Notebookcheck's Top 10 Chromebooks

Chromebooks are not only inexpensive system we know from earlier days, which is shown by Google: The inventor of the Chromebook sells its Pixelbook for about 900 Euros (~$1080), but can easily climb above 1000 Euros (~$1200) depending on the components. In return you get a convertible with support for pen inputs, which can also handle Android apps from Google's Play Store.

The fast processor, great build quality, and long battery runtime create an almost unique Chromebook, but Google also sacrifices some features: There is no classic USB connector or a card reader. Both features require an adapter, which are not provided. Our list of negatives is quite long, because the input devices are pretty loud, there are occasional WLAN dropouts, and there is some coil whine.

All in all, the Google Pixelbook is the only real high-end Chromebook, but it reveals a lot of small drawbacks that potential buyers will have to accept. We hope the next generation will be an improvement.

HP's Chromebook 13 G1 is another comparatively expensive for a Chromebook with a base price of almost 500 Euros (~$600). A few hundred Euros more will get you a faster processor, but this will result in a very high price for a Chromebook. This does not make a lot of sense when you consider the limitations of the operating system. All SKUs get a high-resolution screen, good case, and reliable input devices, so the HP Chromebook 13 G1 should be on the short list of every potential Chromebook buyer.

Acer's Chromebook 14 is available for about 300 Euros (~$360), which is common for a Chromebook. The design is more grown-up compared to some of the earlier Chromebooks, because Acer wants to market it as an office device. This might actually work, thanks to the decent keyboard and long battery runtime. We also like the picture quality of the matte screen, even though it could be brighter.

The slow SD card reader and the limited performance are minor drawbacks, but the Acer Chromebook 14 is still a very fast device within its class and sufficient for everyday office tasks.

Chromebooks have a bigger focus on the education sector, just like the small convertible Dell Chromebook 11 3181 2-in-1. It offers some qualities for classrooms like good keyboard, silent operation, long battery runtime, and a decent screen.

Disadvantages include the slow SD card reader, the mediocre speakers, and the limited maintenance options. The design is a matter of taste as well, but the chassis is very sturdy in return and should not have problems with tougher handling.

Do you prefer a Chromebook convertible instead of a classic laptop with Chrome OS? Then you should have a look at the Acer Chromebook R13 with its touchscreen – but it is only useful for Android apps. We like the 1080p screen, the silent operation, and the great battery runtime. Downsides are the slightly unstable chassis, and limited maintainability – even though this is the case for almost all Chromebooks. The keyboard is not perfect for prolific writers, either. The Acer Chromebook R13 is still a solid Chromebook convertible if you can live with the limitations.

The Dell Chromebook 11 3181 unfortunately has some disadvantages over the 2-in-1 version: The quality of the screen is much worse, the speakers are mediocre, and the build quality is too bad, even for such an inexpensive device. We like the keyboard and the compact dimensions as well as the battery runtime.

You might consider paying the additional 50 Euros for the Chromebook 11 3181 2-in-1, which is a big upgrade in terms of build quality and screen.