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With such an expansive range of Google-powered laptops on the market, we're here to make it easy for you to pin down the best Chromebook for you. However, if you're sure that a Chromebook will serve you well, then let us help. If you're unsure of whether that's you, check out our Chromebooks vs laptops page, where we break down the pros and cons of each. Those who need more power or more software functionality than a Chromebook can provide may want to look elsewhere. And, because of how their system is designed, they are also safe for kids and students to use.īefore you hit buy, it's vital to remember that they aren't necessarily the best device for all users. This helps keep the pricing down, since the demands on the system's hardware are lower than other operating systems and allows for lower-end hardware to run smoothly. You can buy the Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook for US$99 at Best Buy.Unlike one of the best Windows laptops or best MacBooks, a Chromebook uses Chrome OS, which is based around cloud computing rather than locally installed files and software. We noted that at its original asking price, the Flex 3 Chromebook is a fair deal. It could also make a good travel laptop for those that need to check email, browse the web, and do simple office work (e.g., word processing, simple spreadsheets) on the go. The Flex 3 Chromebook should be enough for students that need an "at-home" laptop for classwork. It also has the same software limitation that all Chromebooks have, though with Google's recent push toward game streaming and the integration of Android and Linux applications, ChromeOS is more capable than ever.
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Mainly, it lacks a keyboard backlight and struggles to stream 4K video at 60 FPS. The Flex 3 Chromebook has some drawbacks. However, when we reviewed the Flex 3 Chromebook, we highlighted its fairly good screen (for the price), its silent operation, and its well-built chassis. To be clear, we wouldn't recommend this laptop for those that need the horsepower for more than simple office work or web browsing. As a convertible, it can flip into a tablet mode and has an 11.6-inch 1366x768 (135 PPI) touchscreen. It features a microSD card slot for expandable storage, a USB-A 2.0 port, a USB-C 2.0 port (supports power, data transfer, and video out), and a combo audio jack. The Flex 3 Chromebook, which normally retails at $179, runs on a Mediatek MT8183, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of eMMC storage. If you're hunting for a cheap laptop for a student to use or for you to bring on travels over the holidays, you may want to check out the Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook, which is currently on sale at Best Buy for US$99. As holiday deals heat up, there is a smattering of sales on already affordable laptops.
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