Best cheap Chromebook deals April 2022 - The Verge

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Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval, so if you're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more, this is the place to be.

If you’re looking for an affordable laptop alternative, Chromebooks are a great option to consider. Yet there are several kinds on the market these days, and it can be overwhelming to pick the right for you and your needs. Some are better suited for basic work tasks, for example, while some of the higher-end models can even rival some of the best laptops you can buy. Moreover, just because one Chromebook has more features than the other doesn’t mean it’s the right one for you or the best value for your money.

That’s why we’ve curated this comprehensive list of the best Chromebook deals. Each varies in price and comes with its own strengths and weaknesses, but all of them come recommended for one reason or another. And if you’d like to do even more research before buying a Chromebook, we’ve also compiled a guide to the best options on the market, which you can use to help you determine which Chrome OS machine is right for you.

Lenovo’s ThinkPad C13 Yoga looks almost indistinguishable from other premium Windows ThinkPads. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook

We consider Lenovo’s ThinkPad C13 Yoga to be the best premium Chromebook and one of our favorites. Unlike others — which are often marketed toward students or kids — the C13 also targets adults and professionals. After reviewing it, we concluded it’s the closest thing to a MacBook in the Chromebook world, with a strong processor and a solid, sturdy build that feels and looks premium. The convertible Chromebook also looks similar to premium Windows ThinkPads, with the same aluminum design, a red Trackpoint in the center of the keyboard, and even a tiny webcam shutter.

While there are more affordable Chromebooks with better battery life and the 16:9 screen is disappointing, the C13 does boast an excellent keyboard and a host of business-focused privacy features. Plus, it can smoothly run mobile games and all kinds of other programs, being the first Chromebook to include AMD’s Ryzen 3000 Mobile C-series processors.

Right now, you can buy the ThinkPad C13 Yoga from Lenovo with 4GB of memory and 32GB of eMMC storage for $349 instead of $599 at Walmart and Newegg. However, Lenovo will fulfill the order in both instances. Note that this model also comes with an AMD Athlon Gold 3150C processor, which is less powerful than the Ryzen 5 3500C we tested in our review unit. Read our review.

Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a convertible that boasts a gorgeous QLED display. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

If you’re considering a Chromebook, Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 is one of the best Chromebooks on the market right now. It’s the first Chromebook to feature a QLED panel —allowing for vivid colors and high contrast — and it offers better battery life than the convertible’s predecessor, which couldn’t even make it five hours on a charge. Admittedly, we weren’t fans of the Chromebook 2’s plasticky feel or its expensive price tag, but we were happy with the Chromebook overall and liked the red model’s bright, vibrant design.

Right now, the $699 model we tested is on sale at Amazon with an Intel Core i3-10110U chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage for $679. That’s a far cry from this model’s $499 all-time low and the $549 price tag we saw in early April. Read our review.

The Lenovo Flex 5 looks and feels nicer than its price may suggest. Photography by Monica Chin / The Verge

Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook

The Lenovo Flex 5 — the best Chromebook for midrange shoppers — may typically retail around $400, but it still looks and feels far more premium. It features a sleek, backlight keyboard that’s one of the better ones we’ve used on a Chromebook, along with a physical webcam shutter, front-facing speakers, and a relatively good port selection (for the price) that includes a microSD reader and a USB-C port on each side. The Flex 5’s audio quality and battery life aren’t great, however, with the latter only providing about five and half hours of runtime when we tested it.

If midrange performance is what you’re after, the Flex 5 with an Intel Celeron 5205U processor, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMc storage is on sale at Lenovo for $439.99 ($125 off) with promo code CBFLEX5DEAL. Read our review.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 comes with a comfortable keyboard. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The last-gen version of the best Chromebook offers slightly better battery life. Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2020)

The last-gen Acer Chromebook Spin 713 from 2020 was our pick for best Chromebook before the newer 2021 model took our top spot last year. It may lack Intel’s new 11th Gen processors and support for Thunderbolt 4, but it offers better battery life than the 2021 model and still comes equipped with a spacious 3:2 touch display and enough power for handling basic, everyday tasks. It also still comes with other niceties, such as an excellent keyboard and great port selection that includes a USB-A port, two USB-C ports, a headphone jack, a microSD slot, and an HDMI port.

Although the 2021 version — which currently starts at $699 — isn’t on sale right now, Best Buy is selling the previous-gen 2020 model with 4GB of RAM, a 64GB of eMMc storage, and an Intel 10th Gen Core i3 processor for $449.99 instead of $529. Read our review.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

It may not be one of our top picks as far as Chromebooks go, but the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 comes with a comfortable keyboard attachment and a terrific 13.3-inch OLED touchscreen. It also excels when it comes to battery life, offering between 10 and 12 hours of use between charges when used for everyday tasks such as browsing, chatting, and Zoom. The Chromebook doesn’t come with a stylus and lacks biometric authentication, however, and functions far better as a laptop than a tablet given its larger size, at least in our testing.

Still, it’s a decent convertible that’s currently on sale with 4GB of RAM and 256GB of eMMC storage for $469.99 ($30 off) at Walmart. However, note that both are sold and shipped via Lenovo.Read our review.

HP Chromebook x360 14a

While an older model, HP’s Chromebook x360 14a remains an affordable option with great battery life, one that’s a good fit for students in middle school. The Chromebook’s Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor isn’t the most powerful, but it’s well-suited for web-based schoolwork, browsing, and basic activities students in this age range are typically required to do. It also shouldn’t be too hard to carry around — the 14-inch laptop weighs a little over three pounds — and comes with a decent array of ports, including a microSD card reader, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a pair of USB Type-C ports. There’s even a USB Type-A port, allowing you to use a wider range of laptop peripherals.

Normally $379.99, HP is currently selling the x360 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage for $299.99, one of the Chromebook’s better prices to date.