Best Value
8GB RAM and 128GB storage is the standout memory spec on this page. Most budget Chromebooks give you 4GB and 32GB or 64GB, so the Lenovo doubles both. The MediaTek Kompanio 520 is an ARM chip rather than Intel, which is the trade you're making: it sips power for excellent battery life, but it's slower than the Intel N100 in the HP Chromebook 14 and a few Android apps run less smoothly on ARM than on Intel.
The 14-inch FHD panel is the right size and resolution for the money, and the Abyss Blue finish is a nicer colour than the usual grey plastic. That 8GB of RAM is the real story though, since it lets you keep a genuine spread of tabs open where a 4GB Chromebook would start swapping and stalling.
Against the ASUS CX1405CTA at a similar price, the Lenovo's extra 4GB of RAM and 64GB more storage make it the smarter buy for anyone who multitasks. The ASUS uses a faster Intel chip but half the memory. For students and home users who multitask, this Lenovo is the value pick of the group. See our full Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook review.
Pros
- 8GB RAM and 128GB storage
- ARM chip means long battery life
- FHD panel and a proper colour option
Cons
- Kompanio 520 is slower than Intel rivals here
- eMMC storage, not an SSD
- Some Android apps run better on Intel Chromebooks
Check availabilityRead full review
Best Windows Option
If you genuinely need Windows and can't live in ChromeOS, this Morostron 16-inch is the only real option under £300 here, and that's the entire reason it ranks where it does. It runs full desktop software, installs the proper Microsoft Office suite locally and opens legacy apps a Chromebook flatly can't touch. The 256GB SSD is expandable to 1TB, so unlike the sealed eMMC Chromebooks you can add storage later.
The catch is the AMD A9-9400. It's a dual-core chip from several years back, and it's the weak link. It handles web browsing, office work and a webcam call, but it struggles on heavier loads. The 16-inch screen is the largest here and pleasant for spreadsheets, and 8GB RAM is a fair amount for Windows at this level.
Against every Chromebook on this list, the trade is clear: you swap raw speed and battery life for the ability to run Windows software. If that software is why you're buying, none of the faster Chromebooks help you. If it isn't, the Lenovo IdeaPad feels quicker. See our full Morostron 16-inch laptop review.
Pros
- Runs full Windows desktop software
- SSD expandable to 1TB, unusual at this price
- Largest screen in the group at 16 inches
Cons
- AMD A9-9400 is a dated dual-core chip
- Shorter battery life than the Chromebooks
- Listing wording reads oddly, check seller terms before buying
Buy on Amazon£229.99Read full review
Best Mid-Price Pick
The HP Chromebook 14 sits in the sensible middle of this lineup, both on price and on ambition. It's a straightforward 14-inch Chromebook that does the budget-laptop job without any single standout spec, and for a lot of buyers that's exactly right. HP's build quality is a known quantity, and the 14-inch size is the goldilocks format for a machine that moves between rooms.
For video calls, study and streaming it's dependable, and HP's after-sales support network in the UK is broader than some of the smaller sellers here. The trade-off is that it doesn't push any single spec to the front. It's the safe, no-drama choice.
Against the ASUS CX1405CTA below it, the HP tends to cost a little more for a broadly similar experience, with the HP's brand support being the tiebreaker. If you value a familiar name and easy warranty handling over squeezing every last spec from your budget, the HP earns it. We covered the details in our HP Chromebook 14 review.
Pros
- Established UK support and warranty network
- Sensible 14-inch travel size
- Reliable HP build quality
Cons
- No headline spec to justify a premium
- Often pricier than similar ASUS Chromebooks
Buy on Amazon£279.99Read full review
Best for Beginners
At under £180 this is one of the cheapest routes to a modern 14-inch FHD Chromebook, and the newer Celeron N50 is the reason it beats older Celeron machines further down. It's a fresher chip than the N3350 in the C523NA, so browsing and ChromeOS feel more current even though the RAM is the same 4GB. For a first laptop, a child moving up from a tablet, or a spare browser for the kitchen, it does the job cleanly.
