To find the best Chromebook for writers, you’ll need to determine the features that are right for you and your setup, no matter what kind of writing you do. We recommend that you favor Chromebook laptops with high-grade processors and enough RAM to ensure you can have multiple applications running at the same time. Make sure to also consider the form factor, as a light and thin laptop will be better for portability and transport. When buying a Chromebook for a writer, always look for a powerful processor, a comfortable keyboard, and a long-lasting battery.
After analyzing hundreds of reviews amongst a multitude of products with varying price points and features, we’ve determined that the Acer 514 is the best Chromebook for writers on the market today. Keep reading about this and our other top picks to learn more and choose the best Chromebook for your needs.
Top 10 Best Chromebooks for Writers
#1 Acer 514 Chromebook for Writers
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Best laptop for writers, thanks to a long-lasting lithium battery that can go for 12 hours before needing a recharge and 64GB of flash storage, allowing users to save thousands of personal documents.
- 12 hours of battery life
- 64GB of eMMC storage
- Full HD touch display
- Display doesn’t rotate or lay flat
This Acer Chromebook is a great choice for writers and professionals of all stripes, thanks to a robust feature set that includes a powerful quad-core Intel Celeron processor and 64GB of eMMC flash storage. We also appreciated the gorgeous Full HD touch display, which allows this laptop to act as a hybrid device with tablet functionality. The battery should last you a long time, another boon for writers, as it advertised more than 12 hours of use per charge.
Though the multi-touch display is indeed useful, this usefulness is decreased somewhat by the fact that it cannot rotate or lay flat on top of the keyboard, which would make it closer to a true tablet. Still, having access to all of the apps available on the Google Play store is a nice bonus. If you’re also looking for design capabilities, the best Chromebook for artists is another option to consider.
#2 Asus Flip C-302 Chromebook for Writers
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Hybrid 2-in-1 convertible design that features a display that rotates a full 360-degrees, offering a nearly complete tablet experience in addition to acting as an excellent laptop.
- Hybrid design fully rotates
- 64GB of flash storage
- Durable all-metal body
- Display on smaller side, at 12.5”
- USB-C ports, but no USB 2.0 or HDMI
The Asus Chromebook Flip is a good choice for Chromebook novel writing, as it ships with a large 64GB solid-state drive, which is plenty of room for a number of drafts. We also appreciated the ultra-durable all-metal body, which can survive an accidental drop or two, and the efficient convertible design. This 2-in-1 functionality allows the touch display to rotate a full 360-degrees and actually lay atop the keyboard, offering a true tablet experience.
Though the tablet functionality is indeed useful, the actual display is on the smaller side, clocking in at just 12.5-inches wide, which could impact writers who like a lot of screen real estate. Also, the multi-functional USB-C ports here are great for modern accessories, but the lack of any USB 2.0 or HDMI ports could be an annoyance to some. If those are necessary features for you, our best Chromebook for business could be a better option.
#3 Google Pixelbook i7 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality laptop with a particularly robust feature set that rivals a desktop computer, thanks to a powerful Intel Core i7 processor and a speedy 512GB solid-state drive.
- Powerful Intel Core processor
- Integrated smart assistant functionality
- 512GB SSD and 16GB of RAM
- Extremely expensive
- Touch display is somewhat small, at 12.3”
The Google Pixelbook i7 answers the question of “how I found the best laptop for writers and lived to tell the tale.” This Chromebook is packed to the gills with high-end features suited for writers and any other creative professionals, thanks to a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a particularly large 512GB solid-state drive. We also appreciated that this laptop comes with Google Assistant built-in, allowing for easy voice commands.
All of the advanced specs here do come at a literal cost, as this is an extremely expensive Chromebook, which should be taken into consideration. Additionally, the touch display does rotate a full 360-degrees, offering tablet functionality, but it is on the smaller side, at just 12.3-inches wide. For Linux users, you may also want to check out our best Chromebook for Linux buying guide.
#4 Google Pixelbook i5 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST DURABILITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: Highly durable laptop, with an all-metal aluminum body and Corning Gorilla Glass surrounding the display, in addition to offering a robust feature set that rivals desktop computers.
