If you're looking for a new school laptop for yourself or your child, you should consider a Chromebook. ChromeOS is an incredibly fast operating system with excellent security and parental controls, and Chromebooks are cost-effective. Many Chromebook models cost under $300, which is much less than entry-level Mac or Windows PC.

When looking for a Chromebook for school, you don't need a lot. Since ChromeOS is cloud-based, you can buy a Chromebook with lower available storage, and you can get away with smaller RAM configurations since you won't be doing a lot of intensive tasks. However, you'll also want durability; many of the leading manufacturers offer models with military-grade durability and drop/spill resistance. Whether you're looking for a Chromebook for an elementary school student or a university, we've got you covered with a look at the best Chromebooks for students of all ages.

Our picks for the best Chromebooks for students in 2023

Angled front view of the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 facing left
Acer Chromebook Spin 714
Best overall

All the great features

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is the best Chromebook for most students. It has up to an Intel Core i7-1260P CPU, a great immersive display, a backlit keyboard, and comes with a garaged stylus for inking on the screen. It is a little on the expensive side, though.

Pros
  • 12th-generation Intel CPU
  • Slim bezel display
  • Integrated stylus
  • Backlit keyboard
Cons
  • Slightly expensive for a Chromebook

A few questions to consider when choosing a Chromebook include whether you need a high-resolution display, want to use it in different configurations, and if you need a CPU that can power through intense apps. The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 checks off all three.

The first thing that makes this Chromebook great is the display. The Chromebook has some slim bezels along the side of the screen, and the display packs in a crisp 19200x1200 resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio. For those moments when a student might want to multitask, this tall 16:10 aspect display will help get it done. Because of the slim bezels, a student can stack windows side by side on this screen without any issue and not feel distracted by large black bars to the side of the screen.

However, there's a thick bottom bezel at the bottom of the screen, but this helps when using the device and converting it into tablet mode. And since this is a fully convertible Chromebook, that's something a student might want to do anyway. As a bonus, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 comes with an integrated stylus for drawing on the screen or taking notes when switching the screen over to tent, tablet, stand, or laptop modes.

As far as what's under the hood of this Chromebook, Acer is using a 12th-generation Intel CPU. You can find it with up to an Intel Core i7-1260P, which is a hybrid CPU with both performance and efficiency cores. Combine that with the 8GB of RAM that's included, and we see no issue with why this Chromebook can't speed through opening multiple tabs in Chrome. Even the ports are great. There's one USB-A port, two Thunderbolt ports, a headphone jack, and HDMI, which is enough to avoid using a dock or dongle.

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Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Best for college students

For gaming, studying, and beyond

College students will love the Acer Chromebook 516 GE. It has great RGB lighting, an immersive 120Hz screen, and the latest Intel CPUs under the hood. Just keep in mind that it's a little heavy and doesn't have a touch screen.

Pros
  • Great for gaming
  • 12th-generation Intel CPUs
  • Display has 120Hz refresh rate
Cons
  • A bit heavy

College students might be doing a lot of work in school, but playing video games is also an option during downtime. That's why we're happy to note that our second pick, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, is great for gaming and school work or for more serious college students who need power for running Linux apps.

The most important thing to mention here is what's under the hood. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE, which we reviewed, has great performance thanks to the Intel Core i5-1240P CPU with four performance cores and eight efficiency cores, along with 8GB of RAM. We tested it for our web-based workflows, as well as social media apps, and we had no issues with performance. We even played Android games like Asphalt 9, which worked just fine.

This wouldn't matter if the display were horrible, but thankfully, this Chromebook has one that's accurate and fast. It has a huge 16-inch display at WQXGA (2560x1600) resolution, which is above the FHD (1920x1080) standard we usually look for in a student device. The display also has slim bezels on all four sides and hits a 120Hz refresh rate. There aren't many other Chromebooks that can do that in 2023. You can stack windows side by side for work but also get the most out of services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia GeForce Now.

But this is primarily for schoolwork, and this Chromebook has a great keyboard for typing. It's backlit and offers pre-set RGB lighting, which is excellent for typing at night. We also loved how the keycaps felt; they were quite soft and didn't give harsh feedback. All around, when you combine the keyboard, display, and CPU, this is one of the best Chromebooks in 2023.

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ASUS Chromebook Flip C214
Best for elementary school students

Durable and efficient

Asus has quite a few solid Chromebooks for students, but the Asus Chromebook Flip C214 model is one of the most durable, making it great for elementary school students. The design is spill and drop-resistant, it's affordable, and has a convertible design.

