Are you in the market for the best laptops for students or a user of tablets for your studies but want to focus on the best Chromebooks? Look no further.
Here is a detailed overview of today’s best Chromebook options, specifically tailored to students.
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You’ll find something that fits the bill regardless of your budget and preferences. We’ll explain what features you should expect from the best Chromebooks and the top choices available, so you can find the perfect match for your learning needs.
However, if you’re keen on efficient note-taking, We recommend exploring our list of the best note-taking tablets.
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Our Top Pick
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Best Budget Chromebook
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Best Value Chromebook
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4.8
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4.5
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4.6
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$453.00
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$188.99
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The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is our top pick for versatile usage, quick Chrome OS response, impressive audio, and a distraction-free Full-HD display. |
The best budget Chromebook, the CB314-1H-C884, runs on Chrome OS, offering built-in virus protection, access to Google apps, and over 2 million Android apps. It includes 100GB of Google Drive storage and features a 14” Full HD IPS Display, Intel Celeron N4000, 4GB LPDDR4 Memory, 64GB eMMC, and up to 12.5 hours of battery life |
The 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor powers a high-quality 16-inch display with Intel Iris Xe graphics. It's the best value Chromebook for students, bundled with a USB extension cable and featuring fast Wi-Fi and multiple connectivity options. |
The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is our top pick for versatile usage, quick Chrome OS response, impressive audio, and a distraction-free Full-HD display.
The best budget Chromebook, the CB314-1H-C884, runs on Chrome OS, offering built-in virus protection, access to Google apps, and over 2 million Android apps. It includes 100GB of Google Drive storage and features a 14” Full HD IPS Display, Intel Celeron N4000, 4GB LPDDR4 Memory, 64GB eMMC, and up to 12.5 hours of battery life
The 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor powers a high-quality 16-inch display with Intel Iris Xe graphics. It's the best value Chromebook for students, bundled with a USB extension cable and featuring fast Wi-Fi and multiple connectivity options.
7+ Best Chromebooks for Students in 2024
- Lenovo Flex 5i — The best Chromebook for students in 2024 overall (Editor’s choice)
- Acer Chromebook 314 — The best Chromebook for students on a budget
- Acer Chromebook 516GE — The best value Chromebook for students
- Asus Chromebook CX9 — The best premium Chromebook for students
- Samsung Galaxy Chromebook — The Chromebook for students with the best display
- Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 — The best 2-in-1 Chromebook for students
- Acer Chromebook Spin 714 — The best Chromebook for college students
On a related note, see our post on the best student software the best laptops for students, and the best tablets for students.
What is the Best Chromebook for Students in 2024?
Students can have it rough. Not only are you looking for great tech to help you with all of your work, but you also need it to be affordable. That’s why we love the Lenovo Flex 5i. It’s the perfect combination of both.
Interested in some of our other top choices? Check out our comparison table below.
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7+ Best Chromebooks for Students in 2024
1. Lenovo Flex 5i (Editor’s choice)
The best Chromebook for students in 2024 overall
Display: 13.3-inch Full HD touchscreen | Processor: 11th gen Intel i3 | Graphics: Intel UHD | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 64GB/128GB/256GB SSD
If you are a student looking for the perfect companion, the Lenovo Flex 5i is our top pick for you.
From laptop mode, where you can diligently work on assignments, to tent mode for immersive entertainment, stand mode for polished presentations, and tablet mode for comfortable reading—its 360° hinge, tested rigorously over 25,000 cycles, ensures enduring flexibility.
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Crafted with a slender profile of just 17.4mm / 0.69” and a featherlight weight of 1.50kg / 3.31lbs, this portable powerhouse is available in elegant colors (Storm Grey, Cloud Grey, and Stone Blue)
Experience visual brilliance through the crisp lens of an OLED 2.8K display, boasting an expansive 16:10 aspect ratio that amplifies your screen space. DCI-P3 technology enhances contrast, while 400 nits of brightness invigorate your visuals.
Prioritizing your ocular comfort, the TÜV-certified low blue-light reduction minimizes eyestrain, all the while preserving color precision. We can say that it is a perfect representation of both stunning imagery and ergonomic well-being.
Empowered by up to a 12th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, the IdeaPad Flex 5i Gen 7 makes streaming, content creation, and entertainment fluid and immersive. Facilitated by up to 16GB of memory and a capacious 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage, multitasking becomes effortless and file management a breeze. Ingeniously, Intelligent Cooling maintains optimal temperatures and noise levels behind the scenes.
