Chromebooks are perfect laptops to serve as a gateway to the internet, as their entire existence is built around an internet connection and browser-based workflow powered by Chrome OS. This reliance on the cloud also allows Chromebooks to be built with more modest specifications, as the local machine isn’t doing a lot of heavy lifting on its own. If you want to give someone a device that brings them online and lets them get basic tasks done, then a Chromebook is perfect. The state of Maryland in the US has done precisely that, distributing a whole lot of Chromebooks to people in need.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced that the state has provisioned more than 133,000 Chromebooks to be distributed through 27 local governments to underserved households in the state. The report (spotted by Android Central) highlights the initiative as part of a $27.2 million investment to give Marylanders accessible, reliable technology alongside high-speed internet.

A Chromebook is already an affordable way to stay on top of your work or study commitments, so a huge deal on a respectable model always catches our eye. The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 has our attention today, with a $170 price drop reducing the cost to its lowest point since late 2022.

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 for $309.99 ($170 off)

Over 12 years ago, Google launched Chrome OS and the first Chromebooks. The company set out to create productivity-focused laptops that were simple, reliable, and ultra-secure. Since then, we’ve seen hundreds of Chromebooks from dozens of companies. Some of these machines are of a low grade to keep things as cheap as possible, while others have been $1,000+ super machines. For 12 years, they’ve all just been Chromebooks.

Today, Google is significantly changing how the Chrome OS ecosystem works. Going forward, there will be two classifications for any Chrome OS device: a normal Chromebook or a Chromebook Plus. Taken at face value, this seems like a boring new way to categorize certain types of Chrome OS machines, but it’s much more than that. The new Plus moniker will not only let consumers know what kind of hardware they are getting but will also give those machines extra capabilities that non-Plus models will not have.

Your Chromebook is going to look very different soon. Google is rolling out the Chrome OS 117 update to Chromebooks and it introduces a variety of changes to the operating system.

One of the updates you’ll notice right away is the adoption of Material You. This redesign is probably the most prominent in Quick Settings. The menu now features rounded rectangles in a grid-style layout, instead of the small circles from before, according to Google. It looks a lot closer to what you see on Pixel phones. As a result, it’s a lot easier to read and select settings like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Night Light, and more.

If you want to keep using your Chromebook for as long as possible, Google has some news you’ll want to hear. The company is making a few changes that will help your Chromebook last a little longer.

Today, Google’s Chrome OS team announced it is upping Chrome OS commitments. Currently, Chromebooks get regular automatic updates every four weeks for eight years. These updates include security and stability improvements as well as new features. But starting in 2024, any Chromebook released after 2021 will now get ten years of regular automatic updates.

Chromebooks have grown to exert considerable influence over the education sector. Thanks to their low cost, which comes from running the cloud-centric Chrome OS, they have become quite popular in schools. You can get some great Chromebook options for less money than you would need to spend on a Windows laptop or a MacBook. Apple has apparently taken note of this market reality, as a new report suggests that the company could release a new MacBook line to compete with Chromebooks.

According to a report from Digitimes citing industry sources, Apple is working on a new low-cost MacBook series aimed at the education sector and primarily targets Chromebooks as its rivals. This laptop will be launched as a separate lineup from the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.

While Chromebooks are known for offering a robust experience at an affordable price tag, issues like black screen and display flickering can leave a bad taste in your mouth. Many Chromebook users have also complained about glitches with the default webcam on their devices. Is your Chromebook camera not working? We provide our top troubleshooting tips to fix your Chromebook camera below.

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It’s relatively easy to find a good Chromebook on a budget. After all, the whole idea behind Chrome OS devices is that they serve as a cheaper alternative to Windows laptops or MacBooks. We’ve rounded up some of the best Chromebook deals on the internet, so you won’t have to search too hard for a good price.

If you’re in the market for a new affordable laptop, scroll on to find a host of the best Chromebook deals available this month.

Although ultra-wideband (UWB) has been around for a while, it’s just now starting to be used in more devices. In fact, the Pixel Watch 2 is rumored to be getting a UWB module. And that might not be the only new Google gadget getting the technology. The company may be planning to start putting UWB in Chromebooks as well.