Pros
  • Durable convertible design
  • Super affordable
  • World-facing camera
Cons
  • Small screen
  • Not the best specs

Elementary school students won't need the latest specifications on a Chromebook. Instead, they'll need a rugged Chromebook that won't cost too much and will last. For this, you'll want to check out the Asus Flip C214. It's built to deliver an innovative and inspirational learning experience thanks to the overall build, design, and camera.

This Chromebook has a versatile 11.6-inch touchscreen display, a built-in stylus, and a 360-degree hinge. It also has classroom-ready durability, with an all-around rubber bumper, a spill-resistant keyboard, and an ultra-tough hinge. Asus even went as far as to include a rubber safety group on the back, which can help reduce the risk of the device falling. The lid's surface also has a dimpled finish, so it'll resist scratches, too

This is quite a compact Chromebook, too, coming in at 11.5 x 7.8 x 0.8 inches. That means a student can slide this into a bag and travel with it back and forth without it weighing them down. It's the perfect travel companion. Additionally, with its school day-long battery life and time-saving, easy-to-service, modular construction, it's ready for anything.

This Chromebook isn't really about the internal specs, though, but you get an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB eMMc storage. That's for the very basics, like handling two tabs in Google Chrome. However, this device was built to deliver an innovative learning experience thanks to the world-facing camera in the corner of the keyboard. A student can flip the screen around and take pictures of whiteboards for note-taking purposes, and they can even use it as a traditional tablet for video calls and classroom lessons.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook2
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
Best for middle school students

QLED screen quality

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is great for middle school students. It has one of the best touchscreen displays on a Chromebook. It uses a QLED display which produces more accurate colors. It also supports the S Pen, though you'll have to buy one separately.

Pros
  • Color-accurate display
  • Supports pen input
  • Unique color option
Cons
  • Older Intel CPUs and other specs
  • S Pen sold separately
  • Expensive for what you get

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is a Chromebook that's great for middle school students who will want to use their laptops for multimedia tasks like using Android apps and watching videos.

A lot of that is thanks to the QLED display, which is similar to what you'd find on higher-end TVs. The color output is true-to-life and bright, which students who are always watching videos will appreciate. Not to mention, it has S Pen support for use with the touchscreen. It doesn't come in the box, but users can draw on the screen or take notes with one. It also has multiple configurations, like tent or tablet mode, so you can use the screen comfortably.

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 continues the overall design of the original Galaxy Chromebook with its striking Fiesta Red color. It's also quite a slim device at just under 2.7 pounds and 0.55 inches thick. Some other features that we usually look for on premium Chromebooks are present here, too. It has a backlit keyboard with plenty of key travel, a decent 720p webcam, as well as integrations with Android phones thanks to Samsung's included apps.

This all sounds great, but it's worth noting that Samsung removed a few features from the previous model to help bring down the price. The display is Full HD (1920x1080) resolution, and the CPU only tops out at a Core i3 option. With 8GB of RAM, though, it's still speedy enough for everyday tasks. And 1080p resolution is good enough for multimedia experiences where you don't want your content letterboxed.

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Acer Chromebook 317
Best for homework

Big screen, big time homework completion

The massive 17-inch screen on the Acer Chromebook 317 makes it a great choice for students for completing homework. There's plenty of space to open apps side by side and multitask, and the backlit keyboard means students can work at night. The trackpad is also decently sized to make scrolling easier.

Pros
  • Big 17-inch screen
  • Backlit keyboard
  • 8GB RAM
Cons
  • Slower Intel Pentium CPUs

Students aren't always hooked up to an external display for increased multitasking, which is why the Acer Chromebook 317 is on our list. This is a Chromebook that might not have the very best specifications, but it does have the very biggest screen, which makes it ideal for completing homework.

This Chromebook packs in a 17-inch screen with 1920x1080 resolution. Currently, this is the only Chromebook on the market with a screen this big, and such a big screen is great for productivity. The Full HD resolution allows for room to open apps side by side, with extra room for a third or even a fourth app. With a big display comes a big keyboard — a full-sized one, in fact, with a number pad. Students who are studying mathematics or science will have a much easier time typing the numbers they need. Oh, and we can't forget that the keyboard is backlit, which is a huge plus for added productivity if a student plans to work late at night.

A big chassis like the one on this Chromebook also means there are a lot of ports: USB Type-C, USB-A, and a headphone jack. HDMI is the missing piece, but for a Chromebook that'll be used on the go, it's hard to complain, and it's nothing a dongle can't solve.

