If your budget is a little tighter, Chromebooks are proving to be a smart buy. These thin ultrabook-like devices are similar to traditional laptops except they run Chrome OS. As mentioned earlier, they are less expensive than traditional Windows or Mac-based laptops.
So if you’re looking for affordable Chromebooks under $500, here are our top recommendations.
These Chromebooks can easily see you through your spree for basic document editing or the occasional video watching. But Chromebooks are not the best devices if you want to run heavy applications like Adobe Lightroom.
Now that the decision is made, let’s take a look at the best affordable Chromebooks under $500, shall we? But first,
- Check out these USB-C Chromebook accessories
- Here are the best DisplayPort cables you should buy
1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
- Processor: AMD A4-9120C processor
- ports: 2 x USB-C; 2 x USB-A; 1x microSD
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is one of the cheapest options on this list and ticks a few boxes. For example, you get a touchscreen, flexible build and long battery life. More importantly, it offers solid performance and can run anything you throw at it, even though it plays several Chrome tabs at once. Spotify playlistsor watching YouTube videos. For your information, this Chromebook is powered by an AMD A4-9120C processor.
At the same time, the touchscreen is responsive and responds well to taps and taps. The best part is that it has Gorilla Glass protection.
Despite being a compact Chromebook, it offers a good selection of ports. For now, you’ll find two USB-A ports, a pair of USB-C ports, and a microSD card reader. It also has a Kensington lock slot. Naturally, these ports allow you to connect a large number of peripherals at the same time. So if you are in the habit of working with a mouse or an external keyboard, the USB-A port will provide easy connectivity.
The only downside is that the Spin 311 has large bezels surrounding the screen, which makes it look a bit dated. At the same time, the brightness of the screen is low. You can consider this limitation if you want to use this Chromebook to watch videos or stream content on Netflix web.
If looks aren’t so important and you want good performance without burning a hole in your pocket, this Acer Chromebook is a good buy.
2. HP Chromebook 14
- Processor: 1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2940 processor
- ports: 1 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, HDMI, MicroSD slot, headphone jack
HP Chromebook 14
Another affordable Chromebook is the HP Chromebook 14. Two of the highlights of this Chromebook are its bright screen and highly responsive keyboard. Second, it facilitates long-term typing. At the same time, the omnidirectional trackpad makes it easy to navigate. And the battery life at 8 hours isn’t bad either.
The 1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2940 processor may not be the fastest. However, it provides enough bandwidth to help you do simple tasks like editing online or working on spreadsheets with ease. However, if you plan on playing videos, it may not be the best choice as it tends to lag and stutter.
That said, there’s a lot of good stuff going on with it. For example, there are many ports. It includes an HDMI port, USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, a headphone jack, a security slot and a MicroSD slot.
The HP Chromebook addresses one of the biggest limitations of the Chromebook Spin 311. It has a bright screen, text looks crisp and well saturated, making it suitable for presentations or creating graphic-heavy documents and spreadsheets.
3. Lenovo C340 Chromebook
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
- ports: 2 x USB-C ports, 2 x USB-A ports, 1 x 3.5mm audio out, 1 x microSD
Lenovo C340 Chromebook
The Lenovo C340 Chromebook offers the best of both worlds in a convertible 2-in-1 form factor: affordable and a few nifty features. The hinge rotates a full 360 degrees. Wow, right? Moreover, when folded, you can easily use it as a tablet.
More importantly, the Chromebook and hinge are solidly built and can get their fair share of folding and unfolding. Other than that, it’s a small, lightweight Chromebook that you can easily carry around.
An Intel Celeron N4000 processor powers this Chromebook. And as above, it can handle daily tasks with ease. There are no issues or lags with running several Chrome tabs or working in Google Docs. However, in a somewhat strenuous activity like opening Netflix or several Chrome apps at once, stuttering can begin.
Where the Lenovo C340 really shines is in its port selections. It combines two USB-A and two USB-C ports along with the usual bells and whistles like a microSD card reader and a Kensington lock slot.
Like the Acer Chromebook, the Lenovo C340 has large bezels on its display, which is a huge disappointment. That aside, it has an HD display. If you want a Chromebook for everyday use that you can also use as a tablet, this is a good buy.
4. Galaxy Chromebook2
- Processor: Intel Celeron 5205U
- ports: 2 x USB Type-C 1 x 3.5 mm audio output, 1 x microSD card slot
Galaxy Chromebook2
Like the Acer Chromebook, the Lenovo C340 has large bezels on the screen but offers an HD display. This is a good buy if you want to double down on a Chromebook and also a tablet for normal tasks. As long as you stay away from heavy applications, you will be safe.
Like most Chromebooks on this list, this one has a Celeron processor at its core, meaning you can’t handle heavy tasks like Adobe Lightroom. You will also need to share the number of Chrome apps you have open.
The number of ports is sufficient. You get your hands on a few USB-C ports aside from the volume rocker, microSD card slot, and headphone jack. Unfortunately, there is no USB-A port, and if you want to connect some USB-A peripherals, you will need to purchase a USB-C hub.
Battery life is reliable and can last you a day. But the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is expensive for the hardware it packs under its hood, and you might want to consider this point if you’re on a budget.
5. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
Processor: Intel Celeron 5205Uports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, 1 x 3.5 mm audio jack
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 addresses the two main limitations of the Samsung Chromebook. First, it has an Intel Pentium Gold dual-core processor that provides significantly better performance. Secondly, it has a well-lit backlit keyboard that makes typing in the dark easy. You also get USB Type-C and USB-A ports.
It’s a premium Chromebook with a 2-in-1 design, and the touchscreen interface supports stylus input. The screen is large enough to let you work on documents and enjoy videos. The processor is fast and can handle open tabs, Android apps and normal daily tasks with ease. But like most Chromebooks, it struggles to endure when you have more than a dozen tabs open at once.
You get a good selection of ports and a large 1080p display. And at the end of the day, if you want a Chromebook for the long-term investment and want a little more than a basic Chromebook, the Lenovo Flex 5 is your best bet. It walks the fine line between the expensive and the affordable Chromebook without the ugly bezels.
Count Tabs
Chromebooks can’t handle serious tasks, and it’s a limitation you have to accept when transitioning from traditional Windows or macOS-based laptops. Regular online document editing is enough to get you through word processing or the occasional spreadsheet analysis. In contrast, some Chromebooks let you do all this with ease. Therefore, you must choose the right machine for the job.
If you want the best return on your investment under $500, the Lenovo C340 or Chromebook Flex 5 is your best bet.
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