6 Best Chromebooks For Linux in 2024 Reviewed

Installing and running Linux on a Chromebook is a popular thing to do because Chromebooks a very budget-friendly and can be used as a secondary or throwaway device.

In this article, we list the best Chromebooks for Linux. Top choices if you are looking for a Linux compatible Chromebook.

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First Place

Runner Up

Best Budget

Name

Google PixelBook Go

Acer Chromebook Spin 713

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

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What You Need To Know About The Chromebook

Literally, the best Chromebook to install and run Linux.

A high performance Chromebook with great build quality.

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a solid budget Chromebook for Linux.

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Position

First Place

Name

Google PixelBook Go

Snapshot

What You Need To Know About The Chromebook

Literally, the best Chromebook to install and run Linux.

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Position

Runner Up

Name

Acer Chromebook Spin 713

Snapshot

What You Need To Know About The Chromebook

A high performance Chromebook with great build quality.

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Position

Best Budget

Name

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

Snapshot

What You Need To Know About The Chromebook

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a solid budget Chromebook for Linux.

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Last update on 2024-04-19 at 14:38 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Are Chromebooks Good for Linux?

Yes, Chromebooks are good for Linux because ChromeOS is based on Linux. They can also be good alternatives to Linux desktops or laptops if you are on a tight budget.

Can Chromebooks Run Ubuntu?

Yes, Chromebooks are able to Ubuntu because it belongs to the OS family of Linux.

Which Linux Is Best For Chromebook?

This is more of personal preference.

Can All Chromebooks Run Linux?

No, not all Chromebooks are compatible with Linux. Chromebooks released before 2016 are not compatible.    

Is Linux Compatible with Chromebooks?

Linux is compatible with only Chromebooks released or made after 2016.

Can You Put A Different OS on a Chromebook?

Yes, you can put a different OS on a Chromebook, but it is not as straightforward as it seems.

Fortunately, there are a few guides that help you with the process. You have to do the proper research if you plan on installing a different OS on a Chromebook.

• Chromebook vs Laptop: Which One To Get?
• 6 Best Keyboards For Linux – Expert Reviews
• What Are Chromebooks Good For? What It Can and Can’t Do

Best Chromebooks For Linux & Ubuntu Reviewed & Rated

Google PixelBook Go

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CPU: Intel Core M3 – i7 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics| RAM: 8 – 16GB | Screen: 13.3-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080; 166 PPI) LCD touchscreen | Storage: 64 – 256GB eMMC

Although the Google PixelBook Go is an expensive Chromebook, it is the best Chromebook for running Linux.

Why? Because this is a powerful Chromebook that is highly compatible with Linux. Plenty of performance for running the Linux OS and multitasking.

The construction of the Chromebook is well-made. Top-notch build quality that makes the Google Pixelbook Go have no flex. It’s also lightweight allowing you to easily carry it around.

When it comes to battery life, the Google PixelBook Go is able to last 12 hours under consistent use. Plenty of battery power to last a whole day.

For display, you get a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen that is sharp, bright and has great viewing angles.

Overall, the Google PixelBook Go is a premium Chromebook that has a lot of benefits making it quite expensive.

However, the price tag shouldn’t be an issue since you get your money’s worth. This makes it the best Chromebook for Linux.

Acer Chromebook Spin 13

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CPU: Intel Core i5 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 13.3″ 2K (2256 x 1504) Widescreen IPS LED-backlit Multi-Touch Display | Storage: 128GB eMMC

The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is a high-end Chromebook with all the great hardware. A powerhouse when compared to other Chromebooks.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 will easily handle multitasking and to some extent demanding applications.

To be honest, there is nothing much to say about the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 because this device ticks all boxes except for the price tag and its loud fans under load.

The 13.3-inch touchscreen display is great, it’s sharp, bright, colour accurate and has great viewing angles. All made possible because of its 2K resolution which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.

The Chromebook also has plenty of battery life because it easily lasts 8-9 hours.

Furthermore, the Chromebook is well-built thanks to its aluminium chassis. This makes flex non-existent.

The Acer Chromebook is a solid piece of machine. A high-end Chromebook that has plenty of performance and storage.

The amount of benefits is also almost on par with that of the Google PixelBook Go.

Highly recommended if you are looking for the second-best Chromebook for Linux.  

HP Chromebook x360

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CPU: Intel Core i3 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 14-inch Full HD IPS 1920×1080 | Storage: 64GB eMMC

The HP Chromebook x360 is the Chromebook version of the HP Envy x360 line. That means you get the sleek design and beautiful display like the HP Envy x360.

