If you're on the market for one of the best laptops, you'll probably end up being just fine with one of the best Chromebooks. These days, Chromebooks are more affordable, and because almost everything we do is in the cloud anyways, there isn't much that you can't do with one of them. Hell, Chromebooks even give the best gaming laptops a run for the money if you have a good internet connection. After all, services like Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Streaming let you play your favorite games on any device you want.
Yet the differences between Chromebooks and laptops are greater than they seem at a glance. This guide will help you decide which is worth your money during if you're browsing Chromebooks for students. And whichever is right for you, now's the perfect time to decide; Amazon Prime Day 2 is right around the corner.
We compare Chromebooks and laptops with the following in mind:
- Features and day-to-day function
- Software
- Battery Life and portability
- General performance
- Gaming
- Longevity
- Price Comparison
- The Verdict
Chromebook vs. Laptop: Features and day-to-day function
Some may find it hard to tell a Chromebook from a conventional laptop at a glance. Both have a display, keyboard, and touchpad. Each offers a variety of display options that can be purchased as an old-school clamshell or a more modern, touchscreen 2-in-1 laptop.
Still, there are key points that make each standout.
Chromebook Common Features
- Google ChromeOS operating system
- Built-in connectivity with Google cloud services
- Wi-Fi always available - mobile data is not uncommon
- Limited RAM (4GB to 8GB is common)
- Limited storage (32GB to 128GB is common)
Chromebooks ship with ChromeOS, Google’s lean web-centric operating system that is simple, fast, and skews heavily toward the use of the Chrome web browser. Most tasks performed in the browser will feel a bit quicker on a Chromebook than on a similar laptop. This is why Chromebooks can get away with such limited amounts of RAM and storage. Chrome is often the only app you’ll use and very little data can be stored on the device.
Laptops Common Features
- Microsoft Windows operating system
- Wide range of cloud service options
- Wi-Fi always available, mobile data is rare
- More RAM (8GB to 32GB is common)
- More storage (128GB to 1TB is common)
Laptops take a more-is-more approach. Microsoft’s popular Windows operating system has decades of app support and is generally the go-to launch platform for new laptop apps and services. A laptop’s versatility comes at the cost of efficiency, so web browsing often doesn’t feel any better than a Chromebook. However, laptops ultimately pack more RAM and storage. It’s possible to install large apps and easier to store large files like high-resolution photos or 4K video.
Chromebooks vs. Laptops: Software
Software, apps, services - whatever you call them, you’re going to want your Chromebook or laptop to run stuff. And there’s a big difference in the stuff Chromebooks and laptops can run.
Chromebooks are designed to run apps available through Chrome Web Store. Many also run Android apps available through the Google Play Store. This seems promising, but apps installed on a Chromebook often don’t look or feel great to use. They’re designed to spend most of their time accessing services through the Chrome browser. Developers know this, so most don’t put much (if any) effort into the app experience on ChromeOS.
Laptops are a different story. A sweaty Steve Ballmer once took the stage at a Windows conference and screamed “developers, developers, developers!” until his voice gave out, and Microsoft is still focused on locally installed and hosted apps. The vast majority of software designed for a computer ends up on Windows first. A laptop provides access to hundreds of thousands of apps that a Chromebook can’t run.
Chromebooks vs. Laptops: Battery Life and Portability
Both Chromebooks and laptops can offer long battery life, but it really depends on the device. The best of both categories can easily handle eight hours of use on a battery, and some can extend well beyond that. Still, there are differences.
Chromebooks tend to prove more bang-for-the-buck in battery life. This is thanks to ChromeOS, which is less demanding than Windows. A Chromebook can deliver decent performance on relatively slow hardware that consumes minimal power. Windows laptops require faster, more power-hungry silicon for acceptable performance.
It’s hard to define this difference given the thousands of budget Chromebooks and cheap laptops available. Speaking generally, however, budget Chromebooks provide five to eight hours of battery life. Entry-level Windows machines will provide around three to six hours.
Laptops catch up when you start looking at high-end options, however, as the most expensive models offer massive batteries with 80 to 99 watt-hours of capacity.
As for physical portability, Chromebooks also tend to be smaller and thinner than laptops, but the difference is often hard to notice. Both Chromebooks and laptops are available with display sizes ranging from 11.6 inches to 17 inches.
Chromebook vs. Laptop: General Performance
Chromebooks and laptops offer similar performance at any given price point. The least expensive models (below $200) are underpowered. Mid-range models improve by adding better, faster processors with more cores and more RAM. A typical $500 Chromebook or laptop will have a quad-core processor, at least 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.
The more expensive Chromebooks extend this all the way up to a price of around $1,000, going toe-to-toe with laptop peers. Chromebook superfans will find models with the latest Intel and AMD processors, at least 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage.
