The 13 Best Chromebooks in 2023 – Reviewed & Rated

Chromebook is Google’s answer to the giants Microsoft and Apple and their operating systems. It is clear, not that Google is a flea compared to the aforementioned companies, but still has to make its way into the world of computer operating systems.

Of course, Chromebook currently responds to less demanding needs than competitors, but it can be a less expensive solution for those who do not need powerful PCs.

Here we had selected the best Chromebooks with the advanced features are listed below.

Buying Guide to Select the Best Chromebooks

Why Buy a Chromebook?

Chromebooks are so-called because they use the Chrome OS operating system (based on Linux), designed by Google to meet best the needs of those who work always connected to the Internet. Until a few years ago, there were very few applications that could be used offline.

They are laptops designed for those who do not need much power and do not want to spend capital; in fact, they have an average lower price than traditional laptops.

They are straightforward to manage: for example, no manual configuration is required, and they have integrated antivirus protection, so you don’t even have to worry about that. In other words, they are ready to use as soon as they are discarded from the package.

Gmail and GDrive are immediately available as well as other apps for creating documents, editing presentations, making video conferences, etc. These apps can also be used offline always to be productive.

There will never be any need to make updates because it is the system that takes care of doing everything automatically. To start, these computers take less than ten seconds and are therefore faster than most normal laptops to be productive immediately.

The apps that can be found on the Chrome Web Store are thousands, and the integration with the Chromebooks is perfect: managing inventories, planning projects, and much more become more comfortable and faster with these computers. Administrators can remotely lock programs through the management console.

With Google and Chromebook, it’s all in the cloud: no installations, no maintenance, no backup, no purchase of other software. These characteristics make it ideal for use in schools. In the United States, it is, in fact, rapidly undermining all opponents.

What Does Not Allow to Do?

So, for those who are always connected to the network, the Chromebook could represent a valid solution because it offers everything to browse, create, and edit documents, projects, presentations, and much more.

All you have to do is use the apps made available by Google. Problems arise when you want to utilize it offline or when you don’t intend to set up a Google account, which makes it almost useless.

To print, you must necessarily use the wireless connection using only Cloud Print, therefore without physically connecting the cable to the printer. It is not compatible with iTunes. The .ppt and .pptx files are manageable read-only.

Connected to the Internet, it allows you to immediately resolve apparent limitations such as the ability to manage Office files (including .doc and .xls), .zip, and .rar archives.

When choosing to log in with the Google account, here, you can change the background, customize icons, system language, etc.

As said, in offline mode, you can check the emails already downloaded on Gmail and create new ones. Be careful to buy a model with an Italian keyboard.

Functions

Chromebooks Samsung, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, HP, etc. can be purchased. It is difficult to say which is the best brand. However, there are some characteristics that must always be evaluated before purchasing.

Do you need a large or small screen? Better touch, to immediately access the many apps of the Google Play store? What should be the resolution? A Full HD model will guarantee great richness of detail and higher color rendering, ideal for those who work with images and videos.

The connection speed is another critical parameter since access to the network is essential for these laptops.

Also, to be evaluated are the materials used for the body and the battery life, which vary significantly from one model to another.

Working Online

Chromebook are meant to work online. But let’s dig deeper into this concept: what we mean by “working online.” We intend to create documents and share work with colleagues, just take advantage of the most suitable apps that you find available on the Store, starting with Drive.

In this regard, the reader must know that it is essential to have a Google account, which is still likely if you decide to invest in a Chromebook.

Office and Edit Files

Until now, you have been used to working with Office, the famous Microsoft program. Are you concerned about compatibility with your old files? It shouldn’t because Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files can be opened, edited, downloaded, and converted without problems. There are two possible options.

The first concerns the possibility of editing the file on the Chromebook, the second is to do it directly online. Holders of a Microsoft Office account can use extensions and apps like Office Online, Office Editor for documents, Word. Excel and PowerPoint Online.

Video Chat and Calls

With the Chromebook, you can make video chats or calls. The process is straightforward. Let’s start with video chats. In this case, press the search button (you recognize it by the magnifying glass symbol), enter “hangouts.google.com” and press the enter button.

At this point, all you have to do is follow the steps necessary to start the video call. The same procedure applies to calls only that, in this case, you will have to follow the steps for phone calls instead of video calls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a Chromebook?

The term Chromebook comes from the union of two words: Chrome and notebook. The first, for those who use a computer daily, will undoubtedly be familiar since it indicates the classic internet browser made by Google while the second indicates laptops.

It is, therefore, a compact size device whose leading utility is to take advantage of the Chrome OS, an operating system created by Google, not unlike Android, for example.

What Can You Do with A Chromebook?

A Chromebook mainly uses the Internet to give users greater freedom of action without being excessively limited by the hardware.

If on a standard PC, you will always have to look at the available storage space on HDD or SSD, Chromebooks generally offer storage space in the cloud, while reducing the weight of the device itself.

With a product of this type, users can, therefore, surf the Internet, view streaming videos on platforms such as Youtube and Netflix, write documents, and even edit some photos thanks to the integrated editor.

What Can’t Be Done with A Chromebook?

The usefulness of the Chromebook, however, decreases as soon as you find yourself offline. Although there are some applications that can work even without a direct internet connection, such as Gmail, Google Keep, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and audio and video players, all other types of software may be precluded.

For this reason, the Chromebook is not a laptop for all types of users but only for those who almost always have a Wi-Fi connection available.

What a Chromebook cannot, in almost any case, do is play the role of the computer for video games. In fact, it does not have a dedicated video card powerful enough to run any modern title unless it is an application designed specifically for this product.

Why Is the Chromebook Considered Excellent in Digital Teaching?

Being products based on the opportunities offered by the web, able to access the Internet, and a large number of applications, Chromebooks are increasingly used by teachers and students. In some US schools, these devices are made available to all students and can even be borrowed in some bookstores.

The initiative has been quite successful since it is much easier to transport a large number of books contained in the Chromebook than to borrow several.

Furthermore, since the personal files of individual users are linked to the account and not to the device, everyone can access their documents by merely logging in from the Chromebook, eliminating almost entirely the need always to have an external hard disk or a USB Pendrive.