▷ Best chromebook on the market 【2020】 ??

Welcome to our article on the best chromebook on the market. A list of the best equipment you can buy currently. And it is that portable computers have been with us since the end of the last century, and since then they have remained the most effective alternative to stay connected, be more productive under any circumstance, anywhere.

However, since the appearance of the modern smartphone, the average user has not only changed the way in which they consume the content with which we previously accessed on these computers, but also the format in which they prefer to do it: faster, simpler and without additional implications.

The hromebook was born as a way to integrate the productivity of the traditional laptop with the elements that have made smartphones so accessible to the general public, in a kind of hybrid that, since mid-2011, has accompanied us as one more alternative when we want to acquire a laptop. Today we will delve into these unique teams trying to define what defines them and why it can be an interesting option for many users.

Index of contents

Chrome OS: what makes a laptop a Chromebook

But with that presentation it may not be clear what differentiates a chromebook from any laptop. The reality is that, just as we currently differentiate a Mac from a standard laptop just by using Mac OS (When there are currently no major differences at the hardware level), a chromebook is nothing more than a laptop that uses Chrome OS and is That's where all the differences from any other laptop come from.

Chrome OS is, on the other hand, a lightweight operating system developed by Google, based on the Linux kernel (such as Android) and based on the browser with which it shares a name. Chrome OS was born in full "fever" of cloud services. It was presented as an alternative and light OS that depended on an internet connection to enjoy its functionalities, very similar to that of the browser itself. Which is why he didn't marry especially well with the general public at first.

Since then it has evolved enormously and has incorporated elements that the followers of the format demanded, such as offline functionality, the file manager, the incorporation of the Play Store and Android applications, or the recent compatibility with GNU / Linux elements give it packaging to the operating system and make it independent and more attractive than ever.

Hardware adapted to the characteristics of your software

Chrome OS completely defines the chromebook, and this goes far beyond software. The first steps of Chrome OS located it in the educational field, as it is an operating system with very humble requirements, the first chromebooks were built on very affordable and low-power hardware that made it very attractive to acquire them for that purpose. In the end, that battle was won by tablets, but the idea of ​​lightweight, low-power notebooks for simple tasks permeated the hardware of these computers and has been around ever since.

Thus we find that most models have low-consumption processors, little RAM and very limited internal storage, usually expandable by micro-SD cards as in Android devices, these specifications help the battery of these devices to be more durable. It is in the screens and in the construction of the chassis where we usually find the most difference between models and ranges.

This does not mean that among the specifications of some of these equipment we do not find higher-end alternatives. Brands such as Lenovo, Acer or Google itself have ventured to launch systems with high performance oriented towards professional use and the premium user, and developers such as AMD have shown their support for the platform with components specifically designed for these devices, such as the case of AMD A6-9220C and A4-9120C processors.

The role of Google as a spearhead: Google Pixelbook

Despite the fact that there is a good offer of Chrome OS products, both the operating system and the computers that revolve around it are usually displaced by more traditional low-end notebooks or tablets based on Android and iOS.

So the approach of the Mountain View giant towards Chrome OS and the products derived from its operating system are somewhat different from what we can find in the Android OS and take the role of leader of its own market with Pixelbook (2017) and Pixel Slate (2018), teams far superior in performance and design with respect to what we are used to on the platform and which made up the highest-end piece of technology in the wide spectrum of teams with Chrome OS from the time of its release to today.

Google Pixelbook (Image: Google)

Unfortunately, Google itself has not given these teams the projection that many followers of the format expected and are not well located in some official stores, including the Spanish one, which is why many of the teams that see the light in the market does not reach our country, an important handicap to the expansion and standardization of these devices.

Who is a Chromebook for?

Chrome OS has a problem very similar to what we can see in current Apple iPads, which sell their image as a replacement for a traditional laptop, they may have powerful hardware to back them up, but the absence of software relegates them in many situations to an accompanying device for work, not a substitute.

Similarly, chromebooks are excellent companions for users who need a structure closer to a PC than a tablet can offer, while they can afford to do without advanced applications, regardless of whether the use is going to Giving is more focused on productivity or simple entertainment. Unless we talk about video games, for which we will have to settle for the selection of titles from the Play Store, or wait to see the integration of Stadia in the Google operating system before issuing a final verdict.