As discovered by Chrome Unboxed, references to UWB have been found in Chromium Gerrit — an open-source, web-based code collaboration tool where developers can review modifications on source code. It appears that Google is currently testing the technology on Chromebooks.

The web is full of great content to read, but websites can be a bit too distracting. Have you ever wondered if there is a way to simplify text and read without all the extra fluff? There is. Google Chrome has Reader mode.

Reader mode became available with the release of Chrome version 114, which was released to the public on May 24, 2023. Let’s tell you all about it and show you how to use it.

Are you looking for your next laptop? Chances are you’ve already made up your mind on which operating system you want to use. If not, we have a comprehensive guide on picking between Chrome OS, Windows, or MacOS. Now it’s time to choose the form factor. You could go for a traditional laptop, or you could get a convertible laptop. What is a 2 in 1 laptop? Let’s go over the specifics together.

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Chromebooks are great for what they are: inexpensive laptops that rely on cloud-oriented Chrome OS to get the job done. So if you spot a Chromebook on sale, you should definitely buy it, right? Wrong. It turns out, some old Chromebooks are still on sale on various platforms without necessary disclaimers on their end-of-life status, making you pay money for what is practically e-waste.

The US Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) (via ArsTechnica) pointed out how end-of-life Chromebooks are still sold on various marketplace platforms, like Amazon, Walmart, and possibly others, in new and unused conditions. These include devices like the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302, which was launched in 2018 and reached its Automatic Update Expiration (AUE) date on June 1, 2023. This means the laptop will no longer receive any security or platform updates for its Chrome OS from Google.

We’ve known for the past few years now that Google was working to decouple the Chrome web browser from Chrome OS itself. This project, dubbed Lacros, would see Google ditch the integrated Chrome browser in favor of a standalone Linux-based Chrome browser.

Now, About Chromebooks (h/t: Chrome Unboxed) reports that this process could get underway for users soon. The outlet spotted several code changes suggesting that you won’t have to manually enable the standalone Lacros browser in Chrome OS 116. The outlet also noted that they could no longer manually enable the standalone browser on a device running the Chrome OS 116 beta.

Google is revamping the Play Store for large-screen devices like foldable phones, Android tablets, and Chromebooks. The company first discussed these changes at Google I/O last year. It is now introducing four major updates to help users find good large-screen apps and improve the overall experience of the Play Store on big devices.

Google has made an effort over the years to tout higher-end Chromebooks, offering Plus and Premium tags on some models. Now, it looks like the company is working on a new program for more capable Chromebooks.

9to5Google uncovered the existence of a so-called Chromebook X program. The outlet revealed that Chromebooks falling under this program would get Chromebook X branding on the hardware itself, as well as a special boot screen.

For those shopping for a new all-purpose laptop that won’t break the bank, Best Buy has a great offer on the ASUS gaming Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip right now. The deal drops the asking price of this allrounder machine to just $549 ($150) — the best price we’ve tracked to date.

The Vibe CX55 really bucks the Chromebook trend. The affordable laptops offer ChromeOS and sometimes a touchscreen, but usually not a lot more in an effort to keep costs low. That’s fine if it’s just for your schoolwork or streaming, but some people like to dabble in some casual gaming in their downtime too. While not a powerhouse, this Chromebook is built for gaming and offers those folks a bit of everything.

Chromebooks are fantastic machines with light software that works well under most circumstances. They are great for everyday work, such as sending emails and browsing the web. A good Chrome OS laptop can even handle some photo/video editing. Did you know you can also do some gaming with Chrome OS? Of course, you can enjoy Android games, but a wide variety of emulators are also available. Let’s look at some of the best emulators for Chromebook computers.

Is it legal to use emulators?

First things first, we must let you know that emulators are in a bit of a gray area in terms of legality. Using emulators, in and of itself, isn’t necessarily illegal, at least in most jurisdictions. The thing is, you’ll need ROM files of the games you’ll play. Creating and/or distributing ROMs can count as pirating.

Earlier this year, Google and several partners made a big to-do about gaming Chromebooks. These laptops were designed with gaming specifically in mind, right down to RGB lighting and WASD keys that stand out from the rest. However, they were only focused on cloud gaming, as they still didn’t have a dedicated graphics card.

