PC games are a lot of fun and laptops provide a convenient and easy way to play them.
Admittedly, Chromebooks are not often thought of as gaming computers. That said, there are several models out there that provide a smooth, high quality gaming experience. Google’s OS is also secure and updates automatically.
There are a lot of Chromebooks available that have great graphics and a high processing speed. You can use these for a variety of games, solo, multiplayer, online, etc
As long as you know what features you need, shopping for these can be very easy.
The following is the best Chromebook for gaming.
Best Overall
- 14” Screen
- Sufficient Gaming Specs
- 180 Degree Screen Hinge
Premium Pick
- 13.3” Touch Screen
- A Lot Of Options For Specs
- Great Gaming Specs
Best Chromebook For Gaming Comparison Table
Chromebooks are laptops that run on the Google OS. In general, they are not meant to be gaming computers but a lot of them do have features that allow them to run games easily. A few features you want to keep in mind include screen resolution, graphics coprocessor, processing speed, RAM, and hard drive space.
Here is a table comparing these features among the top 10 Chromebooks for gaming.
1. Google Pixelbook Go – Premium Pick
This Chromebook from the Google company is a great choice for gamers. There are a total of 12 different options for ordering this Chromebook.
For ideal gaming specs, you will want to get either the i5 or i7 processor. Each of these have two different RAM and hard drive options as well, but even the minimum for the i5 is enough to run a game.
Our Premium Pick
Google Pixelbook Go
This Chromebook is very light weight and thin to make transport easy. It has a backlit keyboard and Hush Keys to ensure a quiet and comfortable gaming experience. The touch pad is precise and spacious and the lap top stays cool so it is comfortable and easy to use.
The Pixelbook has a Titan C security chip and anti-virus software built into it.
Pros
- Several options for RAM, processor, and hard disk space
- Light weight and comfortable to use
- Great specs for gaming
- 12 hour battery life
- 13.3” touch screen
Cons
- Expensive
- May be complicated to use
2. Acer Chromebook Spin 13
The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is another fantastic choice for gamers, especially for games that require super intensive graphics. This Chromebook has a higher screen resolution than most other Chromebooks available. It also has a high quality graphics processor (Intel i5).
Acer Chromebook Spin 13
This Chromebook has a great processing speed and hard disk storage. It has an average RAM, but this is enough for most games. It is both secure and easy to use.
This Chromebook is also very durable in comparison to some other models. It is light weight but strong. It has aluminum chassis and a Corning Gorilla Glass NBT touch screen to prevent damage.
Pros
- Fantastic graphics and sufficient gaming specs
- 13.5” touch screen
- 10 hour battery life
- Versatile and durable (360 degree hinge)
- Very high screen resolution
Cons
- Expensive
- Display may crash
- Touch pad requires more pressure
3. Asus Chromebook C425 – Our Pick
The Asus Chromebook C425 has pretty average but very sufficient specs for gaming. It has an Intel M3 processing core, sufficient RAM, and a lot of hard disk space.
Our Pick
Asus Chromebook C425
This Chromebook has a larger screen than many other Chromebooks for gaming. This is thanks to a four way Nana Edge display that allows a large screen to fit into its small and compact frame. This laptop is also light weight for ease of use.
This Chromebook has a large track pad and a backlit keyboard as well. It gives you a versatile viewing experience with its 180 degree screen hinge. It has two different types of USB port (A and C).
Pros
- 14” screen
- Light weight and compact
- Sufficient gaming specs
- 180 degree screen hinge
- 12 hour battery life
Cons
- Not a touch screen
- Hinge is stiff
4. HP Chromebook x360
The HP Chromebook x360 has great gaming specs. It has a great battery life and RAM. It has a decent processing speed and hard disk storage. It has an 8th gen Intel i3, which is a decent choice for gamers.
HP Chromebook x360
It has a 2 in 1 convertible design with a 360 degree design. It has a larger screen than many other models and this is also a touch screen. It has a backlit keyboard to make its use easier as well.
This Chromebook is more light weight than most other Chromebooks. It is very thin and compact. It has three USB ports in total; two USB-C and one USB-B.
Pros
- 360 degree design
- Three USB ports
- 14” touch screen
- Backlighting
- 14 hour battery life
Cons
- Has a fan, but gets hot quickly
- May glitch and need restarting/shutting down
5. HP Chromebook 15
The HP Chromebook 15 is a good choice for gamers who are more visually focused. It is similar to the x360, but its specs are slightly less. It has a very large screen and good screen resolution. It has an HD micro edge screen and 178 degree wide viewing angles.
HP Chromebook 15
This Chromebook is also very durable in its build. It has a ceramic-like finish and a 3D metal design to improve its strength. It also comes with a reversable neoprene sleeve to protect its exterior.
This Chromebook for gaming has sufficient game specs and it very easy to use. Despite its strength and durability, it is still light weight. It has a backlit touch screen and two types of USB ports (A and C).
Pros
- 15.6” touch screen
- Wide viewing
- Strength and durability
- Backlighting
- 13 hour battery life
Cons
- Older processor than other Chromebooks (Intel Pentium Gold)
- Touch screen may not work well
6. Acer Premium Chromebook 715 – Budget Pick
The Acer Premium Chromebook 715 is a great choice for gamers of all levels. It is not the greatest for specs, but it is very cheap compared to other Chromebooks. It is the budget pick as it is the cheapest on this best Chromebook for gaming list and is affordable to all gamers.
