When you think about tablets that are currently up for sale at many retailers, you might think of an iPad or an Android device. While Chromebooks used to just be traditional clamshell laptops, many of the best Chromebooks are now also tablets, too. That includes a device with a detachable screen, as well as the 2-in-1 form factor where you can convert that Chromebook over to use in various modes. This is exactly why we've put together this buying guide. We'll be looking at some of the best ChromeOS tablets from HP, Acer, and Samsung.
The best ChromeOS tablets in 2023
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5
Great screen and keyboard
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 is the best ChromeOS tablet you can buy. It has an OLED screen that is color accurate and will make the content you catch on the screen feel alive. It also comes with a keyboard case, so you can use it as a laptop, too,
- Has OLED screen
- Comes with comfortable keyboard
- Long battery life
- Arm-based SoC might be limiting for some people
Our first Chromebook tablet is one that's quite popular with a lot of people, including some of us at XDA: the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5. This Chromebook tablet packs some superb specifications, an amazing display, portability, and speakers. Best of all, it's readily available at most retailers that also sell competing products like iPads and Surface Pros.
Under the hood is a second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor. This is a special processor because while most Chromebooks come with Intel or AMD chips, this is an Arm-based Soc that'll help you run Android apps, enjoy games, and stream more efficiently and without a lot of lag. You'll also be able to browse the web and multitask without issue, too. It also helps the device get a solid 8-14 hours of battery life depending on your use.
The other special part of this tablet has a lot to do with this display. Instead of using an LCD or IPS panel, this Chromebook tablet has an OLED display, which can produce much more vibrant colors and hit higher levels of brightness. Whatever you end up looking at on the screen will really pop.
And do note that this tablet comes with a keyboard included. You can attach the keyboard to the bottom of the screen and pull out the kickstand from the case, and prop it in your lap. Then you can type up your favorite documents or fully enjoy browsing the web.
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5
A big screen
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is a great 14-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook. It has a display with slim bezels and there is a garaged stylus for inking on the screen. Just keep in mind that the Chromebook has older CPUs, though, which is a bummer considering the high price.
- Sturdy design
- 14-inch FHD screen with slim bezels
- Garaged stylus
- Great port selection for a 2-in-1
- Has 11th-generation Intel CPUs
- Expensive
We know they're not exactly tablets, but you can still get a great tablet experience with a 2-in-1. And the best 14-inch one right now is the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5400. It has modern Intel CPUs, comes with stylus support, and is pretty stylish, even if it comes at a high price.
Firstly, the tablet is very stylish thanks to the All Blue color, which is stand-out when compared to the black and silver devices you might see everywhere. Plus, this tablet is actually rated for military-grade durability thanks in part to the all-metal chassis. The other design aspect that we like is the "Ergolift Hinge," which can tilt the keyboard up to a more comfortable typing angle, so you can put less stress on your wrists.
You'll likely want the latest and greatest in a Chromebook, and on this front, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5400 is powered by 11th-generation Intel Core processors. It's now a three-year-old CPU, but you'll be able to blow through simple things in Google Workspace and multitask with ease in Chrome. And do note, this 2-in-1 has 8GB of RAM and a traditional 128GB SSD.
Of course on a 2-in-1 tablet, the display is important. You don't want a low-resolution screen, and you want support for things like a stylus. In these cases, this Asus passes our standards. It has a 1920 x 1080 resolution Full HD display. It also has a garaged stylus, which tucks into the side of the device for use with drawing apps or note-taking apps.
Even as a tablet, there are still a lot of ports. This Asus comes with a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, Thunderbolt 4, a microSD card reader, and a headphone jack. This is a great modern mix, but you'll still end up needing to use a dongle for connection to displays.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3
For smaller hands
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is a great option if you want a Chromebook that can convert into a true tablet experience. Unlike other 2-in-1 designs, the keyboard detaches entirely for a slim and light tablet experience.
- Compact
- Comes with keyboard
- Very lightweight
- Does not come with pen
- 11-inch screen might be small for some
If you want a ChromeOS tablet for a young kid, you should check out the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3. This Chromebook tablet is compact, comes with a keyboard, has optional pen support, and is really portable. It's also great for running Android apps, too.
This device can be used with a full-sized, comfortable, and responsive keyboard or detached for use as a tablet. The pogo pin and magnet design make it easy to connect and detach, and it’s thin and light in either mode, from 0.29 inches and less than 1.5 pounds as a tablet and around 2 pounds with the keyboard.