But, once again, laptops take the lead on the high end. Chromebooks more-or-less top out around $1,000. Laptops march on to more expensive configurations with faster, more power-hungry variants of Intel and AMD processors that aren’t available in Chromebooks. RAM and storage can reach extremes in laptops: the latest Dell XPS 17 offers up to 64GB of RAM and up to 2TB of solid-state storage.
Chromebook vs. Laptop: Gaming
The current state of gaming on a Chromebook is not good and it's likely not getting better. Very few Chromebook games that are actually designed to install and play locally on a Chromebook. It’s possible to install Android games on some models, but the experience is often slow and hampered by bugs.
Cloud gaming is available to Chromebooks through several services. These include Google Stadia, which is not great, and Nvidia GeForce Now, which is better. Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming also works through a browser, though support is not official. The list of titles available on cloud gaming services remains limited and the quality of the experience will depend on the speed and reliability of your Internet connection.
Beyond that, Steam recently announced it’s bringing Steam to Chrome OS. Support is only in alpha testing, but it’s a step in the right direction. Rumors suggest HP and Lenovo are working on gaming-centric Chromebooks.
Chromebooks are not sold with discrete graphics at present. The best models offer Intel Iris Xe or AMD Radeon integrated graphics bundled with an Intel or AMD processor, while budget machines rely on Intel UHD graphics or the graphics bundled with MediaTek processors.
Laptops, by contrast, run Windows, the world’s leading PC gaming platform. Virtually all games designed for a computer come to Windows first. Gaming laptops can be purchased with powerful discrete graphics hardware from AMD and Nvidia that can handle modern 3D titles. Players can even access the same cloud gaming services available to Chromebooks, if desired. Laptops also have access to services not available to Chromebooks such as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now.
In short, laptops are better than Chromebooks for gaming, and it’s not even close. See also our guide to gaming laptops vs. PCs.
Chromebooks vs. Laptops: Longevity
Windows laptops and Chromebooks often have similar hardware, so neither has a major advantage in reliability. Most laptops will last several years without issue, at the least, and some survive a decade or more.
Chromebooks tend to ship with less powerful hardware, which might make them feel obsolete more quickly. However, this could be offset by the lower demands and simple design of ChromeOS. There’s just not as much going on. Odds are you won’t run into software update issues because, well, installing new software isn’t really a thing on a Chromebook.
Windows laptops have an edge in upgradability, however, especially in less expensive and larger models that allow easy access to the RAM and hard drive. Chromebooks support fewer RAM and hard drive upgrades. It can also be very difficult to even know what upgrades are compatible, as manufacturers rarely provide this information and the enthusiast community is smaller.
Operating system updates will eventually run dry, likely between 5 to 8 years after purchase, for both Chromebooks and Windows laptops. This isn’t a major issue for either. Chromebooks mostly rely on web apps, while Windows laptops mostly run third-party software that will usually support the last few generations of Windows.
Any difference in longevity between Chromebooks and Windows laptops is likely to be slim. Both tend to last for many years, even without upgrades.
Winner: Tie
Chromebooks vs. Laptops: Price Comparison
Entry-level Chromebooks are impossible to beat on price. Options like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 ($115) and Samsung Chromebook 4 ($130) are less expensive than most enthusiast keyboards. Entry-level Windows laptops like the Asus L210 ($170) and HP Stream 14 ($200) are close, however.
It’s best to avoid entry-level models if possible, however, as performance can be dreadfully slow. Chromebooks offer better mid-range choices like the Lenovo Flex 5i, which has a Core i3 processor for $350, or the Acer Chromebook 17 ($299). Windows’ alternatives include the Acer Aspire 5 ($299) and the HP 14 ($382).
The most expensive Chromebooks include the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook, which has an OLED screen and retails for $999, and the Acer Spin 713 2-in-1, which has a large 3:2 aspect ratio display for $899.
However, Windows alternatives tend to be a better value at these price points and offer more choice. Your choice ranges from the beefy Acer Nitro 15 gaming laptop ($780) to the slim Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 ($819). And that, of course, is just the start: high-end Windows laptops like the Razer Blade 17 ($3,199) are common. Chromebooks don’t even try to compete above $1,000.
Winner: Chromebooks
Chromebook vs. Laptop: The Verdict
Though similar at a glance, Chromebooks and laptops are very different.
Chromebooks are ideal if you want a portable computer that’s inexpensive and easy to use. They’re great for people who only choose to use a computer when it’s absolutely necessary. A Chromebook can also work for dedicated PC gamers who choose to play on a gaming PC and only use a laptop for simple tasks when traveling.
Laptops are best for those who want a well-rounded, versatile computer. They have better support for software and can store more data locally. Laptops are also great for gamers. They provide access to a massive library of PC games on multiple platforms, and the best models deliver smooth, gorgeous graphics at high resolutions.
