The best Chromebook deal of Amazon’s October Prime Day event doesn’t actually boast a huge discount. But still it’s one of the best prices of the year for what you’re buying.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon, just 10 percent off. Yes, our list of the best Chromebook deals for Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days does include some cheaper prices, especially at a couple of retailers other than Amazon. But in general, Amazon holds its own, delivering some of the best fall bargains on Chromebooks.

If you’ve been following our Chromebook deals coverage for the past few years, you’ll know our criteria are straightforward: first, memory counts. More memory means more available tabs and apps, and a lot of deals cut corners by offering just 4GB of memory. The IdeaPad 3i offers a full 8GB, and that matters. Second, I like at least a 1080p screen. The 3i offers one, and at a nice spacious 15.6-screen size, too. I care less about the processor, but the 3i’s Celeron N4500 is a dual-core chip from 2021 — about average.

Lenovo’s ThinkPads and IdeaPads typically offer solid, comfortable keyboards, and the 15.6-inch display sneaks in a bonus: It’s wide enough for a dedicated number pad. That’s not a necessity, but it certainly makes any data entry a lot easier.

Lenovo also boasts 10 hours of battery life, too. That’s dependent on how you use it, of course, but it’s a solid baseline nevertheless.

I care less about some other aspects of a Chromebook, such as the ports. Still, the IdeaPad delivers, with a pair of USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and even a dedicated HDMI port in case you want to connect an external display for some additional screen real estate.

One of the arguments for a Chromebook is that it’s simply easier to manage than a Windows machine. But as we move further (for better or for worse) into the age of AI, a Chromebook doesn’t mess around with trying to have you use local AI. Google wants you to connect to its cloud AI, Gemini, but you can also open another tab and just connect to ChatGPT as well.

(Remember, Google also offers an AI subscription with its Chromebook Plus program. You can review our Prime Day deals for a more detailed explanation, but the best Chromebook Plus deal is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 for $299, or 38 percent off at Best Buy.)

Sure, the 10 percent discount Lenovo is offering for Prime Day doesn’t pop. But really, all a sale is offering you is the best price available, and the IdeaPad 3i is already cheaper than Chromebooks with much weaker specifications. This is my recommendation for the best Chromebook deal for Amazon’s October Prime Day sale. I think you’ll like it.

Get the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i for $169.99 for Amazon Prime Day

Windows 10 is dying next week, for a given value of “dying.” Microsoft is offering extended security support with some strings, and it’s not like we haven’t seen major Windows releases go out of service before… but we’re in a very different world than when Windows 8 faded away. Google is making the best of it, offering up Chromebooks and ChromeOS as a less aggravating alternative.

“Time for a new laptop? Get Chromebook Plus,” says an advertisement on Google’s home page, apparently shown to Windows 10 users who have probably heard that their PC’s days are numbered.

“With security fixes for Windows 10 ending this October, switch to the laptop that has never had a virus,” it goes on, in contextual ads spotted by Windows Latest. The linked page shows off a scary blue screen on a dated-looking laptop, spinning into the newest, sleekest Chromebook models, including the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus.

This is pretty darn good marketing, Google. With Microsoft pushing and pushing hard for users to get onto Windows 11—even when there’s nothing wrong with Windows 10 and plenty of people have no need of a new, expensive device—there are a lot of people souring on Windows for the very first time right now. Between the unpleasant proposal of Windows 11 and its constant advertising pushes, not to mention Copilot “AI” that’s questionably useful at best and just downright dangerous at worst, and the fact that many people now use their phones or tablets as primary web devices, it’s a great time to offer up some different choices.

That being said, it’s my job to be a devil’s consumer advocate here. Chromebooks do have an excellent 10-year support promise for the latest models, but be aware that the timer starts when the device is first put on the market, not when you buy your specific laptop. And Google’s insistence that ChromeOS has “never had a virus” is a bit sus. It’s true that viruses and other malware made specifically for Windows don’t affect the Linux-based ChromeOS… but there are still plenty of malicious extensions you can install on a Chromebook, plus Android apps, both of which occasionally get through the official security measures on Google’s Chrome Web Store and Play Store, respectively. And nothing stops standard phishing and other social engineering attacks on Chromebooks. Plus, both ChromeOS and Android are now chock-full of Google’s own flavor of “AI” (Gemini), arguably about the same level of annoying as Windows and Copilot.

