any stretch and won’t be able to cope with doing more than one task at the same time. But they can be great value nonetheless and might be the sort of device a school would recommend parents buy.

Chromebooks under £500

Mid-range Chromebooks are becoming more and more common. These machines often come with 360-degree hinges so they can fold over and double as a tablet, more powerful processors and can be larger than their cheaper counterparts.

Premium Chromebooks

Higher-end Chromebooks are also becoming more common and offer the best Chromebook experience. With high-resolution screens, more powerful processor and great build-quality, they can be very tempting if you’re happy using web-based apps.

Looking to save money? We reveal the best budget laptops from our tests.

Chromebooks by price

• Chromebooks under £200
• Chromebooks under £500
• Premium Chromebooks

How long do Chromebooks get updates?

All Chromebooks come with an expiry date. When this day comes, the device will no longer receive any security or feature updates and, over time, your Chromebook will become less secure as it will no longer have protection against the latest viruses and other threats. 

All Chromebooks released since 2021 start their life with at least ten years of update support, according to Google, but those released before then are much more patchy. As such, it pays to check when the Chromebook you're thinking of buying is due to expire.

• All of our Chromebook reviews tell you when the device will stop getting updates, so you can make your own decision
• All Chromebooks that are within three years of expiry will have an extra note added to the review 
• Those that are no longer receiving updates - but are still available to buy new - will be given a Security Notice warning so you can steer clear.

You can also turn your old laptop into a Chromebook using ChromeOS Flex: find out how with our guide on how to turn your old laptop into a free Chromebook.

Chromebook update checking tool

Below, we have listed all the Chromebooks from major brands that sell or have sold Chromebooks in the UK. The list includes models due to expire before the end of 2027, including those that have already expired. 

Use the search bar to look for the model name of the Chromebook you're interested in. Try to be as specific as possible and start your search with the model code (for instance, C374) to ensure you get the most accurate results.

(Based on data from Google's Chromebook Auto Update Policy page, last updated November 2023. Checked annually.)

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Does a Chromebook need to be online all the time?

Almost everything you’ll do on a Chromebook will be done in a web browser using a web app. This includes Google Docs (word processing), Google Sheets (spreadsheets) and Pixlr (image editing). You can also access Microsoft Office Online software if you prefer it.

It used to be the case that a Chromebook had to be online all the time for all web apps, but there’s plenty you can do without an internet connection. All the Google apps – Docs, Sheets, Slides, Files and Mail – have an offline mode (although you may need to activate it first). This means you can work on spreadsheets and presentations or write documents and emails without being online. 

The next time you do go online, all your work will be synchronised with the cloud. Offline editing should be enough to keep you going on a plane or train journey without a wi-fi connection.

Modern Chromebooks come with a surprising amount of storage, too: most come with at least 64GB, and some come with more. While that would be tight for Windows, the Chrome OS doesn’t take up much hard drive space, leaving more room for your files. That means you could easily download a few films to watch offline, for example. 

Newer Chromebooks support apps from the Google Play Store. This is the same app store as you’d find on an Android phone. However, you’ll need to check the model you’re buying to see if it’s compatible – only some newer Chromebooks have Google Play.

Take a look at our best laptops for students to see what other models we recommend.

Is a Chromebook worth buying?

The operating system Chromebooks use, ChromeOS, has fewer features and programs than Windows or MacOS. However, Chromebooks make up for this in speed and ease of use. ChromeOS, for the most part, feels pretty fast no matter what laptop you’re using.

ChromeOS works on the basis that much of what we do on a computer these days can be done via a web browser. This includes email, writing documents, spreadsheets, social media, and even more demanding tasks such as photo editing. These are accomplished using services such as Google Docs, Office Online, Google Photos and a host of smaller services.

If you’re not sure whether you can make the change to a Chromebook, just start using web apps on your current laptop and see how far you get. You might be surprised.

See all of our Chromebook reviews