Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14" 83LL000GUS, Core 7 250U, 16GB, 512GB SSD

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 83LL000GUS is a well-built 2-in-1 with a Core 7 CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, which is plenty for ChromeOS. The display is dim and the graphics are weak, but for everyday productivity it's a smooth operator. Worth buying if you find it near the $979 mark, not so much at $1,300.

The Core 7 250U is a 10-core chip with a 5.4GHz turbo, and in our database it lands at the 44th percentile for CPU performance among similar products. That's about average for this class, but for ChromeOS it's plenty. 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM sits at the 51st percentile, which means you can run Android apps, Linux containers, and two dozen browser tabs without the system wheezing. The 512GB NVMe SSD is middle of the pack too, but it's fast enough that boot times and app launches feel instant. The integrated Intel graphics are nothing special, 56th percentile, so don't expect much beyond light photo editing or casual Android games. The weakest area by far is gaming at 8.4 out of 100, which is no surprise for integrated graphics on ChromeOS.

Stacked against the competition, this Lenovo is a different animal entirely. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition will absolutely crush it in raw performance, display quality, and battery life, but they cost two to three times as much. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and HP OMEN Transcend 14 are gaming-focused machines with discrete GPUs that make this Chromebook's integrated graphics look like a calculator. But none of those run ChromeOS, and none of them are 2-in-1 convertibles at this price point. If you want a Chromebook specifically, this Lenovo is one of the better specced options out there. If you just want the best laptop for the money, the Surface Laptop 7th Edition is the more compelling all-rounder, assuming your budget stretches.

The price on this Chromebook swings from $979 to $1,300 depending on the vendor. That's a $321 gap, which is absurd for the same machine. At the low end, you're getting a well-built 2-in-1 with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD for under a grand, which is reasonable. At $1,300, you're creeping into territory where a MacBook Air or a solid Windows ultrabook starts looking tempting. If you're buying, hunt down the cheaper listing. The hardware is identical either way.

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 83LL000GUS is a 14-inch 2-in-1 that packs an Intel Core 7 250U, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. That's a lot of hardware for a Chromebook, and it shows. This thing boots fast, handles a pile of tabs without flinching, and the 360-degree hinge means you can flip it into tablet mode when you want to poke at the touchscreen.

It's not trying to be a gaming rig or a MacBook killer. It's a ChromeOS machine aimed at students, commuters, and anyone who lives in Google's ecosystem. The 300-nit display is fine indoors, the keyboard is backlit, and you get a fingerprint reader plus a 5MP webcam with a privacy shutter. Solid package, but the price spread is wild, so shop around.

Skip this if you need real graphics performance. The integrated Intel GPU scores 8.4 out of 100 for gaming, so anything beyond Stardew Valley or browser games will chug. Also skip it if you care about display quality, the 45% NTSC panel looks flat next to even mid-range Windows laptops. And if you're not already invested in Google's ecosystem, a similarly priced Windows ultrabook will give you more flexibility.

This is for the ChromeOS faithful who want more muscle than the average budget Chromebook. Students, teachers, and anyone who spends their day in Google Workspace will appreciate the 16GB of RAM, the fast SSD, and the convertible form factor. It's not for power users, gamers, or anyone who needs a color-accurate display. If you can snag it at the lower end of that price range, it's a solid buy.