Now, it looks like that could change. According to information seen by 9to5Google, Google is working on a Chromebook with a discrete GPU. Specifically, the GPU appears to be an NVIDIA RTX 4050 card. Interestingly, NVIDIA hasn’t announced this card series yet. The most recently launched series from the company is the 4060 series. Theoretically, the 4050 series would be less expensive and slightly less powerful. For reference, the 3050 series — which would be last year’s analogous counterpart — appeared in sub-$1,000 budget-oriented gaming laptops.

Steam finally came to Chromebooks last year as part of a beta program, allowing you to install the gaming storefront on your Chrome OS laptop. The app was limited to Chromebooks running recent processors though, namely AMD Ryzen 3 or better and Intel Core i3 or higher.

Now, Chrome Unboxed has uncovered evidence that Google is testing or will start testing Steam on low-end Chromebooks. The outlet found references to Steam being enabled for testing on Chromebooks powered by Intel Alder Lake N and AMD Mendocino processors.

One of the biggest problems with webcams and microphones is it can be difficult to tell when they’re on or off. On the lighter side, this has resulted in plenty of embarrassing but funny video-meeting moments over the years. But on a more serious note, it could easily turn into a privacy issue if you’re not careful. Thankfully, Chromebook owners are getting a new Chrome OS feature that should make it easier to turn off the camera and microphone completely.

Today, Google announced a slew of new data protection and privacy features coming to Chromebooks. While most of the features are more related to business, there’s one change that everyone should find useful. That update will introduce enhanced camera and microphone privacy controls in the form of a toggle.

Chromebooks have become synonymous with cheap computers, largely in a positive way. They are inexpensive laptops that run Chrome OS and are perfect for browser-based use cases, such as online learning. You can spend about $200-400 and get a decent machine, providing a better experience than a similar-priced Windows laptop. However, this low price tag comes with some hidden costs, as schools in the US are just finding out about their Chromebooks.

According to a new report titled “Chromebook Churn” by the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (via TheVerge), schools that bulk purchased Chromebooks in 2020 when the pandemic hit are now seeing these laptops starting to break. That is a small problem by itself, but the bigger problem is that these Chromebooks are relatively harder to upgrade and repair when compared to their Windows counterpart.

Last year in July, Google teased that it was giving Chromebooks new movie editing tools through Google Photos. Those features are finally starting to arrive.

In a post on the Google Photos community page, the company announced that new video editing features are “starting to roll out” for Google Photos on Chromebooks. These features would allow you to “seamlessly use images and videos from your Chromebook and edit in Google Photos.”

ASUS has a strong influence in the gaming market. Its computers are loved by gamers, often offering great value, performance, and lovely designs. The company also offers many accessories, PC components, and other products catering to the gaming community. Now it’s trying to dominate the nascent gaming Chromebook market with products like the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip.

Does this new gaming-focused Chromebook have what it takes to win the hearts of gamers? Let’s dissect the concept and decipher who this Chromebook is for in our ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review.

CES 2023 has kicked off and HP has wasted no time in showing off a slew of new products. Among all the items it brought to this year’s show, one of the highlights is the company’s new Dragonfly Pro series.

During CES 2023, HP announced the latest addition to its Dragonfly brand — the Dragonfly Pro. Similar to the rest of its Dragonfly lineup, the Pro is designed to cater to business professionals. However, this model is said to be specifically aimed at freelancers.

Google’s Chrome OS has been available for roughly a decade now, carving out a niche in the enterprise and education space. But it still pales in comparison to Windows and Mac OS when it comes to global market share.

Rita El-Khoury recently waxed lyrical about her experience with Chrome OS in 2022, posting a poll to ask whether you’ve used the platform in the last year. Here’s how you answered that question.

Credit: Rita El Khoury / Android Authority

Opinion post by

Rita El Khoury

I bought my first Chromebook in January 2015. I still remember sitting in a hotel room in Vegas during CES week, a brand new Toshiba Chromebook 2 on my lap, looking in bewilderment at Chrome OS and how it took all of three minutes to get it set up, signed in to my Google account, and ready for use.

For two years, I used this as my main laptop. It could perform 90%, if not 95% of the tasks that I did on my iMac, at a small fraction of the price. I was sold on the idea of Chrome OS, but the Toshiba Chromebook 2 became very laggy very fast. I needed more power to carry over my multi-tab, multi-task work setup, so I dipped into my wallet and splurged on a heavily-discounted Google Pixelbook in 2017.

