The introduction of Steam Alpha for Chrome OS and Chromebooks acquired a whole lot of us fairly darn excited. Google had been supposedly engaged on this performance for the previous couple of years, and as a substitute of forcing customers to tinker round with Linux, Steam Alpha comes as a local gaming expertise. With the Acer Chromebook 714, you are getting loads of juice to deal with Steam video games, together with having the ability to keep productive or hearth up some Android video games when you could have the time. However there’s extra to discovering one of the best gaming Chromebooks than simply selecting no matter you may get your fingers on.
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As if it weren’t apparent already by its inclusion on the listing of greatest Chromebooks, we’re huge followers of the Acer Chromebook Spin 714. There are a number of variations accessible, so you will have to pay shut consideration to the specs offered if you wish to get pleasure from Steam Beta on the go. In that case, you will have to get the newest model accessible, which is powered by Intel’s Twelfth-gen Core i5 chipset.
Sadly, if you happen to do go for the newest Spin 714, you’re restricted within the accessible configurations. And by restricted, we imply that there’s presently just one model you can choose up right this moment: the Core i5 model paired with 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. However contemplating this is likely one of the solely Chromebooks that’s appropriate with Steam Beta, it is simply a type of sacrifices that you will have to make, for now at the very least.
Because of the Twelfth-gen Intel chips, Acer was capable of embrace Thunderbolt 4 compatibility, one thing that is not available on many Chromebook fashions. In our Chromebook Spin 714 evaluation, we discovered that the 14-inch 2K show is completely beautiful and is likely one of the greatest shows on any Chromebook. Plus, the Gorilla Glass trackpad gives an expertise that’s a lot completely different from Acer’s norm.
In contrast to a few of the different choices that you will discover on the listing of greatest gaming Chromebooks, there’s nothing in regards to the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook that screams that it is “for avid gamers.” It is not till you begin wanting on the completely different configurations and notice that this is likely one of the few Chromebooks that’s appropriate with Steam Beta for ChromeOS.
There are some things that assist the Dragonfly separate itself from the pack, beginning with the haptic trackpad. Should you’ve ever used a MacBook then you definately’ll know what we’re speaking about, because it would not truly transfer if you click on it. As a substitute, it simply makes use of ChromeOS to emulate a click on, guaranteeing that irrespective of the place you push down on the trackpad, it would register a response.
However what makes this among the finest gaming Chromebooks is the ability that is below the hood. There are some pre-configured choices accessible, however if you need essentially the most highly effective Chromebook, then you possibly can configure it your self with Intel’s Twelfth Gen chips, all the best way as much as the Core i7-1265U and 32GB of RAM.
The most important downside with the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is the value tag. It is simply considered one of, if not the, costliest Chromebook available on the market right this moment. Creating your personal configuration can find yourself emptying your pockets fairly darn rapidly, leaving you to determine whether or not you actually need all that energy, or if one of many different choices on this listing will likely be higher suited in your wants.
Those that are on the lookout for the most important, baddest, and most spectacular Chromebook available on the market will wish to try the ASUS Chromebook CX9. There may be one main caveat that we’ll get to later, however the Core i7 model consists of 16GB of RAM, 512GB of NVMe storage, and is on Google’s shortlist for Steam Alpha compatibility.
There are completely different show choices accessible, with ASUS providing both a normal 1920×1080 decision or a UHD choice with 3840×2160 decision. The UHD decision is likely to be a bit overkill with a 14-inch show, however there is no denying that it will look unimaginable doing any activity. ASUS additionally packed in some additional options together with a built-in fingerprint scanner and the flexibility to show your trackpad right into a quantity pad if you have to fill out some spreadsheets.
As we talked about, there’s a catch with the CX9: that is presently probably the most costly Chromebooks available on the market. There are solely two configurations accessible, a Core i3 or Core i7 model, with ASUS leaving out a Core i5 for some motive. And if you wish to spring for the UHD show, it will price you a fairly penny in comparison with the FHD model.
Lenovo took nearly all the greatest elements of its Flex 5 Chromebook, re-packaged them, upgraded the processor, and introduced again among the finest Chromebooks with the Flex 5i. It is clear that Lenovo is aware of what it is doing on this house, because the Flex 5i supplies an unimaginable expertise, no matter whether or not you wish to check out Steam Alpha or simply play a few of the greatest Android video games.
You will not need to pay an arm and a leg for an upgraded processor, nevertheless it’s not typically that the Flex 5i may be discovered on sale. The keyboard is extraordinarily snug to sort on, and the show may be flipped over into tent mode if you wish to use among the finest Chromebook recreation controllers. Total, efficiency is simply stable, and you actually could not ask for an excessive amount of extra out of considered one of Lenovo’s newest Chromebook choices.
