A Chromebox is among the greatest desktop computer systems for most individuals. While the perfect Chromebooks are extra extensively identified and extra numerous of their choices, Chromeboxes are a comparatively small market the place you’ve got one choice from every main producer that will get up to date each few years.It is an efficient time to be a Chromebox consumer, as we’re getting updates to the 2 hottest Chromeboxes available on the market. While we may even see different Chromeboxes come out within the first half of 2024, the ASUS Chromebox 4 is the one you may wish to purchase for the additional ports and the additional energy.At a look
Best total
Best total
With 5 USB ports, a large processor choice, and enormous storage choices, the ASUS Chromebox 4 has every part you would need in a Chromebox.
Read extra under
Best funds
Best funds
HP makes high quality computer systems and the Chromebox G3 is not any exception to that. It’s an inexpensive Chromebox with 4 USB-A ports, and it will probably energy two 4K screens without delay (although the shortage of a second USB-C port may be a dealbreaker for some).
Read extra under
Best for enterprise
3. ASUS Fanless Chromebox
Best for enterprise
The ASUS Fanless Chromebox provides a low upkeep design and that is supposed for placement in areas with little airflow, giving it plenty of flexibility for enterprise use, comparable to driving a money register.
Read extra under
Best desktop different
Best desktop different
While it would not include a monitor, keyboard, or a mouse, the Acer Chromebox CXI5 is an inexpensive choose for anybody trying to make use of their Chromebox as a desktop pc for basic use.
Read extra under
Best total(Image credit score: ASUS)1. ASUS Chromebox 4 Best overallSpecificationsUSB-A Ports: 5 USB-AUSB-C Ports: 1 USB-CMemory: 8GB-16GBStorage: 128GB-256GBReasons to purchase+Faster and bigger storage choices+Fifth USB-A port+Wider processor choice+Wider availabilityReasons to avoid-Slightly dearer than different options-No keyboard/mouse within the boxASUS makes a number of the greatest Chromebooks for work, and it is by no means afraid to squeeze in each little function and port it will probably to attempt to stand out in an more and more aggressive Chrome Enterprise area. This implies that whether or not you are shopping for the enterprise model or consumer-grade, all of us profit from ASUS’s dedication to being essentially the most highly effective and detailed machine for the job, and the ASUS Chromebox 4 is not any exception.In a desktop world the place most work-from-homers want to attach a mouse, keyboard, webcam, and USB mic, it is simple for all your USB-A ports to replenish, so ASUS opted for 5 USB-A ports fairly than the 4 ports on the HP G3.You get two HDMI ports for supporting twin 4K screens and a USB-C port for including extra peripherals or a 3rd monitor through a USB-C hub. Of course, you want the facility to help all these shows, so ASUS is packing a 10th Gen Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 inside together with 8-16GB of RAM.Storage is one other space the place ASUS takes a slight edge over HP and Acer. So far, the entire ASUS Chromebox 4 configurations have SSD storage, both 128GB or 256GB. This implies that the Chromebox 4 is quicker total as a result of it is not being held again by eMMC storage, and there is much more room for Linux apps or offline information.Honestly, even in the event you do not want a full-time desktop, the ASUS Chromebox 4 may make a pleasant little media PC between help for nearly all Android media apps and the total Chrome browser for these area of interest companies that do not help Chromecasting.ASUS is opting to maintain the package deal and transport prices small for the Chromebox 4 by skipping the mouse and keyboard within the field. Considering that an awesome Chromebook mouse will be had for lower than a big pizza and extra producers are making Chrome OS-specific keyboards, I’m OK with this, particularly if it shaves just a few {dollars} off the Chromebox 4’s larger worth tags.(Image credit score: Source: HP)Best budget2. HP Chromebox G3 Best budgetSpecificationsUSB-A Ports: 4 USB-AUSB-C Ports: 1 USB-CMemory: 4GB-16GBStorage: 32GB-128GBReasons to purchase+2028 AUE date+Can energy two 4K screens+Plenty of ports and powerReasons to avoid-Limited availability-Only one USB-C port-Does not include a mouse or keyboardHP was one of many first to announce its next-gen Chromeboxes, and it was additionally the primary to start out promoting them. Intel’s 10th-generation processor powers HP’s Chromebox G3 and Chromebox Enterprise G3, and there’s a cheaper Celeron choice, making it our funds choose.To accompany these processors, HP contains as much as 16GB of DDR4 RAM and as much as 128GB of storage — although, for the 32-64GB fashions, you get slower eMMC storage versus the 128GB M.2 SSD. Like most Chromebooks, the HP Chromebox G3 has a MicroSD slot for including some additional storage if that storage is not sufficient.Thanks to how USB-C is turning into extra ubiquitous, HP added a single USB-C port on the again with twin USB-A ports, twin HDMI ports, and an Ethernet jack. Those twin HDMI ports will turn out to be useful for individuals who wish to use a number of screens, because the Chromebox G3 can energy two 4K screens.While the Chromebox G3 sports activities a complete of 4 USB-A ports — two up entrance and two within the again — and a USB-C port, I want there was a second USB-C port. With so lots of our gadgets already that includes the USB-C port, the power to plug in a USB-C onerous drive and USB-C monitor along with plugging in a