Our Budget Pick
Acer Premium Chromebook 715
This Chromebook has a large, HD touch screen and good graphics for gaming. Its IPS ComfyView also helps you get better graphics while gaming. It has decent gaming specs and a very fast processor (8th gen Intel i3).
This Chromebook has decent storage for gaming and a great battery life. It does have a couple downsides but is still an overall good choice.
Pros
- 15.6” HD touch screen
- Fast processor
- Affordable
Cons
- No backlighting
- Heavier than most models
7. Acer Chromebook 514
The Acer Chromebook 514 is a slightly older model but it has sufficient gaming specs and is a good choice for a Chromebook for gaming. It has a good RAM and hard disk space. It also has an Intel Celereon N3450 processor with Intel Burst Technology, which allows faster processing to be triggered if needed.
Acer Chromebook 514
It has an HD touch screen and an HDR webcam. It has a good screen resolution that works with most games. It also has a backlit keyboard to help you see.
This has aluminum chassis and a Corning Gorilla touch pad to provide durability. This touch pad also has a smoother feel than other models. It has a reversible USB 3.1 Type-C port to enhance versatility.
Pros
- 14” touch screen
- HD screen and HDR webcam
- Aluminum chassis and Corning Gorilla touch pad
- Reversible USB port
- 12 hour battery life
Cons
- Heavier than other models
- Screen may freeze
8. Lenovo Chromebook C340
The Lenovo Chromebook C340 has two different options for processor; Intel i3 and Intel Celeron N4000. The i3 is a little more popular and has a faster processing speed but both have decent gaming specs.
This is not listed as the budget pick because the more popular choice is an average price. That said, the Celeron N4000 model would be the cheapest on this list.
Lenovo Chromebook C340
This is a 2 in 1 convertible Chromebook with a 360 degree screen design. It has decent RAM and storage and has a good battery life (10 hours). It has two USB-C ports and a USB-A port.
This Chromebook has a sleek design and an IPS display touch screen. It also has a backlit keyboard.
Pros
- Fast processing
- 360 degree design
- Three USB ports
- Touch screen
- Backlighting
Cons
- Heavier than most other models
- May disconnect from Wifi
- Touch pad is off center
9. Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14
The Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 has a fast 8th gen Intel i3 processor and good storage space.
Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14
This laptop was designed to be an entertainment laptop with gamers and media enthusiasts in mind. It has decent graphics and is a pretty average price, so it is a good choice for gamers of all levels.
This Chromebook has a large IPS display touch screen with a backlit keyboard. It has a 360 degree folding design as well. It also has a high quality web cam and speakers.
This Chromebook is easy to use and has fast start up and shut down times. It has three USB ports, including two USB-C ports.
Pros
- Fast processing
- 14” touch screen
- Backlighting
- 360 degree design
- Three USB ports
Cons
- Stylus not included
- Fairly Heavy
10. Lenovo Chromebook S340
The Lenovo Chromebook S340 is a slightly upgraded version of the S330. The S330 is decent, and cheaper, but does not have the minimum recommended storage space. The S340 has a sufficient gaming specs.
Lenovo Chromebook S340
This Chromebook for gaming has a decent processor (Intel Celeron N4000), though it is slower than the other Chromebooks on this list. It does have turbo, though, so its processor can run faster if need be. It has a decent battery life (10 hours) and a good amount of storage.
This Chromebook has an anti-glare 14 inch LED screen and backlighting. It is thin and has an average weight. It has a sufficient screen resolution and good webcam.
Pros
- Anti-glare 14” screen
- Backlighting
- Good battery life (10 hours)
Cons
- Not a touch screen
- Slower initial processing
How To Select The Best Chromebook For Gaming
You have been presented with a lot of Chromebook options and there are many more out there as well. These laptops are becoming increasingly popular and can be a good choice for gamers. But you need to know what to look for when you buy one.
Screen Resolution
This is the number of pixels on the screen. Higher resolutions are required for more graphics intensive games. But higher resolutions are the better choice no matter what type of game you are playing. In general, you should try to get a resolution that is at least 1920 x 1080.
Processing Speed
This is another feature where the higher you can find the better. A lot of the time, you will have to choose between a great processing speed and a great screen resolution. There are a lot of Chromebooks with sufficient levels of both, though. Ideally, you should have a processing speed of at least 3.5-4.0 GHz. It is really hard to find this in a Chromebook, so just try to find the highest that you can.
RAM
This stands for Random Access Memory. As the name suggests, this is a type of memory that can be randomly accessed at any time and in any order. For gaming Chromebooks, you should have at least 4 GB of RAM.
Hard Disk Storage
Chromebooks do not have hard drives, but they do have hard disks. These are responsible for permanent memory storage and retrieval. For gaming, you should have at least 64 GB of hard disk storage.
Other Features
There are also other features to look for. A touch screen is usually helpful but this comes down to personal preference. You may also want to look at getting a Chromebook with a larger flip angle, such as the 360 degree ones listed above. Another important feature, especially for night time gaming, is backlighting. This helps you to see your keyboard easily.
Price
Chromebooks, like any type of laptop, can vary widely in price. This is another personal preference. More serious gamers may be willing to pay top end prices for the best features while casual gamers likely only need cheaper lower end models. In general, you should expect to spend between $300 and $800.
Conclusion
Again, the best Chromebooks for gaming are not initially meant to be gaming laptops, but some of them can make excellent choices.
Remember to look for the right screen resolution, processing speed, RAM, hard disk space, and any additional features you would like to have. You can shop around for these on your own or take a suggestion from the list above. As long as you have the right specs, you will have a fantastic gaming experience.
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