Chromebooks are available in a bewildering array of configurations. Sometimes even making an attempt to determine which choices to get on a single mannequin will be overwhelming. As a product tester, I take advantage of a spreadsheet to maintain all of it straight. But you should not have to try this, so listed below are some broad specs to bear in mind.

Processor: Chromebooks use half a dozen totally different processors, most of which you’ve got in all probability by no means heard of. There’s a cause for that: These processors are gradual, they usually do not present up in Windows laptops. After making an attempt out loads of Intel Celeron–based mostly machines, my advice is to go along with one thing extra highly effective if you happen to can afford it. The subsequent step up from the Celeron is the Core m3, which is your best option for most individuals. If you desire a extra highly effective, future-proof machine, get an i3 or i5 chip.

We’re beginning to see extra ARM-based Chromebooks, just like the Lenovo Duet above. I have never had any points utilizing ARM Chromebooks, however they don’t seem to be fairly as speedy because the Intel Core chips. There are some newer Chromebooks utilizing AMD’s newest Ryzen chips, and I’ve had good experiences with them.

RAM: Get 8-GB of reminiscence if you happen to can afford it, particularly if you happen to plan to run any Android functions. When I’ve skilled extreme slowdowns and glitches, it is nearly at all times on a Chromebook with solely 4-GB of RAM.

Screen: Get an IPS LCD show. There are nonetheless just a few low-end fashions on the market with crappier TN LCD shows, and it’s best to keep away from these. Your pixel decision is dependent upon the scale of the display screen. I’ve used (and suggest) some 11-inch Chromebooks which have 720p shows. Because these screens are squeezed right into a small type issue, I discover them acceptably sharp, however a 1080p display screen can be a lot nicer.

Ports: Most belongings you do on a Chromebook are cloud-based, so you do not actually need to fret an excessive amount of about ports. You would possibly need a pc that fees by way of a USB-C port if you would like to have the ability to run your Chromebook off a transportable battery/charger, however USB-C charging is out there principally in mid- and higher-priced fashions. It additionally helps to have a MicroSD slot for expanded storage if it is advisable to obtain loads of recordsdata throughout a typical day, however that choice can be not extensively accessible.