Chromebookshave held an interesting place in the laptop market over the past decade . Yes , they became the go - to option for schools — sleazy , well-fixed to mete out , and long-lived simple machine that could take a beating .

But they had a lower-ranking demographic in people just looking for a extremely effective laptop . Because of how light of an operating organisation ChromeOS is , Chromebooks top the complaint in quiet , long - endure laptop computer , even before the modern MacBooks came out to defend that grounds .

With the launch of the Qualcomm - basedCopilot+ Windows laptops , however , it ’s increasingly feel like premium Chromebooks have lost their chance to really digest out — and that ’s a shame .

Efficiency matters

When it comes to thebest laptops , few things count more than efficiency . Everyone want a laptop that is not only fast enough but also quiet , cool , and long - endure . Although Chromebooks were often sell as just cheap student laptops , enthusiasts knew they had a secret weapon . The efficiency of the system allow for them to gain a reputation for having safe battery life than either of their counterparts — at least , before 2020 . Chromebooks were ahead of the game , and yet , they were still primarily love as disposable student devices .

Google ’s attempt at changing the perceptual experience of Chromebooks was always a bit half - hearted . If you know the culture of Google , that ’s not going to come as a surprisal . The most serious attempt to change the conversation was in 2017 , with the launching of aPixelbook . This was a gimmick I was quite lovesome of at the clip , despite itsoddities and shortcomings .

To me , it was n’t worth $ 999 at the time , but it present an exciting if unrefined new direction for work out devices . But it ended up being a one - off rather than the start of a new front . After all , pay $ 999 for a Chromebook still matte a piece insane at the meter . There were too many limitations around app compatibility , and Google never made the case the Pixelbook was anything more than an experimentation .

Google did follow it up in 2018 with theill - designate Pixel Slateand then the 2019Pixelbook Go , but by never delivering another high - end model , Google was conceding to the current perception of the Chromebook . It no doubt seemed like a heady determination to permit the impulse die down and let Chromebooks carry on their more modest attitude in the food market .

That is , until Apple announce and delivered its passage to its own subdivision - establish Apple Silicon . TheMacBook Airwas the image of what made the passage so monumental , nearly doubling battery life in these devices without be a single centime more . Not only that , but they were also quiet , cool , and tight . They were everything insurance premium Chromebooks could have been .

Even that seemed o.k. though , especially since Chromebooks could still be offer as a non - Apple alternative that valued efficiency and simpleness . But alas , Chromebooks ca n’t even say that anymore .

A hole in the market

This year marked one of thebiggest moments in Windows historywith the acceptance of Snapdragon X in theCopilot+ PC telephone line . The laptop computer in this line are huge moves forward in allowing Windows devices to contend with MacBooks . Battery life and effective carrying into action are the name of the secret plan , and these laptops have it in spades .

From the looks of it , there ’s already been a positive sales reaction — and that ’s even considering the flop that was Recall , its primary AI feature . People care about battery life and efficiency . And now that both Windows and Mac have both solved that job , the windowpane for Chromebooks to be sold on that alone has closed .

There ’s little way for a third challenger to trade laptop around this price , especially not one that ca n’t run all the apps you might require .

Now , it should be allege that Google has n’t given up entirely . The latest iteration of the premium Chromebook idea was relaunched in October of 2023 under the banner ofChromebook Plus . These Chromebooks have fast C.P.U. and good screens , and they even havesome new AI featuresto boot .

But finally , they find more like attaching a marketing recording label to something that already exist — not anything awfully new . It ’s a dependable idea to distinguish these Chromebooks from the respite , but there are n’t the exciting fresh design to emphasise what make them special . They ’re missing the buoy of first - party support — such as a new Pixelbook . It ’s something Microsoft did so well with thenew Surface devicesin the Copilot+ line , and the lack of financial backing from Google hardware is telling .

I bang the idea of a third option to break up the duopoly of high - endWindows and Maclaptops . But for now , that seems more distant of a phantasy than ever before .