So I’d encourage Google to lean into the 10-year support promise (with the aforementioned asterisk on the timeline), the fact that Chromebooks are generally cheaper than similarly-equipped Windows laptops, and that they’re also easier to keep running smoothly if something goes wrong. Even so, I have to tip my hat to Google for striking while the iron—and the temper of hundreds of millions of Windows users—is hot.

Amazon’s October Prime Day 2025 Chromebook deals are now officially live. In this article we’ve curated the best Chromebook deals for what Amazon also refers to as Prime Big Deal Days, but we’ve also examined deals from Best Buy, Walmart and other retailers through Oct. 7 and Oct. 8.

We already test and recommend the best Chromebooks, so we know what makes a great device. Over the past few years, I’ve compiled lists of the top Chromebook deals for Prime Day, Black Friday, and more. I’m seeing some surprisingly decent deals for Prime Day on recent hardware, though it appears that the premium Chromebook Plus models are where inflation is hitting hardest.

To compile PCWorld’s list of Chromebook deals for October Prime Day deals, I looked at the specifications, the price, the manufacturer, and any reviews we’ve published on a specific Chromebook.  Want more? Check out all the best October Prime Day deals on PCWorld’s landing page here.

Best October Prime Day Chromebook deals at Amazon

• Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4500/8GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display, $169.99 (10% off at Amazon)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 1920×1080 display, $178.00 (19% off at Amazon)
• HP Chromebook Plus (renewed), Intel Core i3-N305/8GB RAM/128GB UFS, 1920×1080 display at 144Hz, $239.99 at Amazon
• Lenovo Chromebook 14-inch, MediaTek Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/192GB storage (64GB eMMC + 128GB SD), 14-inch 1920×1080 display, $203.15 (38% off at Amazon)
• Lenovo Chromebook 14-inch, MediaTek Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/320GB storage (64GB eMMC/256GB SD), 14-inch 1920×1080 display, $220.15 (26% off at Amazon)
• Acer Chromebook Plus 514, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, 14-inch 1920×1080 display, $320.00
• Asus ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus, Intel Core Ultra 5 processor/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 14-inch 2560×1600 display, $599.99 (14% off at Amazon)
• Acer Gateway Chromebook 314, Intel Celeron N4500/4GB RAM/64GB storage/14-inch 1920×1080 display, $179.99 (28% off at Amazon)
• Asus Flip CX1 Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4500/8GB RAM/128GB storage/14-inch 1920×1080 touch display, $309.99 (16% off at Amazon)

Ignore the fact that Lenovo’s IdeaPad 3i has just a 10 percent discount attached to it. It’s the best price that I’ve found for an all-around, no-compromise Chromebook for October Prime Day. It has 8GB of RAM, a 1080P display, and a good processor. If you don’t care about a Chromebook Plus like the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 in the next section, buy this.

I rarely promote “renewed” products in these lists, but the HP Chromebook Plus here has some excellent specs for the price. If you’re willing to take a shot, this is the best price for a Chromebook Plus device that I’ve found.

Yes, the top four devices right now are from Lenovo. They all have some compromise (4GB of RAM, in three of the four cases) but all of them except for the IdeaPad 3i are at their lowest prices of the year. I list them in order of preference, so the 15.6-inch Lenovo Chromebook is the one I’d choose if the IdeaPad 3i isn’t available.

Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514 and the Asus ExpertBook gets you into the Chromebook Plus category, which offers 12 months of Google AI Pro for free. Right now, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 at Best Buy offers a far better price, however. Note that I’ve swapped out the Acer Chromebook 514 for a similar model that, while claiming no sale price, is still $40 cheaper than the previous listing and they toss in a mouse for good measure. It’s all about price.

The Asus Flip CX1 also doesn’t compromise, either, but at $309 it’s well above some of the other offerings. I think it’s worthy of mention, but deserves to be at the bottom of this list.