The thing we want to note, though, is the Intel Pentium CPU, which is quite a slow chip. However, since the chip is quad-core, it has 8GB of RAM, and since ChromeOS is a lightweight and efficient operating system, everything a student usually goes through (like opening multiple Chrome tabs) should run just fine. It also comes with 64GB of storage, though it is the slower eMMC type. However, with microSD card expansion, we can't complain too much.

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Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go
Best for distance learning

Small screen but affordable

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is a solid Chromebook for distance learning. It has the option for LTE, which means it can be used anywhere you go. The device is also durable and meets military-grade tests. It even has a long battery life of about 12 hours.

Pros
  • Affordable
  • LTE connectivity
  • Lots of ports
  • Durable build
Cons
  • Not the best specs

Not everyone goes to school in person these days, so you need a Chromebook for distance learning, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is one of the best options. It's an LTE-equipped Chromebook, so it's great for students that don't always have Wi-Fi and want to get work done anywhere.

Other than LTE, distance-learning Chromebooks need to be durable, too, and the Galaxy Chromebook Go is one of the most durable and attractive in Samsung's Chromebook lineup. It has an appealing, solid white-on-black design, with a black inside that won't show smudges. The device is also MIL-STD-810G certified to withstand common drops, dings, and spills. And it comes with no sacrifice to weight or thinness either. It's still portable, measuring just 0.63 inches thick and weighing 3.2 pounds.

Meanwhile, there are some pretty decent specifications to help students power through school-based workflows. Again, since it's a budget device, you won't get the best chips. Instead, this Chromebook has the Intel Celeron N4500U CPU paired with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. That being said, the CPU has a 2.8GHz turbo boost, so using this Chromebook will still feel great. It'll juggle a few Chrome tabs without issue and even the occasional Android app on the 1366x768 resolution, 200-nit screen. The low-end specs also help with battery life, which is rated at 12 hours. You typically don't get that much battery life on Chromebooks with higher-end specs.

We also know that in education, students want to avoid using dongles. The good news is this Chromebook has a good port selection, with two USB Type-C, a traditional USB Type-A 3.2 port, a microSD card slot, and a headphone jack. The Galaxy Chromebook Go might not be the fanciest device on this list, but it'll be perfect for on-the-go students.

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Acer Chromebook Spin 513
Best with long battery life

For living free of the charger

As we found in our tests, the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is a great ChromeOS convertible. It has long battery life, a tall 3:2 aspect ratio display for great multitasking, and it even supports pen input for drawing on the screen. Some models of it are hard to find, however.

Pros
  • Long battery life
  • 3:2 aspect ratio display
  • Supports pen input
Cons
  • MediaTek variant is harder to find
  • More expensive than other picks

If your school has you using Android education apps, then you'll need a Chromebook tablet or convertible that can run them. For that, we suggest the Acer Spin 513. This Chromebook comes in two flavors. One has a MediaTek chip, and the second has a Qualcomm chip, but both will run Android apps well. And across both models, battery life is supreme.

In both cases, the CPUs — the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c or the MediaTek Kompanio 1380 — are powerful for Android-related tasks. These are Arm-based chips, and Android apps are usually coded for the Arm-based architectures and chipsets you'd find on Android phones. We reviewed the version of the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 that came with the MediaTek chip and really loved the performance. Another benefit of using Arm-based CPUs is increased battery when compared to Intel or AMD parts. In our testing, we got through a full day of work without needing to recharge.

We also loved the display. It's 13.5 inches, has a 3:2 aspect ratio, a 2256x1504 resolution, and can get up to 360 nits of brightness. What's even better is that it supports the USI pen protocol, so you can properly enjoy Android apps that require pen input or even have students take notes manually. Note the tall 3:2 aspect ratio, too, which is great for productivity and stacking windows side by side.

Not convinced yet? The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 has a premium build, even though it's only priced at around $500. It's an all-aluminum device with a backlit keyboard. The lid even has shiny accents that'll stick out nicely in the classroom. The design also incorporates a "hump" for all of its ports, including two USB-C ports, one USB-A Port, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

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Framework Chromebook
For more advanced students

For the technical types

The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition is not your typical ChromeOS device. It offers the ability to swap out RAM, SSD, and many of the components inside. This makes it a great option for technical students who love to tweak their systems.

Pros
  • Fully customizable
  • Great display
  • 12th-generation Intel CPUs
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Stock is inconsistent

We've touched on Chromebooks for students of all ages, but what about more technical students who might be into app development or coding? For them, a sophisticated Chromebook is a must. This is what brings us to the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition, one of the most advanced Chromebooks we've ever reviewed.

