Top 5 Best 14-inch Chromebooks with Fast Intel Core m3, Core i3 & Core i5 CPUs
Perfect for online learning, especially for schools, colleges and universities that subscribe to G Suite for Education, the Chromebook is fast becoming a vital piece of hardware for Education both in the classroom and for learning at home. Not compromising on performance, here are five of the best and fastest Chromebooks with 14-inch display.
Why a Chromebook with 14-inch Display
The lightweight Chrome OS will run on any laptop with half decent specifications. But, to make it a truly productivity machine, it needs to have a Full HD display at 13.3-inch of bigger. The sweet spot is 14-inch at Full HD resolution as together with modern slim bezel design, laptops with a screen this size is often no bigger than the conventional 13.3-inch devices. Full HD resolution offers plenty of details and ample virtual real estate to browse and work on the machine.
It also allows the laptop to come with a full-size keyboard so you can work on your research paper and assignment comfortably for long periods. And, to make sure that you get the job done quickly, the choice of processor is also important. Here, we consider only Chromebooks with Intel Core m3, Core i3 and Core i5 processors.
Going Beyond Intel Celeron, 4GB Memory and 64GB eMMC Storage
If anything, the Google Pixelbook Go and earlier generation Pixelbooks provide good reference points for what a Chromebook could be, mainstream laptops with beefed up specifications. Taking the step forward and breaking the norm, the Pixelbook Go opted for Intel Core i-series processors, 8GB or 16GB memory and fast SSD storage up to 256GB with Full HD display as standard going up to 4K Ultra HD.
Majority of the Chromebooks out there are still based on Intel Celeron and Pentium processors with measly 4GB memory and slower 64GB eMMC flash storage. The current Pixelbook Go uses 8th generation energy efficient Intel Core processors; namely the Intel Core m3-8100Y, Intel Core i5-8200Y and Intel Core i7-8500Y.
Processor Performance
Based on our research, here is a list of Intel Core-series processors currently powering the Chromebooks in the market. These include the 10th generation and 8th generation Core i5 and Core i3 processors, as well as the energy efficient 8th generation Intel Core m3 processor and Intel Core i5 used in the Pixelbook Go. A couple of Intel Pentium class processors are also included for reference.
Ave CPU Mark | Single | Cross Platform | |
Intel® Core™ i5-10210U | 6555 | 2288 | 12207 |
Intel® Core™ i3-10110U | 4098 | 2352 | 7580 |
Intel® Core™ i3-8130U | 3652 | 1944 | 6673 |
Intel® Core™ m3-8100Y | 3044 | 1819 | 5796 |
Intel® Pentium® Silver N5000 | 2600 | 1159 | 4444 |
Intel® Pentium® Gold 6405U | 2356 | 1427 | 4962 |
Intel® Core™ i5-8200Y | 2308 | 1374 | 3920 |
Source: PassMark at cpubenchmark.net
As you can see from the chart below, the latest 10th generation Intel Core i5 and Core i3 takes the first and second spot, respectively. This is followed by the 8th generation Intel Core i3 and Core m3. The 8th generation Intel Core i5 is reported to be slower, and this is confirmed by UserBenchmark’s CPU database. The same goes for Pentium Gold 6405U which achieved a lower score compared to Pentium Silver N5000 processor. Silver over Gold, that can’t be right, can it? Here is a more wholistic view of the comparison between the two processors at nanoreview.net where Pentium Gold 6405U performs better in single core benchmarks but ties when all cores are considered.
Top 5 Best 14-inch Chromebooks Based on Fast Intel Core i-series Processors
Check out our favourite 14-inch Chromebooks with plenty of processing power, memory and storage to boot. When it comes to a powerful and reliable Chromebook, you can’t go wrong with one of these.
1. ASUS Flip C436 14-inch 2 in 1 Chromebook – CONVERTIBLE
- Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor
- RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Full HD touchscreen
- Battery life: Up to 12 hours
- Dimensions: 16.5 x 323 x 208 mm (H x W x D) Weight: 1.35kg
Search ASUS Chromebook Flip C436 on Amazon
Put the high performance 10th generation Intel Core i5-10210U processor with fast 256GB PCIe SSD storage and spacious 8GB memory and you have yourself a truly potent combination for a Chromebook that will perform for years. In fact, this is the only Chromebook in our line-up to feature an SSD storage. The ASUS Flip is also a convertible laptop, a 2-in-1 device with 360 degree hinge so you can flip the touchscreen to tent, stand and tablet mode (image below) for maximum versatility.
