While the promise of cloud gaming on Google Stadia is gone, the Mountain View giant is prepping to make Chromebooks the best machine for cloud gaming. Not only that, but Google is also working to bring Steam to Chromebooks for local gameplay using the Borealis container. Already, a handful of Chromebooks support Steam, and some intensive AAA titles can be played without much friction. Clearly, gaming on Chromebooks is getting better and more users are starting to notice the advantage of having a lightweight OS and the convenience of cloud gaming. So if you are on the fence and looking to buy the best Chromebook for gaming, follow our curated list below.
Best Chromebooks For Gaming (2023)
We have included the 10 best gaming Chromebooks from Acer, Lenovo, Asus, HP, and more. There are also some affordable Chromebooks for gaming on this list, so check them out.
1. Acer Chromebook 516 GE
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is the best gaming Chromebook you can buy in 2023. After shutting down Stadia, Google announced laptops for cloud gaming, and Acer Chromebook 516 GE was released as part of the Gaming Edition (GE) Chromebooks. It comes with a 12th-Gen Intel i5-1240P processor, having 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of PCIe NVMe SSD. And to deliver a decent gaming experience, you have integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which is amazing.
The best part about this gaming Chromebook is its display. You have a fantastic 16-inch 120Hz screen with a resolution of 2560 × 1600 and an aspect ratio of 16:10. Despite packing a larger screen, the Chromebook does not feel too large due to the narrow bezels around the screen. Not to mention, it comes with an RGB backlit keyboard with multiple color presets. And if you prefer to play on NVIDIA GeForce Now over other cloud gaming services, you can take advantage of the 120Hz screen refresh rate to get the best out of this Chromebook.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE also brings Wi-Fi 6E and a 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet LAN port for the best connectivity options while gaming on the cloud. And if you wish to install Steam on your Chromebook and play games locally, well, it’s one of the select few devices to come with built-in Steam Gaming support. All in all, you can’t go wrong with the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, especially at the price tag of $549.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Powerful performance | No touchscreen display |
| 120Hz screen and RGB backlit keyboard | |
| Affordable pricing |
Buy from Best Buy ($549)
2. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16
As part of its cloud gaming laptops lineup, Google also saw Lenovo launch a dedicated gaming Chromebook. The 16-inch Ideapad Gaming Chromebook is somewhat similar to the Acer Chromebook 516 GE in terms of specs and pricing. Under the hood, you get a 12th-gen Intel i5-1235U processor with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.
Note that, Lenovo’s gaming Chromebook packs a U-series Intel processor in comparison to Acer’s P-series chip. The P-series processors can go up to 28W whereas the U-series chipsets are for thin and lightweight machines, hence its TDP is limited to 15W. So the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 is not as powerful as the Acer one mentioned above.
Nevertheless, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 comes with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of PCIe Gen4 SSD. And for you to experience the best gameplay, there is a 16-inch 120Hz IPS panel with a 2560 x 1600 resolution onboard. Its brightness can go up to 350 nits, which is decent for a gaming Chromebook. Not to forget, there is support for Wi-Fi 6E, RGB backlit keyboard, and Bluetooth 5.1.
On the software side, you get built-in Steam gaming support through Borealis for local gameplay. To sum up, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 is another impressive machine for both cloud and native gaming, and you should definitely consider it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good gaming performance (Iris Xe graphics) | Could have gone with a P-series processor |
| 16-inch panel; 120Hz high refresh rate | |
| RGB backlit keyboard |
Buy from Amazon ($599.99)
3. ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip
Lately, Asus has been on the decline in the Chromebook market due to expensive pricing and not getting the basics right. However, with the Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip, Asus is trying to correct its wrongs by bringing a powerful gaming Chromebook to the market. It’s powered by an older 11th-Gen Intel i5-1135G7 processor (28W TDP) with Intel UHD Graphics 630.
Apart from that, the Asus CX55 Chromebook packs 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. On the display front, Asus has done a commendable job. You have a 15.6-inch 144Hz FHD screen with narrow bezels. Plus, the display is also a touch screen and can be folded 360 degrees for tablet mode, which is lacking on other gaming Chromebooks.
Moreover, this gaming Chromebook comes with orange-colored WASD keys. And if you are wondering about Borealis compatibility, worry not, as you can install and play AAA titles from Steam on this Chromebook. Overall, Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip is the perfect buy at $599 if you are looking for a machine to use for both gaming and media consumption.