We also enjoyed the Rapid Charge Boost feature —a mere 15 minutes of charging bestows 2 hours of usage. Elevating your privacy, the fingerprint reader ensures secure access.
Amplifying its creative prowess, the optional Lenovo E-Color pen adds a new dimension to your experience, enabling sketching, annotating, and document editing directly on the screen. However, it is important to note that the pen is not included.
Pros |
Cons |
| ➕Solid performance | ➖Dim display |
| ➕Decent performance and storage for the price | ➖Average webcam |
| ➕Responsive keyboard | |
| ➕Privacy shutter | |
| ➕Great audio | |
| ➕Reliable battery life |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is simple to use – just login to your Google account and you're ready to go with access to your email, documents, calendar, and more
- Laptop or tablet – why not both. With a 13" FHD touchscreen, you can use your Lenovo Chromebook the way that works best for you to browse online, listen to music, stream movies, or video chat with...
- With the streamlined Chrome OS packed with the latest features, this convertible Chromebook offers a quick and nimble system response time
- The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook streams audio that's surprisingly loud and clear for a compact device, thanks to its enhanced stereo speakers and built-in amplifier that's certified by Waves Audio
- Watch and stream shows and videos with no distractions, thanks to the narrow bezels and wider viewing angles on the Full-HD IPS display
2. Acer Chromebook 314
The best Chromebook for students on a budget
Display: 14-inch Full HD | Processor: Intel Celeron N4000 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB eMMC
We can attest that the Acer Chromebook 314, is the ideal partner for students looking to excel both within and beyond the classroom.
By seamlessly integrating a comfortable typing experience, extended battery life, and the latest security and connectivity features, this Chromebook not only ensures user-friendliness but also exhibits durability in the face of a busy student lifestyle.
At just under 1.5kg, it effortlessly marries extreme portability with the prowess of an ARM Octa-Core processor, ensuring your day’s tasks are efficiently managed.
The slender bezel enhances the allure of the 14-inch non-glare screen, presented within an even more compact frame.
We were truly delighted by its Full HD IPS display, boasting a slim 7.3mm bezel and expansive viewing angles that showcase films, videos, and TV shows in their full splendor.
Additionally, the optional touchscreen feature simplifies navigation and content control, ensuring a seamless experience.
Empowering your productivity, this Chromebook boasts an all-day battery, providing up to 15 hours of unwavering performance.
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Effortlessly maintain synchronization and connectivity through the fully functional USB-C port and 802.11ac Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 5.0, facilitating seamless interactions with multiple devices concurrently.
Moreover, the integrated 720p HDR webcam elevates your video conference calls, delivering crystal-clear visuals during Google Meet sessions.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕Cheap | ➖Sluggish performance |
| ➕Fantastic battery life | |
| ➕Full HD display on a budget |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically, boots up in seconds and continues...
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides.
- Get access to more than 2 million Android apps from Google Play to learn and do more.
- Chromebooks come with built-in storage for offline access to your most important files and an additional 100GB of Google Drive space to ensure that all of your files are backed up automatically.
- CB314-1H-C884 comes with 14” Full HD IPS Display, Intel Celeron N4000, 4GB LPDDR4 Memory, 64GB eMMC, Google Chrome and Up to 12. 5-hours Battery Life.
3. Acer Chromebook 516GE
The best value Chromebook for students
Display: 16-inch (2560 x 1600) WQXGA with a 120Hz refresh rate | Processor: 12th generation Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD
Although the Acer Chromebook 516GE is primarily designed for gamers, it secures the third spot on our list of Chromebooks for students because of its exceptional features.
For students seeking the best bang for their buck, the Acer Chromebook 516GE strikes an impressive balance between value and functionality. It’s packed with top-tier specifications and cutting-edge attributes, perfect for cloud gaming, yet versatile enough to cater to students with various needs.
This robust machine boasts the latest hardware offerings, featuring the cutting-edge 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, capacious SSD storage of up to 2TB, and Intel Iris Xe graphics. This arsenal ensures seamless performance for academic tasks, creative endeavors, and lag-free cloud gaming.
