GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL Top eight chromebooks of 2016

GADGET GIZMO SPECIAL Top eight chromebooks of 2016





Chrome-based laptops are a great option if you live online. Here's what you need to know to choose the right one

Chromebooks are lightweight laptops that are both quirky and smart , low impact and capable. Running Google's Chrome OS operating system rather than, say, Windows 10, they're aimed at what computing has been all about since the late '90s, the internet and your web browser.

Mostly with low-power processors and low-end HD screens starting at 1,366X768 pixel count, most of these notebooks are designed to last. Almost every Chromebook claims between seven and nine hours of battery life and ends up within a few hours of that estimation, based on our testing. If you're not sure of what you should look for when buying a Chromebook, we've a handy cheat sheet for you.

Asus Chromebook Flip

CPU: 1.8GHz Rockchip 3288-C | RAM: 2GB LPDDR3 SDRAM | Screen: 10.1-inch, WXGA (1,280 x 800) IPS multi-touch display | Weight: 1.96 pounds | Dimensions: 10.6 x 7.2 x 0.60 inches.

The Asus Chromebook Flip isn't perfect, but it's an impressive little piece of kit. The Flip is one of the best-built Chromebooks to blaze the trail onward for more convertibles.Touchscreen functionality feels slightly more logical, with a screen that actually rotates for once. It also has a stellar battery life.

Toshiba Chromebook 2

CPU: 2.1GHz Intel Core i3-5015U | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 | Weight: 2.97 pounds | Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.4 x 0.76 inches (WxDxH).

The new Toshiba Chromebook 2 is a gorgeous laptop despite a few flaws. It comes with more memory and a 1080p display, lining it up with rival, (pseudo-) premium models on the market, like the Dell Chromebook 13 and Chromebook Pixel.

Dell Chromebook 11 CPU:

2.6GHz dual-core Intel Celeron Bay Trail-M N2840 | RAM: 4GB RAM (DDR3L, 1,600Mhz) | Screen: 11.6-inch HD, 1366 x 768 touchscreen | Weight: 2.91 pounds | Dimensions: 12.6 x 8.4 x 0.76 inches.

Don't let the subtle looks of the Dell Chromebook 11 trick you. Dell stuffed in features that are typically reserved for more premium business notebooks into its Chromebook 11, an effort to create a durable device for schools. It has a 180-degree reinforced hinge, rugged design, sealed keyboard and trackpad and a punchy typing experience inside a portable package.

Lenovo N20p Chromebook CPU:

1.83 GHZ Intel Celeron Processor N2930 | RAM: 2GB PC310600 DDR3L 1333 MHz | Screen: 11.6“ HD (1366 x 768) dsplay with 10-point multitouch | Weight: 2.86 lbs | Dimensions: 11.6“ x 8.34“ x 0.70“.

This is one of the `sexier' Chromebooks around, showcasing Lenovo's lust for style. However, the best feature is the N20p's 300-degree hinge, bending the N20p's display backward all the way into stand mode (or `tent' mode), which lends itself well to watching films or showing presentations.

Asus Chromebook C300 CPU:

2.16GHz dual-core Intel Celeron N2830 | RAM: 2GB | Screen: 13.3-inch, 1366 x 768 HD display | Weight: 3.08 pounds | Dimensions: 13.0 x 9.1 x 0.9

This 13-inch Chromebook comes with a slightly faster processor than the rest of its cloud-based flock -while ditching the fan simultaneously. The TN screen unfortunately is a wash (in terms of colour reproduction), but this Chromebook simply goes on and on with its excessive battery life. Google Chromebook Pixel 2015 CPU: 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U (dual-core, 3MB cache, up to 2.7GHz with turbo boost) | RAM: 8GB DDR3 | Screen: 12.85-inch 2,560 x 1,700 IPS touchscreen display | Weight: 3.3 pounds Dimensions: 11.7 x 8.8 x 0.6 inches. Fitted with a Core i5 processor, USB 3.1 (and USB-C) ports, a beyond-HD display and more RAM than it will ever need, the Chromebook Pixel sets a high bar for Chrome OS machines. The build quality of this machine is superb; the design has been engineered down to a science. A vibrant screen -plus the tactile keyboard and trackpad -helps to round out the Pixel as one pretty, premium package.

HP Chromebook 14 CPU:

1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2940 processor | RAM: 2GB | Screen: 14-inch, 1,366 x 768 BrightView LED-backlit | Weight: 3.74 pounds (1.69kg) | Dimensions: 13.54 x 9.45 x 0.7 inches (344mm x 240mm x 18mm).

With a rock-bottom starting price, this is an excellent value for those seeking a basic web browsing machine. While Acer's Chromebook 15 serves up equal components behind a larger screen for the same amount of scratch, HP's 14-incher is a bit more compact and better looking to boot, if coffee shop appeal is crucial.

Acer Chromebook 15 C910 CPU:

2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200 dual-core processor | RAM: 4 GB, DDR3L SDRAM | Screen: 15.6-inch full HD (1,920 x 1,080) |Weight: 4.85 pounds Dimensions: 1.0 x 15.1 x 10.1 inches.

Compared to most other Chromebooks, the C910 has more screen real estate, more processing power. The C910 took this series of laptops to two new places, as the first with a 15.6-inch screen and the first to introduce the fifth-generation Broadwell CPUs to Chromebooks .

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