The differences? An Intel Core i3 and ChromeOS.

Fortunately, the Intel Core i3 and 8GB RAM have plenty of performance for both ChromeOS and Linux.

You also have a good amount of processing power for multitasking and to some extent running demanding ChromeOS applications.

However, these benefits come with a catch. The HP Chromebook x360 has the tendency to run hot which the fans then kick up to cool it, so you get a hot device with loud fans when running heavy loads.

Also, even though the HP Chromebook x360 has a beautiful display, it is dim and glossy. This makes it difficult to use outdoors or in bright sunlight. Indoor use, on the other hand, isn’t much of a problem.

When it comes to battery life, the HP Chromebook x360 is able to last 8 hours under normal tasks. And the keyboard is very comfortable to type with great backlighting.

Overall, the HP Chromebook x360 is the best Chromebook to install Linux.

ASUS Chromebook C425

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CPU: Intel Core M3 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615 | RAM: 4 – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch Full HD IPS 1920×1080 | Storage: 64 – 128GB eMMC

The only fault or con of the ASUS Chromebook C425 is its keyboard backlight.

A white keyboard with a white backlit makes it difficult to see the keys and it’s quite weak too. If you like using the backlight a lot, then this might not be for you.

Fortunately, this is the only con as mentioned earlier because the ASUS Chromebook is a solid Linux compatible Chromebook. The device checks all the boxes making it a great buy.

For a Chromebook, this has a solid performance. An Intel Core M3 and a good amount of RAM for multitasking.

However, the performance takes a hit when you run demanding applications. This is understandable because although the performance is solid. It’s not a high-performance device.

When it comes to battery life, the ASUS Chromebook C425 is able to last 8-9 hours under normal tasks.

Also, the ASUS Chromebook C425 has an attractive design and it is well-built. A slim, lightweight and sleek device that is smooth to the touch.

The display itself is impressive. A 14-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) that is bright and clear.

To sum it all up, you can’t go wrong with the Acer Chromebook C425. One of the best affordable Chromebooks for installing and running Linux.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

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CPU: Intel Core i3 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 13-inch Full HD IPS 1920×1080 | Storage: 64GB eMMC

When it comes to great affordable Chromebooks, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is amongst the top choices. Lenovo doesn’t make Chromebooks often, but when they do just like their ThinkPad series, it’s a hit.

Moreover, everyone knows Lenovo laptops are highly compatible with Linux OS and that includes the Chromebooks. This device checks all the boxes including it being compatible with Linux.

You get a sharp display, thanks to its bright and full HD IPS. You also get a great keyboard making typing fast and responsive. Then there’s the build quality which is done very well.

Finally, battery life is good enough to last a day’s work. In short, this Chromebook is a great value device that gets almost everything right.

The one thing that it didn’t get right is the use in tablet mode. The design makes it too thick to be used as a tablet. Aside from that, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a great device overall.

Highly recommended if you are looking for the best Lenovo Chromebook for Linux.

Acer Chromebook 514

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CPU: Intel Celeron | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics| RAM: 4GB | Screen: 14-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS Touchscreen | Storage: 64GB eMMC

The Acer Chromebook 514 is a solid Chromebook for Linux. Not only is it somewhat affordable, but it is also a well-constructed device with a sleek design giving it a solid feel.

All thanks to its aluminium body and smooth finish. And it is lightweight, a pleasant surprise for a Chromebook made entirely out of aluminium.

When it comes to performance, the Acer Chromebook 514 is snappy which is for a Chromebook.

However, the Intel Celeron and 4GB RAM are not powerful enough to handle several applications at once. And so multitasking is not its strong suit.

Battery life, however, is strong. You are able to get 10 hours easily under consistent use.

Furthermore, the trackpad is accurate and smooth for a Chromebook.

Regrettably, the display could have been better. It has a 14-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) display that has average colour accuracy. It is also not the brightest but still bright enough to be used indoors.

To sum it all up, the Acer Chromebook 514 is an affordable laptop to install and run Linux on.

Highly recommended if you are looking for a Linux compatible Chromebook with long battery life and solid build quality.

Final Thoughts

Installing Linux on Chromebooks is something that has been going on for a long time because of their great compatibility and affordability.

This makes them top choices for Linux OS. For example, it’s recommended that you get a Laptop for Kali Linux because of the reason mentioned above.

That’s it for the best Chromebooks for Linux.