Best early Chromebook deals for Prime Day 2024
Amazon is gearing up for its Prime Big Deal Days this October, and some early Chromebook sales are already sneaking out.
Beginning October 8, Amazon will launch Prime Big Deal Days, the fall version of its Prime Day event each summer. Our Prime Big Deal Days hub offers deals in all sorts of categories, including special, one-off deals as they roll in. On this page, I’ll collects the best Prime Big Deal Days sales on Chromebooks, with deals from budget to premium models. Using our recommendations for the best Chromebooks as a guide, I explain all my choices.
I’ve worked as a consumer tech editor for 30 years and I’ve been at PCWorld for the last decade. During that time, I’ve been responsible for compiling the best Chromebook deals for Prime Day, Black Friday, and more, and I’ve done deep reporting on the Chromebook ecosystem. I’m confident I can find the best Chromebook bargains for you.
To compile PCWorld’s list of Chromebook deals for Prime Big Deal Days, I looked at the specifications, price, pricing history, the manufacturer, and any reviews we’ve published on a specific Chromebook. I even looked at what deals are being offered by Amazon’s competitors. Read on for all the best Chromebook deals.
First published on Sept. 24, 2024. Last updated on Oct. 2, 2024.
Best early Prime Big Deal Days deals on bargain Chromebooks
Asus Chromebook C424, Celeron N4020/4GB RAM/128GB SSD,14-inch 1080p display, $200 (20% off at Amazon)
Lenovo Flagship 14-inch Chromebook, Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 1080p display, $207.90 (8% off at Amazon)
Asus Chromebook 17.3-inch, Celeron N4500/4GB RAM/128GB SSD, 17.3-inch 1080p display, $280.90 (30% off at Walmart)
HP 14-inch Chromebook, Celeron N4120/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 768p display, $159.00 (47% off at Best Buy)
Asus Chromebook CM14, Kompanio 520/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 768p display, $168 (40% off at Amazon)
Acer Chromebook 315, Pentium N6000/4GB RAM/128GB SSD, 15.6-inch 768p display, $179.00 (49% off at Best Buy)
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i, Intel N100/4GB RAM/64GB SSD, 12.2-inch 1920×1200 display, $279 (20% off at Best Buy)
Best early Prime Big Deal Days deals on midrange to premium Chromebooks
Acer Spin 514, AMD Ryzen 3 3250c/8GB RAM/64GB SSD, 14-inch 1080p display, $314.65 (10% off at Amazon)
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook Laptop, Snapdragon 7cG2/4GB RAM/128GB SSD, 11-inch 2000×1200 display, $249.00 (52% off at Best Buy)
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, Core i3-1315U/8GB RAM/128GB SSD, 14-inch 1920x1440p display, $399.00 (20% off at Best Buy)
Acer Spin 714, Core i5-1335U/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, 14-inch 1920×1200 display, $529.99 (23% off at Best Buy)
The Asus C424 deal at Amazon was surprisingly good, pre-Prime Day. Today, the discount has decreased a bit still but represents the best value for the money in my book, followed closely by the Lenovo Flagship 14-inch Chromebook at Amazon as well.
I had to add the Asus deal from Walmart, but there’s an interesting caveat: The screen is monstrous, the size of a desktop display at 17 inches. But the weight — if correctly listed — is a relative brick at 5 pounds. You’ll want to leave this on a desk.
The three lower entries in the budget Chromebook listings all have 768p displays and 4GB of RAM, which I usually frown upon. But everyone needs a super-budget option. They’re all pretty much the same. Just remember that with a budget screen, a larger screen will look a tad more grainy than a smaller display of the same resolution. It’s up to you.
The last entry, the IdeaPad Flex 3i, is sort of an odd duck. It has a budget processor, 4GB of RAM, but a small, higher-res screen. I rank this as my bottom option because it feels like a niche product for most people.
Of the midrange to premium Chromebooks, the Acer Spin 514 appears to be the best. Ryzen’s don’t have the best reputation for battery life, but that might be a low priority for you. The Duet 3 is a tablet, not a clamshell notebook. Keep that in mind.
The two bottom entries are Chromebook Plus options, which provides you with upgraded hardware. Of those, I’d lean toward the cheaper Flex 5i as the option that offers the best value for the money. It’s just an overall better combination of parts.
Chromebook FAQ
How much should I pay for a Chromebook during Prime Big Deal Days?
Expect to pay between $170 to $250 or so, depending on the configuration. You’ll see bargain-basement options below $100 and more premium versions will cost $300 and above. We’ve used that advice for the past few years, and even with inflation that still seems to hold true.
While some of the early Chromebook deals were pretty solid, the best deals are usually reserved for the Prime
How will I know a good deal on a Prime Big Deal Days Chromebook?
I always start first with the screen, preferring a large 1080p display if the deal offers it. I also look for at least 8GB of RAM to maximize the available open tabs in a web browser and run necessary apps. I worry less about the microprocessor, as Chrome OS is lightweight and can run on an Intel Pentium and Celeron chip, an AMD chip, or Arm chips from Qualcomm and Mediatek. Anything powered by an Intel Core chip or AMD Ryzen (not an A-series) chip should deliver solid performance.
It’s a little trickier now since Chromebooks are now supported for ten years and some manufacturers see that as a green light to dump ancient hardware. That’s the sort of thing I keep a wary eye upon. These produce what I call “trap” bargains. Here’s one: a Samsung 12.2-inch Chromebook, which at press time was 25% off for $300. The trap: the processor was discontinued seven years ago. Nope.
What aspects should I consider in a Chromebook?
Generally, Chromebooks tend to fall into three categories: ultracheap models at about $100 to $200, which can offer solid discounts but can hide gotchas like a subpar screen; the typical midrange price of between $250 and $400; and premium Chromebooks at $500 or more. The latter are essentially PC laptops with Google’s Chrome OS on top, and might be too expensive for your tastes.
Our story recommending Chromebooks over Windows laptops may help you decide, as might our recommendations for the best Chromebooks. We have a more detailed comparison of laptops versus Chromebooks, too.
Chromebooks used to cut corners, especially where deals are concerned. Some still do. This $209 Asus Chromebook at Target uses an eight-year-old processor from 2016. I don’t want you to buy ancient hardware that won’t run well, so I pay attention to this. I also tend to avoid “renewed” hardware in favor of new, out-of-the-box devices.
I like to focus on the screen first, choosing deals that offer large, eye-pleasing 1080p displays. (A 768p screen can work, but it can be grainy). I like Chromebooks with at least 8GB of memory, but I’m less particular about the type of processor. You don’t need an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen chip, though you will see those in more premium Chromebooks. Arm chips from Qualcomm, Samsung, or Mediatek are more typical and offer longer battery life and decent performance. For a Chromebook, that’s enough.
Google Chrome OS-powered notebooks have a support window. Once closed, they will not receive any additional features, patches, security, or OS updates. However, Google recently extended this support window to a full 10 years, which really opens up the possibilities.
Are the best Chromebook deals during Prime Day at Amazon?
Amazon would like to think so. But if we relied solely on Amazon’s deals, you’d miss out! Many retails offers competitive deals during Prime Days (or Prime Big Deal Days) and the week that event takes place. If we find a Chromebook deal from another retailer, we’ll include it.
Does a Chromebook’s brand matter?
No. You may have a particular preference, but all Chromebooks that we cover are made by hardware makers with trusted reputations like HP, Samsung, Asus, and so on. If you trust a laptop brand, its Chromebooks should be equally trustworthy.