Best Chromebook 2018: The best Chrome OS laptops money can buy

Chromebooks, if you haven't heard, are fantastic alternatives to those often-pricier Windows 10-powered laptop. Powered by Google's own operating system, aptly titled Chrome OS, Chromebooks are marvellously cheap, and are often hailed as a perfect second device or a laptop that's great for the kids. Picking up the right Chromebook for you, though, can be tricky. That's where we come in.

There are a lot of things to consider when making your Chromebook purchase. While Chrome OS is a far more streamlined operating system than the likes of Windows or Apple's equivalent, you won't find anything particularly powerful in your search for the Chromebook that's right for you. Don't worry too much about internal specs: You need to look out for screen size, display quality and build quality when making your Chromebook purchase.

Below, you'll find our pick of the best Chromebooks you can buy in 2018, catering for every budget and need. 

Best Chromebook 2018: The best Chromebooks from £200

1. Google Pixelbook

Google, take a bow. The Californian firm has finally created a proper Chromebook that goes toe-to-toe with Windows, and has every chance of coming out on top.

A superior Chromebook in every aspect, the Pixelbook is crammed with top-end specs, with a choice of either a Core i5 or Core i7 processor, with a bunch of different storage and RAM configurations options to pick and choose from. The Pixelbook is in a different league entirely: it’s every bit as gorgeous and user-friendly as the best Windows or macOS laptops.

What’s more, with the Play Store opening up the platform to millions of ready-made Android apps, and Google Assistant making its first appearance, this is the best Chromebook ever made. Yes, if you need to run specialist software then you’ll have to give the Pixelbook a miss. But for a great many people, Chrome OS is now flexible enough to be your number-one, day-to-day OS – and the Pixelbook is a fantastic Chromebook that ensures you won’t regret making the switch.

Buy Google Pixelbook from John Lewis

2. HP Chromebook 13

HP's Chromebook 13 is a far cry from those Chrome OS-powered devices of old. It's pricey sure, but HP's latest is a proper standout Chromebook marvel, with Windows-rivalling performance and a wonderfully crisp Quad HD screen. It's not cheap and plasticky either, with an all-metal chassis that looks to stand the test of time. This is the best Chromebook you can pick up in 2018.

Now, it's not cheap (and for that you'll have to look elsewhere) but if you're up for splashing a little more cash for a device that'll last and can effortlessly butt heads with its Windows counterparts, HP's Chromebook 13 should be your go to. 

HP Chromebook 13 G1 13.3" Laptop - 0.9GHz CPU, 4GB RAM, 32GB eMMC, Google Chrome

£602.81 Buy now

3. Acer Chromebook 14

Acer's Chromebook 14 almost clinches the top spot. Acer's latest hits the nail right on the head, with its fantastic build quality compared to the rest of its Chrome OS-powered rivals. 

That aluminium exterior is a sight to behold, but it's not just a looker. The whole things feels super premium, sure, but it's a surprisingly decent performer, so long as you don't force it to do anything too strenuous. Its display leaves a lot to be desired, but for the super cheap asking price, you really can't do wrong.

The Acer Chromebook 14 is one of those Chrome OS laptops that'll stick with us for years to come.

Acer Chromebook 14 CB3-431 14 inch Notebook (Celeron N3060, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB Storage, Chrome OS) - Silver

£249.99 Buy now

 4. Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1

Dell's convertible Chromebook 11 has one big thing going for it, that the others on this list only wish they had. It's a convertible you see, you don't see that a lot with Chromebooks these days.

It's easy on the wallet, too - with prices starting at £279, with some decent specs to back it up. With a dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060 working in tandem with 4GB of RAM, performance is top-notch and given its cheap asking price, offers plenty of bang for your buck.

It might be a little chunky - designed to withstand the hustle and bustle of a school classroom, but like I said earlier, Dell's Chromebook 11 2-in-1 has a nifty little party trick. It's the only Chromebook on this long list that does double duties as both a laptop and a tablet, so it's golden if versatility is what you're after. Fittingly, it's a touchscreen display, so finger prods can help you out with your demanding workload, and thankfully it's a decent looking display to gawk at, too.

Get Dell's Chromebook 11 2-in-1 if money is a bit tight, you're up for a bit more versatility and you want something that's child-proof.

Buy Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 from Dell UK

5. Toshiba Chromebook 2

Toshiba seized upon the chance to claim the Chromebook top spot. With Samsung departing the Chromebook and laptop market completely a while ago, the Toshiba Chromebook 2 snatched the throne.

There are two models - one with a Full HD screen, one without - but we eagerly took a closer look at the Full HD model. The glorious IPS screen embarrasses all its peers (barring the supremely expensive Pixel), and is matched with modest but acceptable performance from the Celeron CPU and a solid keyboard and touchpad.

In short, the Chromebook 2 gets all the essentials right. There's still some small room for improvement, not least the naff speakers and middling performance but overall the Chromebook 2 hits the mark.

6. Dell Chromebook 11

The Dell Chromebook 11 is brilliant. It's built primarily to survive the rough-and-tumble of classroom life, but it looks great, performs well, and battery life is reasonable. The only letdown is the quality of the screen is a little mediocre. Still, if you want a reasonably cheap laptop to give the kids and don't want to worry about it getting damaged, this is the Chromebook for you.

Dell Chromebook 11 11.6 inch Laptop (Intel Celeron N2840 2.16 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 16 GB SSD, Integrated Graphics, Google Chrome)

Buy now