One space the place we’d have appreciated to see an enchancment is within the battery life. The corporate claims that this Chromebook would provide as much as 10 hours, however in our Flex 5i evaluation, we discovered that it as a substitute lasted about eight hours earlier than we would have liked to achieve for a charger. Nonetheless, that is merely among the finest and most reliable Chromebooks available on the market.
If you wish to get a Acer Chromebook 514 for Steam gaming, you will want to concentrate. Acer has been dabbling in releases that characteristic each AMD Ryzen chipsets and Intel processors. So if you wish to fiddle with the brand new Steam Alpha, you will have to just be sure you decide particularly for the Chromebook 514 CB514-1W. In any other case, your gaming expertise will likely be restricted to cloud gaming choices and video games from the Play Retailer.
As for the Chromebook 514 CB514-1W itself, that is simply one other instance of Acer flexing its muscular tissues. The most important motive why that is additional down listing in comparison with the Spin 713 is the show brightness, which maxes out between 200-250 nits. That is advantageous in most use circumstances, however if you happen to plan to take this out of your own home and recreation on the go, you doubtless will not find yourself having a good time.
Battery life is one other space the place we’d have appreciated to see some marked enchancment. In our Chromebook 514 evaluation, we discovered that the battery would faucet out across the 8-hour mark, falling wanting Acer’s claimed 12 hours. However on the intense facet, you can get pleasure from Thunderbolt 4 so you possibly can join it to your favourite Chromebook monitor and recreation on an even bigger display.
Regardless of being introduced alongside a brand new push for “cloud gaming on Chromebooks,” the Acer Chromebook 516 GE can deal with a lot extra. For one, it sports activities a ravishing 16-inch show full with a 120Hz refresh fee and a 2560 x 1600 decision. The 120Hz refresh fee is notable as there aren’t many Chromebooks that may provide greater than a 60Hz panel.
And so as to add to the gamer aesthetic, the Chromebook 516 GE provides customers a customizable RGB keyboard, permitting you to choose a selected shade or a “predefined 4-zone shade choice.” It is also a pleasant contact that Acer consists of free trials for Amazon Luna+ and NVIDIA GeForce Now to assist get your toes moist.
However as quickly as you take a look at the spec sheet, it turns into fairly apparent that the Chromebook 516 GE is able to dealing with far more. The bottom mannequin is powered by Intel’s Twelfth Gen Core i5-1240P paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This places it proper consistent with a few of the greatest Chromebooks general, while not having to fret about an exorbitant worth.
Sadly, whereas Acer confirmed that there will likely be one other mannequin utilizing the Intel Core i7, that model isn’t presently accessible. This may not be an issue for many, however we wish to at the very least have the choice for a gaming Chromebook with 16GB of RAM.
Lenovo was additionally a part of the aforementioned announcement concerning Google’s new advertising and marketing push for cloud gaming on Chromebooks. With the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16, you will discover an unimaginable 16-inch show with a QHD decision and a 120Hz refresh fee.
And whereas you can get pleasure from your favourite video games from the likes of GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Amazon Luna, the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 has one other trick up its sleeve. The show has been “licensed by TÜV Rheinland” as sporting a “low blue light-emitting panel” to assist reduce down on the eventual eye pressure that you will doubtless really feel after gaming for hours.
Talking of gaming for hours, this Chromebook will have the ability to final you thru all the day with relative ease due to the 11 hours of battery life. And with Wi-Fi 6E on board, you will not have to fret about being slowed down when taking part in cloud video games or putting in Steam video games.
The most important frustration with Lenovo’s first gaming Chromebook comes within the configurations which might be accessible. There’s an Intel Core i3 choice that may be discovered at just one retailer (Walmart), and if you wish to seize the upgraded Intel Core i5 model, you will need to go instantly by Lenovo. Sadly, it would not appear as if Lenovo has any plans to launch a mannequin with the Core i7 processor in tow.
What to search for with one of the best gaming Chromebooks
Should you have been to got down to try to discover one of the best gaming Chromebooks a yr in the past, the outcomes would doubtless look a lot completely different than they do right this moment. All through this roundup, we have made point out of “Steam Beta,” which is Google and Valve’s try and deliver true gaming to the Chrome OS platform.
Steam Beta originated as “Borealis,’ which you’ll be able to see if you happen to undergo the steps to really allow correct Steam gaming in your Chromebook of selection. With this new alpha program from Google, nevertheless, the choices are pretty restricted as to what Chromebooks are presently appropriate with. Fortunately, not solely did Google present an inventory of which Chromebooks you should utilize, nevertheless it additionally shared an inventory of the minimal specs.
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Intel Core i3 or larger (Eleventh-gen or Twelfth gen)
- AMD Ryzen 3 or larger
- At the least 8GB of RAM
This offers us a fairly good indication of what future Chromebooks will want as a baseline to get Steam up and working. And we have included all the accessible choices that Google offered in its listing. It is why you will see the Chromebook Spin 714 on the high, whereas different standard choices from the listing of greatest Chromebooks have been omitted.
