Best Chromebook For Writers: Buyer’s Guide And What To Look For

If you're a writer, then you know that having the right equipment is essential to your work. And if you're in the market for a new Chromebook, then you'll want to read this buyer's guide!

We'll be discussing what to look for in a Chromebook specifically designed for writers, as well as some of the best models on the market. So if you're ready to find your new writing partner, then let's get started!

Best Chromebook For Writers: Buyer’S Guide And What To Look For

At A Glance

These are my top picks at a glance. Read on to see my reasoning for each one!

  • Google Pixelbook Go: Best Overall
  • Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Best Budget Pick
  • Acer Chromebook Flex: Best Convertible Pick
  • ASUS Chromebook Flip C434: Best (Premium But Affordable) Pick

Google Pixelbook Go 13.3" Chromebook: Best Overall

Google Pixelbook Go 13.3&Quot; - Lightweight - Up To 12 Hours -Battery Life - Touch Screen Chromebook - Just Black Click Image To View

  • Lightweight
  • Up to 12 Hours Battery Life
  • Touch Screen

The Google Pixelbook Go is my top pick for the best Chromebook for writers. It's lightweight and portable, making it perfect for writers who need to take their work with them on the go.

Plus, the battery life is excellent, so you won't have to worry about your Chromebook dying in the middle of a writing session.

And, if you need to do any research while you're writing, the touch screen makes it easy to switch between tabs and look things up quickly.

When it comes to storage and speed, you have four standard options to choose from:

  • Intel Core i5 | 16 GB RAM | 128 GB
  • Intel Core i5 | 8 GB RAM | 128 GB
  • Intel Core i7 | 16 GB RAM | 256 GB
  • Intel Core m3 | 8 GB RAM | 64 GB

With the top-spec being the Intel Core i7 | 16 GB RAM | 256 GB option.


Lenovo Chromebook Duet: Best Budget Pick

Lenovo Chromebook Duet, 2-In-1, 10.1&Quot; Wuxga (1920 X 1200) Display, Mediatek Helio P60T, 4Gb Lpddr4X Ram, 128Gb Emcp Ssd, Integrated Arm G72 Mp3 Graphics, Chrome Os, Za6F0031Us, Ice Blue + Iron Grey Click Image To View

  • 10.1" WUXGA (1920 x 1200) Display
  • Touchscreen
  • 4GB LPDDR4X RAM
  • 64GB eMCP SSD
  • Integrated ARM G72 MP3 Graphics

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is my pick for the best budget Chromebook for writers. It's a great option if you're looking for a Chromebook that's affordable, but still has all the features you need to get your writing done.

Plus, the detachable keyboard makes it easy to switch between writing and research mode, so you can get the best of both worlds.

And, the battery life is impressive for a budget Chromebook, so you won't have to worry about your Chromebook dying in the middle of a writing session.

When it comes to storage and speed, you have two standard options to choose from:

32GB eMMC | MediaTek MTK Helio P60T

64GB eMMC | MediaTek MTK Helio P60T

With the top-spec being the 64GB eMMC | MediaTek MTK Helio P60T option.

The main downside to this is the size of the screen. At only ten inches, it's one of the smaller Chromebooks on this list. But if you're looking for a budget-friendly option that's still large enough to get your writing done, then the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great choice.


Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5: Best Convertible Pick

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13&Quot; Laptop, Fhd Touch Display, Intel Core I3-10110U, 4Gb Ram, 64Gb Storage, Chrome Os Click Image To View

  • 13" Laptop
  • FHD Touch Display
  • Intel Core i3-10110U
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB Storage

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex is a powerful little device that's perfect for writers. It has a full HD touch display, so you can easily research while you're writing. Plus, the convertible design means you can use it as a laptop or tablet, depending on your needs.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13&Quot; Laptop, Fhd Touch Display, Intel Core I3-10110U, 4Gb Ram, 64Gb Storage, Chrome Os

And, the Intel Core i3 processor and ample storage space make this Chromebook fast and responsive, so you won't be waiting around for things to load.

The only downside is the battery life. It's not terrible, but it's not as good as some of the other Chromebooks on this list. But if you're looking for a convertible Chromebook that's fast and powerful, then the Lenovo Chromebook Flex is a great choice.


ASUS Chromebook Flip C434

Asus Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop, 14&Quot; Full Hd Touchscreen 4-Way Nanoedge, Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor, 4Gb Ram, 64Gb Emmc Storage, All-Metal Body, Backlit Kb, Chrome Os- C434Ta-Dsm4T, Silver Click Image To View

  • 2-In-1 Laptop
  • 14" Full HD
  • Touchscreen
  • 4-Way NanoEdge
  • Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor
  • 4GB RAM
  • 64GB eMMC Storage
  • All-Metal Body
  • Backlit keyboard

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a great pick for those who are looking for a premium, but affordable Chromebook. It has a beautiful all-metal body and a large 14" Full HD touchscreen display. Plus, the Intel Core M processor is fast and responsive.

