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News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET

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/&gt; 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via .What is the best Chromebook for students? Our number one pick is the Google Pixelbook Go with its Corning Glass screen, easy-grip case, and almost 12-hour battery life! We analyzed each Chromebook's processor, display, storage, and price to compile a list of the best student-proof laptops. As your kids get ready to head back to school, a Chromebook makes it easy to attend virtual classes, do research for class projects, and stay connected to teachers and friends.and&nbsp;Reviewed byIt's time to get ready to head and whether your students are in elementary school or getting ready to head off to college, the is an excellent choice for a laptop. The streamlined Chrome OS makes it easy to navigate to popular apps like Google Docs, Google Drive, and email so students can stay on task and in touch with teachers and classmates. Chromebooks also have tons of security features like mic mute, camera shutters, and data encryption to keep students safe from digital spying and their personal information or classwork protected from theft or misuse.&nbsp; You don't have to worry about viruses, either; the Chrome OS was designed with the Linux framework, making it very difficult for hackers and digital criminals to create harmful software that targets Chromebooks. The biggest draw is that Chromebooks are way more affordable than a Windows or macOS-based laptop, often retailing for just around $300. This is great news for parents with younger children who may not be ready to invest in a fancy laptop just to write reports or attend virtual classes. Though, if your students are ready to step up their laptop game, you can check out our list of the . Tech specs:While Google's most recent Chromebooks, the , are no longer the fastest Chromebooks books around -- that title now goes to the &nbsp;-- the Google Pixelbook Go is more than fast enough for most students. With its low-wattage 1.3GHz Core i5-8200Y processor, it came in with a decent score of 83 on ' .The body of the black Pixelbook Go has a magnesium-alloy lid with an underside base featuring a ribbed easy-to-grip design. This makes this Pixelbook hard to drop. Speaking as someone who busted a laptop or two due to falls, this is a good thing. At 2.3lbs and 12.2 x 8.1 x 0.5 inches, it's also very light.The model I tested came with 16GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and a 13.3 inch 1920x1080p touch display. To power the display, it uses Intel UHD 615 graphics.&nbsp;The Corning Glass screen is very nice. With the 615 powering it, it's bright and renders colors much better than its rivals. This is the one Chromebook I looked at that I'd enjoy watching a movie on. The Pixelbook Go's 1080p webcam is also superior. I'd have no qualms about Zooming with teachers and classmates with this setup. &nbsp;The keyboard, on the other hand, doesn't have a lot of travel. I could work on it, but I'd prefer pounding on the keys of one of the other models. The touchpad, though, worked just fine for me.The ports, or rather the lack thereof, are annoying. All you get is a single USB Type-C port and headphone jack on the left and another USB-C port on the right -- that's it. To charge up your Pixelbook Go, you'll need to use one of those USB-C ports, so anytime you're charging, you're down to just one available port.Still, when it comes to battery life, the Go's a champ. With a four-cell, 47 W/H battery, it delivered 11.5 hours of useful life. This beat the others easily. That's not just a benchmark result -- back when I was still flying to Europe on business before the pandemic, I could work from Atlanta to Barcelona without a charge.So, for me, the Go is the ideal do-everything Chromebook. Fast enough to be useful, great screen, and it just keeps going and going and going. The Pixelbook Go model I looked at isn't cheap at $999, but if you need a great Chromebook that can last through an all-night study binge, this is the one for you.&nbsp;Pros:&nbsp;Cons: Tech specs:If you want both a tablet and laptop, get a 2-in-1 like the .This Chromebook comes in several configurations, but I checked out the lower-end model. This came with a dual-core Intel Core m3-8100Y processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. Despite its rather low-end hardware, it has a decent CrXPRT benchmark score of 75.&nbsp;With its matte-silver aluminum finish and chrome trim, it's also a very handsome machine. When you turn it on to work with its 14 inch screen, you'll be pleased by its sharp, vivid display -- I certainly was.I'm not a big fan of touchscreens on laptops, but this one wasn't just a pretty face. It was easy to work with, and, for once, I found myself often using it. Normally, I stop bothering with touchscreens. I found both the keyboard play and touchpad feel to be decent, but nothing to write home about.At 6 x 8 x 0.6 inches and 3.1 pounds, the Flip 434 is a bit heavier than most 2-in-1 designs, but I doubt most people will notice the difference.For ports, it comes with a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a USB-C port, and a headphone jack on the left, and another second USB-C port and a microSD card on the right. You can use both type Cs to power the machine.&nbsp;With its Li-ion 48W/H battery, this Asus model came in with an honest 10 hours of battery life.&nbsp;I'd give this one to my honor roll junior-high-or-older student.Pros:&nbsp;Cons: Tech Specs:The Lenovo Flex 5i is a laptop that proves Chromebooks can be powerful. It's built around an Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU, giving you up to 4.1GHz of processing power, which is more than enough to tackle classwork and video calls with teachers. It has 64GB of storage, giving you plenty of space for documents, photos, and files you need to complete coursework; but if you do run out of space, you can back up or save to Google Drive to free up room locally. The 13.3-inch screen produces great 1080p HD resolution for video classes, educational videos, and creating slideshows. It also supports touch inputs, and the 2-in-1 form factor lets you streamline your workflow by eliminating the need for a separate tablet.