If you’ve watched the video below, you’ll already have seen me open with a familiar refrain: Chromebooks used to be the “cheap but sad” option. For years, they were the laptop equivalent of instant noodles; functional, affordable, and absolutely nobody’s first choice. But as you'll hear in the video, not any more. ChromeOS has grown up, and 2026’s hardware is finally good enough to compete with entry‑level Windows and Mac laptops without breaking into a nervous sweat.
