


If you need a Chromebook, look for one with at least 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. For educational use, they offer something closer to a full laptop experience and are more functional than most tablets. They are also extremely popular with schools, parents, and increasingly businesses because they are hard to infect with malware. If you need a device to surf the Web and check email, navigate social networks and chat online, Chromebooks are highly portable and tend to offer good battery life at low prices. While newer Chromebooks, like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook can run Android apps, they still aren't always optimized for use in a laptop form factor. The user interface looks a lot like Windows with an application menu, a desktop, and the ability to drag windows around, but the primary focus is still the Chrome browser. Windows 11 laptops and MacBooks both offer plenty of functionality which platform you prefer is a matter of personal taste.įound on inexpensive Chromebooks such as the Samsung Chromebook 3. Google's OS is simple and secure, but more limited than Windows or macOS. Chromebooks are ideal for kids and students or as secondary laptops, but their functionality keeps growing.If not, a standard clamshell notebook may be a better choice. Consider a 2-in-1 laptop (either a convertible or detachable) if you want to use your laptop as a tablet.9+ hours of battery life in our test is ideal if you plan to take your laptop anywhere.If you're spending over $600, shoot for these minimum specs:.Larger screens are fine if you don't travel much and smaller models are great for kids.

12.5 to 14-inch screens offer the best balance between usability and portability.Why you can trust Laptop Mag Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.
