There are more Chromebooks than ever before, especially now that there are also so-called Chromebook Plus laptops. We ensure that you keep seeing the forest through the trees.
Edited by Bram Lodewijks and Rob Coenraads
Choosing the right laptop is often not a simple job. For example, there are Windows laptops with the (new) category Copilot+ AI PCs. Others choose Welllicht for a MacBook or a Linux laptop, where you can also choose a Chromebook. Within those Chromebooks you can then also opt for the Chromebook Plus subcategory. All this makes the choice not exactly easier. That is why we will go deeper into both the ‘normal’ Chromebook and the Chromebook Plus, so that you can determine which one is best for you. Whether you are a student, a professional or someone who just needs a reliable laptop for daily tasks: it is important to understand the differences and benefits of Chromebooks.
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Essence of a Chromebook
Chromebooks are known for their light design, fast start-up times and easy integration with Google services. These laptops do not run on Windows, but on Chrome OS, one cloud-based Operating system developed by Google. This means that there is as much math capacity and storage in the cloud as possible, so that (almost) all Chromebooks are equipped with less work and storage memory than, for example, Windows laptops. But by placing fewer demands on the hardware (including fewer GBs on work and storage memory), the price tag of a Chromebook is also more attractive. This makes Chromebooks quite popular in education.
However, you cannot just use the same programs that you use on a Windows laptop. You are limited to apps from the same Play Store that you also have on Android smartphones and tablets. We therefore often say that you can see a Chromebook in a certain sense as an Android tablet in laptop shape. Chromebooks are therefore ideal if you use Google Chrome almost exclusively and the G Suite apps (Gmail, Drive, Photos, Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.). On the other hand, if you often use specialized programs, such as Vegas Pro for video editing or audio recordings, you will not be able to do much with a Chromebook. Although there are some Chromebooks aimed at gamers and the quality of cloud gaming services (such as GeForce Now) is getting better, other operating systems remain better choices for this target group.
Chromebook versus Chromebook Plus
Google wants to take a different path with the Chromebook Plus. A Chromebook Plus does have more storage space, so that you can synchronize more data in the cloud on your Chromebook. In this way you can also use your data offline.
A Chromebook Plus looks almost the same on the outside as an ordinary Chromebook, with the exception of the logo. Chromebooks Plus actually simply offer more functions and performance: they have more powerful processors, more memory (RAM) and therefore also storage capacity. They are designed to be able to handle more demanding tasks, such as photo and video editing, gaming and more. When choosing between a Chromebook and a Chromebook Plus, you should mainly consider what you want to do and how high your requirements are. Performance is the most important factor here. Normal chromebooks are usually supplied with simple processors and 4GB RAM, which is great for some light internet use. Chromebooks Plus, on the other hand, have more powerful processors that you also find in Windows laptops and at least 8GB RAM, making them better suited for multiple tasks at the same time (multitasking) and heavier apps.
Image quality, battery life, exclusive functions and connectivity
The image quality is a different point. Chromebooks often still have HD screens, while Chromebooks plus often have full-HD screens and sometimes use OLED panels for improved image and color reproduction. They are therefore not only better for photo editing, but also for entertainment in general. The battery is a strong point for both categories: you often get more than 10 hours of use on a single charge. Devices run on Chrome OS, although there are sometimes some exclusive functions that only work on Chromebooks Plus. The expectation is that in the long term more and more exclusive functions for the PLUS versions will come. The connectivity is a final difference. A normal Chromebook usually has very few connections (one USB-A port and one USB-C port for example), while a Chromebook plus has several connections, including an HDMI port so that you (without dock) can connect to an external monitor.
Which Chromebook suits you?
Before you make a purchase, you have to consider what you will use your Chromebook (plus). If you need a device for basic tasks such as surfing on the web, e-mailing and playing simple games, a standard Chromebook is sufficient. For more demanding tasks such as photo editing or dozens opened tabs in Chrome, a Chromebook Plus is better. Your budget is another important factor. After all, Chromebooks are generally cheaper, while Chromebooks plus have a higher price tag because of their better specifications. Realize that even a Chromebook Plus is still cheaper than the average Windows laptop and certainly a MacBook.
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Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook
It is certainly not difficult to find a Chromebook under € 300. This Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook proves this with a suggested retail price of € 299, while we come across a retail price of € 239. This is a version that is no longer for sale at Lenovo, but at online stores such as Coolblue.
The design with 14-inch display is enormous light, with 1.3 kg it is also a lightweight and the number of connections is also on the ‘light’ side: you only get a USB-A and USB-C port that is also used by the charger. You quickly notice that this is one of the cheaper Chromebooks, purely intended for some light internet use.
The MediaTek processor is on the slow side, 64GB storage is the absolute minimum and with 4GB RAM you certainly should not open 20 tabs at the same time in Chrome.
The battery life is also good and that makes it useful to take along the way or for students looking for a light laptop to take notes in class. The Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook has a privacy valve that you can slide for the webcam for extra security.
We can only recommend this laptop for very simple tasks …
Product: Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 Chromebook
Suggested retail price: € 299,-
Plus points:
* Cheap
* Good battery life
* lightweight
* Only suitable for (very) simple tasks such as internet
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Acer Chromebook Plus 514
The prices of Chromebooks Plus can be better than expected and you can see that at the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 that is available in various versions. So make sure that there are Plus When you are looking for.
It soon has an AMD Ryzen 3-processor, 8GB RAM and 128GB storage space; For example, Ryzen 5, 256GB storage and more powerful is touchscreen If you set more requirements.
The 14-inch display with 1920 x 1200 pixels has (therefore) a 16: 10 ratio, making it easier to use two windows next to each other.
Another part that reveals that this is a Chromebook Plus is the HDMI port that is accompanied by a USB-A port and two USB-C ports, one for the charger.
The battery does not suffer from these more powerful performance, since the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 also has a maximum battery life of 12 hours.
Due to the speakers facing upwards next to the keyboard, this Chromebook Plus is finally suited to view series. And with a weight of 1.45 kilograms it is easy to carry.
Product: Acer Chromebook Plus 514
Suggested retail price: € 449,-
Plus points:
* battery life
* Good price performance
* finely lit keyboard
Cons:
* Sound from speakers
* Fan starts quickly
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Asus Chromebook Flip CX15
The fast Asus Chromebook Flip CX15 looks nice and varies greatly from the other two chromebooks mentioned here.
First, he has a 2-in-1 design, which means that you can run the screen for 360 degrees. Furthermore, this is a slightly larger Chromebook, because the Full-HD screen is 15.6 inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) large and not 14 inches, which is the average size for Chromebooks. If you have the nice clear screen (touchscreen) Fully runs, you actually have a very large tablet that you can hold on your lap, but are on the heavy side.
In addition to quietly watching a movie or series with this Flip, you can go well ‘internet’, e-mailing and word processing.
Our model has an Intel Celeron 4500N processor and 8GB RAM and here too you have different variants to choose from. Everyone has their preference, but we find 64 GB of storage space on the lean side.
Finally, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX15 is equipped with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port, which is also for the charger.
Product: Asus Chromebook Flip CX15
Suggested retail price: € 469,-
Plus points:
* nice and fast
* Good battery life
* Good screen, also as a tablet
Negatives
* 64 GB storage space too little
* Too heavy for tablet use
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