Chrome OS has been around for over a decade now, opening the door for a slew of affordable laptops. But Google is still playing catch-up to Apple and Microsoft’s platforms in some ways. Now, it turns out that Google is finally bringing a decades-old feature to the platform.

Chrome OS 108 introduces a trash can in the Files app (h/t: 9to5Google), acting much like the Recycle Bin in Windows 95 and later versions of the desktop platform. That means deleted files are moved to a trash folder where they’ll be fully deleted after 30 days, or you can manually empty your trash can.

Black Friday is still raging on, with deals on a variety of tech products like smartphones, earbuds, tablets, and more. But if you’re looking for a laptop, you may be interested in some of the latest deals on Chromebooks.

At the moment, there are great deals to be found on Chromebooks from a range of brands including ASUS, Lenovo, HP, and Acer. But you don’t have to go looking for them by yourself, because we already did the work for you. So if you’re in the market for a new laptop, check this list of the best deals out there right now.

The Chrome OS gaming team and Valve have been hard at work bringing Steam to Chromebooks since the initiative was first announced earlier this year. Now the two teams are ready to move forward and push Steam on Chrome OS into its beta phase.

Steam for Chrome OS was initially released on the Chrome OS Dev channel as an early alpha build back in April. At the time of the launch, the alpha only supported a small group of Chromebooks and demanded Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 11th Gen Core i5 or i7 processors, and at least 8GB of RAM. Additionally, the platform only supported a list of around 50 games.

The Amazon Prime Early Access Sale is great for people who want to plan their holiday shopping well ahead of time. If your family or friends need a new Chromebook, this sale for Prime members is a perfect chance to get one for a lot less money than normal.  You can still sign up for Prime to get these discounts, and it comes with a 30-day free trial.

See also: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Despite being in the process of shutting its own game streaming service down, it seems Google is not yet fully done with the prospect of cloud gaming. The company has announced a lineup of new Chromebooks that will be optimized for playing in the cloud.

Google has unveiled not one, not two, but three new Chromebooks along with partners Lenovo, Acer, and ASUS. These notebooks have been dubbed the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip, and the Ideapad Gaming Chromebook from Lenovo. According to Google, these three computers will be known as the world’s first laptops built specifically for cloud gaming.

Opinion post by

Calvin Wankhede

Much to my continued disappointment, Chrome OS hardware hasn’t drastically evolved since the operating system’s early days. While we get yearly processor revisions and the odd spec bump or two, most Chromebooks still resemble thin clients — a computer designed around a singular task (web browsing) and not much else.

This was once a chicken and egg problem, where the software needed to mature before the hardware could. But now? There’s more reason than ever to enter the Chrome OS ecosystem, with support for software development via Linux, Android apps, and even PC gaming.

Framework released its first modular, repair-friendly laptop in the summer of 2021. Now the American-based computer manufacturer is back with a new modular Chromebook.

Dubbed the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition, this latest product from Framework takes the company’s philosophy of upgradability and repairability and applies it to a Chromebook.

Update, September 9, 2022 (11:30 AM ET): In the original article below, we mention that the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 uses a fan made of recycled materials. However, Acer provided us with incorrect information on that topic. The fan is actually not recycled. We have modified the original text below to reflect this update.

Original article, August 23, 2022 (09:00 PM ET): Acer has a line of eco-friendly products it puts into a line called Vero. So far, we’ve seen Windows laptops, all-in-one desktops, and more in this line. What we haven’t seen is a Chromebook, but that is about to change.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (2H) is an iterative update to 2021’s Chromebook of the same name, bringing a new MediaTek processor for improved performance and battery life. The Spin 513 is the mid-range brother to Acer’s Spin 713 line, containing the same display and build quality, just with less power, but are these upgrades enough for a $215 premium over last year’s model? This is Android Authority’s Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (2H) review.

What you need to know about the Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (2H)

It’s hard to believe, but we are getting close to a new school season for both primary and college students. Many of them will be taking a new Chromebook to use in class, or at home. Today, Google announced a number of upcoming new apps and features that will be coming to Chromebooks and ChromeOS in the next few months. Perhaps the biggest new feature is the revamped Google Photos movie editor that will debut first on Chromebooks sometime this fall.

