Chromebook vs Laptop: what’s the difference between Chromebook and laptop devices?

Laptop vs Chromebook - which is the right pick for your needs?

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Chromebook vs laptop – which one is right for you and what’s the difference between these two devices anyway? On this page, we will go in-depth to answer both these questions, discussing their relative capabilities, and finish with some recommended options on both.

Chromebooks are essentially a subclass of laptops, rather than a completely separate thing, but there are important differences between how a Chromebook works compared to a Windows laptop and a MacOS laptop (i.e. MacBook Pro or MacBook Air), that you need to be aware of before you buy. Read on and prepare to be fully educated.

What can and can’t you do with a Chromebook?

Chromebooks offer advantages and disadvantages compared to conventional Windows and MacOS laptops. We’ll be exploring the main differences in detail throughout this page, but in terms of what you can and can’t do on a Chromebook, below is a brief summary:

What can a Chromebook do?

• Use web-based apps
• Use Android apps
• Use Chrome OS & Linux OS
• Use cloud gaming apps (Google Stadia, Xbox Cloud, Amazon Luna etc.)

What can’t a Chromebook do?

• Natively run Windows/Mac software
• Game using in-built hardware (except very non-demanding titles)
• Perform well without an internet connection (though better than they used to)

Chromebook vs laptop: price

Chromebooks are usually cheaper than Windows laptops by a substantial margin. You can either get yourself a Chromebook with a comparable display, trackpad, keyboard, portability, and overall build quality for less money, or spend the same amount and get a device that is superior in all these respects to the Windows laptop for an equivalent budget. Ultimately what you pay for in Windows laptops is a more powerful CPU, GPU, greater storage, and better offline functionality.

Chromebook vs laptop: operating system differences

The Chromebook operating system is ChromeOS, originally based on Linux, which is heavily integrated with the Google Chrome browser. It is designed so that you have to download very few applications/programs – instead relying on web-based software.

That being said the OS is expanding a bit in more recent updates as far as offline support goes: with Android app support via the Google Play Store (though it’s not completely seamless yet), a recycle bin, better notifications, and desktop themes, and a Chrome OS phone hub that allows you to transfer and view photos from your phone more easily (as long as they were taken on an Android phone). 

You can also set up Linux on a Chromebook, without too much effort (it’s sort of built-in, but requires enabling and installing), which has a wider range of supported software including Firefox, GIMP (a free Photoshop alternative), Audacity (for audio editing), OBS Studio (for streamers, YouTubers etc. who want to record their screen), Steam, VirtualBox (virtualization software), and more.

Windows laptops are better multitaskers: they can pretty much do everything a Chromebook can do in terms of functionality, plus substantially more due to the vast array of applications it supports. One exception to this is that the support of Android apps is comparatively limited, though it can use some via Amazon. That being said it is a more complex, arguably bloated operating system, that comes with certain disadvantages relative to the streamlined ChromeOS (more on this below).

MacOS laptops are more limited than Windows laptops in terms of the applications they support (particularly games), but still have substantially more functionality than ChromeOS does.

Can I run Windows apps on Chromebooks?

In the standard ChromeOS you cannot natively run Windows apps on Chromebooks, however, there are a couple of workarounds.

Parallels Desktop for ChromeOS is one method that allows you to use Windows apps offline on your Chromebook, but it requires the purchase of a license (though a free trial is available), plus is only compatible with specific enterprise ‘Enterprise’ Chromebooks at the time of writing, such as the HP Pro c640 Chromebook Enterprise, HP Elite c1030 Chromebook Enterprise, and HP Chromebox Enterprise G3.

Besides this the Chrome Remote Desktop application can be used to connect your Chromebook to a Windows PC via a web connection, thus allowing you to operate a Windows machine (plus its apps) with your Chromebook’s interface. This isn’t really running the apps on your Chromebook though, and requires you to have a separate Windows device you can connect to in order to work.

Finally, if you’re a business owner you can use Windows 365, which is Microsoft’s official cloud-based Windows solution – essentially you stream Windows via the web to your Chromebook. The main issue with this is that it’s not currently an option for regular consumers, although this is likely to change in the future.

