The best Lenovo Chromebooks you can buy right now (April 2022)

Chromebooks started as budget computers but have come to become versatile computing machines over time. You get Chromebooks at various prices today from nearly all the major PC manufacturers, including the biggest one — Lenovo. Lenovo Chromebook picks are scattered far and wide across multiple form factors and purposes.

While they’re still not a complete replacement for Windows laptops and MacBooks, Chromebooks have come to offer a range of functionality and specifications. We’ve tried to cover the full range of options from Lenovo in our list — tablets, 2-in-1s, and a few traditional laptops. 

Here’s our rundown of the best Lenovo Chromebooks you can buy right now.

Buying the best Lenovo Chromebook for your needs

Chromebooks run Chrome OS — a Linux-based operating system made by Google that revolves around the Google Chrome browser. It started as Chrome, and its apps expanded into an operating system. However, the OS has become more capable over the years and has come to support Linux apps and Android apps.

Lenovo is a trusted PC manufacturer, which is one of the reasons why it is the biggest one in the world right now. It offers its Chromebooks with a wide range of specifications. There are some super-affordable options, as well as some premium ones. Lenovo has added Chromebooks to many of its different laptop series. This means that you have the option to pick Lenovo’s Chrome OS machines that are similar to its Windows laptops you already like. On a budget, some of these Lenovo Chromebooks will make a better choice for a computing machine than their Windows counterparts.

Chromebooks are meant for folks whose workloads reside primarily in a browser. While Lenovo offers Chromebooks even in the high-price premium segment, they’re not going to be the right fit for everybody. Chromebooks will do well for run-of-the-mill home, office, and educational use.

When buying a Chromebook, important things to consider include the screen size, weight, and form factor, depending upon your portability and usage requirements. If you’re using the Chromebook for media consumption, you can pick one with a convertible two-in-one design, which Lenovo offers under its Flex and Yoga brands.

Lenovo offers its Chromebooks with a range of CPUs, including low-power ARM-based CPUs and powerful x86 CPUs from Intel and AMD. Lenovo’s offerings that have ARM CPU options usually come cheap and have a battery life advantage in most cases. The x86 CPUs, on the other hand, especially those from Intel, will give you the best balance between battery life and performance.

See also: The best Chromebooks you can buy

If you’re still unsure which one would be the best for you, below are our picks of the best Lenovo Chromebooks to buy across multiple categories and price points.

The best Lenovo Chromebooks to buy

• Overall, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i is the best Lenovo Chromebook, sporting a great design, feel, and performance in a lightweight chassis.
• The Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook is the best Chromebook tablet from the company, with a sharp display and a solid battery packed into a well-built chassis.
• The Lenovo Chromebook 3 is the best budget Lenovo Chromebook, offering solid performance and portability at a super-affordable price tag.
• The Lenovo 14e Chromebook is the best big Chromebook the company makes, offering a great screen and battery life packed into a low-key body.
• The Lenovo Chromebook C340 is the best small 2-in-1 Lenovo Chromebook, offering a solid port selection and great battery life.
• The Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is the best enterprise Chromebook from the brand, with a powerful CPU and an aluminum chassis.

Editor’s note: We’ll be updating this list of the best Lenovo Chromebooks as new ones are released, and old ones are retired.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i: The best Lenovo Chromebook overall

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is the successor to the Flex 5 13-inch and a solid improvement in every way. It comes with a Full HD screen with options between IPS LCD and OLED. You get a choice between Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. It’s a powerful 2-in-1 touchscreen Chromebook with processing power that MediaTek options struggle to match. It also has one of the best designs on a Chromebook.

The dual speakers, 10-hour battery life, and slim bezels make bingeing your favorite shows or wrapping up your latest work project even easier. You can add peripherals to the USB port to replace a few lost ports and add extra compatibility. The Chromebook comes in an attractive Abyss Blue, but the color may not be for everybody.

Also read: Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook review 

Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook: The best Lenovo Chromebook tablet

You get a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7C Gen 2 chipset. Configuration options with RAM and storage are 4GB/64GB, 4GB/128GB, and 8GB/128GB. It is a solid upgrade and a value-for-money offering, especially as it retails around the $350 mark for the base model these days. If you’re looking for a Chromebook tablet, this is the way to go.

