Whether you’re shopping for a Chromebook for college or as an affordable gadget for the household to make use of, Black Friday or Cyber Monday is usually a nice time to buy Chromebook offers. We’ll inform you what Chromebooks to purchase, the place to seek out them, and, in fact, the most effective Chromebook offers at the moment being supplied by main retailers — now with offers up to date for Cyber Monday.
If you’d like some recommendation on what Chromebook to purchase (do I actually need an Intel chip, or can I purchase a Chromebook with an Arm chip as a substitute?), you’ll discover shopping for ideas and hyperlinks to well-liked retailers under our listing of Chromebook gross sales. Our shopping for information under factors out numerous the gotchas that you simply won’t concentrate on.
Chromebook offers might also seem on our best laptop deals for Cyber Monday, too.
Best Black Friday Chromebook offers
HP 14-inch Chromebook (14a-na1043cl)
From: Costco
Was: $349.99
Now: $199.99 ($150 off)
Right now, that is the most effective deal on the most effective Chromebook we will discover on Black Friday, and we really feel snug in unreservedly recommending it. This is a 14-inch Chromebook with a 1080p display, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of onboard SSD storage, with an up-to-date Celeron N4500 processor that launched this yr. There’s a 720p webcam, and it even comes with a bonus wi-fi mouse and laptop computer sleeve without cost! Support lasts by way of June 2026.
Of course, you’ll need to be a Costco member to land this deal, which is the one catch. Otherwise, purchase this now!
See the HP 14-inch Chromebook (14a-na1043cl) on sale at Costco
Samsung Chromebook 4+ 15.6-inch
From: Best Buy
Was: $299
Now: $199 ($100 off)
We just like the fairly huge 15.6-inch show, and Samsung’s shows are normally excellent. This Chromebook gives 4GB of reminiscence and 64GB of storage—fairly regular the place SSDs are involved. A pair of USB-C and USB-A ports spherical out the I/O capabilities. We’re rather less enthused concerning the N4000 Celeron, a chip made in 2017, which could possibly be a bit laggy for those who’re accustomed to having numerous tabs open without delay. But the value is correct, and assist ought to final by way of June 2026. Walmart also carries this same Chromebook for a similar worth: $199.00.
See the Samsung 15.6-inch Chromebook 4+ at Best Buy
Asus 15.6-inch Chromebook (C523NA-TH44F)
From: Target
Was: $299.99
Now: $199.99 ($100 off)
On paper, we’d advocate the Samsung Chromebook 4+ deal, above, if solely as a result of the Celeron N3350 processor within it’s poky — this can be a 5-year-old chip. But we’re not seeing any complaints of gradual efficiency, and there’s a pleasant large 1080p show on prime of the 4GB RAM/64GB storage. We suppose this Asus Chromebook deal is a bit iffy due to the probably gradual efficiency, but when there’s a Target near you, you’ll be able to at all times purchase and return it if it doesn’t work out. Support ought to final by way of 2016.
See the Asus Chromebook C523NA-TH44F at Target
Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
From: Amazon
Was: $499.99
Now: $279 ($220.99 off)
This Chromebook has some engaging options, together with a 12-megapixel rear (world-facing) digicam that children may use to take photographs. With a 12.2-inch (1080p) show, although, it may be a bit small for some customers, and at three kilos it may be a bit heavy to lug round. It folds again to create a pill mode, nevertheless, which is nice for Android video games. And it features a stylus! This is an all-time low worth (discounted an additional $5 from Tuesday!), so for those who can dwell with its mixture of execs and cons this deal is price wanting into. Support lasts by way of June 2024.
Buy the Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 at Amazon
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet
Lenovo
From: Walmart.com
Was: $299.99
Now: $229 ($70.99 off)
If you just like the idea of a Chrome OS pill however suppose that the Chromebook Plus V2 worth is simply too excessive, think about the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet, which we looked at last year. You can purchase the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet for $229 at Walmart.com, $70.99 off the $299.99 MSRP. This pill ships with 4GB of reminiscence and 64GB of built-in storage.
Support runs by way of June 2029, which could possibly be the longest assist lifespan of this vacation’s offers.
Buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook at Walmart
Black Friday Chromebooks: what to purchase and how you can determine
If you’re confused about whether or not or to not purchase a Chromebook or a laptop computer, we’d counsel beginning with our information to Chromebooks versus laptops, the place we clarify how every platform works, which is best for work and play, recommendation on which laptops and Chromebooks to purchase, and so forth. Google can also be attempting to advertise “Plus” and “Premium” branding to designate what dearer Chromebooks can do. Those phrases aren’t that widespread on retailer websites, however we’ve included Google’s clarification under of what every means.
Simply put, purchase a Chromebook with an appropriately sized show, a sufficiently highly effective processor (a Celeron or above), and one which’s not too outdated. That’s a gotcha: Chromebooks have a scheduled lifespan. After a sure time frame, they received’t obtain patches and different updates, and lots of discounted Chromebooks will not be supported for that lengthy.
