The 6 Best Chromebooks for Students in 2022
If there’s one gadget that fits well for students, it’s the Chromebook. It’s generally affordable, lightweight, durable, and portable. While Chromebooks are great for office or business work, they also excel in academic use. This is especially true if you rely heavily on web browsing and use the Google Apps suite.
What makes Chromebooks different from other laptops? For one, it runs on a Linux-based Chrome OS. It’s also simpler because it is cloud-based. This makes it perfect for students who often browse the web for research, or for entertainment. With this in mind, I made a list of the best Chromebooks for students, based on affordability, battery efficiency, and overall build and design. Check out what I found below!
Related:
Best Chromebooks for Every Budget & Need
The Best Deals on Chromebooks – Top Chromebooks in 2020
The 4 Best Chromebooks Under $300
Best Chromebook for Students: Cheaper and Simpler
Sometimes, all you need is a laptop that can be taken anywhere and everywhere and be used anytime you need it. Nothing fancy. Just a reliable, portable laptop will do. This is what makes the Chromebook attractive to students. But the appeal of the Chromebook lies in its price. It’s way cheaper than Windows-based laptops. There are Chromebooks that you can get for under 200. Yes, it gets that affordable.
| 1. | ASUS Chromebook Flip C202 | Best Overall |
| 2. | Samsung Chromebook 4 Acer Chromebook 315 | Most Affordable |
| 3. | Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 | Best Value for Money |
| 4. | Acer Chromebook R11 | Highly Recommended |
| 5. | Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 | Runner Up |
The best Chromebook for students – Top Deals on Amazon
After thorough research, listed below are what I believe to be the best Chromebooks for students. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly, you’ll find one here. There are also pricier models packed with great educational tools and features.
Check them out.
- Asus Chromebook C202
- Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1
- Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
- Samsung Chromebook 4
- Acer Chromebook R11
- Acer Chromebook 315
1. ASUS Chromebook C202
When it comes to durability, the ASUS Chromebook C202 is a great choice. It’s built to be tough. This Chromebook is sturdy with its military-grade rugged design, water resistance, and drop resistance of up to 3.9 feet. It comes with a spill-resistant keyboard, So you won’t have to worry about spilling drinks on your Chromebook while you’re studying.
With this device, you won’t have to worry about accidentally dropping the laptop, or knocking it off the table. It comes with a rubber safety grip to ensure that it doesn’t easily slip. It also features a 180-degree hinge for easier viewing in group studies.
It’s not only tough and durable, but it also promises fast performance. You can keep your files safe and secure too with Google’s cloud storage. This is definitely the best Chromebook for students in this price range.
Product Specifications:
| Display: | 11.6″ 180-degree hinge, Anti-glare screen |
| Processor: | Celeron N4000 Processor (Dual-Core) |
| Memory: | 4GB DDR3 RAM |
| Internal Storage: | 16GB SSD |
| Camera: | HD 5M Pixel Dual Camera |
| Battery Life: | 10 hours |
2. Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1
The Dell Chromebook 3100 is a 2-in-1 device built for education. Like the C202, it’s built to be durable, making it perfect for students, especially the accident-prone types. Designed to withstand wear and tear, this convertible device is great for classroom and personal use. It’s helpful for students who rely heavily on a laptop for their assignments, projects, research, and other school activities in and out of the classroom.
This Chromebook meets the MIL-STD specs. This means that it’s as tough as tough could get. This device can survive a 30-inch drop onto a steel surface or 5000 micro drops.
If you’re fond of drinking coffee while studying or doing school work on your device, this Dell convertible is perfect for you. Why? Because it’s also spill-resistant. It doesn’t have advanced specs, but it’s a great, dependable day-to-day laptop that will get you throughout the school year and beyond. It’s the best Chromebook for students who value durability.
Product details and specs:
| Display: | 11.6″ 180-degree hinge, Anti-glare screen |
| Processor: | Celeron N4000 Processor (Dual-Core) |
| Memory: | 4GB DDR3 RAM |
| Internal Storage: | 16GB SSD |
| Camera: | 720P HD Camera |
| Battery Life: | 10 hours |
3. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 (2-in-1)
Performance-wise, the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is the most powerful on the list. It’s also gorgeous, sleek, and modern. It may not be as tough as the Dell Chromebook 3100 or the ASUS Chromebook C202, but it has better features and performance quality. This is for students who want more than just a day-to-day laptop.
You can use it as a laptop or a tablet, so you can bring it anywhere to study, research, watch movies, or play games. It’s incredibly lightweight and super portable and can undoubtedly be named the most lightweight Chromebook. But what gives it an edge over the other Chromebooks is its built-in stylus. You can use the stylus when you’re sketching, writing down notes, scribbling ideas, or doodling.
While it’s great for school and office use, it doesn’t take away the fun. Take selfies with its front-facing 13MP camera. The only downside is that it’s a bit pricey for a Chromebook. It’s the most expensive among the 6 on the list. If you’re willing to spend a little bit more, this is certainly one of the best Chromebook deals for high school students. Nevertheless, it’s worth it if you have extra money.
