BENCHMARKS
Geekbench 5
(single core index)Geekbench 5
(multi core index)WebGL Aquarium
30000 (fps)Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 1,196 4,689 25Lenovo 500e Chromebook 499 1,591 3Acer Chromebook Spin 513 533 1,572 9HP Pavilion 15 992 2,830 25Acer Swift X 1,183 7,075 20MSI Summit E13 Flip Evo 1,451 5,379 27for Linux compatibility. Using Steam’s own Proton Experimental
Steam Play function, you can potentially run Windows titles that
won’t normally run natively on Linux platforms. However, this only
works for a limited number of games, and you’ll still be bound by
the restraints of your Chromebook’s local hardware.
Hardware aside, ChromeOS is a far more powerful operating
system than it used to be. Gone are the days of slow internet
hamstringing the entire platform, and navigating the menus
of the OS is a process that has been streamlined to result in a
genuinely pleasant experience. The ‘Everything Button’ present
on every new Chromebook is also a nifty addition, allowing you
to search the web and your local device for whatever you need.
With all that said, we still prefer Windows. It’s a platform that
allows for greater flexibility and customization, with support for
the broad range of applications that tech-heads need. While the
Windows laptops we featured here were running Windows 10,
all are eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 11 and will come
preloaded with the newer OS if you buy them new.
The burning question that we’re left with is this: where do
Chromebooks go next? The inevitable continuation of refining both
the OS and the physical hardware is one thing, with Chromebooks
swiftly catching up to conventional laptops in appearance, but can
we expect to see Chromebooks seize even more of the market
share away from Windows? In 2020, Chromebooks overtook
MacBooks for the first time in sales volume, largely by eating
into Windows laptop sales rather than consuming Apple’s
market share. Sure, this leap was driven by the pandemic forcing
students and office workers into studying and working from
home, but sales figures have remained strong and introducing a
young generation to the ChromeOS platform is likely to work well
for Google in the future.
Indeed, targeting a younger audience and doubling down
on its focus on Chromebooks as a tool for education could be
the way to go. Over 30 million Chromebooks were shipped in
2020, many of which went to students or directly to schools.
In 2018, Chromebooks accounted for more than 60 percent of
computers in US schools. Security features are a big draw; not
only is ChromeOS less likely to be targeted by virus attacks than
Windows computers (for now), but Google’s design ethos included
strong security measures. User error is the most common cause
of digital security breaches, and ChromeOS has design choices
built-in to minimize opportunities for users to mess up.
Though not the silver bullet for online security that Google
would like you to think, Chromebooks are undeniably a safer and
more streamlined way to introduce children to the digital world.
Many kids’ first encounters with technology are their parents’
phones and tablets, so ChromeOS offering a familiar Android-
enabled environment makes perfect sense. Upon first setting up
a new Chromebook, you’ll be given the option to set up a child-
friendly profile, which allows a parent to easily set safety limits.
For adults, Chromebooks still have their advantages, but
we’re not convinced they’re a viable competitor to Windows—not
yet, anyway. They’re improving fast, arguably faster than laptop
hardware, which is beginning to stagnate. In another five years,
the market could be in a different place, with Chromebooks
potentially securing dominance thanks to their wallet-friendly
pricing and idiot-proof software. Needless to say, we’re curious
to see what happens next.The WebGL-powered Aquarium test is a good way to check
the graphical performance of low-powered machines.
Google Play Store offers a range of compatible Android apps and
games, though you can also get Steam running on a Chromebook.APR 2022MAXIMU MPC 35