See also: Lenovo Ideapad Duet 5 Chromebook review

Lenovo Chromebook 3: The best budget Lenovo Chromebook

Lenovo truly excels in the budget-friendly category, and the Chromebook 3 is a perfect example, alongside the Duet. It sports a familiar clamshell design with a perfectly portable 11-inch display. You won’t find the strongest processor in the world, but the Intel Celeron N4020 processor and UHD 600 graphics should treat you well.

The Chromebook 3 packs 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage which are reasonable, especially for the money, but they aren’t the best you can get. The Chromebook 3 still packs in plenty of punch for the money and is a great portable Chromebook.

Also read: The best budget Chromebooks: More diamond than rough

Lenovo 14e Chromebook: The best big Lenovo Chromebook

The Chromebook 14e is larger than the previous options, offering a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen with narrow bezels on the sides. It comes in a low-key black colorway, so your coworkers know you’re prepared for even the toughest presentations. You can easily work all day with up to 10 hours of battery life and 64GB of storage.

It also has a nice understated design, with an aluminum body and a hinge that goes 180. Lenovo says the keyboard is spill-proof, and the durability of this Chromebook is solid. The port selection is great, USB-C (5Gbps), two USB-A (5Gbps), one microSD card slot, and one 3.5mm audio combo port.

Also read: Hands-on with the Lenovo 14e Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook C340: The best small 2-in-1 Lenovo Chromebook

The Chromebook C340 is a powerful 2-in-1 option with a 10-point IPS touchscreen and 32GB of storage. Unlike most boring black laptops, the C340 Chromebook comes in a refined silver finish that offers a premium feel. It’s also a great work-from-home pick, with a 720p webcam and two 2W speakers.

The 11.6-inch screen may be a bit small depending on your work, but the C340 is a small and light option that’s great for portability. Apart from the bezels, the C340 also looks rather nice, especially in the Sand Pink color. 

See also: Lenovo Chromebook C340 review: You get what you pay for

Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook: The best enterprise Lenovo Chromebook

Also read: The best Chromebooks for students

Lenovo Chromebooks v/s Lenovo Windows laptops

Lenovo has some of the best Windows laptops in the market, and many of them go head-to-head against the devices we have recommended in this list. So the question arises — should you pick a Chromebook from the company or go with one of its Windows options?

To decide between the two, consider the purpose of your new machine. There are some things that a Chromebook can’t do, like high-end gaming and full-fledged video editing. In that case, you would be better off with a Windows laptop. No matter your budget, Lenovo should have an option for you. The higher your budget, the less sense it makes to pick a Chromebook over a traditional laptop.

A Chromebook will be a better pick if you plan to use your new machine for tasks you can generally do in a browser. Chromebooks offer a much lighter experience than traditional laptops. They can run Linux and Android apps, so the app library isn’t bad. The key is to not think of a Chromebook as a complete replacement for a full-fat laptop. 

If you’re still unsure whether to go with a Lenovo Windows laptop over these affordable Chrome OS devices, check out our detailed Chromebook vs laptop comparison.

Picking the best Chromebook accessories

Now that you have a feel for the best Lenovo Chromebooks to buy, you might want to get some accessories to go along with it. Here are some of our favorite Chromebook accessories:

• The best Chromebook accessories you can buy
• Here are the best Chromebook cases and covers
• These are your best choices for a replacement Chromebook charger

Other frequently asked questions

Q: How much does a Chromebook cost?
A: You can get Chromebooks at various prices, with many options available under $200 and some going over a thousand dollars. Lenovo’s offerings are available in a range of prices, with many going under the $350 mark. If you want to go beyond Lenovo and pick from the best Chromebooks out there regardless of brand, you can look at our best Chromebooks list.

Q: What’s the best Chromebook tablet?
A: We have a list dedicated to the best Chromebook tablets, but our top recommendation is the Lenovo Chromebook Duet.

Q: What is the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop?
A: A Chromebook is a type of laptop that runs Chrome OS, instead of traditional laptops that run Windows, or MacBooks that run macOS.

Q: What are the disadvantages of a Chromebook?
A: A Chromebook is rather underpowered on average, and cannot handle intensive workloads as a PC or Mac. It also cannot run many full desktop apps.

Q: Is it better to get a Chromebook or a tablet?
A: Chromebooks come in both laptop and tablet form factors, and most of these tablets are convertibles that can function like laptops. So if you’re going to use the touchscreen a lot, you should get a tablet. If not, a laptop-style Chromebook should do just fine.