The 4GB of RAM is the ceiling here. It's fine for a handful of tabs, email and Netflix, but stack a video call on top of a spreadsheet and it starts to labour. The 64GB eMMC storage leans on Google Drive rather than local files, which suits the beginner it's aimed at.
Against the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, the ASUS costs less but gives you half the RAM and half the storage. If the budget can stretch, the Lenovo is the better long-term buy; if it can't, this ASUS is a clean, current entry point. See our full ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405CTA review.
Pros
- Newer Celeron N50, fresher than older budget chips
- Full HD 14-inch panel at a low price
- Simple ChromeOS setup for first-time users
Cons
- 4GB RAM struggles with multitasking
- 64GB eMMC fills fast if you store locally
Buy on Amazon£205.00Read full review
Best Simple Browser
This is the plainer sibling of the CX1405CTA, a 14-inch ASUS Chromebook that sits around the £200 mark and does the basics without fuss. If your entire use case is Chrome, YouTube, webmail and the occasional Google Doc, it covers that ground reliably and ASUS build quality is dependable at this level.
It's held back by modest RAM, so like the other budget ASUS Chromebooks here it's happier as a single-task machine than a multitasking one. Open too much at once and it slows. The 14-inch form factor keeps it easy to carry between rooms or into a bag.
Against the CX1405CTA directly above it, the two are close, and the CTA's newer N50 chip and FHD panel usually make it the better pick for similar money. Buy this one if it's discounted below the CTA. Otherwise the small extra outlay upstream is worth paying. See our full ASUS Chromebook 14 CX1405 review.
Pros
- Dependable ASUS build for around £200
- Light 14-inch chassis for carrying
- Fine for single-task browsing
Cons
- Modest RAM limits multitasking
- Overlaps with the newer CX1405CTA
Check availabilityRead full review
Best Build Quality
Two things set the CR1100 apart, and neither is raw speed. First, the 3 year ASUS warranty, which is triple the standard cover almost everything else here ships with. Second, the rugged 11.6-inch chassis, built to the sort of spill and drop resistance schools ask for. If you're buying for a child or for a knockabout second machine, those two facts matter more than benchmark numbers.
The Celeron N4500 and 4GB RAM keep it firmly in light-duty territory: browsing, homework, video calls and streaming, one task at a time. The 11.6-inch screen is small, which is good for little hands and bags but cramped for adults working all day.
Against the ASUS CX1405CTA, this CR1100 trades screen size and a slightly older chip for durability and that long warranty. For a school run or a first machine that will get dropped, the extra two years of cover is a genuine reason to choose it. See our full ASUS CR1100 Chromebook review.
Pros
- 3 year ASUS warranty, rare at this price
- Rugged chassis built for drops and spills
- Compact and light for children
Cons
- 11.6-inch screen is cramped for adults
- 4GB RAM and N4500 limit it to single tasks
Buy on Amazon£299.99Read full review
Best Basic Backup
The S345 is showing its age. The AMD A4 chip and just 32GB of eMMC storage put it firmly at the bottom for spec, and that 32GB fills up quickly once ChromeOS and a few apps land. It's a 14-inch FHD panel, which is fine, but the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 above it offers 8GB RAM and 128GB storage for a similar or lower price. Buy this only as a cheap basic backup or if it turns up heavily discounted.
Pros
- 14-inch FHD screen
- Simple ChromeOS for basic browsing
Cons
- Only 32GB storage, fills fast
- Dated AMD A4 chip
- Outclassed by the IdeaPad Slim 3 at similar money
Buy on Amazon£239.00Read full review
Best Big Screen (Budget)
A 15.6-inch screen for Chromebook money is the draw, but the Celeron N3350 inside is the oldest processor on this page, and it shows. With 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC it's a light single-task browser, no more. Only pick the C523NA if it's deeply discounted and you just need a large, cheap screen for streaming.
Pros
- Large 15.6-inch screen at a low price
- ASUS build quality
Cons
- N3350 is the oldest chip in the group
- 4GB RAM and 64GB storage limit it badly
Buy on Amazon£252.00Read full review
