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lundi 9 août 2021

The best cases for the MacBook Air: SupCase, MOSISO, and more!

Since Apple refreshed the MacBook Air with the Apple M1 processor, it’s become an incredibly capable device. This laptop has the same processor as the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and even an iMac. That would have been somewhat crazy to think a few years ago. Combined with its relatively low price compared to other Macs, this makes it quite possibly the best Mac to buy today. While MacBooks have traditionally been popular among students, this one should be even more so. But starting at $999 (officially), it’s still quite an investment, and you probably want to protect it. To help you with that, we’ve dug up some of the best cases you can get for your MacBook Air.

As the MacBook Air is such a popular laptop, there are actually a lot of choices for cases here. With most other laptops, it’s rare we get to include a case that actually attaches to your laptop, but we have a few options here. Nonetheless, we’ve also included a few sleeves and carrying cases if that’s what you’re looking for. Keep in mind that, especially for cases that attach to your laptop, you have to make sure you have the matching model. Most of the cases on this list are designed for the 2020 MacBook Air with M1 processors.

    Incase Textured Hardshell in Woolenex

    Classy textured case

    This Incase hardshell case can protect your MacBook Air, but it also looks really stylish. It's covered in a woven pattern that adds a sense of class, though it's a bit pricey. It comes in a few different colors, too.
    SUPCASE Unicorn beetle Case for MacBook Air

    Rugged protection

    If you need extra protection for your laptop, this rugged case from SUPCASE can take quite a beating. It offers all-round protection, but still looks nice. It's not compatible with MacBook Air models with the Apple M1, though.

    Promoted

    MOSISO Hard Shell, Keyboard Cover and Screen Protector

    Tons of colors

    The MacBook Air only comes in three color options so you may want to add your own splash of color withone of these cases. It comes in dozens of color options, but there's also a transparent one.
    CiSoo hard shell case for MacBook Air

    A touch of personality

    If flat colors aren't your style, this CiSoo case comes in a variety of patterns that definitely stand out. There are even matching keyboard covers to complete the look.
    Kuzy MacBook Air 13-inch Case

    Get a grip

    We all know someone with slippery hands (and sometimes it's ourselves). These Kuzy cases has a nice soft touch that gives you a better grip while carrying the MacBook Air. And yes, there are a few colors to choose from if you're not a fan of black.
    Comfyable Laptop Sleeve

    Sleek and stylish sleeve

    This faux leather sleeve is a sleek and simple way to protect your MacBook Air while carrying it around and without adding bulk. It's made with faux leather on the outside and soft felt on the inside, and comes in a few different colors.
    Londo Genuine Leather Sleeve

    Stylish genuine leather

    For lovers of genuine leather, this Londo sleeve might be more to your taste. In addition to the leather edges and flap, the center is adorned with a few different patterns that add a touch of personality.
    Inateck Laptop Sleeve Case

    Elegant carrying case

    This classic Inateck laptop sleeve comes with a carrying handle for easier transportation. It has an elegant and subdued design that looks good without being too flashy. Plus, it gives you some space to store accessories.
    Kinmac 360° Protective Laptop Case

    Super soft

    This Kinmac case offers a lot of padding around your MacBook Air for extra soft protection, plus a hard shell to protect from harder drops. And it comes in many different styles for every taste, too.

That should give you a few great options for cases to protect your MacBook Air from drops and other dings. Taste is very personal, but there’s a bit of variety here to suit everyone. Personally, I’d probably end up getting one of the carrying cases — most likely the one from Kinmac – since it makes carrying the MacBook Air around easier. On the other hand, if you need hardcore protection at all times, the SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle case is an interesting rugged option that complements the MacBook Air’s design well. Unfortunately, that one won’t work properly if you have a MacBook Air with the Apple M1 processor.

If you’ve chosen your case but haven’t bought the MacBook Air yet, you can do it using the link below. If you’re still considering other options, we have a roundup of the best laptops you can buy today that you may want to check out.

    MacBook Air (Apple M1)
    The latest MacBook Air comes with the Apple M1 chipset, making it incredibly powerful but also very power-efficient. Plus, it has a high-quality display and premium design.

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Microsoft is ending support for the OneDrive sync client on macOS 10.13

Microsoft is ending support for the OneDrive sync client on older versions of Apple’s macOS, the company has announced. Specifically, the OneDrive sync client will no longer support macOS 10.12 Sierra and 10.13 High Sierra. These versions of macOS are no longer supported by Apple, either.

Support for the OneDrive sync client on these versions of macOS is set to end on September 10th. After that date, users that already have OneDrive installed will no longer get any updates. While the apps will continue to work for now, any issues that show up won’t be fixed in these versions. You may also miss out on certain security updates. Additionally, if you try to install the OneDrive sync client on an unsupported version of macOS, it just won’t work. This change affects both personal and business accounts.