Read more: How to edit photos and videos on Chromebooks

Chromebooks dominate the education market all around the world. The machines are simple, inexpensive, and more secure than most Windows-based systems, making them ideal for schools.

However, Google could be facing some serious trouble in Denmark as far as Chromebooks go. According to TechCrunch, Chromebooks are banned in at least one Danish school district, and the security researchers responsible for the ban are confident it will spread across the entire country.

Are you taking advantage of Amazon Prime Day 2022? We hope you are because we’ve seen some amazing deals so far. Case in point, we’ve got an amazing roundup of Chromebook Prime Day deals right here!

Whether you need something that will give you all the power and beauty you could want or something that will just deliver the basics, there’s a deal here for you. Top-of-the-line Samsung models and bottom-of-the-barrel Lenovo models are all here and all discounted by sometimes hundreds of dollars.

• The latest ChromeOS update allows Chromebooks easy access to your phone’s pictures.
• You can also use your phone to securely connect a Chromebook to Wi-Fi networks.
• Finally, a way to connect Chromebooks quickly to Bluetooth headphones is coming soon.

Chromebooks are becoming more and more useful alternatives to normal Windows and Mac PCs, thanks to improvements in Google’s ChromeOS, Today, Google announced some more new features it is adding to Chromebooks with the latest ChromeOS version. They concentrate on making Chromebooks work better with Android phones.

High-end PC gaming on laptop devices has been mostly restricted to Windows, though a smaller following exists for Linux and Mac as well. However, there is now growing evidence that the first wave of gaming Chromebooks are being developed.

9to5Google reports, via unnamed sources, that gaming Chromebooks from makers like HP and Lenovo are in the works, complete with RGB keyboard support. While many Chromebooks already have the Google Stadia game streaming application pre-loaded, this new report says the upcoming gaming Chromebooks will have a Cloud Gaming Partner Platform app as well. This app is to access the NVIDIA GeForce Now gaming streaming service, which has hundreds of PC games available to stream.

Chrome OS gets bigger every year. The platform has tons of devices both cheap and expensive, with varying degrees of performance. However, Google made a smart move with Chrome OS by letting people use Google Play. It opened up the platform to millions of apps and games. The Play Store is also way better than the Chrome app store. It immediately made the platform a good option for most people.

There are tons of apps that work with Chrome OS. However, we focused primarily on ones that take advantage of a Chromebook’s larger screen and keyboard.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is one of many products announced by the company at its “next@Acer” event. This convertible Chromebook is aimed squarely at tech lovers who desire a machine that both works hard and plays hard. With a 14-inch screen, the latest 12th gen Intel processors, and high-grade video call capabilities, it can easily bridge the work and home divide. Find out what the machine is like in our early Acer Chromebook Spin 714 preview.

Pick your power

Taking a screenshot is a necessary functionality on computers and phones today. However, taking a screenshot on a computer can be a bit more complicated than on a phone. To help you out with that, we’ve made this guide to take a screenshot on Windows, Linux, Chrome OS, and Mac computers.

Read more: How to take screenshots on Android

Chromebooks are like any other modern computers, and you can change things like the cursor and language on them if you please. Have you just got a Chromebook, but it’s not set to use your preferred language? No problem, you can easily change the language without resetting your Chromebook.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Google is bringing the power of search to video games, making it easier for Chromebook users to find and play games.

Chromebooks are solid PC replacements for many folks, but they may not have all the features you’re looking for. Multitasking is crucial, so the task manager is an important feature for someone switching to a Chrome OS device from a PC. Here’s how to open and use the task manager on a Chromebook.

Read more: What is Chrome OS, and who is it for?

Chromebooks are a popular choice of computers today, and they come with the standard assortment of accessibility features. These include the ability to invert the colors on your Chromebook, which is useful if you’re sensitive to bright colors and light. You can also change your Chromebook’s cursor to suit, but this guide will focus on the colors themsevles.

Read more: What is Chrome OS and who is it for?

Chromebooks have become a popular choice of computers for a lot of folks. One of their main selling points has been the ease of mass deployment and management, making them great for educational and corporate institutions. One feature that helps this aspect is verified access. But what is verified access on Chromebooks?