The 16-inch IPS narrow-bezel display is a standout feature, offering a swift refresh rate of up to 120Hz, complete sRGB coverage, and an impressive 2560 x 1600 resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
These specifications guarantee highly detailed and color-accurate visuals, enhancing your gaming and multimedia experiences. The remarkable display can even be compared to those found on high-end 4K monitors, ensuring that your visual enjoyment knows no bounds.
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Additionally, the extended battery life liberates you from the need to stay tethered to a power source, especially when you have to be at school for the whole day.
The Acer Chromebook 516GE goes a step further with its audio prowess, incorporating DTS Audio and Smart Amplifier technology. This combination delivers immersive sound quality that plunges you right into the heart of the action.
It also employs force-canceling woofers firing in opposite directions to eliminate unwanted sound vibrations, ensuring a clean and crisp audio experience.
Furthermore, it’s fully equipped for streaming and video calls, boasting a Full HD flare-reducing webcam with temporal noise reduction and a dual-microphone array that ensures high-quality audio output.
However, it’s worth noting that the USB-C ports on this device don’t support Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, which could limit high-speed data transfer and compatibility with certain peripherals.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕Smooth 120Hz display | ➖Integrated graphics |
| ➕Fast performance | |
| ➕RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting tech | |
| ➕Decent battery life | |
| ➕Great webcam and mic | |
| ➕Unbeatable value for a Chromebook |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P Processor @ 1.70GHz (12 Cores, 16 Threads, 12M Cache, up to 4.40 GHz)120Hz 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS narrow-bezel display with 100% sRGB coverage, 16:10 aspect...
4. Asus Chromebook CX9
The best premium Chromebook for students
Display: 14-inch Full HD touchscreen | Processor: 11th gen Intel i7 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 16GB | Storage: 512GB SSD
The Asus Chromebook CX9 is the obvious choice for students who demand nothing but the best. With its impressive combination of high-performance hardware and sleek design, this premium Chromebook has everything a student needs to succeed.
At the heart of the Asus Chromebook CX9 is an 11th gen Intel Core i7 processor, capable of speeds up to 4.7 GHz. This powerful processor, combined with 16GB of RAM, an impressive 14-hour battery life, and a 512GB SSD, ensures lightning-fast performance that can easily handle the most demanding tasks.
The Asus Chromebook CX9 is more than just raw power. Its 14-inch Full HD touchscreen display is a feast for the eyes. Its 178-degree viewing angle and four-sided 91% NanoEdge design maximize the screen area and screen-to-body ratio, providing an immersive visual experience. The Harman Kardon-certified quad-speaker audio makes this a great all-rounder for work and play.
It also supports the USI stylus, which means you can take notes and sketch ideas just like you would on paper. This feature is especially useful for art, design, or engineering students.
The Asus Chromebook CX9 is built to last. With its military-grade durability, this Chromebook has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand the rigors of daily use. And with its 180-degree hinge, students can use the device in various modes and angles, making it more flexible and convenient to use.
With this device, you also get an integrated privacy shield to keep your webcam and private data safe, an LED-illuminated numeric keypad, and comprehensive connectivity options. The elegantly designed laptop is 0.62 inches slim and weighs just 2.31 lbs, so you can carry it anywhere. You also get a built-in privacy shutter to safeguard yourself.
The Asus Chromebook CX9 is in a league of its own, and if budget isn’t a constraint, it won’t disappoint.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕Sleek and elegant design | ➖Expensive |
| ➕ Stylus-compatible display | ➖HD webcam |
| ➕Military grade durability | |
| ➕One of the fastest Chromebooks available | |
| ➕Harman Kardon-certified quad-speaker audio | |
| ➕Fingerprint sensor | |
| ➕Lightweight |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Powered by the Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor 2.8 GHz (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 4 cores)
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD and 16GB RAM, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.0
- 14-inch Touchscreen Full HD 1920x1080 NanoEdge Display with USI Stylus support
- Extreme military-grade durability: Panel pressure, shock, and drop tested to ensure resilience, with a 180-degree hinge and I/O ports (2x USB Type-C (Gen 2) ports, 1x USB 3.2 Type-A (Gen 2), Micro SD...
- Illuminated keyboard
5. Samsung Galaxy Chromebook
The Chromebook for students with the best display
Display: 13.3-inch 4K AMOLED touchscreen | Processor: 10th gen Intel i5 | Graphics: Intel UHD | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB SSD
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is an excellent option for students in need of a powerful, portable, and visually stunning device. The best feature of this Chromebook is its 4K AMOLED display. With support for 100% Adobe RGB and 100% DCI-P3, the display offers incredible clarity and a rich range of colors that are true to life.
