Though we adore this laptop, there are some trade-offs. Fortunately, the hinges are tight and strong so the screen didn’t wobble at all. What surprised us most about this laptop was its tall display, as I expected it to be awkward to handle. We also like that the stylus is included and that you can store it inside a little compartment in the laptop’s shell. The Chromebook Spin 13 is a great option for the college student, as it’s budget-friendly and has a wide selection of ports (which eliminates the need for an adapter). Best Overall: Google Pixelbook (2017, Intel Core i7) Everything on this list has something for those looking to buy a chromebook.

However, we went hands-on with a slew of Chromebooks: from traditional 'books to versatile 2-in-1's, we checked performance, build quality, and everything else. It boasts nine hours of battery life, a lightweight form factor, a sophisticated design, and speedy performance-basically, it checks all the right boxes. If you just want to know which one's the best, it's the Google Pixelbook (available at Amazon for $1,349.99). They're also at lower risk for security issues because they exclusively run web-based applications. These cheap machines like these are ideal for light usage, which is why they've made such a dent in the education market.

However, our picks and opinions are independent from USA TODAY’s newsroom and any business incentives.Ĭhromebooks stand as an affordable option for college students, costing anywhere from $200 to $600 (with the exception of the Google Pixelbook), but are they worth the money? If you spend most of your time browsing the web, scrolling through Facebook and the like, then yes. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need.

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