Microsoft also clarified that, going forward, it will only support the three latest versions of macOS. That means whenever a new macOS version is released, OneDrive will support that new update and the two prior ones. That’s why, right now, you’ll only be supported on macOS 10.14 (Mojave), 10.15 (Catalina), and 11 (Big Sur). macOS 12 Monterey should be released later this year, so support for macOS Mojave could also be dropped soon after that. Microsoft will probably make another announcement when that happens, though.

Recently, Microsoft announced a few new features for OneDrive on macOS, such as Known Folder Move. This allows users to move entire folders on their computers to OneDrive, making them available everywhere. Another big update, especially for Apple M1 Macs, is native support for Apple Silicon. This will enable significant performance improvements compared to running the app through Rosetta 2. Other features announced at the time include new iconography for Files On-Demand, better integration with the Finder app, and general performance improvements. With today’s news, it’s unlikely that macOS 10.12 and 10.13 will get support for all of these OneDrive features. If you haven’t yet, you can download the OneDrive sync client for macOS here.

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Today only: Get an Apple iPad Pro for $200 off

Apple released a new generation of iPad Pro models earlier this year, boasting M1 chips, 5G support, a new mini LED screen, and up to 2TB of storage. Now that the newer iPad Pros are readily available, Apple is starting to mark down prices on last year’s models. Best Buy currently has the 11″ and 12.9″ iPad Pros on sale for $200 below their original prices, bringing the cheapest 11-inch model down to $699.99, and the other two are on sale for $899.99.

Apple’s product name scheme is a bit weird here, as the 11-inch iPad Pro is labelled as the second generation, while the 12.9-inch tablet is called the fourth generation. In reality, all three models are from last year and have similar specifications. They all have Apple A12Z Bionic chips, a 12MP main camera, a 10MP ultra-wide camera, a LiDAR scanner, a 7MP “TrueDepth” camera, up to 10 hours of battery life, and a USB Type-C port for charging and accessories. All three tablets also support the Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio, and 2nd Gen Apple Pencil, but those are sold separately.

    iPad Pro 2020 11

    This 11-inch 2020 iPad Pro is $699.99 at Best Buy, $200 below the original price.
    iPad Pro 2020 12.9

    This larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro with 256B of storage is $899.99, $200 off the original cost, in the Silver color.
    iPad Pro 2020 12.9

    This is the same 12.9 2020 iPad Pro with 256GB of storage, but in the Space Gray color.

The only difference between the 11-inch and 12.9-inch models (besides the price) is the screen size. Even though these tablets were released last year, they should remain excellent iPads for years to come — even the unreleased iPadOS 15 update still supports the original iPad Pro from 2015. Best Buy says this sale ends after today, so don’t wait too long if you want to pick up a discounted iPad Pro.

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Tasker update brings support for Material You colors on Android 12

Material You’s wallpaper-based theme engine, codenamed “monet,” finally went live in Android 12 Beta 2. Although Google has yet to publish documentation on Material You, we have already seen a bunch of third-party app developers implementing wallpaper-based dynamic theming in their apps. Back in June, Tasker became one of the first apps to add support for Android 12’s dynamic theming. A beta of Tasker with the new Material You theme was released to Google Play last month. And now, Tasker developer João Dias is finally bringing the feature to the stable version of the app.

Tasker 5.13.5 is now live on Google Play, and it brings with it support for Material You colors on devices running Android 12. To try it out, navigate to Preference > UI > Theme and select the “Material You” option from the list. Once enabled, Tasker’s action bar, bottom bar, various menus, toggles, and text will match the colors of your wallpaper.

Check out Tasker’s new theme in action in the video attached below:

Another Material You-related feature in the latest Tasker update is a new action called “Get Material You Color.” The developer says this action allows users to extract all possible Material You colors from the system and use them in various Tasker Scenes. To learn more about this feature, jump straight to 0:48 in the above video.

Besides Android 12-specific features, the latest Tasker update brings a host of new additions, including the ability to position your scenes on the status bar and navigation bar, new Connect to Wi-Fi action, support for exporting descriptions of your projects, and much more.

