Are you a teacher looking for a new laptop?
We’ve got you covered.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434
Specifications:
- 14″ FHD
- Intel Core m3-8100Y
- 8 GB RAM
- 64 GB Hard Disk
Our Editor’s choice for the best laptop For Teachers is the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434. In terms of performance, this one is one of the best laptops to come from Asus and we can vouch for it.
If you’re just making the transition to a Chromebook, then finding the right one for your needs might be more challenging than you think.
We have gone to a lot of models (almost every single one) and have picked a handful of Chromebooks that are perfect for educators.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best Chromebooks for teachers for the year 2023.
Content Overview
Best Chromebooks For Teachers & Educators
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | SPECIFICATIONS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
EDITOR’S CHOICE
| ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 |
| View On AmazonRead Reviews |
RUNNER UP
 | Acer Chromebook 514 |
| View on AmazonRead Reviews |
BUDGET PICK
 | Acer Chromebook R 13 |
| View on AmazonRead Reviews |
1. ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 – Editor’s Choice
- 14 inch Touchscreen FHD 1920x1080 4-way NanoEdge display featuring ultra-narrow bezels (5mm thin) around each side of the display that allows for a 14 inch screen to fit in the body of a 13inch laptop...
- The FHD display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode.
- Powered by the Intel Core m3-8100Y Processor (up to 3.4 GHz) for super-fast and snappy performance. If you use a ton of tabs or run lots of apps, this has the power to get it all done with ease.
If you’re looking for a no-compromise Chromebook, then the best choice for teachers is the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434.
It comes with slightly high-end pricing for a Chromebook, but for what it does, it is worth it. Right from the design, you can tell that this one here is a premium device that is made to last.
Let’s talk about design. We have a metal body that is durable and you get this nice weight when you lift the device. At 3.30lbs, this Chromebook is not the lightest one out there and yet is portable.
When you talk about Chromebooks, you usually think of cheap and plastic materials. This is because manufacturers have been using such materials to keep the price of the devices down. But now, we can see premium Chromebooks like this one with an incredible design language.
ASUS has managed to fit a 14″ laptop into the body of a 13″ one. This is because of the display that has super thin bezels surrounding it. ASUS calls it the NanoEdge display and it gives you a stunning visual experience.
This display comes with a full HD resolution and it comes with support for 100% RGB color gamut which is nice. Thanks to the IPS panel, we get excellent viewing angles of up to 178 degrees which can come in very handy when consuming media with friends.
Being a 2-in-1 laptop, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 needs to have a neat design so that you can change modes with ease. The 360-degree ErgoLift hinge is a nice work of engineering and it helps to transition between modes smoothly.
With 4 modes, you can do a ton with this new Chromebook. The touchscreen on this laptop is very responsive and you can even work on your illustrations for school with an external stylus. Having a touchscreen also makes browsing the operating system more intuitive.
The keyboard on this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 model deserves a special mention. We have a chiclet keyboard that comes with nice feedback when you type on it. The layout of the keys is nice and you can type fast on this one without losing accuracy.
The ErgoLift hinge gives you a slightly lifted position with the keyboard and that makes for a better typing experience. It is better than the keyboard simply lying on the surface. As a teacher, you may have to type a lot and this keyboard will be a good friend.
The keyboard is backlit so you can use this laptop even in dimly lit rooms without any problems. The trackpad on this laptop is a nice one and it comes with support for multi-touch gesture support.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 comes with a lot of connectivity options. We have a USB 3.1 gen 1 Type-A port, a couple of USB 3.1 gen 1 Type-C ports, a micro SD card slot, and also an audio jack. There is also support for WiFi and Bluetooth.
Battery life is one of the best selling points of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 model. With light use, the Chromebook should easily last for about 10 hours which is very good for its kind. Though battery life depends on user habits, we can say that this one is very good when it comes to it.
When it comes to processing power, this one is no slouch. The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 comes with an Intel Core M3 8100Y processor that has a base clock speed of 1.1GHz. With the help of turbo boost, the processor can clock to a maximum of 3.4GHz which is a lot of power for a Chromebook.
The 4GB RAM comes in handy when it comes to handling memory on this device. You can use your favorite browser and open as many tabs as you want and this ChromeOS is designed to handle it. There is also a 64GB eMMC storage that can be used for limited local storage.
Overall, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is an excellent device and it comes with no compromise whatsoever. With an amazing build, snappy performance, and an incredible battery life, this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is the best Chromebook for teachers.