Can you run Office on a Chromebook?

Microsoft Office is not available for Chromebooks in its conventional desktop form unless you follow one of the above steps in order to use Windows, you can, however, sign up to Microsoft Office 365 which installs ‘Progressive Web App’ (PWA) versions of the software (Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive etc.) into your Chrome web browser.

The PWA versions of these Microsoft Office apps work similarly to the mobile versions you might find on an Android phone, but with greater functionality: you can pin them to the taskbar, receive popups / push notifications, and most importantly, they can be used offline.

The most common alternative to Microsoft Office is the Google Workplace suite of apps (which includes Google Docs, Google Sheets etc.) that have compatible file formats with the Microsoft Office suite (e.g. you can save Google Docs as .docx files that can be opened by Microsoft Word). These will permit you to do most word processing and spreadsheets-based tasks, but it should be noted that Google Sheets in particular lacks the depth of functionality of Microsoft Excel.

Is a Chromebook or laptop better for office work?

The answer to this question depends on a couple of things: ‘does your workplace have a good internet connection and sufficient bandwidth?’ And ‘what software do you use in your work?’ In the case of the former, if the answer is no, then a laptop is superior, be it a Windows machine or a MacBook. In the case of the latter question, you’ll want to make sure that any software you use is supported by ChromeOS. As we discussed above, the conventional, desktop form of Microsoft Office is not natively supported, but there are alternatives. More demanding bits of software (image/video/audio editing applications in the Adobe suite for example) are harder to find workarounds for however, so creative professionals will be better suited to a Windows or MacOS machine.

Storage is also another important consideration: if you have a job/hobby that requires you to use a lot of local storage, then you need to be aware that Chromebooks typically come equipped with a lot less than conventional laptops, instead relying on cloud storage, in particular the Google Drive. Still, you can always supplement your local storage with an external hard drive plugged into one of the USB ports.

Ultimately a Windows laptop will always be more versatile for office work than a Chromebook, but you get more for your money with a Chromebook, which may sway your decision when looking for an office work device.

Laptop vs Chromebook: battery life

Chromebooks usually have superior battery life compared to laptops for the simple reason that they don’t need as much power to run their core components, as the processors are invariably much less powerful, and they do not come with dedicated graphics cards. There are instances where this is not the case, but in these instances the Chromebook will require a less powerful and therefore sizable battery to achieve the same battery duration, so can be constructed in a thinner chassis.

Do laptops and Chromebooks look different?

Chromebooks and laptops look pretty much identical in most aspects though one way you can tell (besides the Google Chrome logo that often appears on Chromebooks) is that Chromebooks have a search key on their keyboard (with a magnifying glass symbol), usually on the left in place of a Caps Lock key. Windows laptops obviously have a Windows key, usually on the bottom left, which is lacking in a Chromebook.

As mentioned above, the lack of powerful CPU chips or graphics cards in Chromebooks, or the need for as big of a battery to power them, means they are frequently (though not always), thinner and more lightweight than Windows laptops.

Can a Chromebook play games as well as a Windows laptop?

In most circumstances, Chromebooks are completely inferior to Windows laptops when it comes to playing games. They do not have the GPU or CPU hardware to play games unless the laptop is particularly high-spec in this area, and the game is particularly non-demanding. There isn’t a Chromebook on the market that can play the latest AAA titles natively on anything other than the very lowest settings, and even this is a very unlikely prospect – it would simply defeat the point of it being a Chromebook in the first place. On top of this, the OS support to run games is no way near as good as on Windows machines, although Steam for ChromeOS is available in beta form allowing access to a few titles.

That being said, game streaming services are one option where you can play the latest AAA titles via the magic of the internet. Services such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Google Stadia, Xbox Cloud, Blade Shadow, and Amazon Luna are all compatible with Chromebooks. Cloud gaming Chromebooks have been launched that specifically target this market.

Web-based games are obviously totally fine to run on a Chromebook, and Android game support is an area where they actually have an advantage over Windows devices, although Windows machines can now run some of these since the Spring 2022 Windows 11 update.

Which lasts longer, a Chromebook or a PC?

Windows PCs and laptops claim victory in this particular field, as they have less of a cap imposed on them by OS and driver support. 

