Ever since distance learning has been introduced to students, Chromebooks for schools have also become the norm. Favored by many students and parents, Chromebacks make it easy for students to attend online classes, store school documents, and access educational media.
Portable, light, and affordable, Chromebooks for back-to-school or distance learning are a convenient choice for students. They’re easy to use and maintain, they have plenty of storage space (for some models), and best of all—they don’t cost much at all! To help you find the fitting Chromebook for you, we have gathered and reviewed these five affordable Chromebooks that will not only help you get through that big project due next week but also keep up with anything else life throws at them.
Laptops or Chromebooks for schools: which is better?
Laptops and Chromebook both offer mobile access for schoolwork and reading. However, the main distinction between a Chromebook and a laptop is that the former runs on Google Chrome OS, a lightweight operating system that keeps everything responsive and speedy while a laptop runs on either a Windows OS or a Mac OS. With everything saved in the cloud, Google primarily created the gadget so users could work with Google Workspace and other web-based applications at a much faster pace compared to other laptops.
The Chromebook’s affordable beginning price is what draws students’ attention right away. Some of today’s higher-end Chromebooks cost well over $700, but there are also plenty of functional Chromebooks that cost around $200 give or take. Therefore. Chromebooks have slowly become the preferred option for students who are just seeking for a low-cost gadget that does all the word processing, online surfing, and video/audio streaming smoothly without sacrificing speed.
Students can easily write reports and documents in Google Docs or MS Word Online and share them with their professors and/or classmates through Chromebooks. The good thing is, if you can go higher in your price range, you can get some advantages over other gadgets such as higher specs, bigger storage, and better graphics. However, this is not really necessary.
Now, compared to most computers, you’ll receive an excellent battery life whether you choose a premium or a budget Chromebook for schools. College students may use a Chromebook for a full day without needing to plug it in because the typical battery life is around 10 hours. In the Chromebook versus laptop for college discussion, it also has the advantage of not supporting hard-core gaming, which takes significant hardware and eliminates distractions so that students can concentrate on their schoolwork.
To help you get started, we have compiled the best affordable Chromebooks for back-to-school or distance learning in this comprehensive buying. Hopefully, this helps you determine the best Chromebook for you.
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Samsung Chromebook 4+
PROS
- Great battery life
- Good Chromebook specs
CONS
- The keyboard and touchpad are decent
- The display could be better
- CPU Model: Celeron N3450
- Display: 15.6″
- Hard Disk Size: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Integrated
- Battery Life: 10. 5 hours of battery life
For a mere $200, you get a 15.6″ screen with 4GB RAM and 64GB Hard Disk Size. This Samsung two-in-one Chromebook boasts a durable chassis with built-in virus protection and added security.
The battery lasts up to at least 10.5 hours and it weighs 5 pounds and has an aluminum chassis that feels nice to hold in your hand as you take it from class to class. The keyboard is not great but usable enough if you don’t type too fast; the touchpad is decent but not exceptional. The display is decent as well, comfortable enough to do schoolwork.
Like most Chromebooks these days, this one runs Android apps out-of-the-box so many of your favorite titles are available for free download from Google Play Store even though they’re not designed for Chrome OS specifically (though some might complain about their performance).
Samsung Chromebook 4+
Lenovo C340
PROS
- Great specs
- Portable
- Works as a tablet
- Good battery life
- Inexpensive
CONS
- Low storage amount
- CPU Model: Celeron N4000
- Display: 11.6″
- Hard Disk Size: 32 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Intel Integrated
- Battery Life: up to 10 hours
With an eighth-generation Intel Core i3 CPU powering the 11.6-inch touchscreen on this convertible Chromebook, the Lenovo C340 can also be used as a tablet. It is an older Core i3 than the one featured in the Lenovo model mentioned above, but it is still more potent than other CPUs used on Chromebooks. The C340 also has 32GB of flash storage and 4GB of RAM, all of which are standard for the price.