- Excellent design
- Stunning battery life
- Good performance
- Only 4 gigs of RAM
2. Acer Chromebook 514 – Runner Up
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - an operating System from Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically, boots up in seconds and...
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and slides
- Get access to more than 2 million Android apps from Google play to learn and do more
The second best laptop we could find for teachers is yet another premium device and this time, it is from the house of Acer. Our runner up for the best Chromebooks for educators is the Acer Chromebook 514.
Being a premium laptop, the Acer Chromebook 514 compares with the ASUS Flip model in a lot of ways. It comes with a similar premium quality build and also matches it on a few other levels.
One of the better things you’ll find here on this Chromebook is battery life. Here, with light use, you can squeeze out nearly 12 hours of battery life which is just awesome. This battery life is achievable when you’re streaming videos, working on presentations, processing your word docs, and other simple everyday tasks.
The Acer Chromebook 514 comes with thin side bezels and it makes for a very good viewing experience. The 14″ display comes with a full HD resolution and gives you excellent colors to play with. The display is great for consuming media as well as for other daily activities.
The display also functions as a touchscreen. When it comes to responsiveness, the screen does a pretty good job. This is not a 2-in-1 laptop so you can’t use this one as a laptop. But having a touchscreen does bring in another dimension to the user’s experience.
The speakers on the Acer Chromebook 514 model are also pretty good. They can fill up a small-sized room without any issues and can reach the end of the medium-sized room without any problems. We wouldn’t recommend using the speakers inside a classroom but for personal use, this one should be fine.
The Acer Chromebook 514 is powered by an Intel Celeron N3450 processor. This is an entry-level processor that comes with a maximum clocking frequency of 2.2GHz. It is also a quad-core processor that should come in handy when it comes to some heavy lifting.
Multitasking should be fine with 4 gigs of LPDDR4 memory. For local storage, you get a 64GB eMMC storage option. The Acer Chromebook 514 also comes with horde connectivity options that make using this Chromebook in classrooms a lot easier.
Overall, this Acer Chromebook is a solid device and does well in all aspects. If you’re looking for a premium Chromebook or alternative to our Editor’s choice, then this one is a good option.
- Excellent design
- Extraordinary battery life
- Beautiful screen
- Slightly expensive
3. Acer Chromebook R 13 – Budget Pick
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - an operating system by Google that is built for the way we live today. It comes with built-in virus protection, updates automatically*, boots up in seconds and continues...
- All the Google apps you know and love come standard on every Chromebook, which means you can edit, download, and convert Microsoft Office files in Google Docs, Sheets and Slides
- With the Google Play Store, you can access a rich library of apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines, and more, all from your Chromebook
If you’re on a budget and searching for a convertible Chromebook, then the Acer Chromebook R 13 could be the one for you.
Even with a budget pricing of under $260, the Acer Chromebook R 13 model manages to include a great 1080p display. With a 13.3″ screen, this resolution should give you sharp pictures and texts.
The Acer Chromebook R 13 is portable as it weighs just around 3lbs which is neat. You can easily carry this around without feeling any extra weight. Combine it with the excellent battery life (up to 12 hours), you have an excellent laptop for school.
The Acer Chromebook R 13 comes with a good deal of connectivity options. You get a USB 3.1 (Type C) port supporting USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps), a DisplayPort over USB-C, a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI port, and also an audio jack. The Chromebook also comes with 802.11ac WiFi which gives you access to high-speed internet without the need for any wires. The built-in Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity also comes in handy.
One of the compromises Acer has made to keep the cost of this laptop down is by going for a Mediatek processor. We have a quad-core processor that is ARM-based and it does a pretty good job when it comes to handling your everyday needs.
For memory, you get 4GB RAM which gives you enough for some serious multitasking. For local storage, you get 32 gigs of eMMC storage which is a standard when it comes to Chromebooks.
Overall, the Acer Chromebook R 13 is a budget device that still gives you decent performance without making too many compromises. If you’re looking for a super cheap Chromebook for your teaching profession, then this is it.
- Super affordable
- Good display
- Brilliant battery life
- Processor might be a bottleneck
What To Look For In The Best Chromebooks For Teachers & Educators?
Going for a Chromebook means you’ll have to make a few compromises along the way. But you already know that as you’ve made up your mind to get yourself a Chromebook.
But you can’t get any Chromebook if you’re looking for a reliable machine that’ll stay with you for at least a few years to come.
So how do you find that Chromebook? Well, there are some factors you should take into account before you bring one home.
Is Chrome OS Okay For You?
