Best Budget Chromebooks in 2016

Best Budget Chromebooks in 2016Most people are looking for a budget Chromebook (under $250). People purchase Chromebooks for many different reasons, but many times they are looking for a cheap computer that they can use to browse the internet. Chromebooks are inexpensive laptops with a difference: they run Google’s Chrome OS instead of Windows or OS X. Although Chromebooks do not have all the functionality of a Windows PC, they should be sufficient for most users. This page will list some of the best cheap Chromebooks that are available in 2016.

 

 

 

Buying a Budget Chromebook

On this page, some of the most popular budget Chromebooks are reviewed briefly and their best features discussed. Chromebooks are most commonly made by lenovo, ASUS, Acer, Dell, Samsung, Toshiba, and HP. Google makes a very expensive Chromebook Pixel, but that is definitely not a budget Chromebook. Most budget Chromebooks will be under $200. Some budget Chromebooks might be closer to $300, but anything over $300 is more likely to be a premium Chromebook with many more features.

What is a Budget Chromebook?

Not everyone needs a fancy computer. If you spend almost all of your computing time online, a budget Chromebook could be all you need. These inexpensive Chromebooks will get you online and to your favorite websites. These cheaper Chromebooks can play YouTube videos and have multiple browser tabs open. Further, these budget Chromebooks won’t break the bank!

 

Best Budget Chromebooks to Buy in 2016

ASUS Chromebook C201PA  & ASUS Chromebook C202SA

The Asus Chromebook C201PA and Asus Chromebook C202SA are both excellent budget Chromebooks. Some of the highlights of them are below:

  • * 11.6″ 1366 x 768 TN Display.
  • $189 C201: Rockchip RK3288. 4GB RAM; 16GB SSD. Micro SD. 13 hours avg. battery.
  • $229 C202: Intel Celeron N3060. 4GB RAM; 16GB eMMC. SD slot. 10-hour battery.
  • Fanless: Yes

Both the C201 and C202 are made of plastic, but overall pretty durable. They can definitely take some abuse and not break. The C201 is a thin, sleek, light consumer-level device. The C202 is a thick, rugged education device. The C202 is easier to repair and replace parts. These are both perfect for students. Beyond its rugged construction, the ASUS Chromebook C202 is also designed for easy maintenance to minimize downtime.

 

Acer C740 Chromebook

The Acer C740 is another one of the must durable budget Chromebooks on the market in 2016.

  • 11.6″ 1366 x 768 TN Display.
  • 2GB RAM; 16GB SSD ($229). 4GB RAM; 16GB SSD ($249).
  • Intel Celeron 3205U Dual-core 1.5 GHz
  • The SD slot is not flush but the SSD can be upgraded.
  • Plastic body. Aluminum hinges.
  • Avg. Battery: 9 hours
  • Fanless: No

The newer, more powerful and better-built older sibling of the very popular Acer C720. It’s still plastic like its predecessor but it has aluminum hinges. Again, these are budget Chromebooks that can be carried around, dropped, maybe thrown, while still not breaking down. The new Acer Chromebook 11 (C740 model) features four design improvements that make it much tougher than its predecessor. These are mostly structural changes that make the Acer C740 stronger!

 

Acer Chromebook 14

Again, another Acer Chromebook makes the list of best budget Chromebooks. The Acer Chromebook 14 has a much larger screen and longer battery time.

  • $299
  • 14″ 1920 x 1080 IPS Display
  • Intel Celeron N3060 or Intel Celeron N3160.
  • 4GB RAM; 32GB eMMC.
  • All-aluminum body
  • No SD slot.
  • Avg. Battery: 12 hours
  • Fanless: Yes

This is a great choice for an inexpensive, all-metal Chromebook if you don’t need an SD Card slot. Keep in mind that even Acer’s IPS displays are low-quality, so if you like gorgeous screens this may not be for you. As thin, compact and light as the Chromebook 14 is, it still packs a bigger screen with your choice of HD or Full HD resolution, IPS technology and a low reflection anti-glare screen that altogether make for great viewing and productivity.

 

ASUS Chromebook C300SA

The incredibly sleek and light Chromebook C300 is designed to go everywhere you want to go. Weighing just 1.35kg it is a very light but durable Chromebook. The price is a little higher than other Chromebooks reviewed here.

  • $279
  • 13.3″ 1920 x 1080 Display (unknown if IPS or TN)
  • Intel Celeron N3160.
  • 4GB RAM; 64GB Storage. SD Card Reader.
  • Fanless: Yes
  • Aluminum body

Chromebook C300 is designed to last for up to an incredible 15 hours on a single battery charge.  This means that the ASUS Chromebook C300SA has one of the best battery lives of any laptop.

 

Acer Chromebook 15 CB5-571-C1DZ

This Acer Chromebook 15 has one of the biggest displays of any Chromebook, but not the best resolution.

  • $299.
  • 15.6″ 1920 x 1080 IPS Display
  • 4GB RAM; 16GB SSD.
  • SD Card Reader (cards don’t sit flush w/ unit)
  • Upgradeable SSD
  • Avg. Battery: 12 hours
  • Fanless: No

It’s plastic fantastic and the biggest Chromebook on the block. Acer clearly hates SD card expansion but if you can live with that and you want a 15-inch beast, get it! The CB5-571 screen is a 15.6-inch anti-glare screen and is the biggest screen you can get on a Chromebook

 

Honorable Mentions of Best Budget Chromebook

  • Haier Chromebook 11 and Lenovo 100s. Fully capable but cheap, bottom-of-the-barrel laptops for $149. They’re about the same as all the other generic 11.6″ Chromebooks but much cheaper.
  • HP Chromebook 11 G4. 11.6″ IPS Display at only $199.
  • The 2nd Gen Dell Chromebook 11 is another good rugged option.
  • Toshiba Chromebook 2 (2015) – Intel Celeron version. This is a very good Chromebook, but can be a little pricer and therefore is not a budget Chromebook. It has a backlit keyboard and the most gorgeous display you can get for $300. Unfortunately, it’s made of cheap, flimsy plastic and a lot of users have reported screen/manufacturing defects. Also, Toshiba’s entire Chromebook line was deleted from their website, which can’t be a good thing. There may not be future Toshiba Chromebook’s going forward and support and parts can be lacking.

If the price is right on these Chromebooks, they can be some of the best cheap Chromebooks for 2016!