While Windows machines are great, they can be pretty expensive, especially if you’re only looking for something basic to get online or do productivity tasks. As such, Chromebooks are a great alternative. They run on ChromeOS and are perfect for those who are already comfortable in the Google ecosystem. Another positive is that Chromebooks are generally lighter and will often be touch-enabled, so they also tend to be much easier to use. Of course, the downside is that they aren’t very powerful unless you spend at least $300 to $400.
Chromebooks are user-friendly and often more affordable than Windows laptops and Apple MacBooks. Plus, since they’re less complicated to use, a Chromebook can make an excellent laptop for kids. (They might already be using one for school.) They’re also good for less tech-savvy adults in need of just a simple computer — or anyone who wants an inexpensive laptop for a home office and some entertainment. There’s even a new crop of big-screen Chromebooks for gamers.
Read more:Â Best Chromebook for 2023
To help you find the best Chromebook deal, CNET’s editors have selected all the top discounted Chromebooks available right now. One word of shopping advice: Although Chromebooks can run well on modest components, some heavily discounted models online might still be too underpowered. A big discount might not be worth the frustration. Also, if the Chromebook is cheap, be sure to check the auto-update expiration date for the model. The AUE is when ChromeOS stops receiving system updates and is typically eight years out, but the date is not the same for every model.Â
We’ll continue to monitor Chromebook deals and regularly update this list, so check back for the best prices.Â
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This Asus model is on sale for $219 right now and features a 14-inch display powered by an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM. Those are average components for a budget Chromebook, but it adds a bit more storage than usual with 64GB. It has a 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution display for a sharper picture and more workspace than you’d get with the 1,366×768-pixel resolution found on other low-end Chromebooks.
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With a 17.3-inch FHD screen, this Acer Chromebook 317 is perfect for those who prefer working with larger monitors. That said, you are still getting a slightly older processor as well, the Intel Pentium Silver N6000, which, again, is fine for most general tasks and the majority of users. It also has the same 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.
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Essentially the same frame as the laptop above, this one has the more powerful and mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 3500C. It also comes with double the storage size at 128GB, which is pretty good for a budget Chromebook. So, if you care about the power or storage, this is the deal to go for.
Once you start hitting the $500 price bracket and above, you’ll find some really great features you’d usually find on gaming laptops. For example, this Chromebook 516 GE comes with a 16-inch monitor that has an impressive 2,560×1,600 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate, at least for a Chromebook. It also has a midrange desktop-grade Intel Core i5-1240P and 256GB of storage, so it’s a lot more versatile, and is a great option for cloud gaming.
What should you look for in a Chromebook deal?
One of the biggest things to consider is which configuration is on sale. Often, with the best Chromebook deals, only a specific version of the Chromebook is on sale, and making any changes to it could affect the price. This means that sometimes you find the 256GB model is actually cheaper than the 128GB option, or a similar situation.
When are the best deals available?
Generally, you’ll find the best Chromebook deals during back-to-school shopping time in late summer or early fall, and a bit later in the year during annual Black Friday sales events. There are Chromebook deals available throughout the year, but if you’re looking for the best deal and can afford to wait a little, these are the best times of the year to buy one.
Which retailers usually offer the best deals?
You can usually find deals across a variety of retailers when it comes to Chromebook sales. Amazon and Best Buy are constantly running discounts, and deals can also be found at Newegg and Walmart. Amazon’s prices fluctuate and Best Buy’s sales come and go, so it’s worth checking back weekly to see if a discounted price returns.