&nbsp;With Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, you'll get blazing fast wireless internet speeds, and Bluetooth 5.1 lets you connect wireless peripherals like headsets and mice. The battery gives you up to 10 hours of use on a full charge, meaning you can go a whole day of class without needing to plug in. But when you do need to top up your new laptop, USB-C charging lets you charge up fast.Pros:Cons: Tech Specs:The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is designed for students on the go. Not only do you get Wi-Fi connectivity, but you also&nbsp;get LTE cellular data to stay connected to the internet without a wireless connection. This is perfect for emailing professors or turning in assignments when you're not at home or off-campus. The 2-in-1 form factor gives you the best of both laptops and tablets, and the included pen makes taking notes a breeze.&nbsp;Its compact form makes it easy to slip into a backpack, and it weighs just over 3 pounds, making it lightweight enough to carry around all day. It only has 32GB of on-board storage, but you can save that space by working directly with GSuite apps like Docs, Sheets, and Drive to draft and store documents. The battery gives you up to 8 hours of use on a full charge, so if you have night classes or after-school study groups, you may want to pack your charging cable to top up. Pros:Cons: Tech specs:The model can take a licking and keep on ticking. Besides being tested to MIL-STD standards, it can survive 5,000 free-fall drops, and 30 inch micro drops on steel. Its rubberized edges also minimize damage from drops and bumps. I wish I could do as well from my falls and bumps!&nbsp;It also features a spill- and tamper-resistant keyboard that handles up to 12oz of liquid, aka a full glass of milk -- don't ask how I know! In other words, it's perfect for a bumptious little boy or a clumsy journalist.&nbsp;All that protection comes at a price: The Dell 3100 weighs 2.85lbs. That's not much, but it is heavier than most low-end Chromebooks. Still, even with dimensions of 0.82 x 12 x 8.2 inches, your kid won't have any trouble hauling it around.&nbsp;The screen's only 11.6-inches, but with its somewhat unusual 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, it does just fine. Above the screen is a decent 720p webcam.It also comes with four USB ports. That's a lot for a Chromebook. These include a pair of USB-C ports, and either of these can be used for power. It also has two USB Type-A ports. That's handy for adding a USB storage drive because it only comes with 16GBs of eMMC flash storage, and it doesn't have an SD or microSD card slot. For $20, you can push the onboard storage up to 32GBs. Unless you're really squeezing your pennies, go for it. Your kid can use the room.For a processor, it uses a 1.1GHz dual-core Intel Celeron N4020 processor. That gets 4GBs of RAM for programs. On a Windows laptop, that would be asking for misery, but it's more than enough for Chrome OS. Its CrXPRT score of 63 isn't great, but it's more than good enough for primary school students.&nbsp;Finally, with a battery life of just over 14 hours, it can get your kid through the longest of school days, even if they leave it unplugged.&nbsp;Put it all together, and for the price tag of $239, it's hard to beat.Pros:&nbsp;Cons: The Google Pixelbook Go is the best Chromebook for students, because of its adequate processor, sleek design, and great battery life. ChromebookPriceStorageBattery lifeGoogle Pixelbook Go $783 128GB SSD 11.5 hours Asus Chromebook Flip C434 $418 64GB eMMC 10 hours Lenovo Flex 5i $385 64GB eMMC 10 hours Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 $450 32GB eMMC 8 hours Dell Chromebook 3100 Education $259 16GB eMMC 14 hours One of the good things about Chromebooks is that almost any Chromebook will work for you. Yes, there are real differences between them when it comes to speed, memory, which is another aspect of speed, screen size, brightness, and resolution for practical purposes. But, for sheer functionality, they all do pretty much the same job.&nbsp; Generally speaking, the older the student, the more power they can use. On the other side of the age gap, so long as a Chromebook can take a beating and keep on running, it's fine for a younger kid.&nbsp; Personally, just like with any computer, I'll take all the power and screen real estate I can get. But, for the students in your home, you don't need to spend a lot of money for them to go to school virtually.&nbsp; Choose this Chromebook... If you need... Google Pixelbook Go A well-rounded Chromebook with lots of storage and great design Asus Chromebook Flip C434 A 2-in-1 Chromebook for classwork and creative projects Lenovo Flex 5i A Chromebook that delivers the most features for the money Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 A Chromebook for Samsung brand loyalists Dell Chromebook 3100 Education A budget-friendly Chromebook for younger students Besides using Chromebooks for my own work, I benchmark them using Principled Technologies' Chromebook-specific, CrXRPT 2.0 benchmarks. Principled Technologies, a descendant of Ziff-Davis Benchmark Operations, is one of the best private benchmarking and testing companies on the planet.&nbsp;This test tells you how fast a Chromebook handles things you do every day. This includes doing work as well as more fun activities such as playing video games, watching movies, and editing pictures.&nbsp;This benchmark consists of six scenario tests:The performance test gives you an overall score. With this benchmark, the higher the score, the better.