The thing that makes this Chromebook great is the overall reparability and upgradability. It's fully modular, so what you see is technically not what you get. A student can swap out the RAM and add more. If more storage is needed, it's easy to change the SSD. A screwdriver is even included in the box for this. Beyond those basics, other components like the speakers, keyboard, webcam, and trackpad are all fully replaceable, so if something were to go wrong, they can be ordered through the Framework marketplace and replaced.

This is also one of the fastest Chromebooks we've ever reviewed. It sports a 12th-generation Intel Core i5-1240P CPU, which is a 30W CPU. For RAM, 8GB is the default. This CPU was solid enough for us when we used the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition for tasks like gaming in Steam, editing photos, and browsing the web with about 10 tabs in Chrome. College students might have a similar workflow.

Generally, we did like the design of this Chromebook, too. The keyboard reminded us of a MacBook keyboard, and we loved how bright and vibrant the 16:10 aspect ratio 2256x1504 resolution display was. The all-aluminum design helps justify the $1,000 price, as does the port selection since you can configure your own ports by selecting an expansion card at checkout when buying the device. However, just note that you might not be able to buy it right away, as all of Framework's computers go in and out of stock. But you can sign up for alerts for when it does.

Best accessories

No Chromebook is complete without accessories. It's why we suggest picking up a dock for connecting more peripherals to a Chromebook. For example, a mouse can help a student scroll through webpages more easily, and a dedicated keyboard can help them type more comfortably. And, when a student is at home or in the dorm, adding an external display can help in opening more webpages and apps are once.

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    LG UltraFine 32UN650W
    Great 4K monitor

    The LG UltraFine 32UN650W is a great 4K monitor for a Chromebook, It's under $500 but comes with premium features like joystick controls, multiple inputs for connecting more than one device to your Chromebook, and even other devices like a game console or laptop.

  • A render of the Baseus 20000mAh 65W power bank along with render of USB-C cable
    Baseus 20,000mAh 65W power bank
    Portable power bank

    If your Chromebook has a USB-C port, you can use this Baseus charger to power up your Chromebook on the go. It holds about 20,000mAh of power, which should charge most Chromebooks at least once. It even comes with a USB-C cable and has a readout to let you know how much charge is left.

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    Inateck Laptop Sleeve with Accessory Bag
    For keeping your Chromebook safe

    The Inateck Laptop Sleeve comes in multiple sizes to fit any Chromebook you have (over 13 inches). It has padded corners and a super soft interior, so it is a great way to carry around a Chromebook safely. It also has an accessory bag for carrying around chargers and other items.

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    Logitech K580 ChromeOS Edition
    For better typing experience

    There are very few keyboards made specifically for Chromebooks, and this is one of our favorites. It has a ChromeOS-specific layout, including the launcher key and ChromeOS function keys. It also has a spot to prop a phone or a tablet on the top.

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    Plugable UD-MSTHDC Works with Chromebook Docking Station
    For connecting peripherals

    The Plugable UD-MSTHDC docking station is a great way to add extra ports to a Chromebook when at a desk. It allows you to connect to multiple monitors and comes with USB-A, Ethernet ports onboard, and even a headphone jack.

  • Logitech MX Anywhere 3S mouse in black floating vertical
    Logitech MX Anywhere 3S
    For better scrolling

    The Logitech MX Anywhere 3S is a solid Bluetooth mouse for Chromebooks. It works with up to three different devices, and recharges via USB-C. It's also compact and portable.

The best Chromebooks for students in 2023: The bottom line

Overall, Chromebooks make excellent school machines for all ages. They're more affordable than other laptops, and as long as you don't need to do super-intensive tasks, they'll be perfect for going to class and doing work at home. While these Chromebooks hit certain use cases, our favorite all-around option is the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 for its great display, the 12th-generation Intel CPU, and the garaged stylus.

Angled front view of the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 facing left
Acer Chromebook Spin 714
Best overall

All the great features

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is the best Chromebook for most students. It has a speedy-fast CPU, a great immersive display, a backlit keyboard, and comes with a garaged stylus for inking on the screen. It is a little on the expensive side, though.

In a close second, though, is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, which is great for gaming thanks to the 120Hz screen, but also great for school thanks to the great keyboard and the Intel CPUs under the hood. Then there are other options like the durable and rugged Asus Chromebook Flip C214 or the Galaxy Chromebook 2, which has a great touchscreen. Whatever your needs are as a student, there's a Chromebook out there for you.