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The Best 4Aggregated review·12 sources·updated September 27, 2026·checked October 2, 2026

Best Chromebooks Under $500

Top 4 Chromebooks under $500 ranked by aggregate score from 12 published reviews for performance, display, battery, and value.

This guide aggregates 12 published reviews across 4 products; the thinnest-sourced pick rests on 3. How we rank.

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Quick answer

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is our top pick for chromebooks under $500 — an averaged 4.2/5 across 3 published reviews at about $439.99. Runner-up: ASUS Chromebook CX15 (~$239).

Read the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 review →$439.99 · Check Price on Amazon
At a glance4 products ▾
1ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34Top Score
3 sources
$439.99Best for: Students and hybrid workers who prioritize all-day battery life and fast multitasking in a no-fuss clamshell.
$439.99 · Check Price on Amazon
2ASUS Chromebook CX15
3 sources
$239Best for: Budget buyers and households who need a cheap, large-screen second laptop for casual browsing, streaming, and light tasks.
$239 · Check Price on Amazon
3Acer Chromebook Plus 514
3 sources1 derived
$448Best for: Buyers who store a lot of files locally or want the most storage and speed per dollar in a lightweight clamshell.
$448 · Check Price on Amazon
4HP Chromebook Plus 14a
3 sources1 derived
$429.95Best for: Students and commuters who want a comfortable keyboard and a tough, cool-running chassis for browsing and schoolwork.
$429.95 · Check Price on Amazon

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

The full ranking

How we rank →
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
#1 · Top Score
Best for: Students and hybrid workers who prioritize all-day battery life and fast multitasking in a no-fuss clamshell.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
3 sources$439.99as of Oct 2
▾Why it's ranked here

The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the endurance and performance champion under $500. PCWorld clocked over 13 hours of battery and praised its fast multi-core Intel CPU, generous ports, and comfortable keyboard, awarding it an Editors' Choice. PCMag rates it 4.0 out of 5 and says it proves budget Chromebooks have more to offer than ever before. Its 16:9 1080p display is solid rather than special and the chassis is plainer than the Lenovo, but for stamina and speed per dollar it is hard to beat.

Strengths
  • — Exceptional battery life, over 13 hours in PCWorld's test at low brightness
  • — Strong performance from Intel Core i5/i3 options with up to 10 cores
Watch-outs
  • — 16:9 1080p display is competent but no longer stands out
  • — PCMag noted it lost some ground on battery versus the prior generation in heavier use
$439.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. ASUS Chromebook CX15 →
ASUS Chromebook CX15
#2
Best for: Budget buyers and households who need a cheap, large-screen second laptop for casual browsing, streaming, and light tasks.
ASUS Chromebook CX15
3 sources$239as of Oct 2
▾Why it's ranked here

The ASUS Chromebook CX15 is the budget pick: a 15.6-inch ChromeOS laptop that often sells around $159-199, with a crisp matte 1080p display, a decent keyboard, and about 11 hours of battery. Reviewers are clear about the trade-offs, PCWorld (3.5/5) and Tom's Guide (80%) both call it good value but slow, and the entry-level 4GB RAM bogs down under multitasking. As a minimum-viable, casual-use Chromebook it delivers a lot for the money, but it is the slowest option here.

Strengths
  • — Outstanding value, often around $159-199
  • — Large 15.6-inch 1080p matte display that resists glare
Watch-outs
  • — Entry configs ship with only 4GB of RAM, which fills up fast
  • — Celeron N4500 is slow once you open more than a few tabs
$239 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 →
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
#3
Best for: Buyers who store a lot of files locally or want the most storage and speed per dollar in a lightweight clamshell.
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
3 sources1 derived$448as of Oct 2
▾Why it's ranked here

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is the storage-and-value pick: a light 14-inch clamshell with a standout 512GB SSD, snappy Intel Core i3-N305 performance, Wi-Fi 6E, and all-day battery. PCWorld called it a decent budget Chromebook that beats competitors on RAM and storage and felt as quick as pricier peers, while TechRadar praised its speed, display, and sleek design. The screen is a touch dim, but for local storage per dollar nothing here comes close.

Strengths
  • — Huge 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, far more local storage than rivals
  • — Feels as quick as pricier peers in everyday ChromeOS tasks
Watch-outs
  • — Display tops out around 315 nits and can look dim in bright rooms
  • — 16:9 1080p panel is less spacious than the Lenovo's 16:10 screen
$448 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 →
HP Chromebook Plus 14a
#4
Best for: Students and commuters who want a comfortable keyboard and a tough, cool-running chassis for browsing and schoolwork.
HP Chromebook Plus 14a
3 sources1 derived$429.95as of Oct 2
▾Why it's ranked here

The HP Chromebook Plus 14a is a sturdy everyday Chromebook built around its keyboard and its cool-running chassis rather than its spec sheet. Laptop Mag rated it 3.5 out of 5, praising the typing experience while flagging a dim display and middling performance from the Intel Core i3-N305. It is a dependable clamshell for browsing and schoolwork that the higher picks here beat on screen, storage and speed.

Strengths
  • — Keyboard is comfortable enough to be the reason to buy the laptop
  • — Chassis is thick and heavy enough to survive a school bag
Watch-outs
  • — Intel Core i3-N305 performance trails the best at this price
  • — The 14-inch 1920x1080 panel is dimmer and duller than average
$429.95 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →vs. ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 →
Reviews aggregated from
PCWorldTechRadarNotebookCheckPCMagItproTom's GuideLaptop Mag

Spec comparison

4 products
vs
SpecASUS Chromebook Plus CX34ASUS Chromebook CX15
CPUIntel Core i5-1335U (i3 option available)Intel Celeron N4500 (2-core)
RAM8GB4GB-8GB LPDDR5X (config dependent)
Storage128GB SSD128GB eMMC
Display14" 1920x1080 touchscreen, 16:915.6" 1920x1080 matte IPS
Weight3.17 lb3.51 lb
BatteryUp to 13+ hours—
PortsUSB-C, USB-A, HDMIUSB-C, USB-A, HDMI
OSChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)ChromeOS

Frequently asked questions

What's the strongest pick among chromebooks under $500?
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 holds the top score for chromebooks under $500 — 4.2/5 averaged from 3 published reviews. The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is the endurance and performance champion under $500. PCWorld clocked over 13 hours of battery and praised its fast multi-core Intel CPU, generous ports, and comfortable keyboard, awarding it an Editors' Choice. PCMag rates it 4.0 out of 5 and says it proves budget Chromebooks have more to offer than ever before. Its 16:9 1080p display is solid rather than special and the chassis is plainer than the Lenovo, but for stamina and speed per dollar it is hard to beat.
How current is this ranking?
This guide was last re-checked in September 2026. Prices, links, and source ratings are re-verified on a rolling basis, and the ranking updates when the underlying scores change.