The Best Chromebooks for 2022 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

2022-11-11 05:55:03 By : Ms. Iris Hu

Plenty of laptops, from budget to deluxe, are available in all shapes and sizes. But what if you spend most of your computing time online, surfing the web or answering emails or creating documents in Google Workspace or Microsoft Office Online? What if you'd rather spend a few hundred dollars than $1,000 or more? A Chromebook could be right for you.

Chromebooks don't offer libraries of powerful programs like Windows or macOS laptops, but their web-centric operation—most of what they do happens in the Google Chrome browser—and low prices make them ideal for streaming and social media and online productivity (though they do let you work on documents offline). Wildly popular in K-12 classrooms, they've also made inroads in corporate offices for their easy manageability. We've listed some of our favorite Chromebooks in different categories below. Check them out, then keep reading for guidance on choosing the right model for you. Vehicle WiFi

The Best Chromebooks for 2022 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

The "5" in the model number of Acer's Chromebook Spin 514 indicates it's a middle or mainstream model—the company's economy and deluxe systems start with "3" and "7," respectively—and the "14" signifies its 14-inch screen size, also a middle choice between compact and desktop-replacement displays. If you're starting to think of the Spin 514 as a Goldilocks Chromebook, one that's just right for most consumers, you're on the right track: This 3.6-pound machine offers a splendid mix of performance, portability, and affordability, as well as being a versatile 2-in-1 convertible for occasional presentations or use as a tablet.

The Spin 514's quad-core AMD Ryzen CPU outruns the Intel Celeron and ARM processors of many low-cost Chromebooks; its standard memory, storage, keyboard, and screen are all above average; and it has an HDMI port for plugging in an external monitor instead of making you fuss with a USB-C adapter as most Chromebooks do. It's a terrific all-around option for students, families, and kids.

Both its price ($699.99) and weight (3.2 pounds) are high enough to make you hesitate a moment instead of making an impulse buy, but the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is as good as Chromebooks get if you're looking for a genuine alternative to a Windows convertible laptop. The system's flagship feature is a 13.5-inch high-resolution touch screen with a squarish 3:2 aspect ratio that gives you ample views of documents or webpages with less scrolling, and it combines a speedy 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor with a faster, roomier 256GB solid-state drive instead of the skimpy eMMC flash storage of many Chromebooks. State-of-the-art Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, and USB Type-A ports are provided, too, though a stylus pen isn't.

The Spin 713 is a productivity powerhouse; it's overkill for casual surfing and email (and shorter 16:9 aspect ratio screens are arguably better for streaming video). But while it's too much laptop for grade schoolers, it's an ideal choice for small business entrepreneurs or combined home and office duty.

Did you think the Acer Spin 514 would be the only all-around appealing Chromebook on our list? Attention, Costco shoppers: The $549.99 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook with Intel Core i3 CPU is not only a superior alternative to Celeron-powered base models sold elsewhere but one of the nicest Chromebook convertibles we've seen. This 13.3-inch laptop profits from an ample 8GB of memory and 128GB NVMe solid-state drive yet comes in at under 3 pounds (2.97 pounds if you have a butcher's scale handy). Its handsome Abyss Blue design boasts a backlit keyboard and USB-A and two USB-C ports (though an HDMI port and included stylus would have been welcome).

Though aimed at consumers, the IdeaPad Flex 5 is not half bad as a budget-minded businessperson's substitute for another of our favorites, Lenovo's ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook. It would also stand head and shoulders above many of the modest Chromebooks found in K-12 classrooms.

As with Windows, most 2-in-1 Chromebooks are convertibles whose keyboards flip and fold under their displays. Lenovo's IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is a detachable that jettisons its keyboard to become a genuine tablet—and a stunning one, with an ultra-colorful, ultra-high-contrast 13.3-inch OLED touch screen. Considering that it costs less than $500, the Duet 5's display puts even Microsoft's ritzy Surface Pro 8 Windows tablet to shame. It makes up for the facts that its Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU isn't the fastest and Lenovo charges an extra $33 for a stylus (but, unlike Microsoft, includes the keyboard cover).

With impressively sharp 5-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is a nifty 1.54-pound tablet that turns into a handy 2.24-pound laptop when you attach its keyboard cover and kickstand. (The former isn't a match for a real laptop keyboard, but tablet keyboards never are, and its typing feel is actually pretty good.) It's a bargain alternative to a Surface Go 3 or Apple iPad Air for students and families.

Don't confuse the Lenovo Chromebook Duet with the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook we just discussed—it's a smaller 10.1-inch tablet with detachable keyboard and back-panel kickstand, and its screen uses the familiar IPS instead of fancy OLED technology. But the Chromebook Duet is a thrifty $299.99, has a relatively generous 128GB of eMMC onboard storage, and gives you a more than generous 13-plus hours of battery life.

