The 4 Best Student Chromebooks of 2025

The best Chromebook for students we've tested is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024). This 14-inch convertible is a great option for anyone needing a simple device for light tasks they can access through a web browser or for media consumption. It has a sturdy build, a compact design, and a battery that lasts easily through a typical school day. Its FHD+ display gets bright enough to combat glare supports pen input. The downside is that the device doesn't come with a stylus, and there isn't a place to store the pen for transport.

Configuration-wise, the base Core Ultra 5 115U model with 8GB of RAM is likely more than adequate for most students. There are more powerful configurations with Core Ultra 7 CPUs, but they're harder to find, and the performance increase might not be noticeable if you only perform light tasks. Don't worry too much about the storage—you can upgrade it later on since the device uses a standard, off-the-shelf M.2 2280 NVMe SSD. Ports comprise two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, a USB-A, and an HDMI. There's no fingerprint sensor or facial recognition camera for added security or quick logins, though that's fairly typical for Chromebooks.

Our best budget student Chromebook pick is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). Like our top pick, it's also a 14-inch device; however, it's a traditional clamshell model, meaning you can't flip the screen and use it as a tablet. You can configure this laptop with an Intel N100, N200, or Core i3-N305 CPU. We recommend the Core i3 configuration paired with an FHD, touch-sensitive display, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, which you can regularly find on sale for less than $400 USD on Lenovo's website. It has the most processing power, and its FHD display is brighter and more colorful. The cheaper configurations with an Intel N100 or N200 CPU and/or 4GB of RAM are fine if you have an extremely light workload; just know that they'll get bogged down quickly when multitasking.

This laptop feels reasonably sturdy build-wise. It has Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, an excellent 1080p webcam, and a decent port selection, including two USB-As, a USB-C, and an HDMI port. The keyboard is okay; it feels spacious but mushy, and the keys require a fair amount of force to actuate, which can cause some fatigue over an extended period. Unfortunately, the touchpad is small and sometimes unresponsive. On the upside, its battery life is outstanding at around 13 hours of light use, which is more than enough to get through a typical school day.

If you want to spend as little as possible, consider the Acer Chromebook 315 (2020). It's very portable for a 15.6-inch laptop, and its battery lasts easily through a full school day with plenty to spare. It sports a full-size keyboard with a numpad, a reasonably large touchpad, a wide port selection, and a surprisingly good 720p webcam. You can choose between a 720p or a 1080p display (with or without touch input); we recommend the 1080p option, as a 720p resolution is low for a 15.6-inch screen.

Naturally, there are a couple of tradeoffs to consider, specifically the display's brightness and CPU performance. The display only gets bright enough for indoor use, and even then, you might struggle with visibility in well-lit rooms. As for the CPUs, the only available options are Intel Celeron processors that can only handle light workloads, so don't expect to do anything remotely intensive. There's no biometrics like a fingerprint sensor or facial recognition IR camera, although that's typical for a cheap laptop.

Lastly, all Chromebooks have a limited number of years of software support, and this Chromebook's end-of-life is June 2026. It'll still work after that date, though you'll miss out on important security updates and bug fixes.

If you need something compact for a younger grade-school student, check out the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022), a Chrome OS tablet with a detachable keyboard. At 10.9 inches, it's about the same size as a regular Apple iPad or iPad Air, so it fits easily into a small backpack. The keyboard comes with the device, so separately buying it is unnecessary. It isn't the most comfortable keyboard to type on; it's fine for kids who only need to type out a few words now and then but not ideal for longer school work.

This tablet sports an FHD+ display. It gets bright enough to combat glare, and unlike other similarly priced devices, it doesn't look washed out. Unfortunately, there's no headphone jack, so you'll need a USB-C audio adapter or Bluetooth headphones. As for performance, the Snapdragon SoC can handle simple tasks like web browsing and video playback; just don't expect to do any heavy multitasking. The battery life is amazing at around 14 hours of light use.