That touchscreen is a large and bright 14-inch Full HD display with NanoEdge bezel giving it a compact and up to date look. It also comes with both HDMI, 2x USB Type-C ports and one USB2.0 Type A. For wireless connectivity, there is WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 4.0. Other conveniences include HD webcam, backlit keyboard, microphone, fingerprint scanner and quad speakers powered by Hamon Kardon. To top it all, the ASUS Flip C436 will last for up to 12 hours on a full charge, enough to power you through the day.
A cheaper Intel Core i3-10110U edition with 8GB memory and 128GB SSD is also available if you wish to take advantage of the fast SSD storage without paying too much for the device.
2. HP x360 14-inch 2 in 1 Chromebook – Intel® Core i5 CONVERTIBLE
- Intel® Core™ i5-10210U Processor
- RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 128 GB eMMC
- Full HD touchscreen
- Dimensions: 17.9 x 206 x 321.5 mm (H x W x D) Weight: 1.65kg
Search HP x360 14-inch on Amazon
Coming in close in second place is yet another convertible, the HP x360 14-inch. The 2-in-1 Chromebook is also based on the 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor. It also comes plenty of memory at 8GB and spacious 128GB eMMC storage. The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen is bright and sharp with wide viewing angle thanks to IPS technology.
For your money, you get Band & Olufsen audio system with stereo speakers, HD wide angle webcam with dual array microphone, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 connectivity, DisplayPort 1.2, media card slot, fingerprint reader, backlit keyboard plus two USB3.1 Type-C and one USB3.0 Type A ports. Basically, everything one needs from laptop running Chrome OS.
In true HP fashion, the same laptop, the HP Chromebook X360 is also available with a range of processors. They are Intel Core i3-10110U, Intel Pentium Gold 6405U (both specifications are shown below) and Intel Celeron N4000 with 4GB RAM and 32GB eMMC storage.
3. ASUS Flip C434 14” 2 in 1 Chromebook – Intel® Core™ i5 CONVERTIBLE
- Intel® Core™ i5-8200Y Processor
- RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 128 GB eMMC
- Full HD touchscreen
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 321 x 202 mm (H x W x D). Weight 1.5kg
Search ASUS Flip C434 14 on Amazon
The previous generation Chromebook from ASUS is still going strong. The Flip C434 is still around albeit in limited numbers, making them a bargain if you can still get your hands on them. They perform better than all the Celerons and most Pentium based Chromebooks. Available with either Intel Core i5-8200Y or Intel Core m3-8100Y, the Chromebook offers super fast and snappy performance packed in a sleek all aluminium convertible chassis that is both durable and sleek. Whether it be the Core i5 or Core m3 model, be sure to choose one with 8GB RAM memory and the bigger 128GB storage.
ALSO: ASUS Flip C434 14-inch 2 in 1 Chromebook – Intel® Core™ m3 CONVERTIBLE
- Intel® Core™ m3-8100Y Processor
- RAM: 4 GB or 8GB / Storage: 64GB or 128 GB eMMC
- Full HD screen
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
4. ASUS Flip C433 14-inch 2 in 1 Chromebook – Intel® Core™ m3 CONVERTIBLE
- Intel® Core™ m3-8100Y Processor
- RAM: 4 GB / Storage: 64 GB eMMC
- Full HD screen
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
- Dimensions: 15.7 x 321 x 202 mm (H x W x D) Weight: 1.5kg
Search ASUS Flip C433 14 on Amazon
Like the ASUS Flip C434 above, here is the more affordable alternative that still comes with the 360 degree hinge, 14-inch FullHD touchscreen and powerful Intel Core m3 processor. The Flip C433 looks and feel like a premium device. That is because its chassis is made from aluminium-alloy and finished with diamond-cut anodised edges. The four sided NanoEdge bezel measures only 5.5mm thin on the sides making it a compact device that fits in the footprint of a conventional 13-inch laptop. It is also super slim for a convertible at 16.5mm thin and weighs 1.5kg. Lastly, on a full charge, the Chromebook will last up to 10 hours to take on all the tasks you need to do for the day.
5. ACER 714 14-inch Chromebook – Intel® Core™ i3
- Intel® Core™ i3-8130U Processor
- RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 128 GB eMMC
- Full HD screen
- Battery life: Up to 12 hours
- Dimensions: 18 x 323 x 239 mm (H x W x D) Weight 1.5kg
The flagship Acer 714 Chromebook found its way into our list thanks to its mid-range processor, the 8th generation Intel Core i3-8130U. Slower only to the new 10th generation Intel Core i3, standing at third place with a generous 8GB memory and spacious 128GB eMMC storage, the 714 has plenty to offer. It comes with dual-band WiFi support, two USB Type-C and two USB Type-A ports, dual speakers, microSD, back-lit keyboard and up to 12 hours battery life.