​Acer N11 C738T

The Acer N11 was just added to the short list of Chromebooks that can run Google Play right now, so if you’re the owner of one of these models you can get access by turning on the Developer channel. The steps are the same as those on the Asus Flip.

The Acer N11 has a fully hinged lid and a touchscreen, just like the Asus Flip. It weighs a bit more, though, so if you want something that’s going to vanish into your laptop bag the Asus might be a better choice.

• Processor: Intel Celeron N3150 / 1.6 GHz
• Cores: Quad-Core
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 11.6″
• Touchscreen: multi-touch
• Weight: 3.53 lbs
• Battery life: 10 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $300

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

Google Chromebook Pixel

The Pixel is the last of the three Chromebooks that will run Google Play right now using the same steps as the Acer and Asus machines. This is Google’s own Chrome OS machine, and it’s perfect for those who think a cheap Chromebook is a lousy Chromebook.

The Asus Flip and Acer N11 both price around $300 right now. That’s actually a bit steep for a Chromebook, but it’s nothing compared to the Pixel: it’s currently priced at $1,299.That’s a lot of money for a Chromebook. The specs are impressive; whether or not they’re worth the cost is up to you.

• Processor: Intelu00ae Core™ i7 processor / 2.4 GHz
• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 64 GB SSD
• Screen: 12.85″
• Touchscreen: multi-touch
• Weight: 3.3 lbs
• Battery life: 12 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $1,299

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​Samsung Chromebook 3

Here’s where we start the list of models waiting for Google to release the Google Play Chrome OS update publically. If you own a Chromebook 3 or any of the models listed after this don’t bother trying to turn on Developer mode—you still won’t be able to access the Play store.

• Processor: Intel Celeron N3050 / 1.6 GHz
• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 11.6″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 2.54 lbs
• Battery life: 7 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $190

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​Acer Chromebook 15

Don’t get caught up thinking you need a touchscreen, high-end hardware, and lots of RAM to access Google Play on a Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook 15 is definitely a budget model, and it will still be able to run Android apps.

How well the apps will run is a mystery for now. The three models that can run the Play store now are all higher end—good press for Google, but not a good look for consumers.

• Processor: Intel Celeron N2830 / 2.16 GHz

• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 15.6″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 4.41 lbs
• Battery life: 12 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $179

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​Asus C300

It can be hard to determine what exactly makes a Chromebook like the Asus C300 cost nearly $200 more than the Acer 15 from the previous page. The only real spec difference is the two additional gigs of RAM the Asus C300 has.

When it comes to budget laptops like most Chromebooks it’s a good idea to go to a store where you can play with one first. That difference could very well be due to the quality of the build and how long it will last.

• Processor: Intel Celeron N2830 / 2.16 GHz

• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 13.3″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 3.1 lbs
• Battery life: 10 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $340

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​Dell Chromebook 13 7310

Dell’s latest entry into the Chromebook market isn’t unique among the budget-priced models. The case is made from a blend of carbon fiber and magnesium alloy, which may make it a bit more hardy than some of the plastic models.

• Processor: Intel Celeron 3205U / 1.5 GHz

• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 13.3″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 3.24 lbs
• Battery life: 12 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $450

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​HP Chromebook 13

Somehow HP’s Chromebook 13 is newer than the 14. It’s a bit confusing, especially since its first model was the 11. HP is one of the few Chromebook manufacturers that mention RAM upgrades as a possibility, so if you’re willing to do some tinkering you might love the HP 13.

• Processor: Intel Pentium (6th Gen) 4405Y / 1.5 GHz

• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 4 GB standard (supports up to 16 GB)
• Storage: 32 GB SSD
• Screen: 13.3″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 2.84 lbs
• Battery life: 8.25 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $499

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​Lenovo Thinkpad 13

It might be nostalgia that makes me love the form factor of Lenovo ThinkPad laptops. If you’re anything like me you have a spot in your heart for the black and red design that has been mostly unchanged since the early 1990s.

The Thinkpad 13 is yet another moderate redesign to the same old form factor. Lenovo says the durability is still there, so if you’re a ThinkPad junkie this might be the one for you. There’s also the reported 13-hour battery life, which makes it even more appealing.

• Processor: Intel Celeron 3855U / 1.6 GHz

• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 4 GB standard
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 13.3″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 2.84 lbs
• Battery life: 13 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $402

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

​Toshiba Chromebook 2

Toshiba’s Chromebook is pretty standard, which begs the question as to why it’s $435. With no outstanding specs and a relatively short battery life it isn’t an amazing option.

Still, Toshiba has been making solid machines for years, and its Chromebook is just as favorably reviewed as any other laptop it’s made.

• Processor: Intel Core i3 (5th Gen) 5015U / 2.1 GHz

• Cores: Dual-Core
• RAM: 4 GB standard
• Storage: 16 GB SSD
• Screen: 13.3″
• Touchscreen: None
• Weight: 2.98 lbs
• Battery life: 8.5 hours
• Price (Google shopping): $435

Click here to find out more about specs and pricing.

Prices are current as of publishing. They may change in the future.

Google Play on Chromebooks: Coming soon

Chrome OS 53, which will bring the Google Play store to eligible machines, is still in production. I’m excited for it, and I’m sure other Chromebook users are as well, but it could still be a few months before wide-scale release happens.

If you want to see a complete up-to-date list of Chromebooks that will run the Google Play store check The Chromium Projects’ page here.