Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 vs Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about Buyers who want one versatile device for work, school, and entertainment, with a premium feel and tablet mode at a mid-range price. — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

4.4

$395as of Jun 7

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
— Light at just 3.15 pounds and easy to carry all day

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
— Plain design lacks the premium feel of the Lenovo Flex 5i

$395 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

4.6

$599.99as of Jun 7

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is the best all-around Chromebook under $500. It pairs a genuinely premium aluminum 2-in-1 chassis with a bright 1200p touchscreen, a quick Core i3 processor, and the Chromebook Plus feature tier. Reviewers across Tom's Guide, PCWorld, and Laptop Mag praised its build, display, and performance for the money, and PCWorld handed it an Editors' Choice award. Battery life is merely good rather than great, but as a do-everything pick it leads the field.

Strengths

— Premium-feeling aluminum chassis with a sturdy 360-degree convertible hinge
— Bright, crisp 14-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen with a roomy 16:10 aspect ratio
— Snappy Intel Core i3-1315U handles heavy multitasking without lag

Watch-outs

— Battery life is good but not class-leading at around nine hours
— No included stylus despite the 2-in-1 tablet mode
— 128GB of eMMC storage is modest (a microSD card is bundled to help)

$599.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Acer Chromebook Plus 514

The Acer 514's defining edge is its 512GB SSD, dwarfing the 128GB storage on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, and HP Chromebook Plus 14a. It shares the i3-N305 platform with the HP 14a but pairs it with far more storage and a lighter chassis. Its widescreen panel is less spacious than the Flex 5i's taller screen and dimmer than ideal.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

The Flex 5i is the only true convertible 2-in-1 in this group, where the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, Acer Chromebook Plus 514, HP Chromebook Plus 14a, and ASUS Chromebook CX15 are all clamshells. Its taller 1200p 16:10 display beats the 1080p 16:9 panels on the others, though its ~9-hour battery trails the 13-hour ASUS CX34.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Acer Chromebook Plus 514	Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
CPU	Intel Core i3-N305 (8-core)	Intel Core i3-1315U
RAM	8GB LPDDR5	8GB
Storage	512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD	128GB eMMC
Display	14" 1920x1080 IPS, 60Hz touch	14" 1920x1200 IPS touch, 300 nits
Weight	3.15 lb	3.52 lb
Battery	50Wh, all-day	~9 hours
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6E	—
OS	ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)	ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)
Form Factor	—	2-in-1 convertible (360-degree hinge)

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