The display comes with Ambient EQ which automatically adjusts the color temperature and brightness to suit the surrounding environment. This means more realistic-looking images and reduced eye fatigue, making it easier to work for longer periods. With a 360-degree design plus a built-in stylus with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt sensitivity, you will feel like you are writing or drawing on real paper.
Under the hood, it packs a 10th gen Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage, so you have more than enough resources to work efficiently for years.
Samsung also eliminates any need for manual updates and with a fingerprint sensor to keep your data secure. For those who need a great Chromebook with an even better display, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is a must-have.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕Gorgeous 4K display | ➖Poor battery life |
| ➕Includes a stylus and built-in stylus garage | ➖Not the best webcam |
| ➕Lag-free performance | |
| ➕Slim and lightweight | |
| ➕Fingerprint sensor |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- Touch Screen Type :Capacitive.Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Crystal clarity. Vivid color: Experience superior picture quality and fully expansive color, contrast and depth with the 4K AMOLED touchscreen display to take your work and play to the next level.
- Split-second productivity: Boot up in as fast as 6 seconds and hit the ground running. Get ample storage with 256GB SSD and work, play and multitask seamlessly. Wireless Network: Bluetooth Wi-Fi 6...
- Stroke of genius: Take notes, sketch ideas and edit documents easily and accurately with the built-in pen that fits seamlessly into Galaxy Chromebook’s ultra-slim design.
- Speedy. Simple. Secure: Chrome OS is the speedy, simple and secure operating system that powers Chromebooks. It is designed to feel intuitive and helpful every step of the way. It comes with the...
6. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5
The best 2-in-1 Chromebook for students
Display: 13.3-inch Full HD OLED touchscreen | Processor: Snapdragon SC7180 | Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 64GB eMMC
A laptop-tablet hybrid, also known as a 2-in-1 device is a total game-changer for students. It’s lightweight and compact so you can take it anywhere. How cool is that? It is perfect for taking notes, writing essays, and completing assignments. The touchscreen display is perfect for sketching diagrams with a stylus or highlighting important points. It’s like having a digital notebook at your fingertips!
And let’s not forget about entertainment. When done with schoolwork, you can easily switch to tablet mode, and use the device to watch movies, play games, or browse social media. It’s like having two devices in one! So, regarding 2-in-1 Chromebooks, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is the clear winner.
Its 13-inch OLED touchscreen display is capable of true color via a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and emits 70% less blue light to reduce eye strain during those late-night study sessions. The four speakers with smart amplifier tech deliver crystal-clear sound, creating a cinematic ambiance when you watch your favorite movies.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 compute platform, the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is quick, and with 15 hours of battery life, it will easily last more than a full day of use. When you do run out of power, you can get 80% of the power with just an hour of fast charging. With access to every app you’ll ever need for work, study, and entertainment through the Play store, you won’t miss Windows or macOS.
The Duet 5 is also great for video calls with its dual microphones, an 8MP Full HD rear, and a 5MP front-facing camera. So you can rest assured that you look and sound your best during video calls. The best part is that it all comes at a much lower price than you would expect.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕Versatile 2-in-1 form factor | ➖Stylus costs extra |
| ➕Beautiful OLED display | |
| ➕Dual cameras | |
| ➕ Long-lasting battery life | |
| ➕Bundled with a keyboard and cover | |
| ➕Zippy performance |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is the ultimate 2-in-1 device, powered by Chrome OS and cloud computing and designed for portability – take it anywhere for up to 15 hours of battery...
- This versatile touch screen Chromebook has a detachable fabric folio keyboard and stylus support, plus an ultra-light slim chassis; enjoy a favorite movie in tablet mode then snap on the laptop-grade...
- With its lightweight Samsung OLED display, the Duet 5 Chromebook’s 13.3" full-HD screen (1920 x 1080) at 400 nits bright is capable of true color via 100% DCI-P3 color gamut
- Enjoy crystal-clear audio from 4 speakers with smart amplifier technology, 2 microphones, and rear 8MP and 5MP front-facing 1080p FHD cameras for streaming and video calls
- Discover how fast and simple this 2-in-1 Chromebook is – login with your Google Account to access your Google Drive and Chrome preferences; find every app you need for work, study, and entertainment...