How are you able to inform? You can examine this for your self at Google’s Auto Update Expiration (AUE) page to learn the way lengthy particular Chromebooks will obtain updates. As a rule of thumb, add six years to the discharge date of the Chromebook. To be completely certain, nevertheless, examine the Chromebook’s Settings menu. And don’t belief the retailer! Best Buy marketed a Galaxy Chromebook 2 13.3-inch as a Black Friday deal. According to the AUE web page, assist expired in 2019.
We advocate a 1080p show, at a dimension of (in all probability 13 inches or above). Kids could also be simply fantastic with an 11-inch Chromebook, however we desire a 1080p show for adults’ and even youngsters’s eyes. Eye fatigue is actual!
There’s actually an unlimited vary of Chromebook configurations, with all the things from no-name Arm processors to highly effective Chromebooks with the most recent Core chips. Chrome OS calls for far much less of the processor than Windows, primarily as a result of Chromebooks are nonetheless machines for net searching, in the beginning. A Chromebook with a Core i3, Pentium Gold, or perhaps a Celeron will in all probability be simply fantastic for what you ask of it: net searching, web-based schoolwork, and streaming Netflix and YouTube. Be a bit cautious, although: Chromebook makers will attempt to slip five-year-old Celeron processors within them. That’s okay, although not best.
A Chromebook with an Arm chip within it is going to in all probability be OK, too; although chips from distributors like Mediatek and different Arm distributors aren’t as well-known. If you’re involved, we advocate merely shopping for a Chromebook with the extra well-liked Celeron chips inside them, but additionally analysis the chip.
At press time, we discovered a Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 11-inch on sale for $159.95 on Amazon, usually $319.99. That’s an important worth, however the Mediatek MT8173C processor within it was launched in 2015. We’d solely purchase that Chromebook for those who had been pleased attempting it out after which returning it if it didn’t meet your expectations. (For extra, learn our particular article on what Chromebook processor we recommend.)
A fast phrase on streaming video: YouTube gives an fascinating function referred to as “Stats for nerds,” which is definitely a very easy manner of gauging how properly your Chromebook runs when streaming video—which might be going to be some of the CPU-intensive duties you’ll ask your cheap Chromebook to do. Simply begin taking part in any video, right-click the video window, and choose the “Stats for nerds” choice. Then discover the body counter. Choppy or stuttering video happens when your processor/GPU can’t sustain. Some stuttering is regular and undetectable, and dropping a few body per second (as this instance exhibits) received’t be noticeable. But for those who suppose to your self, hmm, this seems to be unhealthy—and need some numbers to again it up with, this software might help.
Mark Hachman / IDG
Don’t fear an excessive amount of about reminiscence. You’ll discover Chromebooks with 4GB of reminiscence on common, and that’s going to be simply fantastic for just a few browser tabs.
Local storage is one other space the place Chromebook makers will reduce corners, and that is acceptable, too. Google, naturally, encourages you to retailer paperwork within the cloud. Photos may be saved within the cloud, domestically on the onerous drive/SSD, on an SD card slot (if one is included), or on an exterior onerous drive. Chromebooks with as little as 32GB of eMMC storage are widespread. Everything will probably be a bit poky in consequence, however in all probability not an excessive amount of.
Webcams have been an afterthought for a few years, and that is actually a matter of private preferences. Your little one’s instructor might not care how properly their college students look in the event that they’re being taught remotely, however Zoom and Google Meet conferences are nonetheless an essential a part of working life. Look for at the least a 720p webcam if this issues to you.
Where can you discover Cyber Monday Chromebook offers?
While Google itself maintains a well-organized Chromebook store, it doesn’t spotlight any offers or reductions. You’ll must dig by way of retailer websites for these. Many retailers combine Chromebook offers in with their laptop computer offers, as we’ve additionally do in our listing of the best laptop deals for Cyber Monday. In the listing under, we’ve linked on to Chromebook offers the place we may.
- Amazon: Amazon has quietly begun its Black Friday gross sales, with a particular daily laptop deals page.
- B&H Photo: B&H is at the moment working its “Cyber Monday” offers on Chromebooks.
- Best Buy: Best Buy has begun its Black Friday gross sales, with Cyber Monday Chromebook deals at Best Buy reserved for its personal web page.
- Costco: Black Friday/Cyber Monday gross sales started Nov. 1 and can run by way of Nov. 29.
- Dell gives each Chromebooks for education in addition to business, however doesn’t seem like highlighting any Cyber Monday offers.
- Newegg is providing numerous Chromebooks on sale as a part of its Cyber Monday” sale.
- Target: Target is working Cyber Monday offers on-line on its web site.
- Walmart: Walmart’s “Cyber Monday Deals” is happening now.
Updated on November 29 with up to date Cyber Monday Chromebook deals.
As PCWorld’s senior editor, Mark focuses on Microsoft information and chip know-how, amongst different beats. He has previously written for PCMag, BYTE, Slashdot, eWEEK, and ReadWrite.