- Thin and lightweight design
- Fast-charging battery
- 7th gen Intel Core processor
- Somewhat expensive
- Touch-display is fairly small
The Google Pixelbook i5 is built to last, with a durable design that features an all-metal aluminum body and a display encased in best-in-class Corning Gorilla Glass. The specs are also on point, thanks to a powerful seventh-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of solid-state storage. We also appreciated the quick-charge battery, which can charge up for two hours of use in just 15 minutes. This is a thin and light laptop as well, as it weighs just over two pounds.
This is a fairly expensive Chromebook, however, so take that into consideration before making a purchase. Also, the multi-touch display is incredibly useful, allowing for tablet functionality, but it is only 12.3-inches wide. Still, we think it is also the best Chromebook for kids on our list.
#5 Samsung Plus V2 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST CONVERTIBLE DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Incredibly efficient 2-in-1 convertible design, which allows this computer to operate both as a capable laptop and a stunning tablet, complete with a stylus for drawing and the like.
- Thin and lightweight design
- Fast-charging battery
- Plenty of useful ports, including SD card reader
- 12.2” display certainly small
- Keyboard is not backlit
The Samsung Plus V2 is the best laptop for writing and illustrating, thanks to an efficient 2-in-1 design that operates as both a Chromebook and a tablet. The high-grade stylus that ships with this laptop make drawing an absolute breeze and the specs are certainly robust, with a powerful Intel Celeron processor and 64GB of flash storage, with the capability to add up to 400GB more via an integrated SD card reader.
Though the touch-enabled display allows this convertible laptop to also shine as a tablet, the display size is small, at just 12.2-inches wide. Additionally, the keyboard is not backlit, which could impact writing in lowly lit areas.
Related: Also check out the best Chromebook apps.
#6 Asus Flip C101PA-DS04 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST PORTABLE DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely lightweight design, clocking in at just 2lb, making it easy to stow in a backpack or carry bag, with a durable all-metal body and a touch-display that rotates a full 360-degrees.
- 2-in-1 tablet functionality
- Durable all-metal body
- Rockchip RK3399 quad-core processor
- 10.1” display is incredibly small
- 32GB of storage
The Asus Flip C101PA-DS04 is incredibly light and compact, weighing just two pounds with a thickness of only 0.6-inches. In other words, you can stow this is a backpack and barely notice it is there. This is also a durable Chromebook, with an all-metal design, in addition to offering a surprisingly robust Rockchip RK3399 quad-core processor, which operates at 2.0GHz. This is a 2-in-1 laptop, meaning it can also operate as a serviceable tablet.
The touch-display here offers a decent 1280 x 800 resolution, but it is extremely small, clocking in at just 10.1-inches wide. Also, the 32GB of integrated flash storage may not be enough for certain consumers. If you’re interested in a simpler model for your grandparents, our best Chromebook for seniors guide includes additional recommendations.
#7 Asus C425 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST AESTHETICS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely attractive design, with ultra-slim bezels surrounding the display, a silver all-metal exterior, and an aesthetically pleasing backlit keyboard, which is handy for writing in lowly lit scenarios.
- Large 6” trackpad
- 14” FHD display
- 64GB of eMMC storage and 8GB of RAM
- 180-degree display rotation
The Asus C425 is an attractive piece of hardware, with an all-metal silver frame and a 4-way NanoEdge display with bezels so slim that it is nearly edge-to-edge. The specs here are fantastic, thanks to a snappy Intel processor, 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC solid-state storage. The touch-display is Full HD and on the larger side, coming in at 14-inches wide. We also appreciated that the keyboard is brightly backlit, for the purposes of use in lowly lit areas.
The display rotates 180-degrees, which does allow it to lay flat next to the keyboard but does not allow for a true tablet experience, as a 360-degree rotation would allow the display to rest on top of the keyboard.
#8 Acer Flip C213SA-YS02 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST BATTERY
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with a best-in-class lithium-ion battery that allows for more than 12 hours of use per charge, with a powerful Intel Dual-Core Apollo Lake N3350 processor.
- Liquid-resistant keyboard
- Rugged Mil-STD-810G construction
- Intel Dual-Core Apollo Lake N3350 processor
- Does not ship with stylus
- 32GB of storage on lower side
The Acer Flip C213SA-YS02 can last all day and into the night, thanks to shipping with a stunning lithium battery that allows for more than twelve hours of use before needing to hit the power outlet. The specs here are also on point, thanks to the inclusion of an Intel Dual-Core Apollo Lake N3350 processor. We also appreciated the durable design here, with rugged Mil-STD-810G construction and a liquid-resistant keyboard.