Best October Prime Day Chromebook deals beyond Amazon

• Acer Chromebook Plus 516, Intel Core i3-1315U/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 16-inch 1920×1200 display, $299.00 (38% off at Best Buy)
• Asus CX15 Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/4GB RAM/128GB eMMC storage, 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display, $139.00 (37% off at Walmart)
• Acer Chromebook 315, Intel Celeron N4500/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC/15.6-inch 1920x1080p display, $139.00 (54% off at Best Buy)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, MediaTek Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 14-inch 1920x1080p display, $159.00 (60% off at Best Buy)
• HP 15.6-inch Chromebook, Intel N200/8GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 15.6-inch 1366×768 display, $199.00 (54% off at Best Buy)
• Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor/4GB RAM/128GB eMMC storage, 11-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display, $249.00 (38% off at Best Buy)
• HP 14-inch Chromebook, Intel Celeron/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 14-inch 1366×768 display, $119.00 (61% off at Best Buy)

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 at the top of the list is the best all-around deal. (Do you need a Chromebook Plus?) That’s an excellent price for a no-compromise Chromebook, and with Google’s AI subscription on top of it. You’ll have no regrets.

The Asus CX15 Chromebook and Acer Chromebook 315 falls in the ultra-cheap category at just $139, but it still delivers a lot for the price. You’re getting a spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display plus 64GB to 128GB GB of storage, which is more than enough for day-to-day browsing and streaming. It’s the kind of Chromebook that makes sense if you want a big screen without emptying your wallet, and the deep discounts makes both an easy pick.

HP’s Chromebook at Best Buy only offers a 768p resolution, which is going to look a little grainy on its 15-inch screen. There is no external display connection, either. I’d use the return policy here; the 8GB of RAM helps make this a good deal, which is why it’s here. But if it’s just too hard on your eyes, return it. Otherwise, it’s a solid deal.

I’d prefer the Lenovo Duet 11 over the Slim 3 at Best Buy on specs alone. However, the Duet is a detachable tablet, and that might turn some people off. (I prefer clamshells over tablets, but that’s just me!) The Slim 3 might be a better choice, but it’s a bit less powerful.

I don’t want to even list this, but the $119 HP 14-inch Chromebook is about the cheapest new Chromebook I found. It has only 4GB of RAM and a 768p screen, so it’s definitely subpar. But if you need a bargain-basement option, it’s there.

Deals updated at 4:51 PM PT on Oct. 8, 2025.

Other great October Prime Day deals

These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found.

• Best Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts
• Best October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more
• Best October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage
• Best USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day
• Best monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more
• Best October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs
• Best October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers
• Best October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks
• Best October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks
• Best October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks
• Best October Prime Day PC computer deals

Looking for a decent laptop under $500? Yeah, it’s kind of a mess out there. One quick search and you’re drowning in options–most of them pretty meh. The key is knowing what actually matters.

Shoot for a 1080p screen and at least 8GB of RAM. That combo keeps things running smooth and makes videos look good, too. You’ll have to give up a few bells and whistles at this price, but don’t worry, we’ve already sifted through the junk to identify affordable laptops you actually want.

Here are our top picks that prove budget laptops don’t have to be terrible.

Why you should trust PCWorld for laptop reviews and buying advice: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of our picks have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.

Other laptops under $500 we tested

We also looked at the Acer Aspire Go 15, which has great battery life and a solid 1080p screen for under $500. Then there’s the Acer Chromebook Spin 312, a small 2-in-1 that’s great for basic stuff like browsing and streaming but not super fast. Both are good options if you want something simple.

How to choose the best laptop under $500

Ah, here we are at the billion dollar question. Do you spring for a basic Chromebook or go for a Windows laptop with more features? Honestly, it mostly comes down to your lifestyle and what you’re expecting from a laptop under 500 bucks. You’re not gonna get some super-powerful beast at that price, but if you just need something for the basics, there are a lot of decent options out there.

Chromebooks, for example, are super budget-friendly and the battery life is awesome. I actually use one myself for work (writing, editing, all that) and it does the job just fine. If you travel a lot, it’s worth going for something that’s nice and light — under 3 pounds, if possible. Still not sure what to get? No big deal, take your time figuring it out. I’ve put together a list of quick buying tips below.

