The Best Chromebooks for 2022

How do you know if a Chromebook is for you?

While they have plenty of admirable qualities, Chromebooks aren’t for everyone. Some users will be frustrated by their lack of functionality, especially when transitioning from Windows 10 or MacOS. Chromebooks are often used at schools, or as a secondary, on-the-go work laptop.

Overall, Chromebooks are devices that excel at general-purpose use. Think of a Chromebook as a slightly more robust tablet or a big smartphone with a keyboard. If you can’t perform a function in a web browser or Android app, a Chromebook may not manage it either. That said, if you need an affordable mobile device to bridge the gap between a desktop and your smartphone, a Chromebook might be for you. You get plenty of the benefits of a laptop (like a larger screen), but at lower prices than many options.

There are also some exceptions, with higher-end Chromebooks delivering more powerful specs to handle multitasking, but these aren’t as common.

What are the pros and cons of Chrome OS?

Chrome OS is speedy, has a lightning-fast startup, and is right at home in the Google ecosystem which means it works great with all your favorite Chrome extensions and Google apps.

However, limited RAM on many Chromebooks can cause issues, and Chrome OS doesn’t support everything. If you need to run specialized applications like Photoshop or Illustrator, for example, Chrome OS may fall short. Similarly, if you need the Microsoft Office Suite and can’t settle for Google Docs, a Chromebook probably isn’t for you.

On the other hand, it might be the perfect solution for people who mostly surf the web or stick to other online tasks. Knowing how you use your current laptop or PC can help you decide whether Chrome OS can handle your regular activities. Just keep in mind that download space is generally quite limited on Chromebooks, so Chrome OS is designed to run things online, meaning you’ll need a reliable internet connection and bandwidth.

Can Chromebooks run Android apps?

Chrome OS isn’t the most robust operating system around, but it gets the job done for Chromebooks by providing the essentials such as web browsing, word processing, and browsing basic file types. But sometimes, you need more than a Chromebook provides. Does that mean you should jump ship or skip over Chromebooks entirely? Not anymore.

Since 2017, every new model of Chromebook supports the Google Play store and can run Android apps. You’re not limited to the Chrome ecosystem, and you can get just as much functionality out of your Chromebook as you could out of an Android phone or tablet.

Some earlier models also feature Android integration. Here’s a full and updated list. To find out how to install Android apps on your (compatible) Chromebook, check out the official instructions from Google.

Are Chromebooks safe to use?

If you’re worried about malware and viruses, then yes, Chromebooks are very safe to use. Google created and maintains Chrome OS to be a safe environment for work. That includes built-in sandboxes, verified boot sequences, dependable encryption — and cloud syncing so that you won’t lose data. It can’t fix user error — downloading viruses off a sketchy website or responding to phishing emails will still cause trouble — but it’s very secure compared to other options.

How do you test Chromebooks?

When laptops enter our labs, they undergo a torturous battery of tests intended to give us a look at how each one will perform in a variety of situations. We want to define their limits, find out what they can do in everyday use and how they perform when they’re pushed.

We test individual components like the display, the CPU, GPU, and hard disk, using specific benchmarks to see how they stack up against competitors. We test for speed, reliability, and most importantly, we just spend a lot of time with each laptop.

You can find out how individual components work on their own by checking out manufacturer specs, but we test notebooks as a whole as well. We don’t just want to find out how fast each component is; we want to see how they complement each other and how they perform as a package. That way, we can give you a fully-rounded recommendation.

Do Chromebooks work offline?

Chromebooks are popular for their cloud-based options, but you can use them with offline apps. Make sure that apps like Gmail are set to offline modes. Google Drive can also easily be used offline and will update when you connect again.

Do Chromebooks have disc drives?

No. They do not. You should expect to depend on a USB drive or SD card, or perhaps an external disc drive if you really need one.

Does Microsoft Office work on a Chromebook?

Microsoft’s Office web apps will function on Chromebook. Now that Chrome OS has become more friendly for Android apps, you can also decide to download Microsoft’s Office Android apps.