It's short on ports (just one USB-C, with a 3.5mm audio adapter for your headphones), but the Duet is a versatile, affordable gadget with more functionality than an Android-only tablet. It's a great classroom companion.

Torn between Apple's 10.9-inch iPad Air and HP's 11-inch Chromebook x2? Both are lightweight tablets (1 pound for the Apple, a pound and a quarter for the HP) you can operate with your fingers or with a stylus or snap-on keyboard cover, and each costs $599. But the Chromebook x2 comes with the stylus and keyboard, while the iPad Air charges an extra $428 for them. Decided yet?

The Qualcomm-powered HP is slower than a conventional Chromebook laptop at the same price, and it doesn't have a headphone jack. But it's available with LTE mobile broadband for connectivity when you're away from Wi-Fi hotspots, and its Gorilla Glass touch screen with 3:2 aspect ratio is both pleasing to the eye and easy to hold. If you're seeking an iPad alternative for on-the-go productivity, especially with LTE, it fills a nifty niche.

Its price will scare off casual consumers, but HP's flagship Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a brilliant argument for Chrome OS in business.

If any Chromebook makes the case for ChromeOS in the workplace, the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is it. The price alone ($1,149) will keep it from showing up in classrooms, but it backs up the expense with impressive features, like a haptic touchpad, a built-in fingerprint reader, a magnetic pen, and a gorgeous 3:2 touch screen that's made to get things done. With an Intel Core i5-1245U processor and 256GB SSD under the hood, it's exceptionally powerful, and Intel's vPro IT management and security is baked in (a Chromebook first). Pack all of that into a sleek 2-in-1 design, it's arguably the most advanced Chrome-based laptop we've ever seen.

Privacy features like a fingerprint reader and integrated camera shutter will appeal to the security wonks out there, while the convertible design, Android app support and HP's QuickDrop smartphone file transfer software make it a hugely flexible productivity machine. You even get a free year of Parallels Desktop, opening up the entire world of Windows programs, so you can transition to ChromeOS without missing a beat.

If your daily work already relies on Google's productivity suite and a handful of Android apps, then this is a no-brainer for your next office machine. But even the Windows faithful may want to give it a second look, as the collected features and functionality are superb, and IT managers might just thank you for making the switch.

School districts and parents have plenty of bargain-priced Chromebooks to pick from. Those choosing Dell's Chromebook 11 (model 3100) for their grade-school scholars will get a lot for their $239: an 11.6-inch laptop with corner bumpers designed to survive 30-inch drops onto a steel surface, as well as water or juice-box keyboard spills. Its rugged construction makes the 3100 kind of bulky for its screen size, but it's handsomely finished in black textured plastic and offers a comfortable typing experience and no fewer than four USB ports.

It's hard to get excited about its small, low-resolution display, but the Dell Chromebook 11 combines reasonably peppy browsing performance with sturdy design (made even more reassuring by the low $60 price for four years of accidental damage protection). Give it to your kids and let them have at it.

Can't decide between a laptop and tablet for your everyday surfing and email sorting? Wallet not exactly overflowing? The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 will make your friends think you spent a lot more than $429. This convertible has a handsome 12-inch touch screen with a squarish 3:2 aspect ratio and is exceptionally trim at 2.5 pounds, a pound or more lighter than 2-in-1's that can be no fun to hold in tablet mode. We've noted that Chromebooks with ARM processors, though adequate, tend to be slower than systems with Intel or AMD x86 chips, but the Asus is one of the peppier ARM systems we've tested.

Consumers and students seeking convertible versatility on a budget will find the Flip CM3 easy to like. Its battery life could be better (we saw just under six and a half hours of video playback), but it's a capable choice for online productivity and entertainment.

Chromebooks are about the only laptop segment where you'll still see ultra-compact 11.6-inch systems, and 15.6-inch desktop replacements are rarer than they are in the Windows marketplace—13.3- and 14-inch displays dominate. But Acer hasn't forgotten fans of jumbo 17.3-inch panels—the company's Chromebook 317 is an inexpensive unit with a modest Intel Celeron processor and eMMC storage instead of a solid-state drive, but its plus-size screen offers full 1080p resolution for enjoying streaming video or simply serving as a family-room internet kiosk and homework station.

At 5.18 pounds, this is among the heftiest Chromebooks you can buy, but it's still easy to move from room to room if not to work on an airline tray table. If you spend many happy hours logged into Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Peacock, or just appreciate an extra-large view of Google Docs (some of us wear bifocals, you know), the big Acer could be just the ticket.

The Best Chromebooks for 2022 in the UAE and Saudi Arabia

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