While the promise of cloud gaming on Google Stadia is gone, the Mountain View giant is prepping to make Chromebooks the best machine for cloud gaming. Not only that, but Google is also working to bring Steam to Chromebooks for local gameplay using the Borealis container. Already, a handful of Chromebooks support Steam, and some intensive AAA titles can be played without much friction. Clearly, gaming on Chromebooks is getting better and more users are starting to notice the advantage of having a lightweight OS and the convenience of cloud gaming. So if you are on the fence and looking to buy the best Chromebook for gaming, follow our curated list below.

We have included the 10 best gaming Chromebooks from Acer, Lenovo, Asus, HP, and more. There are also some affordable Chromebooks for gaming on this list, so check them out.

  • Acer Chromebook 516 GELenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 FlipAcer Chromebook Spin 714HP Elite DragonflyLenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i ChromebookAcer Chromebook 515ASUS Chromebook CX9Framework Laptop Chromebook EditionASUS Chromebook Flip CX5

1. Acer Chromebook 516 GE

The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is the best gaming Chromebook you can buy in 2023. After shutting down Stadia, Google announced laptops for cloud gaming, and Acer Chromebook 516 GE was released as part of the Gaming Edition (GE) Chromebooks. It comes with a 12th-Gen Intel i5-1240P processor, having 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of PCIe NVMe SSD. And to deliver a decent gaming experience, you have integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which is amazing.

The best part about this gaming Chromebook is its display. You have a fantastic 16-inch 120Hz screen with a resolution of 2560 × 1600 and an aspect ratio of 16:10. Despite packing a larger screen, the Chromebook does not feel too large due to the narrow bezels around the screen. Not to mention, it comes with an RGB backlit keyboard with multiple color presets. And if you prefer to play on NVIDIA GeForce Now over other cloud gaming services, you can take advantage of the 120Hz screen refresh rate to get the best out of this Chromebook.

Buy from Best Buy ($549)

As part of its cloud gaming laptops lineup, Google also saw Lenovo launch a dedicated gaming Chromebook. The 16-inch Ideapad Gaming Chromebook is somewhat similar to the Acer Chromebook 516 GE in terms of specs and pricing. Under the hood, you get a 12th-gen Intel i5-1235U processor with integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics.

Note that, Lenovo’s gaming Chromebook packs a U-series Intel processor in comparison to Acer’s P-series chip. The P-series processors can go up to 28W whereas the U-series chipsets are for thin and lightweight machines, hence its TDP is limited to 15W. So the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 is not as powerful as the Acer one mentioned above.

Lately, Asus has been on the decline in the Chromebook market due to expensive pricing and not getting the basics right. However, with the Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip, Asus is trying to correct its wrongs by bringing a powerful gaming Chromebook to the market. It’s powered by an older 11th-Gen Intel i5-1135G7 processor (28W TDP) with Intel UHD Graphics 630.

Apart from that, the Asus CX55 Chromebook packs 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. On the display front, Asus has done a commendable job. You have a 15.6-inch 144Hz FHD screen with narrow bezels. Plus, the display is also a touch screen and can be folded 360 degrees for tablet mode, which is lacking on other gaming Chromebooks.

4. Acer Chromebook Spin 714

Before gaming edition Chromebooks were launched, the go-to powerful workhorse for many has been the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. The users have been employing this machine for development work, local Steam gameplay, as well as cloud gaming. Now, the Spin 713 has been discontinued and a newer Spin 714 Chromebook has been launched by Acer with an updated processor and other enhancements.

Talking about the display, you get a smaller 14-inch touchscreen panel in a 16:10 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1920 x 1200. It does not come with a high refresh-rate screen, though. Besides that, you have support for the latest connectivity standards as well, including Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2.

HP has launched a premium Chromebook series for power users. The HP Elite Dragonfly series comes in multiple configurations, starting from 12th-Gen Intel Core i3 to i7 processors. The price starts from $1,029 for the base variant, which seems a little too much. Nevertheless, the laptop comes with several top-end features. To start with, you have got a 12th-gen Intel i3-1215U processor on the base variant with Integrated UHD graphics. Plus, the Chromebook packs 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB of PCIe NVMe SSD.