If you’re looking for a cheap Chromebook that won’t break the bank, Lenovo Chromebook C340 is a great option. The C340 works best as an entry-level Chromebook for schools with plenty of power under the hood. In fact, they’re more than powerful enough to get through your daily tasks without too much trouble.
Lenovo C340
HP X360 Convertible Chromebook
PROS
- Excellent value
- Great specs
- Great processor performance
CONS
- HD Display only
- Battery life decent
- CPU Model: Intel Celeron
- Display: 14″
- Hard Disk Size: 64 GB
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Integrated
- Battery Life: up to 12 hours
The HP Chromebook x360 Convertible is the best overall Chromebook on this list. It’s so good that if you don’t have a lot of money to spend on a laptop and you’re not sure what kind of student you are, we would recommend this one over all others.
It comes with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage—the latter two being reasonably standard specs for most Chromebooks. Its display measures 14 inches diagonally, which means it shouldn’t be too bulky when carried around campus or home. The resolution is also pretty decent at 1366 x 768 pixels—just make sure to look at it from an angle so as not to distort everything on screen!
Other than its processor speed, what makes this particular device stand out from others in its class is its convertible hinge that allows users to flip their screens 360 degrees into different positions: tablet mode; tent mode; laptop mode; stand mode, etc. There are also several different accessories available for this model including a stylus/pen if drawing or writing on an electronic device interests you!
HP X360 Convertible Chromebook
Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
PROS
- Excellent processing power
- With pen support
CONS
- Stylus sold separately
- Expensive Chromebook
- CPU Model: Intel Core i3
- Display: 13.3
- Hard Disk Size: 64 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
Lenovo’s Flex 5 Chromebook is a sleek and durable Chromebook that’s great for students. The 13.3-inch Full HD IPS display offers wide viewing angles, the Intel processor provides plenty of power for everyday multitasking and the 8GB RAM ensures that your system won’t be bogged down by too many apps running at once. The 64G storage can be upgraded to add up to an additional 256GB with an SD card slot and it features fast USB 3.2 Type C ports so you can easily transfer data between devices and charge them quickly as well.
This Chromebook is a bit pricier compared to the other ones on this list, but it has more processing power compared to other Chromebooks for schools on this list. The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook boasts more power compared to other light Chromebooks so the price is worth it.
Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
Google Pixelbook Go
PROS
- Amazing specs
- Great performance
CONS
- Expensive
- CPU Model: Core i5-8200Y
- Display: 13.3″
- Hard Disk Size: 128 GB
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: Intel UHD Graphics
Compared to the other Chromebooks on this list, the Google Pixelbook Go has the most expensive price, but the powerful specs of this Chromebook open more opportunities for faster, efficient work. It has an easy-to-use touchscreen and keyboard, an Intel Celeron processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage space, more than what usual Affordable Chromebooks for back-to-school or distance learning
It also has a 10-hour battery life so this laptop will last from class to class without needing charging during your commute home or after hours of studying. The weight of this laptop is just 2.33 pounds so it’s easy to carry around wherever you go!
Google Pixelbook Go
If you’re looking for a quality laptop without spending a lot of money, these five picks won’t disappoint.
Quality but affordable Chromebooks for back-to-school or distance learning aren’t so hard to find. These five picks will help students (and probably some businessmen) get the job done. Most are affordable and highly portable. Plus, they come in handy for students who want to do their homework on the go or at home. So, Chromebooks for schools are beneficial and may be the best choice you can ever make.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do schools use Chromebooks instead of laptops?
Chromebooks use a lighter operating system and are designed to have internals that don't take up too much energy. This makes them last longer which is great for a device that needs to stay on throughout the school day with minimal recharges. -
Why are Chromebooks so slow?
The same reasons that make Chromebooks energy efficient also make them less powerful compared to conventional laptops. Expect to be able to finish basic school tasks, but not much else on a Chromebook. -
Do Chromebooks get viruses?
As a rule of thumb, if you're using an electronic device that can connect to the Internet, it's possible for you to get a computer virus. Make sure you run your antivirus checks regularly to ensure your Chromebook stays at top performance.