Chromebooks can come with a lot of different hardware inside, so it can be difficult to know exactly what you need. Fortunately, the Chromebook Plus program has made the spec mix easier to parse. ChromeOS is also lightweight enough that it doesn’t require incredibly robust specs to get a good experience. Below are some general tips on what to keep in mind.
Processor: For the best experience, you should avoid older Chromebooks with Intel Celeron processors. The Chromebook Plus specs offer a good base to ensure fast performance and I would recommend using at least an Intel Core i3, Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 processor. Just be careful about spending too much on configurations with Intel Core i7 processors, unless You may need extra power for multitasking Android games, Linux apps, and dozens of Chrome tabs. While Intel and AMD dominate the processor scene, you’ll occasionally find Chromebooks that use ARM processors like the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 in the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 above. These may be fine for very basic tasks, but they won’t perform as well under sustained, intense loads (at least until something newer comes along).
RAM: Always go for at least 8GB of RAM if you can afford it. You won’t find 4GB of RAM in anything other than basic, super-cheap Chromebooks, but it severely limits your ability to multitask. If you want to avoid slowdowns, 8 GB of RAM is the standard you should aim for.
Storage: Unlike a Mac or Windows PC, much of your Chromebook’s work will be done on the web. This means you can usually get away with less storage, but I wouldn’t recommend going below 128GB. If you can afford it, you’ll be much more comfortable with at least 256GB. You’ll get the best speed with an NVMe solid-state drive, so look at the spec sheet when comparing models.
Screen: The vast majority of Chromebook displays you’ll find will be IPS LCD panels, and that’s okay. Until OLED displays make a dent in the Chromebook space, IPS LCD displays offer the best contrast and color accuracy. If you’re shopping in the extreme budget range, be wary of TN LCD panels as they are generally lower quality and offer worse viewing angles. As for resolution, its standard should be a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. You’ll get sharp images on 13- and 14-inch screen sizes and it’s acceptable on 15-inch. Higher resolutions will look even better, but be wary of the battery life trade-off you’ll see when cranking up the power to more pixels.
Ports: USB-C ports have become commonplace on newer Chromebooks, so there’s no excuse to buy one without them. Try to get one that charges via USB-C so you can recharge it with a portable power bank when you’re on the go. A microSD card slot can also be beneficial if you want an easy way to expand your storage on the go. You’ll find that some Chromebooks also support Thunderbolt 4 through their USB-C ports. While it’s a great option if you plan to connect your Chromebook to some high-end monitors, it’s not necessary for most people. Instead, you can get similar external monitor support (and spend much less) with an HDMI port or DisplayPort support over USB-C.