Chrome OS is a completely different operating system when you compare it with the likes of Windows, macOS, or even Linux distributions.
If you’re used to the user interface and the file management system inside the other operating systems, then adapting to Chrome OS will take its sweet time.
You will be able to do all your online work, but there is no local storage where you can store your downloaded movies and watch them later. Even if your Chromebook has one, it will be mostly around 64GB or a 128GB at best.
The selection of apps is also not that broad. Chrome OS can now run all the Android apps on Chromebooks, but that too will come with its share of compatibility issues.
If you’re fine with all these compromises, then you can proceed with getting a Chromebook.
Hardware Requirements
Chromebooks do not require a lot of power to take care of your daily needs.
Most Chromebooks will only come with an Intel Pentium or Celeron processor which is way less powerful when you compare it with an i5 or even an i3 processor. But this processor does well and Chrome OS is designed to handle that.
When it comes to RAM, you’re going to need a minimum of 4GB of RAM. The RAM can be of LPDDR3 or DDR4 type, but in reality, it makes a very small difference. If you’re going to be working on more stuff at the same time, we would recommend going with 8 gigs of DDR4 RAM as it will work well in this scenario.
Chromebooks do not need a lot of storage. They are usually linked to a google drive account and you’ll be using that to store all your progress and other data.
You will get small storage in the form of an eMMC flash drive and it will usually have a capacity of 32 gigs or 64 gigs. If you need to store something locally, then this would be your only option.
If you like to run things off your local storage, we recommend getting an SD card or an external hard drive which will give you quick access to your data and are also a much cheaper alternative.
Display
You are not going to get a lot of options when it comes to the display of your Chromebook.
We recommend going for a full HD display as it can give you good quality output. Chromebooks have smaller screens and with full HD, you’ll get a good pixel density which is always good.
Having an IPS panel underneath the screen would mean excellent colors. You will also get very good viewing angles which are great when you’re spending time streaming your favorites on Netflix.
Whether you need a touchscreen or not depends on your needs. We do not find touchscreens that useful on a Chromebook. It is a novelty and is not something you’ll use daily. Going for a non-touchscreen model might bring the cost of the device down as well.
Connectivity
Your Chromebook needs to have good connectivity options.
The laptop must come with the latest WiFi adapter so that you can enjoy high internet speeds. Usually, most Chromebooks will have 802.11ac WiFi which is pretty good.
You also need to have Bluetooth so that you can connect external devices to your Chromebook with ease. You might want to take a quick printout or even want to use a Bluetooth mouse and having a proper Bluetooth connection will come in handy here.
When it comes to essential ports, you don’t need to have all the ports on your Chromebook. Some important ports are USB 3.0 port, USB type C port, HDMI ports, and SD card readers. You also must have a headphone jack to plug in your headphone of choice.
Having an HDMI port will allow you to connect with projectors and let you make presentations for your students. Similarly, other ports will also come in handy and will make your life easier as a teacher.
Battery Life
The Chromebook you’re looking at should have all-day battery life and it is non-negotiable.
A Chromebook is not a heavy use laptop. You are going to be using this device mostly for light use and with that, you should be able to work on the laptop for the entire without having to recharge again during the day.
The good news is that most Chromebooks come with decent battery life. If you’re not going to do anything resource intensive, then you will last an entire without having to search for charging points in your school or staff room.
Design
If portability is important for you, then you can’t go for a Chromebook that is more than 13.3″ in size.
Most Chromebooks will weight around 3lbs so taking them with you is not a big deal. You can easily slide them into your bag and take them to school with you. Having a light Chromebook also makes it easy to carry it to all the classes you go to.
Also, make sure that the Chromebook comes with a certain amount of durability so that it can last for at least a few years. Since Chromebooks are cheap in general, most of them come with an inferior build quality.
Chromebook manufacturers are changing that trend now and are using more premium materials in the construction of Chromebooks. It can increase the weight of the laptop but you will have a sturdy device on your hands.
You can also get a 2-in-1 Chromebook if that’s what you want. Since you can install all the Android applications on a Chromebook, having a touch interface will surely come in handy when you’re working on a 2-in-1 Chromebook.
Conclusion
That’s all we have for this post.
Getting a Chromebook for a teacher should be easy if you know what you’re looking for. If you’re that teacher, then we hope you found your Chromebook by taking the tips from our post.
If you still haven’t found the right Chromebook, do let us know and we’ll help you find the right companion for you.
Keep visiting our website for most tips, buying guides, and other useful information.