Read more: What is Chrome OS and who is it for?

Chromebooks and Chrome OS-powered machines are terrific for certain things. Browsing the web, watching YouTube videos, word processing, and even some light Android gaming are all great. However, one of their huge limitations is a lack of “real” gaming.

For the first time, Google has officially confirmed it is working on a solution to this (via 9to5Google). Steam on Chrome OS — a long-rumored feature codenamed “Borealis” — is officially on the way as an alpha test. Google confirmed the news in a pretty off-the-cuff way by casually putting the announcement into a slide during a Games Developer Summit presentation (see the slide below).

Chromebooks run on Google’s Chrome OS, making them a little different in some aspects. A Chromebook centers around your Google account, so it doesn’t have a dedicated password. Thus, the login password for your Chromebook is the same as the password for your Google account. So changing your password on a Chromebook can be a bit tricky.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Emojis have become an essential part of our conversations, and as such, it’s great to have easy access to them on all your internet devices. It can be a little trickier to use emojis on computers, including Chromebooks, than on phones. Here’s how to get emojis on a Chromebook.

Read more: What is a Chromebook, and what can and can’t it do?

Chromebooks come in all shapes and sizes and have many different screen resolutions. As such, the default text size, window size, and zoom may not be the best fit for everyone. Do you want to change the zoom on your Chromebook? Here’s how to zoom in and out on a Chromebook.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Chromebooks have become serious laptop replacements, especially in the low-end market. They start as low as $200 to $250 and can go well over $1,000 for the more premium models. Given that price range, buying one can be a little confusing. The ultimate question is, how much should you spend on a Chromebook? This guide breaks down the different ranges of these devices and who should buy them.

Read more: What is a Chromebook, what can and can’t it do?

While there are many similarities between a Chromebook and other computers, a few differences may cause inconveniences to new users. For example, Chromebooks don’t have a trash folder, which means your deleted files are gone forever. Here’s how to delete files on a Chromebook.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

One of the biggest questions people have while buying a Chromebook is how well it can handle everyday computing tasks, especially ones that are easy for a PC or Mac device. One such task is how a computer handles archive files. With ease, you can zip or unzip files on a Chromebook, but the process works a bit differently than on Windows or even macOS. Here’s how to zip or unzip files on a Chromebook.

Read more: What is a Chromebook, what can and can’t it do?

Chromebooks are generally budget devices, and as such, they don’t have the best hardware on offer. But they can still get essential work done just right, and that includes taking pictures. The webcams in most of these Chromebooks can take pictures and even videos.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Chromebooks can do many things, even more so now as more capable web apps emerge. Chromebooks can open PDF files in Google Chrome, but if you want to edit a PDF on a Chromebook, there is a way to do that too. Let us show you how to edit a PDF on a Chromebook and even print it if you want to.

Read more: What is a Chromebook – what can and can’t it do?

Lenovo announced a whole range of products at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, including three new Chromebooks, a refreshed Android tablet, and a slew of Windows machines. One of the biggest announcements of the show is the newly upgraded Duet 3 Chromebook, the successor to one of the most popular Chromebooks available.

The original Duet Chromebook featured a small, 10-inch screen, a compact form factor, and a really low price point. The Duet 5 raised the price but offered a bit more. This redesigned machine carries over many of the basics from both but greatly improves the internal components. Interestingly, the price went down as compared to the Duet 5.

Chromebooks are solid alternatives to PCs and Macs on a budget, but some users may face a learning curve since it’s a new environment. Saving images on Chrome OS is similar to that on a PC or Mac, but also slightly different. Here’s how to save images on a Chromebook.

Read more: What is a Chromebook, what can and can’t it do?

Chromebooks are made to be easy-to-use devices, but what happens when you can’t figure out how to turn on your Chromebook? Don’t worry, design differences can put power buttons in some odd places sometimes, so let’s discuss some places your button might be.