• Laptop type: There are many different laptop types that fall in the sub-$500 category: clamshells, 2-in-1s, Chromebooks, and much more. The displays on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1s), for example, can swing around 360 degrees. This allows you to use the laptop like a tablet. They can also be propped up like a tent for viewing movies or participating in video calls. Chromebooks come in various shapes and sizes, and exclusively run Google’s web-focused Chrome OS. With a Chromebook, all you need is a Gmail account and, boom, you’re in.
• CPU: When it comes to the sub-$500 Windows laptops, you can expect to find Intel Core i3 or i5 processors. An i5 processor obviously provides a little more oomph. That said, basic office and web work does just fine on a Core i3. For AMD stuff, Ryzen 3 is fine for everyday stuff like web browsing, and Ryzen 5 is a solid all-rounder—kind of like Intel’s i5. On Chromebooks, Snapdragon and Pentium chips usually beat out MediaTek ones.
• Graphics: Don’t expect great graphics at this price. You’ll mostly get integrated graphics, which is totally fine unless you’re trying to game or do 3D work.
• RAM: RAM-wise, go for 8GB if you can—it just makes everything smoother. Most Chromebooks come with 4GB, which works, but 8GB is way better if you can swing it.
• Display size: For screen size, 13 to 14 inches is the sweet spot. Big enough to work on, small enough to carry around. Bigger screens mean more weight (and usually a higher price).
• Resolution: Don’t settle for less than 1080p resolution. Anything lower just looks kinda blurry, even for basic stuff like Netflix or spreadsheets.
• Battery life: Battery life? Look for 10 to 12 hours. That’ll get you through most of the day without hunting for an outlet.
• Ports: It’s nice to have a bunch so you don’t need extra adapters. Look for USB-C and USB-A, and HDMI is cool if you want to hook up to a screen.

Amazon’s October Prime Day 2025 event is just around the corner! While the sale itself runs between October 7 and 8, you can find some early Chromebook deals ahead of time — and we’ve got them, right here.

We already test and recommend the best Chromebooks, so we know what makes a great device. Over the past few years, I’ve compiled lists of the top Chromebook deals for Prime Day, Black Friday, and more. While the very best Chromebooks don’t always see big discounts for Prime Day, there are still solid deals to be found, and figuring out which ones are worth it is where PCWorld, and I, come in.

To compile PCWorld’s list of Chromebook deals for early October Prime Day deals, I looked at the specifications, the price, the manufacturer, and any reviews we’ve published on a specific Chromebook.  Want more? Check out all the best early October Prime Day deals on PCWorld’s landing page here.

Best early October Prime Day Chromebook deals at Amazon

• Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4500/8GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display, $175.00 (7% off at Amazon)
• Acer Chromebook Plus 514, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 14-inch 1920×1080 display, $359.99 (10% off at Amazon)
• Asus ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus, Intel Core Ultra 5 processor/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 14-inch 2560×1600 display, $599.99 (14% off at Amazon)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 1920×1080 display, $178.00 (19% off at Amazon)

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is a lousy deal (7 percent off the typical price, and a bit higher than the $150 it hit during the holiday 2024 season) but it’s simply a terrific price for a no-compromise Chromebook. The only weak spot? Slightly slower eMMC storage, but I doubt you’ll notice. This is the one to buy right now.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is a solid, cheap pick at $178. It’s got a 14-inch 1080p screen and it can handle everyday stuff like browsing the web or doing homework without any trouble. Not fancy, but it gets the job done without costing much. I’ve never been a huge fan of just 4GB of memory, but it should be okay if you want to save a few bucks more.

Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514 and the Asus ExpertBook gets you into the Chromebook Plus category, which offers 12 months of Google AI Pro for free.

Best early October Prime Day Chromebook deals beyond Amazon

• Asus CX15 Chromebook, Intel Celeron N4500 processor/4GB RAM/128GB eMMC storage, 15.6-inch 1920×1080 display, $139 (37% off at Walmart)
• HP 15.6-inch Chromebook, Intel N200/8GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 15.6-inch 1366×768 display, $199.00 (54% off at Best Buy)
• Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook, MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor/4GB RAM/128GB eMMC storage, 11-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display, $249 (38% off at Best Buy)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, MediaTek Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/64GB eMMC, 14-inch 1920x1080p display, $218.00 (45% off at Best Buy)

The Asus CX15 Chromebook falls in the ultra-cheap category at just $139, but it still delivers a lot for the price. You’re getting a spacious 15.6-inch 1080p display plus 128GB of storage, which is more than enough for day-to-day browsing and streaming. It’s the kind of Chromebook that makes sense if you want a big screen without emptying your wallet, and the deep discount makes it an easy pick.