On the inside, the Duet is powered by a Snapdragon 6C Gen 2 processor. This processor isn't all too bad since it's an Arm-based Soc, which is great for running Android apps and playing games. You even can browse the web without issues on this tablet. Plus, thanks to the included keyboard case, your child can also use this for schoolwork and browsing Chrome.
On the display of this tablet, we find it very hard to complain. Yes, the display is quite small at 11 inches, but for kids, that's perfect. They won't be doing much multitasking anyway, and it's more than likely that they'll just want to watch a movie or stream content. With 2000x12000 resolution, this is great, and above the FHD resolution we usually look for, offering more pixels for you to enjoy on the screen.
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
For professionals
The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is the best Chromebook convertible for business users. It has speedy fast 12th-generation Intel CPUs. We also can't forget the high-resolution 3:2 aspect ratio display, which gives you more room to multitask.
- 12th-generation Intel CPUs
- Haptic touchpad
- Great port selection
- Very expensive
- Pen isn't included
Now, we get to Chromebook tablets for business. From the screen to the specs, this HP Dragonfly Chromebook is hard to pass up, even though it's priced quite high. But this is a Chromebook tablet that goes up against the very best from Apple and even Microsoft.
Under the hood, HP put 12th-generation Intel CPUs inside this Chromebook tablet. These are all U-series chips, and had a chance to try out the performance of this chip in our review. Running the latest Android apps was fast, and the web pages we had opened loaded up quickly. That makes this a great candidate for a business Chromebook. Another thing that makes this Chromebook special is the haptic touchpad. When you don't want to flip the screen over and use this as a tablet, you’ll get great feedback for common laptop-like tasks. Dragging windows into place and clicking objects on the screen feels amazing.
Even the display is great. It's a fully convertible display with a 13.5-inch slim-bezel panel turned to a 3:2 aspect ratio. Regardless of which panel you choose, you'll get a display that's perfect for seeing every detail in web pages and handling spreadsheets and beyond.
Lastly, ports are important for businesses to connect accessories. You should be happy to know that the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook does not disappoint. There are two modern Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB-Type A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2
For multimedia lovers
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 has an impressive and color-accurate QLED display, making it a great daily driver device. It is also affordable for under $1,000 and has S Pen functionality, which is what we look for in a tablet.
- Vibrant QLED display
- Striking red colorway
- Affordable for under $800
- Older Intel CPUs
- Port selection isn't the best
- Doesn't come with an S Pen
This next pick on our list of the best Chromebook tablets is one that will be great as a daily driver: the Galaxy Chromebook 2. This Chromebook is the first with a QLED display, but it is also a great all-around tablet, all for around the $800 price range.
This is the first Chromebook with a QLED display, which is more color accurate than an IPS display, making it the best option for users looking to make ChromeOS their go-to multimedia platform. The display comes in at 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution, so Netflix, YouTube, or whatever you watch will look great. Even your average webpage should look brighter and more vibrant thanks to this display. We want to note that the processor options are not quite as high-end, though the Intel Core i3 CPU should do the job for most users' tasks like running Android apps and browsing Google Chrome.
However, while the S Pen is still supported, it's not bundled with the laptop, so you'll need to purchase it separately. This also means there's no slot for storing the S Pen in the body of the Chromebook. We suggest the S Pen anyway, as it means you can use drawing apps, and also take notes during meetings or even classes. Overall, this is the best Samsung Chromebook convertible and the highly attractive price has it up there with our favorites.
HP Chromebook x2 11
A compact tablet
The HP Chromebook x2 11 is one of the smallest ChromeOS tablets. You can work anywhere with this tablet thanks to the optional 4G LTE capability. You also get a pen and keyboard included, helping you enjoy this tablet in more ways than one.
- Long battery life
- Includes pen
- Comes with a keyboard case
- Not the best SoC for heavy multitasking
You can find Chromebook tablets in all sizes. We touched on larger devices and smaller ones, but now we'll get to a device that hits the sweet spot: the 11-inch HP Chromebook x2 11.
This Chromebook features the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c under the hood, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage. This is another Arm-based device. So, compared to an Intel device, Android apps should perform really well, and web browsing will flow really well, too. In the long run, it also means better battery life, too. When we reviewed this device, we got to about 8 hours of battery life.
Going back to tablet sizes, this device measures just 9.94 x 6.96 x 0.3 inches and weighs just 1.04 pounds with the keyboard connected. The keyboard is included right in the box, and when we reviewed it, we found that HP’s detachable keyboard is great for typing and for protecting the screen when it's closed.