Read more: The best Chromebooks

Chromebooks are wonderful web browsing machines that get simple tasks done on the cheap. There are times, however, when you’ll need to share a recording of something on your Chromebook with someone in order to demonstrate something, diagnose an issue, or share a certain moment. Here’s how to record your screen on your Chromebook.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Chromebooks are quickly becoming cheap yet well-built modern workhorses, but for Windows and Mac users, making the switch can be troublesome. Simple functions that are muscle memory tend to be slightly bit different on Chrome OS, so we’re putting out many helpful guides on the basics to make the switch a little easier. Here are a few ways to use split-screen on a Chromebook.

Read more: The best Chromebooks you can buy

Lenovo is back with another detachable that can act like both a laptop and a tablet. The Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook follows the original Duet, with a larger display and amped-up internals offering the same value proposition for consumers who want the versatility of the detachable form factor. This affordable Chromebook also supports pen input for creatives as well as hardwired security from Google. Can this flexible machine fit your varied computing needs? Let’s find out in the Android Authority Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook review.

What you need to know about the Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook

A mere two weeks after it announced a slew of new products at CES 2022, HP is back with a new lineup of Windows 11 and Chrome OS laptops. HP says this new Fortis product line is designed around durability — evident from the MIL-STD and IP41 ratings present across the board. Moreover, the laptops feature mechanically reinforced corners, hinges, keyboards, battery covers, and USB-C ports.

HP isn’t positioning the rugged design as a premium feature — much of the lineup starts around $350–400. However, don’t expect fancy materials, as these laptops sport a grippy plastic exterior. Of course, that helps with durability and weight, so it’s probably a worthwhile tradeoff. All in all, HP says these attributes make it practical for students and blended learning environments, where wear and tear is inevitable.

Credit: Dell

We made the difficult decision not to attend CES in person this year, but as they say, the show must go on. Go on it has, with plenty of new launches across the board. In fact, CES 2022 packed more laptop and Chromebook launches than we’ve seen in quite a while. It’s not easy to narrow down the top picks, but here are the best new laptops and Chromebooks from CES 2022.

We’ve chosen our favorite launches across a few of the most popular categories, including business, 2-in-1s, and more. This year brought a hefty slate of gaming options too, so we’ve included more than one pick in case you need even more to look forward to.

Acer unveiled three new Chromebooks at CES 2022, refreshing its existing mid-range and premium portfolio with the latest chips from Intel and MediaTek. Notably, the most powerful model of the trio is powered by MediaTek’s Kompanio 1380 processor.

While we’ve seen several Chromebooks feature MediaTek processors so far, they’ve all traded performance for a lower price point — typically targeting the sub-$400 market. The updated Acer Chromebook Spin 513 looks to be an exception and is among the first to adopt MediaTek’s performance-oriented processors.

Gaming on Chrome OS, at least using Steam, isn’t as flawless as it should be. There’s no dedicated Steam client yet, but there are workarounds. However, this could all change very soon. According to new evidence, native Steam support could debut on Chromebooks in the coming weeks, giving consumers another potential reason to buy Chrome OS-powered laptops.

Per an Android Police report, two new flags are present in Chrome OS’s latest dev channel build relating to Borealis — the code-name of the Steam support project on the platform. The current developer version is likely next in line to graduate to Chrome OS’s beta channel, suggesting that Steam support could soon make its soft public debut.

The Lenovo Flex 5i is the convertible version of the IdeaPad 5i and brings Chromebook enthusiasts a more bendable form factor to work with. This machine combines good looks with solid performance and good-enough battery life in a compact chassis that should appeal to those seeking a bit more quirk from their computer. It’s also priced just under some of the top productivity Chromebooks in the market, making it a potential business budget pick. Is this the right convertible for you? Find out in the Android Authority Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook review.

What you need to know about the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook

Screen peeking is one concern you might have when using a laptop with people around you, especially in places like coffee shops. We’ve already seen solutions on PC such as privacy filters that drastically dim the screen at wide angles, but it looks like Google has a more advanced solution for Chromebooks.

9to5Google has spotted a new Chrome flag for a so-called “snooping protection” feature that’s coming to Chromebooks.

It’s been over two years since we saw the most recent Google-branded laptop, which is known as the Pixelbook Go. Two years before that, we saw the original Pixelbook. One would think we’d see some sort of Pixelbook launch this year, right?

Unfortunately, no. In fact, it looks like we won’t see a Google Pixelbook 2 — or a Google-branded laptop of any kind — until at least 2023. This news comes directly from a Google employee (via Trusted Reviews).