Though this model does feature a touch-display, it does not ship with a stylus, which could impact consumers looking to draw on the screen or easily manipulate apps. The storage here is also on the lower side, as this laptop only comes with 32GB of flash storage.
#9 Acer R 13 Chromebook for Writers
Award: BEST VALUE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Value-friendly Chromebook with a surprisingly capable feature set that includes a lithium battery that can last for nearly 12 hours on a single charge and a gorgeous 13.3” Full HD touch display.
- Battery gets nearly 12 hours
- 13.3” FHD touch display
- MediaTek Quad-Core CPU
- No stylus
- 32GB of storage
The Acer R 13 comes in at a value-conscious price while offering features in line with more expensive competitors, such as a MediaTek Quad-Core CPU that can handle nearly any app you throw at it and a long-lasting lithium battery that can run for nearly 12 hours before needing a recharge. We also appreciated the large 13.3-inch Full HD touch display, which offers a 2-in-1 hybrid design and tablet functionality.
This laptop does not ship with a capacitive stylus, which would be extremely handy for drawing on the touchscreen and the like. Additionally, it ships with just 32GB of SSD storage, which is on the smaller side.
#10 Acer N3060 Chromebook for Writers
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly laptop with a robust feature set that includes an efficient Intel Celeron N3060 processor and a long-lasting lithium-ion battery that allows for around ten hours of use on a single charge.
- 10 hours of battery life
- Powerful Intel Celeron N3060 processor
- 2-in-1 convertible design
- 11.6” touch display
- On the heavier side, at over 4lb
The Acer N3060 is the best laptop for writers on a budget, thanks to arriving at a pleasing price point while offering an excellent feature set. This Chromebook ships with a powerful Intel Celeron N3060 processor, which can handle most modern applications with ease. It also features a long-lasting lithium battery that can run continuously for up to ten hours before needing a recharge. This is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, so it can also be used as a tablet when necessary.
Though we appreciated the 2-in-1 design of this budget laptop, the touch display is on the smaller side, coming in at just 11.6-inches wide. Also, this is a fairly heavy item, for a Chromebook, as it weighs more than four pounds.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we researched a number of Chromebooks to ensure that they were full-featured and well suited to serve writers and similar consumers. To that end, we liked laptops with large and comfortable keyboards, with bonus points awarded to laptops with backlit keyboards, which can be useful when cranking out the first draft of something in the middle of the night.
We tended to prefer Chromebooks with powerful processors, for the purposes of playing games and engaging in other creative pursuits, such as photo editing. We also took a good look at display size, liking laptops with large displays that offer more immersion as writers go about perfecting their chosen craft.
Many of the above computers are 2-in-1 hybrid laptops, otherwise known as convertible laptops, meaning they feature touch-displays and, as such, can double as a tablet in addition to functioning as a laptop. Finally, we liked computers with plenty of useful ports and those with reliable and speedy solid-state storage.
Best Chromebook for Writers Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Overall Specs
Just with any laptop, these Chromebooks should have enough power to easily handle all of your favorite writing applications, including Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and more. Nearly any Chromebook available will be able to access popular word processors, but take a good look at the specs if you are planning on using it for visual art. Look for at least 4GB of RAM, with 8GB or 16GB preferred, and powerful processors, often made by industry giant Intel. - Display
If you are going to be writing large documents, or just watching YouTube videos, the display should be of paramount importance. Look for IPS displays that are at least HD and those with integrated multi-touch capabilities, for the purposes of tablet-like immersion. If you are someone who likes a lot of screen real estate, make sure to choose a laptop with a larger-than-average display. - Additional Features
If you are an artist looking for a simple laptop to enrich your writing craft, certain additional features should be considered before making a purchase. Look for Chromebooks that ship with a stylus, for the purposes of drawing and moving paragraphs around by hand, and those that ship with a multitude of useful ports and connections, including USB 3.0, USB 3.1, HDMI, and more. These ports can allow integration with a wide array of writing-centric accessories, such as external hard drives.
