Ranking: The best Chromebooks reviewed by Notebookcheck

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 takes the top spot on our list thanks to its exceptional combination of performance and efficiency. The new MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 ARM processor delivers excellent performance for demanding tasks while enabling an impressive battery life of over 15 hours.

With its brilliant OLED display, powerful sound system, and silent operation, this first ARM-based Chromebook Plus sets a new benchmark for the category. Its strong benchmark and measurement results are complemented by an attractive chassis that makes extensive use of glass and aluminum. These strengths come at a premium, however: Lenovo offers the Chromebook for around 730 euros.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is an elegant 14-inch convertible that can serve as both a laptop and a tablet thanks to its 360-degree hinge. Its Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 512 GB NVMe SSD provide smooth everyday performance.

The sturdy chassis combines aluminum and plastic. The keyboard is backlit, and the touchpad is comfortably large. The Full HD screen offers wide viewing angles and even illumination, although its reflective surface is a drawback.

Connectivity is solid, with two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, a microSD card reader, and Wi-Fi 6E. The webcam produces usable images and includes a privacy shutter.

Battery life of around nine hours is acceptable but not outstanding. The speakers deliver decent sound, and the Chromebook stays quiet and barely warms up during use.

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus XE550XGA is a premium device for design-conscious buyers willing to accept a few compromises. Its exceptionally slim, lightweight aluminum chassis and excellent finish immediately stand out. The main highlight is its brilliant 15.6-inch AMOLED display. An Intel Core 3 processor delivers fast everyday performance, complemented by a good backlit keyboard and mostly silent operation.

However, there are some important trade-offs. At around 800 euros, it is one of the most expensive Chromebooks on the market. Battery life also varies considerably: it lasts a long time in optimized mode, but runtime can fall below five hours with the keyboard backlight on and the display set to high brightness. The webcam delivers only mediocre results. Still, buyers who prioritize an outstanding display and refined design will find a distinctive, high-performance Chrome OS laptop.

The Acer Chromebook Plus CB514 4HT is a solid Chromebook that offers good value for money. Its attractive design combines a silver plastic chassis with a matte display. At 1,442 g, it is not the lightest model, but it remains portable. Features include USB-C and USB-A ports, a microSD card reader, and a Full HD webcam with a privacy shutter. There is no HDMI port, although an adapter can provide HDMI connectivity.

The Intel Core i3-N305 processor ensures smooth everyday performance, supported by 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. The matte Full HD display is sufficiently bright and offers wide viewing angles. Battery life is excellent at 11 hours.

The Chromebook Plus CB514 4HT is a quiet, energy-efficient device well suited to anyone seeking a reliable Chromebook for everyday tasks. At around 300 euros, it is also very affordable.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 proved highly versatile in our review: it can serve as a laptop with a detachable keyboard or as a compact tablet with optional pen support. Frequent travelers will appreciate its battery life of up to 12 hours, enough for long train journeys or flights. The convertible is powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor. Although it cannot match the fastest models, it is more than sufficient for typical Chromebook tasks. Passive cooling is another advantage, keeping the Duet 11 completely silent.

The 11-inch display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1,920 × 1,200 pixels, delivering a sharp image and good color-space coverage. However, a slight blue tint detracts from the overall impression, and color accuracy could be better. The detachable keyboard's short key travel makes it better suited to brief texts than extended typing sessions.

The Asus Chromebook CX1405CKA in its base configuration with an Intel Celeron N4500 ranks near the bottom of our list, ahead of the previously tested Asus Chromebook CM14. Its main weakness is the Intel processor's very low performance: it offers little headroom even for the lightweight Chrome OS and is slower than the MediaTek chip in the CM14.

On the other hand, the CX14 offers a better screen on paper, without PWM. Buyers interested in this model should consider one of the better-equipped variants. Versions with an Intel N100 or a Core 3-N355 in the Chromebook Plus model promise performance better suited to everyday use.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim CB is sometimes available for as little as 100 euros. Despite the low price, it looks perfectly presentable. Its main compromise is the modest hardware: a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of eMMC storage do not make for a particularly fast laptop. Performance is nevertheless sufficient for the lightweight Chrome OS, and the IdeaPad handles web browsing, streaming, and office work without difficulty. Its energy-efficient processor and 46 Wh battery are particular strengths when it comes to battery life and power consumption.

The IdeaPad Slim CB needs no fan. Its energy-efficient MediaTek Kompanio processor and good battery deliver long runtimes away from a power outlet.

The IdeaPad Slim CB's main drawbacks are its screen and speakers. The TN panel offers unimpressive color reproduction, and the speakers sound underwhelming. Even so, the low price makes this entry-level Chrome OS laptop an appealing option.

The Asus Chromebook CM14 is another entry-level device powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 520. Its hardware is very similar to that of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 CB, although the Asus offers twice as much eMMC storage. The two devices are also closely matched in display quality, battery life, webcam performance, and sound. Unfortunately, the Asus Chromebook costs a little more than its entry-level Lenovo counterpart.

The Asus Chromebook CM14 is a slim entry-level laptop suitable for office work, streaming, and web browsing.

One advantage over the IdeaPad is the port placement: the CM14 has a USB-C port on each side for charging or connecting a monitor.