Usually, Windows machines can upgrade from the older version of the operating system to the new one for free, although the introduction of Windows 11 cut off many older laptops from the free upgrade that didn’t meet certain hardware requirements. You can still use Windows 10 laptops and PCs of course, but eventually, they will no longer get security updates or bug patches from Microsoft, rendering them vulnerable or susceptible to other errors.

Besides this though, theoretically, a Windows machine could last for decades, as long as the components don’t deteriorate to the point that they break (which they usually will after a good few years, though how many depends on how you treat them / the quality of the components/luck).

Chromebooks however all have a specific Auto Update Expiration date, after which point they will no longer receive updates. Typically this is around 6-8 years after the specific model hits the shelves, with later Chromebooks, fortunately, leaning towards the longer duration. The AUE isn’t always immediately apparent, but you’ll want to make sure you have a root for it in the specifications/small print before you buy. Given that Chromebooks are much more dependent upon online support, their functionality decreases substantially the longer after the AUE date you run them, as does their protection against cyber attacks.

Which is more secure, a Chromebook or a Windows PC?

In short, Chromebooks are the more secure of the two devices, but it depends on what form of security you mean exactly.

Security against malware/viruses on Chromebook vs laptop

The simplicity of the Chromebook OS, plus the smaller number of applications they support makes them more difficult to exploit and easier to defend than Windows PCs. It’s likely that this will change somewhat as ChromeOS becomes more developed and supports more applications, though it will likely still remain more secure than Windows for some time.

Besides this though, Google actively developed ChromeOS with security in-mind. Many different processes are separated or ‘sandboxed’ from each either, preventing cross-contamination, the boot process has inbuilt verification, and there’s greater Malware protection when browsing the web.

Windows computers by contrast require much more regular updates to keep them protected of Windows Defender (the in-built firewall and antivirus software) plus any third-party antivirus software you’ve installed, though these days much of this is done automatically. 

Login & authentication security on Chromebook vs laptop

Overall Chromebook and Windows laptop login and authentication security is about the same. 

For Chromebooks you need a Google account in order to login at all, which requires a password. For Windows laptops you do need a Microsoft account in order to access most features, but many offline features are still usable without one.

Authentication security on Chromebooks was slightly behind Windows, but now includes WebAuthn as an option – which permits you to use PIN and/or fingerprint authentication protection. Windows laptops have PIN and fingerprint authentication options (assuming your device has a fingerprint scanner that is), plus Windows Hello facial recognition via the webcam. Both have two-factor authentication options.

What is a good Chromebook?

The best way to learn about the finest Chromebook picks on the market is to take a gander at our best Chromebook guide. If time is of the essence and you want to by something right now though, we’ve listed some of the top picks below for you.

What is a good laptop?

If you want a good selection of Windows laptops for general use, take a gander at our best laptop for working from home guide. We’ve also listed some of the top picks from this guide below for you to peruse. If you’re looking for something a bit stronger, take a look at our main best gaming laptop guide.

Chromebook vs Laptop FAQ

Do Chromebooks need an internet connection?

When Chromebooks originally came out, they were virtually useless without an internet connection. These days the more recent and advanced models have a degree of offline functionality, but they still require an internet connection for the majority of their processes.

If you can’t get access to a reliable and consistent internet connection, we wouldn’t recommend getting a Chromebook.

Are Chromebooks cheap?

Chromebooks are invariably cheaper than Windows laptops and definitely MacOS laptops. To be clear, you can definitely buy expensive Chromebooks, but these will almost always have superior displays, build quality, and other features compared to laptops of the same price, as they do not require the same level of CPU and GPU power, so can spend resources in other areas.

Chromebook vs Laptop: which should you buy? The Final Word

So Chromebook vs laptop – what’s the verdict? In summary, for most users, a traditional laptop is still likely the best option, as it offers more versatility and functionality, and crucially isn’t as restricted by the need for a reliable internet connection. That being said, if you’re just looking for a general productivity machine for the office, and maintaining web connection isn’t a problem, then a Chromebook can offer you a lighter, thinner, and better value option with better battery duration than a Windows laptop or MacBook ever could.