Chrome OS

Back in early 2021, a Californian startup launched a 13.5-inch laptop designed for easy upgrade and repair by the user. The Framework Laptop has since been updated, and now the company has expanded the idea into Chromebook territory.

Consumer electronics giant Acer has released a new Chromebook that could have you turning a little green – not with envy, but in an eco-friendly sense. The Vero 514 makes use of recycled and recyclable materials, while also embracing repairability.

AMD has announced new Ryzen 5000 C-Series processors for Chromebooks, and one of the first companies to make use of the improved performance on offer is Acer with its 2022 Chromebook Spin 514 2-in-1 convertible.

For folks who work and play online, Chromebooks generally offer pretty good bang for buck. While most come in laptop form, the Chromebook Detachable CM3 from Asus offers a laptop, digital sketchpad and a tablet experience in one device.

Asus has announced three new Chromebooks that has been ruggedized for students and its first Chrome OS tablet. The Education Series is made up of two 11.6 inch Chromebooks – one a clamshell laptop and the other a convertible – and a 14 inch version, together with a toughened up 9.7 inch tablet.

After Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft (among others), today it was Google's turn to show off its new hardware for the next 12 months. Leading the way were the new flagship Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL phones, with mobile photography and phone AI once again to the fore.

​Samsung has announced the second version of its premium Chromebook Plus convertible laptop/tablet. The V2 sees the ARM processor of old swapped out for an Intel CPU, and it gains a second camera.​

Just days after we saw the first Chrome OS tablet arrive, there's another new form factor for Google's desktop operating system. Enter the HP Chromebook x2, a detachable Chromebook that follows the template laid down by Microsoft's Surface Book and gives Chrome OS fans another option to pick from.

Acer and Google have unveiled the first tablet device running Chrome OS, the Chromebook Tab 10. It's aimed primarily at the education market but it marks the end of the Android tablet era for Google, as it focuses its attention on Chrome OS across both laptops and tablet devices.

Dell has launched three new laptops made with kids (and their parents and teachers) in mind. Capable of running Windows or Chrome OS, the laptops are all built to survive the rigors of the classroom and beyond, with rugged designs and all-day battery life.

Windows devices like the Surface basically have a monopoly on the 2-in-1 form factor. That may change soon, as Samsung is launching a couple of Chromebook 2-in-1s​ that include Google Play for running Android apps.

Chromebooks – low-priced, Wi-Fi-dependent, long-lasting laptops that run on Chrome OS – make more sense than ever. They lend themselves to both student and professional use and offer easy access to cloud-based media and documents. Here's a close comparison of our top picks.