Top Google Chromebooks At A Glance

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Chromebooks -- laptops running on Google's browser-based Chrome OS -- are generally designed for affordability, making the term "premium Chromebook" something of an oxymoron. Most chromebooks don't pack impressive hardware, but they also rarely require it. Because you'll be visiting websites and running programs all from Chrome OS, which is basically a souped-up version of the lean-running Chrome web browser, the technical barrier to entry is low. This also means you don't have to deal with downloading and installing traditional software; if you can't do something on or within a standard webpage, chances are you will be able to from one of the thousands of apps and extensions available to Chrome OS users.

Samsung is the leader in the premium Chromebook market, according to NPD, and looking at its updated Chromebook Plus it's easy to see why. Though some might balk at paying $500 for a Chromebook, Samsung makes it worth your while with better design, build quality and features than you'd find in cheaper options.

Samsung Chromebook Pro - 360° rotating screen with a built-in pen

Samsung is the only manufacturer to offer a digitizer stylus with its Chromebook. It can't compare to higher-end laptops, but this is one of the best laptop experiences you can have for around $500. At $549, though, the Chromebook Pro is one of the more expensive Chrome OS options on the market. The final version of the Pro will be a darker shade. In any case, the Pro is a simple but elegant machine. It’s not eye-catching, but also inoffensive.

When Google announced that Android apps would be heading to Chromebooks, it was only a matter of time before Samsung took its mastery of the two OSs and crafted something truly beautiful. The Samsung Chromebook Pro adapts to whatever you’re doing. Use it like a laptop to reply to emails or to work on a paper. When you need a break, flip the screen so you can play games or catch up on your latest book. The lightweight Chromebook Pro packs power with a fast and efficient Intel® Core™ m3 processor. Easily run 3D games, video editing programs, and other advanced software. The keyboard layout feels cramped, and will feel doubly so to people making the move from larger Windows and Mac laptops. Important keys like backspace and tab are too narrow, which is not an uncommon issue on smaller Chromebooks. There’s also no backlighting, which seems like a notable absence for the price point.

Boasting a 12.3-inch QHD touchscreen and a 360-degree hinge, the Samsung Chromebook Pro is widely acclaimed for its built-in stylus – the first of its kind to show up in a Chromebook. Not only does it show up a majority of laptops in its own category, but it’s better than most Android devices as well, our issues with the speakers and keyboard aside.

CPU: 0.99Ghz Intel Core m3-6Y30 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12.3-inch, QHD (2,400 x 1,600) touchscreen | Storage: 32GB eMMC 12.3" LED Display (2400 x 1600) Speaker 2 x 1.5W

Samsung Chromebook Pro comes with a built-in virus protection and updates automatically. Easily run multiple apps at once. Create a document while staying in the game. And enjoy faster load times for apps and programs.

Google Pixel Book

The Google Pixelbook is the first Chromebook worthy of consideration alongside the most high-end Windows and Mac devices. The Google Pixelbook is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops because it offers something that its Windows 10-powered brethren simply can’t – it offers a taste of Android while still maintaining the design and features of Chrome OS. And, it may soon run Windows 10, further increasing its utility.

The Pixelbook ups the ante for all Chromebooks, and it does so at a high cost -- literally. The laptop starts at $999 (£999), which is almost double that of the Samsung Chromebook, previously one of the most high-end Chromebooks around. The review unit we tested cost $1,200 (£1,200) and had a 7th gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM. To be fair, Google's earlier attempt at a premium Chrome OS system, the Chromebook Pixel

The Google Pixelbook also manages to pack a ton of modern style in a maturing, convertible form factor. Shortly after declaring the end of the Chromebook Pixel, Google brought it back in a way nobody was anticipating before its announcement, and subsequent release back in October 2017. Now, it’s the Google Pixelbook, and it stands completely independently of its spiritual predecessor. That’s because, unlike the Chromebook Pixel, it can natively run Android apps, on top of building upon Chrome OS. And, when you add in the huge storage space, fantastic stylus and Google Assistant, it shouldn’t be surprising when we say the Pixelbook is the best Chromebook available in 2018. The Google Pixelbook is to Chromebooks of the future what Microsoft’s Surface line was to 2-in-1 Windows 10 devices that followed it.

The Google Pixelbook has a sleek convertible design. Its sharp touchscreen is bright and colorful. Performance is fast, lag-free and smooth. The dedicated Google Assistant button is useful. It’s expensive. The stylus is sold separately. It has the same built-in limitations as other Chrome OS systems.

CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core i5-7Y57 (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 3.3GHz) | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 615 | RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 (1,866MHz) | Screen: 12.3-inch QHD (2,400 x 1,600, 235 ppi) LCD touchscreen | Storage: 256GB SSD (eMMC) | Ports: 2x USB-C 3.1, headphone/mic jack | Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi (2 x 2 MIMO), Bluetooth 4.2 | Cameras: 720p webcam (60fps) | Weight: 2.4 pounds (1.1kg) | Size: 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches (290.4 x 220.8 x 10.3mm; W x D x H)

The Pixelbook has high-end hardware and a great hybrid design, but it’s still hard to justify spending so much on a Chrome OS laptop.

Acer Chromebook 15

A thin, sleek and lightweight Chromebook featuring a 360 degree hinge, touchscreen, and Google Play Store, starting at $499.
Acer Chromebook 15 is a stylish notebook with a large 15.6-inch screen. It has a backlit keyboard, touchscreen and loud speakers. This machine is a silver, metal slab with Acer's logo in a mirror finish on the left side and the Chrome icon on the left side. When you open the lid, you'll see the 15.6-inch display surrounded by a thick bezel. The metal deck has speakers above the palm rests on each side of the keyboard. Each side has a USB Type-C port (you can charge over either of them) and a USB 3.0 port. A Best Buy exclusive in the states, is $399 (£279, not available yet in Australia). Comparing that to the $499 (about £359, AU$629) Samsung and the $999 (£999,about $1,259) Pixlebook makes it way easier to focus on what it offers instead of what it lacks.

ü Enjoy immersive visuals on the 15.6" Full HD touch screen display

ü More speed - faster internet performance

ü Large touchpad to click, scroll, zoom, pinch and swipe freely

The metal cover of the Chromebook™ 15 gives you the look and feel you want with the strength you need. Share what's on your screen with friends and family as colors stay true no matter what angle you're viewing from. With a battery life of up to 12-hours1, your laptop is designed to stay at your side for the entirety of the day. Get access to more than 2 million Android™ apps from Google Play™ to learn and do more2. Stop crowding around the laptop and let more of the room be seen with the 88° wide-angle webcam.

From the online review, the screen is dull. Chromebooks have inherent OS limitations you need to be aware of. Low-end CPU hampers performance. When it comes to power, the Chromebook 15 is completely adequate. Chrome OS is deliberately lightweight, cloud-based computing designed specifically to allow these sort of low-cost computers to exist. The Acer's screen is bright, colorful and roomy. It's ideal for watching movies and surfing the web. That extra real estate also makes it easier on the eyes for productivity, especially during tasks like word processing and managing spreadsheets. General web surfing is also lovely on the Acer Chromebook 15, with enough power to keep up with multiple tabs and streaming video.

The Acer Chromebook 15 is the perfect example of how Chromebooks have progressed over recent years. No longer does the word 'Chromebook' dictate an ultra-budget look and feel, with the Acer 15's aluminium panel finish paving the way for this future of this product type.

Asus Chromebook Flip C302

The Chromebook Flip is also one of the first models slated to pick up Android app compatibility through the Google Play Store, which could tip the scales a bit for folks looking to be ready for the new feature addition. One of those which was announced and will likely be an extremely popular option came from ASUS in the form of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302.

Starting at $500 (converts to about £400, AU$655) the Asus laptop is no bargain-basement Chromebook; it's a high-end model with a posh design and decent components. This is a new version of the popular Chromebook Flip and one which has been upgraded in a number of ways and most notably, in its design. This is not only a premium Chromebook inside, but is also premium one on the outside as well.

The Chromebook Flip C302 is a stylish Chromebook and following in the footsteps of the previous model, the Chromebook Flip C302 is able to be used in a variety of positions including a tablet position, a tented position, and more. Its bright, 1080p screen is great for displaying videos today and for playing your favorite games from the Google Play store. The 12.5-inch convertible is sleek and as close to a MacBook design as you'll get with a Chromebook.

ü Light & Stylish - Thin, light and incredibly stylish, with a 360° hinge that lets you flip instantly between Chromebook and tablet.

ü 12.5" FHD screen

ü 360 hinge for tablet and laptop use

ü Up to 10 hours of battery life

The Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA is a Chromebook that feels like a £1000 laptop in many respects. The all-day battery life, decent typing experience, good screen quality for the price and prospective future potential from Google Play make the Flip among the most interesting Chromebooks available today. The Chromebook Flip is a premium package for a great price, with long battery life, an aluminum chassis and a bright, high-res screen. Whether you're browsing in Chrome or using Android apps, the Flip does it all.

THE BEST CHROMEBOOK RIGHT NOW IS ???