7. Acer Chromebook Spin 714
The best Chromebook for college students
Display: 14.0-inch (1920 x 1200) WUXGA touchscreen | Processor: 12th gen Intel i5 | Graphics: Intel Iris Xe | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD
While every laptop on this list is great for students of all levels, a college student might need a device with a bit more oomph, extra storage, and bigger battery life to keep up with their demands.
This is why the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is our top recommendation for college students. It ticks all the boxes and more, so you can rely on it throughout college.
It has plenty of power with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM, and up to 2TB PCIe SSD hard drive. The processor is designed to handle complex tasks, including running demanding applications and software, ensuring you can multitask without lag or slowdowns.
Additionally, the 14-inch panel with 1920 x 1200 resolution produces clear and vibrant images, which is great for researching and completing assignments. It comes bundled with a stylus that you can use to turn the laptop into a canvas in tablet mode, a Full HD webcam with a dual-microphone array, DTS audio, support for fast charging, and more, in addition to a rugged design so it can easily take a few bumps.
| Pros | Cons |
| ➕Excellent 14-inch display | ➖Bulky |
| ➕Great value | ➖Sub-par battery life |
| ➕Full HD webcam | |
| ➕DTS audio | |
| ➕Latest 12th gen Intel i5 processor | |
| ➕Includes a stylus |
Latest Price on Amazon:
- CPU: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U, 10C (2P + 8E) / 12T, P-core 1.3 / 4.4GHz, E-core 0.9 / 3.3GHz, 12MB.Display: 14.0-inch, WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:9, IPS-level Panel, Touchscreen CineCrystal; Graphics:...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of using a Chromebook for students?
Chromebooks are lightweight, affordable, and easy to use. They are designed to be simple and reliable, with most applications and data stored in the cloud. This makes them ideal for students who need a device for basic tasks such as browsing the web, writing papers, and creating presentations.
How much storage do I need on a student Chromebook?
Storage needs depend on your usage. Chromebooks typically have limited onboard storage (usually 32GB or 64GB), but they rely on cloud storage for documents and files. If you plan to store many files locally, consider a model with more storage or expandable options, or use an external hard drive or USB flash drive.
Can I use a Chromebook for gaming?
You can use a Chromebook for gaming, but the experience may not be as smooth as on a traditional gaming laptop. Chromebooks are not designed for gaming, and most models have limited graphics capabilities. However, some newer models with more powerful hardware can handle basic gaming, like the Acer Chromebook 516GE.
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How to Choose the Best Chromebook for Students
When selecting the best Chromebook for students, there are several key factors to consider to ensure that the device meets your needs. These are a few of them:
Display
The display is an important consideration when choosing a Chromebook. Look for a device with a high-resolution display of at least 1080p or higher. This will ensure you can see your work clearly and reduce eye strain. Additionally, consider the display size; 11.6-inch displays are compact and lightweight, while 13-14-inch displays offer a good balance between portability and usability.
Processor
The processor is the brain of the Chromebook, and it determines how well the device can handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Look for a device with a fast processor, such as an Intel Core i3/i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 3/5/7 processor, which will provide smooth performance for everyday tasks.
RAM
The amount of RAM is also an essential consideration. Look for a Chromebook with at least 4GB of RAM, but at least 8GB of RAM or higher will allow you to run multiple apps and tabs simultaneously without experiencing lag.
Storage
Chromebooks typically come with minimal storage, as most files are stored in the cloud. However, consider a device with at least 128GB of storage if you save files locally. Some laptops even offer the option to add external storage devices like HDDs or memory cards to increase the storage available.
Battery Life
Battery life is a critical factor when choosing a Chromebook. Look for a device with a battery life of at least eight hours, which will allow you to use the device throughout the day without recharging. Most newer models offer fast charging so you can power up almost immediately.
Webcam
Finally, if you plan on using your Chromebook for video conferencing or online classes, consider a device with a high-quality webcam. Look for a device with at least a 720p webcam that will provide clear video quality.
The Best Chromebooks for Students in 2024 Summary
For busy students looking for a top-performing laptop to take their studies up a notch, Chromebooks are an excellent option. This article overviews some of our favorite picks with features tailored to student use, like battery life, slim design, affordable cost, and more.
These laptops are not just good for studying, but also for gaming, graphic design, and more.
So, no matter what your exact needs are, expect reliably fast performance from one of these laptops.
Which Chromebook would you like to use for your next study session? Let us know in the comments below!