Opinion post by

Calvin Wankhede

Some of you might read the title and scoff at the idea of Chromebooks competing with any modern-day iPad. I once thought along those lines too, before I got hands-on with the Lenovo Duet — a Chromebook with a detachable keyboard/trackpad accessory included in the box.

A week or so ago, I tried out iPadOS 15 on the 2020 iPad Air for the first time. After using the Duet as my primary writing machine, I expected to be blown away. The iPad has a lot going for it hardware-wise, including a still-unbeaten SoC. And, of course, this particular iPad costs nearly three times as much as the Duet once you factor in Apple’s Magic Keyboard.

Acer is targeting tech enthusiasts and work from home types with the Chromebook 515, a fresh line of Chromebooks that offers plenty of power and workspace to get things done. Acer believes the Chromebook 515 is best matched with hybrid workers, techies, and even IT admins thanks to the highly configurable options and business-friendly features available to buyers.

This powerful machine offers more than just speedy performance and lots of ways to customize it. Find out what the device is like in our early Acer Chromebook 515 hands-on.

Acer launched its latest wave of Chromebooks on Wednesday. The four new models cover a broad swathe of the market, catering to power users and budget buyers alike. Although pricing between the top and tail models see a ~$300 swing, the Chromebooks all focus on providing accessible conferencing facilities to those still working from home.

Google confirmed earlier this year that the Pixel 6 series would be powered by the company’s first in-house chipset. The custom Tensor processor hosts some machine learning smarts and is also tipped to offer a Samsung modem.

Now, Nikkei Asia reports that Google is building its own processors for Chrome OS-powered laptops and tablets, citing three sources familiar with the plans. It’s claimed that a launch is planned for 2023.

Chrome OS isn’t the most popular gaming platform. It competes with PC, console, and mobile gaming platforms like Android, iOS, and Switch. It’s a tough market but Chrome OS found a way. Google put the Google Play Store on Chromebooks and now these devices have access to a library of great games. Let’s take a look at the best Chromebook games from the Google Play Store.

For the purposes of this list, we tried to only include games with good keyboard support since not all Chromebooks have a touchscreen and not everyone owns a controller. Luckily, you have plenty of options. Google Play has a Chromebook section for some easy picks. Luckily, Google makes it pretty easy even if it’s slim pickings in this genre.

HP is today adding a couple of new devices to its Chrome OS lineup, as well as a monitor that is Works With Chromebook certified. The lineup includes a new Chromebook detachable and an all-in-one desktop.

The highlight of this launch is the new HP Chromebook x2 11, which is a slightly smaller version of the HP Chromebook x2 — the company’s first flagship Chrome OS tablet. HP is pairing this sequel with the HP Chromebase 21.5-inch, which is the world’s first Chromebase system to come with a rotating display.

Google Meet is integrated into Chromebooks as of the latest Chrome OS update.

The video conferencing app — a rival to Zoom, which surged in popularity during the pandemic — can now be opened directly from the Launcher, Google noted in a blog post. The company has also made some performance improvements, namely in relation to handling “different network conditions” and screen sharing.

Last month, Samsung very quietly launched a cheaper variant of its incredible (but pricey) Galaxy Chromebook series. The machine is a looker and its $299 starting price tag is certainly exciting.

See also: The best Chromebooks you can buy

High-powered Chromebooks are still relatively rare, but ASUS appears bent on changing that. Chrome Unboxed reports that ASUS has quietly introduced the Chromebook Flip CX5400, a 14-inch convertible laptop that delivers performance that’s difficult to find in some thin-and-light Windows machines, let alone a Chrome OS device.

Read more: Chromebook buyer’s guide

You probably don’t think of Chromebooks as gaming machines unless you’re a Stadia fan, but that might change before long. Chrome Unboxed has discovered Chromium OS source code hinting at a Chromebook with a dedicated GPU — the first known Google-powered laptop to pack that kind of graphics power.

The Chromebook, codenamed Mushu, would use an AMD Vega 12-based GPU — not the integrated Vega 11 you find in certain processors. Mushu would pair the graphics chip with a 10th Gen Intel Core processor, but it wouldn’t involve one of Intel’s briefly available hybrid CPUs with AMD video.