Summary
- Despite the marketing, Chromebooks aren’t good for gaming. They’re limited to cloud services, or else a selection of Android games that may or may not be compatible with your machine.
- You may struggle to find productivity apps that deliver all the features you need to get your work done, particularly if you want software that works offline.
- Chrome OS is merging into Android anyway, so you may be better off buying a high-end Android tablet poised to get Android 16 or later.
When the first Chromebooks rolled out in the early 2010s, there was a lot of hype around them. It’s not every day that someone launches a legitimate challenge to Windows and macOS in the laptop space (sorry, Linux fans). Chromebooks were also explicitly intended to be low-cost devices, taking advantage of cloud services and the web to eliminate the need for expensive internal specs. The hype was powerful enough that a friend of mine bought one, despite having enough cash to buy nearly anything he wanted.
Over a decade later, the hype has all but vanished, a few celebrity ads notwithstanding. You can still buy Chromebooks at your local big box retailer — but in the US, their biggest market is actually the educational sector, where they compete with Apple’s iPad for a spot in the classroom. I think many people have figured out what I did — that a Chromebook just doesn’t make for a great PC or Mac replacement in most circumstances.
1
They’re not at all good for gaming
Running into the limitations of the web and Android
You can certainly play games on a Chromebook. But without the same CPU and graphics performance as a MacBook, let alone a dedicated gaming PC, many titles are off-limits. You may be able to play the Android versions of some games if your machine meets the necessary requirements.
Some models are sold as “gaming” Chromebooks, but don’t be fooled.
Google’s workaround for this is support for cloud services like Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now, yet even this is problematic. Some games aren’t available on the cloud, and you need a fast, bulletproof internet connection to avoid issues like input lag or visual artifacts. You can forget about playing online shooters at a competitive level. And of course, all of these services come with some sort of fee, though you can use GeForce Now at zero cost if you’re willing to download free-to-play games and spend less than an hour per session.
Some models are sold as “gaming” Chromebooks, but don’t be fooled. These only have features like faster refresh rates, modest processor enhancements, and RGB lighting. You won’t be playing a Black Ops 7 deathmatch anytime soon.
2
Productivity apps are limited, too
Bouncing off barriers
In a way, ChromeOS is pulling the wool over your eyes. You can get legitimate work done on a Chromebook, but many of the “apps” available on the platform are really just web tools, which means they’ll stop running without an internet connection. And in some cases, what’s available on ChromeOS is crippled next to its Mac and Windows counterparts. You’re not going to find a photographer editing a wedding shoot in the web version of Photoshop, or even in the Android app. Some apps have never been ported or optimized.
In other words, if you want a Chromebook to replace your work machine, you can’t assume that all the tools you need will be there, and/or function the way you expect. Do some research before buying anything. If there’s any doubt, you’re probably better off buying a Windows laptop.
3
Storage and file support is often lacking
Be prepared to make friends with Google Drive
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a Chromebook with more than 512GB of storage. That doesn’t sound like a big deal on a device that’s predominantly web-based, but you could run into problems very quickly if you want to keep local copies of all your photos, videos, music, and documents, or play Android games that go beyond simple puzzle titles. Cheaper Chromebooks may have as little as 128GB, which some people don’t find tolerable on a phone, let alone a laptop.
There are also file compatibility issues. These can potentially be solved by opening files directly from Google Drive, but that’s bound to be disappointing if you’re used to what a Mac or Windows machine can handle from the jump. And where a conventional laptop doesn’t have native format support, there’s usually a third-party app like VLC to come to the rescue. Expect no such luck on a Chromebook.
4
ChromeOS is merging with Android
Skip the middleman
Recently, Google revealed that it’s planning to take ChromeOS’s support of Android one step further, merging the two platforms. There’s no set timeline, and no one knows what this “Chromedroid” might look like — but with that news, there may be no particular reason to get a Chromebook instead of an Android tablet. Indeed, one of the key features of Android 16 is Desktop Mode, which lets you connect a device to an external display for a Windows-like experience. Google is simultaneously improving its tablet support, which naturally lends itself to desktop-like apps.
As it turns out, people aren’t fine with losing the functionality they’re used to from other devices, especially if you try to sell them on the idea that you can do anything you need to.
The best Android tablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, can already blow any Chromebook out of the water. They’re designed around touch input instead of treating it as an afterthought, and can not only run a larger selection of apps, but run them faster. I’d much rather someone drop an S10 Ultra in my lap than the most expensive Chromebook available.
If Google and its partners play their cards right, we might forget that Chromebooks were even a thing in the next few years. The goal of a primarily cloud-based computer wasn’t crazy — but as it turns out, people aren’t fine with losing the functionality they’re used to from other devices, especially if you try to sell them on the idea that you can do anything you need to. It’s a lesson Apple seems to have finally learned with the iPad, looking at where iPadOS is headed.
