Best cheap Chromebook deals July 2022

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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.

Lastly, a word of caution: Amazon Prime Day is set to begin on July 12th. While it’s not guaranteed that we will see rock-bottom pricing on some of our favorite Chromebooks, it’s typically one of the better times to be shopping for a laptop outside of Black Friday.

The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is the best detachable Chromebook you can buy and even comes with a built-in stylus.

Photo by Monica Chin / The Verge

Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3

Our favorite detachable Chromebook, Asus’s CM3, is a 10.5-inch tablet that comes with a unique, dual-folding kickstand and fabric cover that attaches magnetically. That latter feature means you can fold the tablet so it stands up like a laptop, or you can fold it to stand the tablet up horizontally. The convertible Chromebook also boasts a detachable keyboard with roomy keys, a built-in USI stylus, and an excellent battery that can last nearly 13 hours on a full charge. Note, however, that it only comes with two ports, specifically a USB-C port and a 3.5mm audio jack, and doesn’t feature a microSD slot, meaning you’re stuck with the amount of storage you buy. And while the Detachable CM3 works fine for browsing and gaming, it can be sluggish when swapping tabs and using Google services like Gmail.

Normally $369.99, the Chromebook Detachable CM3 is on sale at Amazon right now with a MediaTek 8183 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage for $299.99. While the current deal price isn’t an all-time low — the competent Chromebook dropped to $269.99 in December — it remains the best price we’ve seen this year. Read our review.

Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3

The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is the best detachable laptop with a built-in pen and detachable screen. It offers a unique dual-folding kickstand, making it possible to fold the tablet so it stands up like a laptop or stands up horizontally.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is our favorite 15-inch Chromebook.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5

Let’s face it: the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is the most expensive model on our list. Given we consider it to be a superb device, however, that steep asking price shouldn’t be as much of a deterrent. It’s a solid machine that can hold its own against midrange Windows laptops, with a sturdy build, wide port selection, vivid display, and comfortable keyboard. All of this makes for impressive performance and battery life, the latter of which can last all day on a single charge. In our testing, the CX5 even managed to deliver some of the loudest audio we’ve heard from a Chromebook. The only real drawbacks were the Chromebook’s 16:9 aspect ratio and the trackpad, which can be a bit stiff.

If you’re okay with a smaller display, you can pick up the Flip CX5 on Amazon in the 14-inch configuration with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and an Intel Core i3-1110G4 processor for $649.99 instead of $699.99, an all-time low. Read our review.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5

Asus’s Chromebook CX5 is expensive for a Chromebook, but the well-built machine offers a build and specs to match.

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.

At the moment, Newegg is selling a model with 128GB of storage, a Ryzen 3250C processor, and 4GB of memory for $462.99 (about $356 off). Keep in mind, however, that this particular configuration is not as powerful as the unit we tested. Read our review.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 comes with a comfortable keyboard.

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

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 when tackling everyday tasks such as browsing, chatting, and Zoom. The handsome 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.

Flaws aside, the Duet 5 is a decent convertible that’s currently on sale with a Snapdragon SC7180 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 256GB of eMMC storage for $375 ($95 off) at Walmart. Best Buy is also selling the Chromebook with the same chip, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage for $379. Read our review.

It’s easy to use HP’s Chromebook X2 11 as a tablet.

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

HP Chromebook X2 11

We’ll be honest: we liked HP’s Chromebook X2 11 less than we did the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 mentioned above. We found its performance to be choppy, at least in our testing, and the detachable keyboard felt cramped and awkward when used in our lap. However, we do think it’s a decent buy if you can get it on sale. Unlike the Duet 5, the X2 11 comes with a USI stylus in the box and is smaller, with a 3:2 aspect ratio. The dimensions and aspect ratio make the Chromebook X2 11 better than the Lenovo when it comes to hand-held use, with a shape that closely resembles Apple’s iPad. The tablet’s 1440p resolution and built-in fingerprint scanner are also nice bonuses, the latter of which makes it easy to log in.

Again, this isn’t our favorite Chromebook, and it doesn’t offer great value for your money at the detachable’s typical price of $600. However, HP is currently running a promotion that makes it worth a look. Right now, you can buy the X2 11 with 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a Snapdragon 7c Gen 1 processor for $449.99 instead of $679.99. Read our review.

HP Chromebook X2 11

HP’s Chromebook X2 11 comes with a USI stylus in the box, a 3:2 aspect ratio, and a fingerprint scanner, although its performance isn’t particularly impressive.