For the last 10 years, Chromebooks have remained just what they are.
Manufacturers release new models every year with slightly updated specs and Google makes minor additions to the ChromeOS-based platform.
Then Google came along and didnt so much change the game, but changed the name.
Google has tried to advertise its new Dynamic Wallpapers, though there are only two of them available right now.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Its probably best to think of the Plus in Chromebook Plus as indicating basic addition.
So just how different are Plus models from previous Chromebooks?
Honestly, the average user would struggle to spot the difference between the two.
Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
You dont buy a Chromebook because you want the best processing speeds or the highest refresh rates.
Google’s latest Chromebook redux with baseline stats on par with more expensive brands.
LIKE
The UI redesign looks nice, plus ChromeOS has never been faster.
Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
PRICE
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is $499 base.
Chromebook Plus models start at $399.
DISLIKE
There aren’t many new features that will change the way you use Chromebooks.
The Chromebook Plus can run Photoshop on the web, but then again, so can older Chromebooks.Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
If all you want is a Chromebook with those stats starting at $399, stop reading now.
There are models fromAsusandAcerstarting at that price point.
Then again, Plus isnt all too big a jump.
Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo
Touted additionslike the simple video editor in Google Photosalso exist on older machines.
The Material You redesign has also landed on older Chromebooks.
Thankfully, the second question gets answered rather quickly.
I needed something for web and word processing, and it fit the bill.
It was me and my tiny 11 Chromebook against the world.
The last Chromebook I purchased for my own use was the $399 HP X360 Chromebook back in 2020.
It had 8GB of RAM but only 64GB of memory, meaning its not up to Plus standards.
For the purpose of reviewing Chromebook Plus, Google offered media three options for laptops.
So what has changed?
Not too muchat least not much thats apparent when you first start messing around.
The Material You interface is cleaner and more pleasant to look at than it had previously been.
Thats more of the journalist in me than anything.
The Lenovo IdeaPad is a solidly built machine, and browsing and watching videos is buttery smooth.
The 14-inch 16:10 full HD screen does the job at 1920 x 1080 and 300 nits peak brightness.
And the difference three years can make between CPUs can be eye-opening.
The Chromebook Pluss score was equivalent to a M1-powered MacBook Air from 2020.
On GeekBench 6, the Chromebook Plus scored an 1850 single-core and 5105 multi-core.
Most laptops struggle to run Windows without 16 GB of memory, but for Chromebooks, its certainly enough.
Mind you, there is no 16GB version available.
The promised 1080p webcam was a rather nice touch on a sub-$500 machine.
Occasionally I had issues where the trackpad on the IdeaPad spazzed out.
This was more obvious when I was playing a point-and-click-heavy game like Baldurs Gate 3 without using a mouse.
The sound is what you expect from just two, two-way stereo speakers on a budget laptop.
If that all sounds good to you, that three-month trial will still fly by in no time.
The best new feature coming to Chromebook Plus is the File Sync feature.
Lets be fair, youre not buying a Chromebook expecting to run a high-end photo or video editing tool.
The other side of the Chromebook Plus is the emphasis on cloud gaming.
Geforce Now is a good service by itself, and it does the job on Chromebook Plus.
Because thats the point of Chromebooks, and it always has been.
They do the job.
They dont cost you an arm and a leg.
Want more of Gizmodos consumer electronics picks?
Check out our guides to thebest laptops,best TVs, andbest headphones.
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