Moving to display, the HP Chromebook includes a 13.5-inch 2K IPS display with 400 nits of maximum brightness. And in case you are wondering, it does not come with a high refresh rate panel like the initial Chromebooks on this list.

6. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook

Lenovo’s Flex 5i series has seen enormous success in the mid-range segment, and it is currently one of the best budget Chromebooks for gaming you can buy right now. Available at under $300, the Flex 5i packs an 11th-Gen Intel i3-1115G4 processor with integrated Intel UHD graphics. And since it’s a Tiger Lake processor, you can enable Steam gaming on this Chromebook without any workarounds. Apart from that, this laptop packs 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of NVMe SSD. It’s good that Lenovo has not used eMMC storage despite the low price.

On the display front, you get a 13.3-inch Full-HD touchscreen display that has a maximum brightness of 250 nits. This Chromebook is more than enough for cloud gaming. For connectivity, there is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 support onboard, which is great to have at this price point. Not to forget, the Flex 5i comes in a convertible design so you can fold it as you like. Considering all the points, I would say the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is a perfect pick for all kinds of use cases, including cloud gaming and some moderate native gaming via Steam.

ProsConsBest budget gaming ChromebookTrackpad is a bit small11th-gen Intel Core i3 processorFHD touchscreen display

If you are looking for an affordable gaming Chromebook, I would recommend getting the Acer Chromebook 515. You can also get the last-gen Acer Chromebook 514 from Best Buy ($374.99) but it comes with a Ryzen 3 processor and has support for Steam gaming. The newer Acer Chromebook 515 comes with an 11th-Gen Intel i3-1115G4 processor (dual-core) with integrated UHD graphics. In addition, you get 8 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of SSD.

To deliver the best gaming experience, Acer has opted for a larger 15.6-inch FHD IPS screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio. Obviously, you don’t get a high-refresh-rate panel at this price point. However, you get a fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 support. And needless to say, the Acer Chromebook 514 has native support for the Borealis container for Steam gaming. Overall, it is a good gaming Chromebook at this price and can be used for other purposes as well.

Although a bit pricey, the Asus Chromebook CX9 is one of the premium Chromebooks that can handle gaming with a breeze. It is a top-of-the-line offering from Asus. Powered by an 11th-Gen Intel i7-1165G7 processor with Iris Xe graphics in tow, this is the perfect recipe for delivering an unmatched gaming experience on Chromebook. And for storage, Asus has gone all-in and packed 512GB of PCIe NVMe SSD and 16GB of LPDDR4 RAM.

Plus, you have a 14-inch FHD IPS touch panel and a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio with no high refresh rate support. The bezels are also narrow and the screen-to-body ratio is 92 percent, which is great. And for cloud gaming, you have support for WiFi 6 along with Bluetooth 5.0 for reliable connectivity. And since CX9 comes with an 11th-Gen Intel processor, you can install Steam and play desktop titles in a jiffy.

9. Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition

Framework recently released an upgradeable and repairable Chromebook with great specs. It starts at $999 and can be anything you want, including the best gaming Chromebook or a productivity machine. The base variant comes with a 12th-Gen Intel i5-1240P processor with Iris Xe Graphics. On the storage front, you get 256GB of SSD storage and 8GB of DDR4 RAM.

Apart from that, you can add an Ethernet port, a microSD card slot, a full-size HDMI port, and more. The best part is that it comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack. As for the display, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition packs a 13.5-inch FHD screen in a modern 3:2 aspect ratio and the maximum brightness can go up to 400 nits.

10. ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5

Our final pick on this list of best gaming Chromebooks is the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5. It’s a trimmed-down version of CX9 and comes with an 11th-Gen Intel i3-1110G4 processor with integrated UHD graphics. Moreover, you get 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of NVMe SSD. Coming to display, the CX5 Chromebook includes a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen (no high refresh rate support) and the body can be flipped and folded at any angle you want.

As for connectivity, Asus has added support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. In my opinion, the asking price of $745 is on the higher side, but Asus is known for making sturdy and well-designed Chromebooks. That said, the premium might be worth it. Nevertheless, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 supports the Borealis container, and you can easily install Steam and get started with AAA titles locally.

ProsConsDecent performancePricier for what you getFHD displayCompact and lightweight