cellphone or peripheral would’ve been good with out having to interrupt out the USB-A adapters or USB-C hubs. Having 4 USB-A ports will make issues simpler for these with older peripherals, even when it would not have as many because the ASUS Chromebox 4.One different small frustration with the G3 is that it is not extensively out there. It drifts out and in of inventory on HP’s web site, and B&H typically solely has the Celeron mannequin in inventory, so in the event you want one proper now, you may both need to seize that cheaper Celeron mannequin or go together with ASUS. There are additionally just a few older G2 fashions drifting round, however please do not overpay for them as a result of the G3 or the ASUS Chromebox 4 have double the help life forward of it because of the June 2028 AUE date.Best for enterprise(Image credit score: ASUS)3. ASUS Fanless Chromebox Best for businessSpecificationsUSB-A Ports: 3 USB-AUSB-C Ports: 1 USB-CMemory: 16-32GBStorage: 128-256GBReasons to purchase+Fanless means no airflow is required+Remote energy swap mounting+Legacy RS232 interface+Low upkeep designReasons to avoid-More costly than customary choices from ASUSChromeboxes are wonderful gadgets for POS and digital signal purposes and are equally at residence in industrial environments as gentle workstations. You want to purchase an acceptable mannequin, and the brand new Fanless Chromebox from ASUS may be it.It’s designed particularly to be mounted inside a cupboard and forgotten about. You can lengthen the facility swap for upkeep and the fanless cooling design means you needn’t add plenty of airflow. This makes it good to drive a money register or bar code scanner workstation in addition to one thing you may conceal away to energy a digital signal or menu.It may even work simply advantageous for residence use, although you should purchase the Chromebox 4 in an analogous configuration of processor and reminiscence for much less. If you need a PC you may stuff it away inside a scorching leisure heart, although, this may be the one you want.Best desktop different(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Best desktop alternativeSpecificationsUSB-A Ports: 4 USB-AUSB-C Ports: 2 USB-CMemory: 4GB-16GBStorage: 16-32GB Flash; 256GB SSDReasons to purchase+Ports for (nearly) every part you would wish+Includes VESA mount adapter to declutter+Affordable+RAM and storage is user-upgradeableReasons to avoid-You’ll want to supply your personal monitor, keyboard, and mouse-Not each configuration is availableIf you are simply seeking to exchange your desktop pc for one which runs on Chrome OS, your only option would be the Acer Chromebox CXI5. This inexpensive Chromebox has a ton of configurable RAM and storage, and there are a plethora of ports — together with three show inputs — on this mini-PC. An included VESA adapter means that you can mount it to the again of your monitor. That really results in the largest letdown with this Chromebox: you may want to supply your personal monitor, keyboard, and mouse.If you have already got a desktop setup and simply wish to exchange your PC, this probably is not going to be a problem, nevertheless it’s one to be aware of. That mentioned, the Acer Chromebox CXI5 remains to be a perfect alternative for anybody simply wanting a Chromebox for basic on a regular basis use.How to chooseIs it a superb time to purchase a Chromebox?Why you may belief Android Central
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services so you may select the perfect for you. Find out extra about how we check.(Image credit score: Jerry Hildenbrand / Android Central)Last yr was a transitional yr for Chromeboxes. You can discover them more often than not, however particular fashions are sometimes offered out. It’s nonetheless a superb time to purchase in the event you see what you want or are keen to attend for it to return into inventory.We’ll have wider availability within the subsequent six months, however these Chromeboxes have the identical guts underneath their chassis and have the identical Auto Update Expiration date of June 2028. The ASUS Chromebox 4 has one additional USB-A port over the HP Chromebox G3 and extra SSD configuration choices, so in the event you want the perfect Chromebook proper now, the ASUS Chromebox 4 is your winner. But actually, both of the mainstream Chromeboxes presently out there from ASUS and HP are nice choices.If you want one thing you may tuck away and by no means see once more, the ASUS Fanless Chromebox may be just right for you. It’s designed for industrial and industrial purposes and can be good because the brains for a POS system or a digital menu.A transitional time for ChromeboxesThere are few choices available on the market when discovering the perfect Chromebox as you would discover with the perfect Chromebooks, so the pickings are slim, particularly proper now as retailers and producers are switching from outdated fashions to new ones. However, now that the brand new technology Chromeboxes will see Chrome OS updates till June 2028, they’re going to final for a protracted, very long time, they usually’re user-upgradable if it’s essential to up the reminiscence and storage.The ASUS Chromebox 4 is what you’d count on to see from the perfect Chromebox. The Intel Core i3 and i5 fashions out there proper now are highly effective and can simply final you the subsequent eight years. Every configuration has the ports and energy it’s essential to have an awesome expertise whereas staying safe and up-to-date with Google’s Chrome software program. We suppose it is the easiest Chromebox for everybody.Round up of as we speak’s greatest offers