You’ll usually only find a 2.1K resolution (2160 x 1440) multi-touch panel on higher-end and bigger Chromebooks, but you'll find it on this device, too. This makes it great for media. And, if you account for the added kickstand from the keyboard case, you can pull out that kickstand and get prop the tablet on your desk or a laptop without extra hardware (unlike an iPad). HP even bundles the HP Pen in for the price.
Asus Chromebook Detachable
Great for students
The Asus Chromebook Detachable is a great ChromeOS tablet for use in education. With the included keyboard, you can get to work on this tablet right away, and the garaged stylus means you even can take notes. Just keep in mind the ports aren't the best on this tablet, and. the 4GB RAM will be limiting for high-end tasks.
- Arm-based SoC for long battery life
- Comes with a keyboard cover
- Has a garaged stylus
- Limited ports
- Only 4GB RAM
This Asus Chromebook detachable is plenty stylish for education. It has a vertical and horizon stand design, which helps with viewing presentations or videos no matter how you want to watch them. It's also a compact device, which is important for traveling to and from class.
Other than that, with the detachable keyboard, students can end up typing long documents, and scrolling through web pages. We don't think it's too cramped, either, as Asus includes a really great touchpad, and the keys are evenly spaced. Asus says this device has 1.5mm of key travel and also highlights the ErgoLift design, where the keyboard attaches to the bottom of the display (like a Surface Pro) to lift it another 6 degrees in the air.
In other parts of the design, we do also like the garaged stylus, too. The stylus is tucked safely in the device and can quickly and automatically charge when garaged. This keeps it ready for use when a student might need it for drawing, or even as a pointer device in Android apps and for navigating websites in Chrome.
The battery life is rated at 12 hours. That's because of the CPU under the hood. Again, it's a lower-powered Arm-based MediaTek 8183 processor, as well as a low-power 1920 x 1200 resolution screen. Finally, with ports, students will need a dongle, for sure. There's only one USB Type-C port on board, as well as an audio jack.
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip
Serious gamers only
The Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip is a great Asus Chromebook for gamers. This Chromebook has a super-fast 144Hz screen and is also a convertible, helping it pass as a great Chromebook for work and multimedia purposes, too.
- 144Hz screen
- Lots of ports
- Sleek design
- No RGB backlighting on keyboard
- 11th-generation Intel CPUs
You might think that tablets are only for work or multimedia viewing. However, thanks to the integration of cloud gaming services like Nvidia GeForce now in ChromeOS, there's a new wave of Chromebook gaming 2-in-1 tablets, too. The best one of these you can buy now is the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip. This Chromebook offers an amazing display, a sleek design, and perfect specs.
The CX55 Flip packs in a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution display and has a fast 144HZ refresh rate, which is the highest recorded for a Chromebook. This means fast-paced games that you'll play on Nvidia GeForce Now will feel quite life-like, especially since the service supports playing with 120Hz refresh rates.
In terms of specs, the system has great specs for a ChromeOS-powered device. Asus managed to pack in 11th-generation Intel CPUs inside the Vive CX55 Flip. These are the last gen Intel CPUs, but combined with up to 16GB of RAM, the Vibe CX55 Flip will handle cloud gaming without issue. It even can pass off as a light gaming machine for playing Steam on ChromeOS.
Of course, since this tablet is being suggested for gaming, we want to point out that the design really matches the aesthetic you might end up looking for. The system is made of all aluminum alloy, in an all-black color. The side buttons and WASD keys also have a contrasting orange accent. Then there are the gaming features like an anti-ghosting keyboard. Of course, we can't forget the "ErgoLife" hinge, which lifts the keyboard to a more ergonomic typing position, or the number pad, which is a rarity for a premium 15-inch Chromebook 2-in-1 like this.
The best ChromeOS tablets: Final words
We've come to the end of our list of the best Chromebooks tablets you can buy. As you can tell, it's a very diverse list of devices. The best one you can buy right now, though, remains the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5. It has a fantastic OLED screen, comes with a comfortable keyboard, and has a super long battery life. In a close second, though, the other best ChromeOS tablet to consider is the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5, which is a convertible that has a study design, a big 14-inch screen, and traditional Intel CPUs, along with a garaged stylus that won't get lost.
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 is the best ChromeOS tablet you can buy. It has an OLED screen that is color accurate and will make the content you catch on the screen feel alive. It also comes with a keyboard case, so you can use it as a laptop, too,
Further down the line, there's also the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, which is a smaller tablet that has a detachable keyboard and is lightweight. You'll even want to consider the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook if you're a business user since it has plenty of premium features. Of course, you're not limited to just these devices, though. You can check out our other picks for the best Chromebooks you can buy for a more traditional device.