And, the backlit keyboard makes it easy to write in low-light conditions.

Reviewers say the battery life is excellent and the build quality makes this Chromebook feel like a high-end laptop.

Buyer's Guide


Keyboard

One of the most important things to consider when shopping for a Chromebook for writers is the keyboard. After all, you'll be spending a lot of time typing on it! Look for a keyboard that is comfortable to use and has good key travel.

You might also want to consider a Chromebook with a backlit keyboard, so you can work in any lighting conditions. Like many writers, I find myself writing at night more often than during the day, so this is a must-have feature for me.


Battery Life

Since you'll likely be spending a lot of time writing on your Chromebook away from a power source, battery life is important. You want a model that can last at least eight hours on a single charge.

This will give you plenty of time to get some work done without having to worry about finding an outlet.


Display

Another important consideration for writers is the display. After all, you'll be staring at it for hours on end! Look for a display that is bright and clear with good color reproduction. A higher resolution will also be helpful if you plan on doing any editing or proofreading on your Chromebook.

Similarly, if you will be editing your book covers in Canva or formatting book illustrations in Photoshop, you will want a Chromebook with a large-enough display and resolution.


Screen Size

While we're on the topic of displays, it's also important to consider screen size. If you plan on using your Chromebook for writing only, then a smaller screen might be fine.

But if you also want to use it for research, graphics or other tasks, then a larger screen will be more convenient. Just keep in mind that a larger screen also means a heavier Chromebook, so it's a trade-off.


Storage

When it comes to storage, writers need two things: space for all of their writing files and software and quick access to those files.

Chromebooks typically come with either 32GB or 64GB of storage, which is plenty of space for most writers as text documents don't tend to weigh much! However, if you are working with a lot of large image files or videos, you may want to consider opting for the 64GB model or buying additional cloud storage.

As for speed, Chromebooks come with solid-state drives (SSDs), which are much faster than traditional hard drives. This means that your Chromebook will boot up quickly and files will open almost instantly - trust me, if you have used an SSD external hard drive and a standard SATA hard drive, you will notice the difference!

Conclusion

We hope this buyer's guide has been helpful in your search for the best Chromebook for writers! Remember to consider the keyboard, battery life, and display when making your decision.

And don't forget to check out our top picks at a glance. With any of these models, you're in good hands!

FAQs

These are some common questions writers have when buying a Chromebook for their writing;

Are Chromebooks Good for Writers?

Yes. Chromebooks are a very popular choice for writers. While you can use any sort of laptop for writing, most writers prefer to use something lightweight that allows you to move it easily from room to room, or to that special place they like to write.

Typically something with a large enough screen but equally, not bulky or heavy as it needs to fit in a backpack or handbag easily.

What Laptop Do Most Writers Use?

There is no one size fits all. When it comes to writing on a laptop, this is a very basic task that does not require any superior processing power, and as such - most people will continue to use their everyday laptop for writing purposes.

However, many writers prefer to buy a Chromebook as their second laptop - something more lightweight and easier to move around with them, that they can use primarily for writing.

Can I Write Stories on A Chromebook?

Yes, you can write stories on a Chromebook. There are a number of apps and programs that you can use to do so, including Google Docs and Evernote. You can also find many online resources that will help you get started with writing stories on your Chromebook.

Can I Run Scrivener on Chromebook?

Yes, you can run Scrivener on a Chromebook. You can follow this detailed guide here.

What Are the Disadvantages of A Chromebook?

The main disadvantage of a Chromebook is that it cannot run Windows or Mac programs. This means that if you are using specific software for your writing, such as Microsoft Word or Adobe Photoshop, you will not be able to use it on a Chromebook without first running some sort of virtual machine or remote desktop application.

Another disadvantage of Chromebooks is that Chromebooks tend to have less storage than traditional laptops, so if you are working with large files or a lot of media, you may need additional cloud storage or an external SSd like this one.

Do Chromebooks Have Word and Excel?

Microsoft has discontinued the Chromebook apps for Word and Excel, however, you can still access and edit Word, Excel and all of the other programs in Office via the web app.

Likewise, Google Docs and Google Sheets are great resources that are free and compatible with Chromebooks.

Can You Write Word Documents on A Chromebook?

Yes, as mentioned above - you have two options for using Word on a Chromebook. You can access the Word web app, or you can use Google Docs and then save the file as a docx file.

Both are great resources for writing Word documents on a Chromebook.

Does Apple Pen Work on Chromebook?

No, the Apple Pen does not work on Chromebooks. The best alternative would be to use a stylus that is compatible with Chromebooks, such as the Andana USI Stylus Pen or the Penoval USI Stylus Pen.

How Do I Enable Google Handwriting on A Chromebook?

You can enable Google handwriting on a Chromebook by going to Settings > Advanced > Enable Handwriting. This will allow you to use your trackpad or mouse to draw characters, which will then be converted into text.

Alternatively, you can use an external stylus and drawing tablet to handwrite on a Chromebook.

Last update on 2022-09-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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