Pros Cons Touchscreen support 12th-Gen processor would have been nice high refresh rate 144Hz FHD display Convertible design
Buy from Amazon ($729)
Buy from Best Buy ($599)
4. Acer Chromebook Spin 714
Before gaming edition Chromebooks were launched, the go-to powerful workhorse for many has been the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. The users have been employing this machine for development work, local Steam gameplay, as well as cloud gaming. Now, the Spin 713 has been discontinued and a newer Spin 714 Chromebook has been launched by Acer with an updated processor and other enhancements.
The Acer Spin 714 Chromebook comes with a 12th-gen Intel i5-1235U processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics support. There is 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of PCIe NVMe Gen 3.0 SSD onboard.
Talking about the display, you get a smaller 14-inch touchscreen panel in a 16:10 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. It does not come with a high refresh-rate screen, though. Besides that, you have support for the latest connectivity standards as well, including Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.
Sure, it’s not a dedicated gaming edition Chromebook, but its powerful specs are enough to drive any of the supported games. And since the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is also on the list of supported Chromebooks for Borealis, you can install Steam and play desktop titles without any issues.
But do keep in mind that the Acer Spin 714 Chromebook has disappointed some users due to bad battery life, which was not an issue on the Spin 713. I would say that the Acer Spin 714 is overall a great Chromebook for gaming, productivity, development, and all kinds of work despite this shortcoming.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Amazing performance | Battery life is not as good as its predecessor |
| Iris Xe graphics | |
| Supports Steam |
Buy from Amazon ($689)
Buy from Best Buy ($729)
5. HP Elite Dragonfly
HP has launched a premium Chromebook series for power users. The HP Elite Dragonfly series comes in multiple configurations, starting from 12th-Gen Intel Core i3 to i7 processors. The price starts from $1,029 for the base variant, which seems a little too much. Nevertheless, the laptop comes with several top-end features. To start with, you have got a 12th-gen Intel i3-1215U processor on the base variant with Integrated UHD graphics. Plus, the Chromebook packs 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB of PCIe NVMe SSD.
Moving to display, the HP Chromebook includes a 13.5-inch 2K IPS display with 400 nits of maximum brightness. And in case you are wondering, it does not come with a high refresh rate panel like the initial Chromebooks on this list.
Besides that, you have a backlit keyboard, haptic trackpad, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 support. The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook has support for the Borealis container, so you can indeed install Steam and play AAA titles locally, along with Stadia alternatives like GeForce Now. To sum up, though the price of the HP Elite Dragonfly is steep, it’s a solid pick if you are looking for a powerful Chromebook.
Pros Cons up to 12th-Gen Core i7 processor Really Expensive 2K display, 400 nits of brightness Haptic trackpad
Buy from HP (starts from $1029)
6. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook
Lenovo’s Flex 5i series has seen enormous success in the mid-range segment, and it is currently one of the best budget Chromebooks for gaming you can buy right now. Available at under $300, the Flex 5i packs an 11th-Gen Intel i3-1115G4 processor with integrated Intel UHD graphics. And since it’s a Tiger Lake processor, you can enable Steam gaming on this Chromebook without any workarounds. Apart from that, this laptop packs 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of NVMe SSD. It’s good that Lenovo has not used eMMC storage despite the low price.
On the display front, you get a 13.3-inch Full-HD touchscreen display that has a maximum brightness of 250 nits. This Chromebook is more than enough for cloud gaming. For connectivity, there is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support onboard, which is great to have at this price point. Not to forget, the Flex 5i comes in a convertible design so you can fold it as you like. Considering all the points, I would say the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is a perfect pick for all kinds of use cases, including cloud gaming and some moderate native gaming via Steam.
Pros Cons Best budget gaming Chromebook Trackpad is a bit small 11th-gen Intel Core i3 processor FHD touchscreen display
Buy from Amazon ($295)
7. Acer Chromebook 515
If you are looking for an affordable gaming Chromebook, I would recommend getting the Acer Chromebook 515. You can also get the last-gen Acer Chromebook 514 from Best Buy ($374.99) but it comes with a Ryzen 3 processor and has support for Steam gaming. The newer Acer Chromebook 515 comes with an 11th-Gen Intel i3-1115G4 processor (dual-core) with integrated UHD graphics. In addition, you get 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of SSD.