HP’s Chromebook at Best Buy only offers a 768p resolution, which is going to look a little grainy on its 15-inch screen. There is no external display connection, either. I’d use the return policy here; the 8GB of RAM helps make this a good deal, which is why it’s here. But if it’s just too hard on your eyes, return it. Otherwise, it’s a solid deal.

I’d prefer the Lenovo Duet 11 over the Slim 3 at Best Buy on specs alone, but the Duet is a detachable tablet, too. The Slim 3 might be a better choice, but it’s a bit less powerful.

Deals updated at 8:58 AM PT on Oct. 6, 2025.

Other great early October Prime Day deals

These aren’t the only Prime Day deals being tracked by the PCWorld team. If you’re looking to supercharge your home setup with the juiciest tech sales, hit the links for only the best expert-curated picks we’ve found.

• Best early Amazon October Prime Day tech deals: Great sales chosen by experts
• Best early October Prime Day laptop deals: Gaming notebooks, 2-in-1s, and more
• Best early October Prime Day deals on SSDs and storage
• Best early USB flash drive deals for October Prime Day
• Best early monitor deals for October Prime Day: OLED, home office, and more
• Best early October Prime Day deals on Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs
• Best early October Prime Day mini PC deals: Big savings on tiny computers
• Best early October Prime Day deals on battery chargers and power banks
• Best early October Prime Day deals on Chromebooks
• Best early October Prime Day deals on office chairs and standing desks
• Best early October Prime Day PC computer deals

TL;DR: Take on everyday tasks with this refurbished Lenovo 300E Touchscreen Chromebook — now just $69.97 (MSRP $284.99) through October 12.

Looking for a laptop that keeps up with your day without draining your wallet? The Lenovo 300E 11.6-inch Chromebook brings touchscreen convenience, Chrome OS simplicity, and reliable performance together in one compact device for $69.97 until October 12. Whether you’re writing papers, streaming shows, or juggling multiple tabs, it’s ready to handle the essentials.

This refurbished model features an Intel N3450 quad-core processor and 4GB of RAM for smooth multitasking, plus 32GB of storage for your must-have apps and files. The 11.6-inch HD touchscreen display gives you crisp visuals at 1366×768 resolution, while built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth keep you connected on the go. At just over three pounds, it’s lightweight enough to slip into a backpack, making it an ideal choice for students, travelers, or anyone who wants a reliable second laptop.

And because it runs Chrome OS, you’ll have access to Google’s ecosystem of apps, updates through 2028, and seamless integration with your favorite cloud services. This grade-B refurbished unit may show light scuffs or marks, but it delivers strong everyday performance at a fraction of the cost of new models.

Upgrade your daily driver without overspending — a refurbished 2018 Lenovo 300E 11.6″ Touchscreen Chromebook is available now for $69.97 until October 12.

Lenovo 300E 11.6″ Touchscreen Chromebook (2018) 4GB RAM 32GB Storage (Refurbished)See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Up until now, Google’s Android operating system has been limited to smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and smartwatches/wearables (as Wear OS). There’s also Android Auto, which is used in car infotainment systems. Android hasn’t yet been used to power laptops or desktop PCs… but that’s likely to change soon.

Rick Osterloh, Google’s SVP of Devices and Services, announced at Snapdragon Summit 2025 that Google is looking into merging Android with ChromeOS and bring its Gemini AI to PCs. The effort, known as “Project Aluminium,” will probably involve Android notebooks powered by Qualcomm processors.

Osterloh said on stage:

“In the past, we’ve always had very different systems between what we’re building in PCs and what we’re building in smartphones, and we’re working to combine that.

And I think that this is another way that we can leverage all of the great work we’ve been doing together on our AI stack… bring Gemini models, bringing our assistant, bringing all of our application and developer community into the PC domain.”

So Google wants to create a single ecosystem that combines the worlds of PCs, notebooks, smartphones, and tablets. Google has thus far developed separate operating systems for these different devices, including the aforementioned Android and ChromeOS.

Ultimately, merging ChromeOS and Android into a single operating system would mean a standardized user experience and shared platform on which mobile and desktop devices could then work together seamlessly and without interruption.