
The models highlighted below, listed in order of Overall Score, are plenty capable of tackling the everyday productivity tasks juggled by consumers. A Chromebook is a computing device at the end of the day and is actually simpler to use than many modern computers. This means you can use a Chromebook to do just about anything youd normally do. There are more than 40 models in our Chromebook ratings, all of which are made by well-known companies like Google, HP, and Samsung. Instead, they use Chrome OS, which is similar to the Google Chrome web browser. But a Chromebook could still be a good choice for consumers with more basic needs. When it comes to protecting the privacy of your web traffic, however, youll need an. Of course, you won’t be able to play the latest Mac or Windows games on a Chromebook, and serious photo and video editors will probably want the power and flexibility afforded by a Mac or PC. Chromebooks are portable and hard to hack, making them excellent tools for security-minded folks on the go. Those web apps are often just as capable as their desktop counterparts, too, so you’ll be able to take Zoom calls, participate in Slack chats, or trudge through your email in Outlook without skipping a beat.

“Chromebooks will run word processing and spreadsheet programs, and you can use them to browse the web,” says Richard Fisco, who oversees electronics testing at Consumer Reports.Ĭhromebooks rely heavily on web apps like Gmail and Google Docs, which lessen the need for the sort of higher-end specs you’d find on a Mac or PC laptop. Consequently, Chromebooks can often be found for under $500, making them a good value for consumers who don’t need macOS or Windows. Chromebooks frequently have more modest specs than their Mac and Windows counterparts, so you’re not as likely to find very fast processors or super-spacious hard drives.
