Chromebooks are laptops running Google’s ChromeOS and they’re designed to be user-friendly for everyone. Even better, the best Chromebooks tend to be more affordable than competing Windows laptops or Apple MacBooks. Plus, since they’re safe and less complicated to use, a Chromebook can make an excellent laptop for kids (they might already be using one for school) and less tech-savvy adults in need of just a simple computer, or anyone who wants an inexpensive laptop for a home office and entertainment. There’s even a new crop of big-screen Chromebooks for gamers.
Read more: Best Chromebook for 2022
To help you find the best Chromebook deal for you, CNET’s editors have selected all the top discounted Chromebooks available right now. One word of shopping advice: Although Chromebooks can run well on modest components, some heavily discounted models online might still be too underpowered. A big discount might not be worth the frustration. Also, if the Chromebook is really cheap, be sure to check the auto-update expiration date for the model. The AUE is when ChromeOS stops receiving system updates and is typically eight years, but the date is not the same for every model.
We’ll continue to monitor Chromebook deals and regularly update this list so check back for the best prices.
Asus
This Asus model is on sale for less than $200 right now and features a 14-inch display powered by an Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM. Those are average components for a budget Chromebook, but it adds a bit more storage than usual with 64GB. It has a 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution display for a sharper picture and more workspace than you’d get with the 1,366×768-pixel resolution found on other low-end Chromebooks.
Josh Goldman/CNET
The highlight of this Lenovo two-in-one Chromebook is its 11th-gen Intel Core i3 CPU, which is common to many budget Windows laptops and has more than enough oomph to power the lightweight Chrome OS. The Flex 5i features a 13.3-inch touchscreen with a 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution. It offers USI pen support, but you need to buy a stylus separately. It’s $130 off at Amazon right now.
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i review
HP
This HP Chromebook two-in-one has a large touchscreen powered by a MediaTek CPU and 4GB of RAM. It should suffice for basic tasks and powering ChromeOS. While the CPU and RAM are in budget territory, the 128GB SSD is bigger than you get with most Chromebooks. The 13.3-inch full-HD display is a widescreen, which means more scrolling through web pages and documents than a 16:10 display, but better for watching movies and viewing two windows side by side. It’s discounted by $120 on HP right now.
Acer
A durable metal body, strong performance and nearly 10 hours of battery life make the Spin 514 easy to recommend, especially when it’s on sale. You can save $150 on this two-in-one Chromebook that features a 14-inch full HD display powered by an AMD Ryzen 3 CPU, 8GB or RAM and a 128GB SSD. You’ll have to be OK, however, with outdated Wi-Fi connectivity.
Josh Goldman/CNET
Is there such a thing as a gaming Chromebook? There is, and the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a great example of this new class. It has a roomy, fast and high-resolution display and is powered by a Core i5 CPU and 8GB of RAM. The 16-inch display features a 2,560×1,600-pixel resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate for crisp, smooth visuals. And in a nod to gamers, the keyboard offers RGB lighting. What it doesn’t have is a dedicated GPU — instead, it’s meant to be used with Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service.
Josh Goldman/CNET
This Samsung two-in-one Chromebook is luxurious inside and out and $150 off right now. You get an all-metal chassis and a roomy 13.3-inch display along with a powerful-for-a-Chromebook Core i3 CPU and an ample 8GB of RAM. It also supplies a spacious-for-a-Chromebook 128GB of solid-state storage.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review
What should you look for in a Chromebook deal?
One of the biggest things to consider is which configuration is on sale. Often, with the best Chromebook deals, only a specific version of the Chromebook is on sale and making any changes to it could affect the price. This means that sometimes you find the 256GB model is actually cheaper than the 128GB option, or a similar situation.
When are the best Chromebook deals available?
Generally, you’ll find the best Chromebook deals during back-to-school shopping time in late summer or early fall, and a bit later in the year during annual Black Friday sales events. There are Chromebook deals available throughout the year, but if you’re looking for the best deal and can afford to wait a little, these are the best times of the year to buy one.
Which retailers usually offer the best Chromebook deals?
You can usually find deals across a variety of retailers when it comes to Chromebook sales. Amazon and Best Buy are constantly running discounts, and deals can also be found at Newegg and Walmart. Amazon’s prices fluctuate and Best Buy’s sales come and go, so it’s worth checking back weekly to see if a discounted price returns.