Must read: ‘Minecraft: Education Edition is available on Chromebooks
Product specifications:
| Display: | 12.2″ FHD 360-degree hinge |
| Processor: | Intel Celeron Processor 3965Y |
| Memory: | 4GB DDR3 RAM |
| Internal Storage: | 32GB SSD |
| Camera: | 13MP HD Dual Camera |
| Battery Life: | ~10 hours |
4. Samsung Chromebook 4
This is the best Chromebook for students who value affordability. The Samsung Chromebook 4 is one of the cheapest Chromebooks on the list. Not only is it affordable, but it also excels in terms of reliability and performance.
It has tremendous battery capacity because it lasts for up to 12 hours on a single charge. This is great for students and frequent travelers. You can always rely on it wherever you go be it in the classroom, school grounds, cafe, or anywhere, even if you didn’t bring the charger with you.
For its price, it offers more than what you’d expect. You would think that its main highlight is its spill resistance and durability, but in fact, it is its crisp, bright screen that would amaze you. It may not be as great as the Chromebook Plus V2, but it’s still one of the best and cheapest out there. Here are also some other affordable Chromebooks that you might be interested in.
Product specifications:
| Display: | 11.6″ HD Anti-Reflective Display |
| Processor: | Intel Celeron N4000 (Dual-Core) |
| Memory: | 4GB DDR3 RAM |
| Internal Storage: | 16GB SSD |
| Camera: | 720P TrueVision HD Webcam |
| Battery Life: | ~12 hours |
5. Acer Chromebook R11
The Acer Chromebook R11 is stylish and sleek. Its minimalist, modern design is what makes it attractive to students and professionals alike. However, if you’re looking for durability or toughness, this isn’t for you. Its frame is mostly made of plastic, with some metal inlays.
But performance-wise, this is a great choice. It performs faster and better than most similar models. It also has a crisp and bright display. Thanks to its IPS screen, you can view it from different angles. It has great wireless connectivity as well. On top of these, it has a comfortable keyboard, which comes in handy when you’re typing your paper or other educational materials.
However, the downside is that it has a low-quality camera and lesser battery life compared to the other Chromebooks on the list. This is one of the best Chromebook for students who need a touchscreen device.
Product specifications:
| Display: | 11.6″ IPS 10-point multitouch screen |
| Processor: | Intel Celeron N3060 |
| Memory: | 4GB RAM |
| Internal Storage: | 32GB SSD |
| Camera: | 720P TrueVision HD Webcam |
| Battery Life: | ~10 hours |
6. Acer Chromebook 315
What’s great about Acer’s Chromebook 315 is the fact that aside from its 15.6″ screen, it’s also more powerful than most similar devices at its price point. With a Dual-core Celeron N4000 and a 4GB DDR4 RAM.
It doesn’t have a touchscreen or a 360-degree hinge, but its 15.6″ HD ComfyView Screen is more than enough to give you a great experience. Especially if you think that the 11.6″ screen is too small.
It’s not as durable or resistant as the others on this list, but it makes up for it by having an improved performance while also being affordable.
Product specifications:
| Display: | 15.6″ HD LED ComfyView Display |
| Processor: | Intel Celeron N4000 |
| Memory: | 4GB RAM |
| Internal Storage: | 32GB SSD |
| Camera: | 720P HD Webcam |
| Battery Life: | ~12.5 hours |
Suggested reads:
The Best Chromebooks for Every Budget & Need
The 5 Best Chromebooks under $200 – Best Deals of 2020
Pixelbook Go: A Chromebook with high-end specs and a budget-friendly price
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Chromebooks worth it?
Yes. Aside from being relatively affordable compared to other laptops, Chromebooks are better equipped against viruses and malware. They’re best when you’re limited to using browser-based apps.
Which Chromebook is the best?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a student and you’re looking for a durable, long-lasting Chromebook with decent features, then I would suggest the ASUS Chromebook Flip C202.
Will Chromebook run Office apps?
Yes, you can now run Office programs on your Chromebook. You can download Office mobile apps from Google Play and then install them on your Chromebook. You can also install Office Online if your Chromebook uses the Chrome Web Store.
What are the best Chromebook apps for students?
Google Keep, Todoist, Clockify, Office suite of apps, Kami, Save to pocket, and Google Drive are some of the must-have Chromebook apps for students.
What are the best Chromebook 3100 specs?
Dell Chromebook 3100 comes with an Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor up to 2.8GHz and has an embedded touch 11.6″ HD display. It sports a 720p HD camera and has a battery life of up to 10 hours.
Wrapping up
Laptops and tablets are nowadays important devices for students, not only for educational purposes but also for entertainment. However, not every student can afford both. Luckily, some Chromebooks are 2-in-1. That means you get to enjoy both in one Chromebook at a cheaper price.
Chromebooks are simpler. They generally have a better battery life (lasting up to 10 hours or more) compared to laptops. Of the 6 Chromebooks, I listed here, I recommend the ASUS Flip C202. It’s rugged, durable, water-resistant, portable, and decently powerful.
If you value affordability without sacrificing power, then I recommend either the Samsung Chromebook 4 or the Acer Chromebook 315. Those are both powerful units that can provide you with a decent experience.
However, if you want a model with better and faster specs, Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is also a great choice. It’s just a little more expensive though. This goes without saying that all the other Chromebooks listed here are worth buying. All-in-all, these are the best Chromebooks for students.
If you have any other questions or suggestions for the best Chromebooks for students, please let me know in the comments section below!