If you have been convinced by Google's proposal, these are our favorite models

In any case, if you are thinking of getting a chromebook, you must take into account what you are going to use it for. Whether consuming internet content, entertainment, work or simply as a complement, it is important to set a price limit, since we are acquiring less powerful equipment that is functional thanks to its OS, not traditional laptops. For those who want an opinion, these are some of our favorite models:

Acer Chromebook 14 - Portable format at a bargain price

Acer Chromebook CB3-431 29.5cm (11.6inch HD) (Intel Dual Core, Google Chrome Os) 32GB (eMMC)

• German keyboard - QWERTZ

240.43 EUR Buy on Amazon

The Acer chromebook 14 is an excellent representative of the original idea of ​​the chromebook concept: a team of measured features, low price and portable format for quick tasks. And this is demonstrated by the guts of this team, starring a modest Intel Celeron N3160 accompanied by 4 GB of DDR3 RAM and 32 GB of internal eMMC memory that help to greatly lengthen the team's battery.

The construction of the team, in plastic, gains firmness thanks to the small surface of the laptop that gives it a more robust aspect of the impression that the material could make us in the first instance. The chassis is crowned by a 12 '' FHD LED screen that is suitable for browsing the internet and even consuming some multimedia content via streaming, although if we handle a lot of text, its brightness and size may require that we strain our eyes in more inhospitable environments.

HP Chromebook 11 G6 - SUV designed for students

PORTABLE HP CHROMEBOOK 11 G6 N3350 4/32 EE Buy on Amazon

Following in the wake of our previous recommendation we find the HP chromebook G6, which in its 11-inch variant is a very interesting device for its great portability and especially long battery life. This is an update of its previous model for students, so we see improvements in processor (Celeron N3450) and connectivity in this model, by including charging via USB-C and USB 3.1 type-A port.

As for the rest of the specifications, they fall within what we can find in other Chrome OS devices of the same price: 4 GB (LPDDR4) of memory and a 32 GB storage (eMMC) expandable by microSD card. Given the price and size of the equipment, the screen and the weight are two of the weak points of the set, with a resolution of 1366 x 768 and a weight that greatly exceeds one kilo.

Lenovo Chromebook 14e - Adequate in every respect

Thanks to a collaboration between AMD and the Asian brand Lenovo, we have the Chromebook 14e in Iberian lands, one of the rounder Chrome OS proposals. It is a 14-inch computer, with discreet and rigid lines, powered by one of the AMD A4-9120 chips that we talked about in previous sections. This processor gives you an extra boost in tasks that require some graphics muscle through its integrated graphics processor, while its low power consumption helps the battery life of the equipment.

The rest of the components that make up the 14e include the standard for this type of equipment, in the form of 4 to 8 GB of RAM (although in this case it is LPDDR4) and an internal eMMC memory of up to 64 GB. One of the team's strengths is the FHD LED screen with good brightness and contrast, although we must pay an extra if we want to enjoy a touch variant.

HP Chromebook X2 - A versatile and well built 2 in 1

HP PC Portable Chromebook x2 12-f003nf - 12.3 '2K - Core i5-7Y54 - RAM 8Go - Stockage 64Go - Chrome OS Buy on Amazon

HP is another of the major manufacturers involved in Google's project with Chrome OS, as well as one of the most prolific. Among its extensive line of products, of various ranges and audiences, we are especially struck by the Chromebook X2, a hybrid proposal that is reminiscent of what was seen in the Microsoft Surface series, as it is a device that allows you to separate the keyboard chassis and stand alone as a tablet, a very popular format for certain content.

The interior of this 2-in-1 boasts a seventh-generation Intel Core M3, which despite its time is still more powerful than the low-consumption chips shown so far, accompanied by 4 GB of RAM (LPDDR3), 32 GB of expandable eMMC memory and an impeccable 2400 x 1400 screen, the highest resolution on our list, which make this versatile device ideal for productivity or consuming content on the network, yes, at a price somewhat higher than the other recommendations.

Asus Chromebook C523NA - High-end features at bargain prices

The absence of a catalog of high-end products in Spain when purchasing one of these products leaves us few options within the main brands, but one of the alternatives to these more interesting products comes from Asus with its C523, a team with an elegant design and some very attractive characteristics for its price.

This design and its construction is the best asset of this team, which presents a metallic chassis with little flexibility and light in hand, something to be appreciated when we use it as a tablet, where we highlight its screen with an excellent color representation, although its resolution FHD may seem somewhat inferior to the rest of the equipment's features.

Inside we find, again, a Celeron N4200 from Intel, to which are added the classic 4 GB of RAM (LPDDR3) expandable up to 8 GB and an internal memory of 64 GB eMMC that will be more than enough to use the team.

Final words and conclusion about Chromebooks

After our recommendations, and reaching the end of the text, we want to conclude that, although they are not a substitute for traditional equipment, chromebooks can be a very attractive alternative or supplement for many users, especially if most of the content we consume is via internet and we don't have to depend on concrete software for our day to day.

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Unfortunately, and as we mentioned, its implementation in Spain is being especially slow, but despite this, they are still a firm proposal for any user who wants a light and fast team, and does not want to get rid of the keyboard on the way.