How do you know if a Chromebook is for you?

While they have plenty of admirable qualities, Chromebooks aren’t for everyone. Some users will be frustrated by their lack of functionality, especially when transitioning from Windows 10 or MacOS. Chromebooks are often used at schools, or as a secondary, on-the-go work laptop.

Overall, Chromebooks are devices that excel at general-purpose use. Think of a Chromebook as a slightly more robust tablet or a big smartphone with a keyboard. If you can’t perform a function in a web browser or Android app, a Chromebook may not manage it either. That said, if you need an affordable mobile device to bridge the gap between a desktop and your smartphone, a Chromebook might be for you. You get plenty of the benefits of a laptop (like a larger screen), but at lower prices than many options.

There are also some exceptions, with higher-end Chromebooks delivering more powerful specs to handle multitasking, but these aren’t as common.

What are the pros and cons of Chrome OS?

Chrome OS is speedy, has a lightning-fast startup, and is right at home in the Google ecosystem which means it works great with all your favorite Chrome extensions and Google apps.

However, limited RAM on many Chromebooks can cause issues, and Chrome OS doesn’t support everything. If you need to run specialized applications like Photoshop or Illustrator, for example, Chrome OS may fall short. Similarly, if you need the Microsoft Office Suite and can’t settle for Google Docs, a Chromebook probably isn’t for you.

On the other hand, it might be the perfect solution for people who mostly surf the web or stick to other online tasks. Knowing how you use your current laptop or PC can help you decide whether Chrome OS can handle your regular activities. Just keep in mind that download space is generally quite limited on Chromebooks, so Chrome OS is designed to run things online, meaning you’ll need a reliable internet connection and bandwidth.

Can Chromebooks run Android apps?

Chrome OS isn’t the most robust operating system around, but it gets the job done for Chromebooks by providing the essentials such as web browsing, word processing, and browsing basic file types. But sometimes, you need more than a Chromebook provides. Does that mean you should jump ship or skip over Chromebooks entirely? Not anymore.

Since 2017, every new model of Chromebook supports the Google Play store and can run Android apps. You’re not limited to the Chrome ecosystem, and you can get just as much functionality out of your Chromebook as you could out of an Android phone or tablet.

Some earlier models also feature Android integration. Here’s a full and updated list. To find out how to install Android apps on your (compatible) Chromebook, check out the official instructions from Google.

Are Chromebooks safe to use?

If you’re worried about malware and viruses, then yes, Chromebooks are very safe to use. Google created and maintains Chrome OS to be a safe environment for work. That includes built-in sandboxes, verified boot sequences, dependable encryption — and cloud syncing so that you won’t lose data. It can’t fix user error — downloading viruses off a sketchy website or responding to phishing emails will still cause trouble — but it’s very secure compared to other options.

How do you test Chromebooks?

When laptops enter our labs, they undergo a torturous battery of tests intended to give us a look at how each one will perform in a variety of situations. We want to define their limits, find out what they can do in everyday use and how they perform when they’re pushed.

We test individual components like the display, the CPU, GPU, and hard disk, using specific benchmarks to see how they stack up against competitors. We test for speed, reliability, and most importantly, we just spend a lot of time with each laptop.

You can find out how individual components work on their own by checking out manufacturer specs, but we test notebooks as a whole as well. We don’t just want to find out how fast each component is; we want to see how they complement each other and how they perform as a package. That way, we can give you a fully-rounded recommendation.

Do Chromebooks work offline?

Chromebooks are popular for their cloud-based options, but you can use them with offline apps. Make sure that apps like Gmail are set to offline modes. Google Drive can also easily be used offline and will update when you connect again.

Do Chromebooks have disc drives?

No. They do not. You should expect to depend on a USB drive or SD card, or perhaps an external disc drive if you really need one.

Does Microsoft Office work on a Chromebook?

Microsoft’s Office web apps will function on Chromebook. Now that Chrome OS has become more friendly for Android apps, you can also decide to download Microsoft’s Office Android apps.