&nbsp;CrXPRT includes a battery test. In this test, all six workloads from the performance benchmarks are run, plus realistic periods of wait time and three additional scenarios:&nbsp;All tests were run using ChromeOS 89. Wi-Fi was on, but Bluetooth was disabled during the benchmarking. The screens were set to 80% brightness. Chromebook laptops are very flexible -- they're not just a web browser in a box. Sure, you need the internet to get the most from a Chromebook. But, tell me, when was the last time you did any serious work with a Mac or Windows PC without an internet connection? Back in the 2000s? Sure, if your student's doing video editing, they'll need a powerhouse Mac. But, for schoolwork, a Chromebook is often all they need.Besides, modern high-end Chromebooks, as tech expert Mike Elgan points out, "run more apps without dual- or multi-booting than any other computing platform. in the same session." For school purposes, most students will never need those alternatives.I also like that Chromebooks update frequently and transparently. Unlike , Chromebooks just take their patches and, when you want them to, reboot in a few seconds and just keep on working. &nbsp;While even the lowest-powered Chromebook is still useful -- I got eight years of useful life from the first commercial Chromebook, -- like any system, the more resources you have, the better.&nbsp;But unlike Windows machines, where there are clear benefits to paying for the fastest possible processor and as much RAM as you can cram into the box, the same does not hold true with Chromebooks. Any Chromebook with at least 4GBs of RAM and an i3 or better processor will work well for most students from kindergarten to law school. Sure, if they're doing serious work with Linux or constantly running multiple Software-as-a-Service apps then you should invest in a high-end Chromebook. Otherwise, get the least powerful machine they need. They, and you, will be fine.&nbsp;Chromebooks usually have 16GB and up of Solid-State Drive (SSD) for onboard storage. That's better than it looks. First, Chrome OS is very light, and most of your applications are Software-as-a-Service programs such as Google Docs, so most of that space is available for your files. And remember, all for a year.Like with all laptops these days, there's a huge demand for Chromebooks. If you know you'll need a Chromebook for school, get one as soon as possible. They won't be getting any more common anytime soon, and their prices won't go down in a hurry either. Chromebooks are good for almost any job. But they're&nbsp;great&nbsp;for students. If your pride and joy can use a web browser, they can use a Chromebook.&nbsp;My grandson William, for example, at age five, took to his Chromebook like a duck to water. For teachers and school administrators, Google also provides&nbsp;&nbsp;and&nbsp;&nbsp;to help them make remote learning as easy as possible. While I looked mostly at higher-end machines, which are suitable for high-school and college students, there are plenty of low-end but still powerful enough to be useful, affordable Chromebooks. For example, you can get a decent Chromebook -- such as the&nbsp;&nbsp;for around $200.Keep in mind that thanks to the pandemic and millions of students going to school from home, Chromebook prices are going up. However, they still tend to be less expensive than their Windows competitors.If you're really short on cash, don't sweat it. Google's Auto Update Policy used to offer Chrome OS and security updates for five years. More recently, Google changed it to 6.5 years, and today's models come with eight years of support. The clock on these doesn't start, however, when you buy a Chromebook, but from when your Chromebook was introduced. Like milk at the grocery store, the support clock runs even if no one ever turned it on. You can find out how&nbsp;&nbsp;you're thinking about buying before putting your money down. You can argue that thanks to ChromeOS's built-in security, even out-of-support Chromebooks are safer than a newer macOS or Windows laptop. Don't believe me? In Chromebook's 10-year history,&nbsp;&nbsp;have been documented. That's a single bad month for Windows!&nbsp;&nbsp;this year alone so far. Apple's macOS has 110 so far in 2021, which isn't great but still better than Windows. I know which one I'd trust!The main point is that if you're short on cash, a cheap used or older model Chromebook will work just fine. And, since it's&nbsp;, it's much safer than buying a used Windows laptop. My pick for the best 2-in-1 Chromebook for students is the Asus Chromebook Flip C434. The hinge makes it easy to convert the computer from a traditional laptop to a tablet, letting students work on everything from creative projects to class reports. The 1080p display is perfect for virtual classes and streaming educational videos, and there are plenty of ports for connecting external storage drives and peripherals in order to save projects and privately listen to classes or music with headphones. A Chromebook can be a great laptop choice for students of all ages. They're more basic than their Windows-based counterparts, which means even very young children will be able to use them. They also have less powerful processors and graphics capabilities, reducing the temptation to play games all night rather than finish up homework. A Chromebook's battery life is its biggest selling point, with many models sporting at least 10 hours of use on a full charge. This means your kids won't have to keep track of charging cables in order to use their Chromebook throughout the school day. There are lots of options out there if you're looking for a Chromebook geared towards students of all ages. Here's a short list of alternate Chromebooks I thought were great choices for students:

/&gt; 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect...

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News and Advice on the World's Latest Innovations | ZDNET

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