To deliver the best gaming experience, Acer has opted for a larger 15.6-inch FHD IPS screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Obviously, you don’t get a high-refresh-rate panel at this price point. However, you get a fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 support. And needless to say, the Acer Chromebook 514 has native support for the Borealis container for Steam gaming. Overall, it is a good gaming Chromebook at this price and can be used for other purposes as well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Good combination of performance and battery life | Pricier compared to others |
| SSD storage support | |
| Comes with a fingerprint reader |
Buy from Amazon ($499)
8. ASUS Chromebook CX9
Although a bit pricey, the Asus Chromebook CX9 is one of the premium Chromebooks that can handle gaming with a breeze. It is a top-of-the-line offering from Asus. Powered by an 11th-Gen Intel i7-1165G7 processor with Iris Xe graphics in tow, this is the perfect recipe for delivering an unmatched gaming experience on Chromebook. And for storage, Asus has gone all-in and packed 512GB of PCIe NVMe SSD and 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM.
Plus, you have a 14-inch FHD IPS touch panel and a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio with no high refresh rate support. The bezels are also narrow and the screen-to-body ratio is 92 percent, which is great. And for cloud gaming, you have support for WiFi 6 along with Bluetooth 5.0 for reliable connectivity. And since CX9 comes with an 11th-Gen Intel processor, you can install Steam and play desktop titles in a jiffy.
To sum up, if you are looking for a powerful Chromebook that can handle gaming, massive development workload, and productivity work, the Asus Chromebook CX9 is the machine to get.
Pros Cons Intel i7 processor, quite powerful Expensive Massive storage and RAM Beautiful and premium design
Buy from Amazon ($1,263)
9. Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition
Framework recently released an upgradeable and repairable Chromebook with great specs. It starts at $999 and can be anything you want, including the best gaming Chromebook or a productivity machine. The base variant comes with a 12th-Gen Intel i5-1240P processor with Iris Xe Graphics. On the storage front, you get 256GB of SSD storage and 8GB of DDR4 RAM.
Since this is a Framework laptop, you can also use expansion cards to extend the storage or RAM later on. As for the CPU, Framework has not developed another mainboard for Chrome OS, so the Core-i5 CPU is the only option you have at the moment.
Apart from that, you can add an Ethernet port, a microSD card slot, a full-size HDMI port, and more. The best part is that it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack. As for the display, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition packs a 13.5-inch FHD screen in a modern 3:2 aspect ratio and the maximum brightness can go up to 400 nits.
I would say, as far as raw specs are concerned, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition can run top AAA titles through Steam or cloud gaming services with ease. Not to forget, this Chromebook was recently included in the list of machines that support the Borealis container, so you can seamlessly install Steam and play desktop games. At around $999, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition is a good value proposition, given that you can upgrade and repair it for many years to come.
Pros Cons Upgradeable and repairable Chromebook CPU is not upgradeable FHD screen, 400 nits of brightness Supports Steam
Buy from Framework ($999)
10. ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5
Our final pick on this list of best gaming Chromebooks is the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5. It’s a trimmed-down version of CX9 and comes with an 11th-Gen Intel i3-1110G4 processor with integrated UHD graphics. Moreover, you get 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of NVMe SSD. Coming to display, the CX5 Chromebook includes a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen (no high refresh rate support) and the body can be flipped and folded at any angle you want.
As for connectivity, Asus has added support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. In my opinion, the asking price of $745 is on the higher side, but Asus is known for making sturdy and well-designed Chromebooks. That said, the premium might be worth it. Nevertheless, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 supports the Borealis container, and you can easily install Steam and get started with AAA titles locally.
Pros Cons Decent performance Pricier for what you get FHD display Compact and lightweight
Buy from Amazon ($745)
Play AAA Titles on The Top Gaming Chromebooks
So these are our favorite Chromebooks you can check out and buy for gaming right away. I have only included Chromebooks that natively come with Steam gaming support through the Borealis container, so you don’t have to use any workarounds to play games on your laptop. Anyway, that’s all from us. If you are looking to buy the best Chromebooks for kids, head to our curated list. And to find all the best games on Chrome OS, follow our linked article. Finally, if we have missed out on any good suggestions, let us know in the comment below.
Sanmay Chakrabarti