Tasker 5.13.5 changelog

  • Additions
    • Added Material You support for Android 12+. Enable with Tasker > Preferences > UI > Theme > Material You.
    • Added Get Material You Colors for Android 12+. Demo
    • Allow overlay scenes to be shown on the status bar and navigation bar with a new option in Show Scene action when type is Overlay.
    • Added Connect To Wifi action, which works with a new version of the Tasker Settings app.
    • Added option to use test server for shares to test new taskernet features.
    • Added Apps, Image, Images, Bluetooth Name, and Bluetooth Address options in the Pick Input Dialog action.
    • Made exported descriptions more readable.
    • You can now use content://net.dinglisch.android.taskerm.iconprovider/wallpaper/launcher or content://net.dinglisch.android.taskerm.iconprovider/wallpaper/lockscreen to use your devices wallpapers anywhere where image URIs are supported.
    • Added function to get max audio volumes for each stream type in the Tasker Function action.
    • Added option to ask for advanced options when exporting description (for now, you can select between wrapping description with back ticks or adding 4 spaces before each line)
    • Added option to specify a prompt when using the Ask For Permissions action, which will show up if the permissions are not already granted
    • Added option for taskernet project to not ask for the needed permissions when imported
    • Enabled hardware acceleration
    • Allow any value in the Display Brightness input field
    • Added Turkish translation
    • Output %err variable with a value when the Back action ends in error
    • Added option to sort by named profiles
    • Added option to get current task name in Test Tasker action
    • Show error when project/profile/task from taskernet fails
    • Added option to send crash reports via a Google Drive file instead of via email directly
    • Added line numbers to logcat entries when selecting them with the helper in the Logcat Entry event
    • Added log showing memory consumption every once in a while to catch eventual future memory leaks
    • Added next, pause,stop, play,rewind and forward tags to Media Control action so you can search for those terms and find the action
    • Added Continue On Error option to Goto action
    • Allow using array variables in some fields where only non-array variables were supported
  • Changes
    • Made unnamed profiles show up in italic so they can be easily distinguished from named profiles
    • When importing a project where tasks, profiles, or scenes in that project already exist but the project itself doesn’t, ask for each existing item individually if you want to overwrite
    • Don’t ask if you want to overwrite profiles/tasks/scenes if they were in the same project as the one being imported
    • Don’t output empty fields (or disabled checkboxes) in profile/task descriptions
    • Made Joiner field in Variable Join action multi-line
    • When Google Assistant searches for a Task in Tasker, if there’s only 1 matching Task, it’ll run it right away instead of showing a 1 item list
    • Don’t allow Return action to overwrite %caller() array

Apart from Tasker, other apps that have also implemented support for wallpaper-based theming include Sleep as Android, Swiftwalls, and a bunch of Google apps such as Gboard, Google Chrome, Messages, and more.

Tasker 5.13.5 with the Material You theme is live on the Play Store, and you can download it from the Play Store or the developer’s website.

Tasker ($3.49, Google Play) →

 

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HP Pavilion Aero 13 first impressions: It feels more premium than it should

Whenever HP sends out a round of review units, it holds a workshop where we can refresh our knowledge of the product, ask questions, etc. For the HP Pavilion Aero 13, I only had one question — why is this a Pavilion? You see, HP has four tiers of laptops. There’s Spectre, which is the flagship premium brand. Right below that is Envy, fitting the high-end to premium market. Below that is Pavilion, which is mid-tier to mainstream. And finally, the firm has self-branded laptops (HP 14, etc.) for the entry level.

The Pavilion Aero feels more like it should be an Envy. Weighing in at under a kilogram, it’s just one of those products that’s easy to fall in love with. The answer to my question wasn’t any different from what I expected. It’s that premium features are constantly trickling down from the higher end brands into the more mainstream ones.

Indeed, HP Pavilions have always been fine laptops. The last one HP sent over offered 4G LTE in a $700, Intel-powered laptop, something that’s unheard of at that price range. But one thing that’s more common at that price range is to have one key value proposition. One could argue that with the HP Pavilion Aero, that one value proposition is that it’s so light. It doesn’t feel that way though, because this thing is great all-round. It really does feel like it should be in a higher tier than it is, so you get a tremendous amount of value with this laptop.

HP Pavilion Aero 13 specs

Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800U (up to 4.4 GHz max boost clock, 16 MB L3 cache, 8 cores, 16 threads)
Graphics Integrated: AMD Radeon Graphics
Body 11.72×8.23×0.67in, 2.2lbs
Display 13.3″ diagonal, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 400 nits, 100% sRGB
RAM 16 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (onboard)
Storage 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Connectivity Realtek Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 (2×2) and Bluetooth 5.2 combo (Supporting Gigabit data rate)
Battery 3-cell, 43 Wh Li-ion polymer, 45W Smart AC Power Adapter
Ports
(1) SuperSpeed USB Type-C 10Gbps with Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.4, HP Sleep and Charge
(2) USB Type-A 5Gbps
(1) HDMI 2.0
(1) AC smart pin
(1) 3.5mm combo audio
Webcam HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array digital microphones
Audio Audio by B&O; Dual speakers; HP Audio Boost
Input Full-size, natural silver keyboard
HP Imagepad with multi-touch gesture support; Precision Touchpad Support
Material and color Natural silver magnesium-aluminum Thixomolding cover and keyboard frame, natural silver base
OS Windows 10 Home, upgradeable to Windows 11
Price $999.99

Note these are the specs of the unit that HP sent me. It starts at $749.99 with a Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD.

The design is really slick

I don’t really want to get into performance, or even display testing. We know an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U paired with 16GB of RAM is going to be great. And after all, Pavilions I’ve reviewed going back years have had 15W Intel Core processors. Performance is never the issue. It’s always that when compared to a higher end device, the Pavilion weighs more, it’s thicker, and so on.

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 feels like so much more than a mainstream PC.

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 weighs under a kilogram. Oddly, HP.com lists it as <2.2 pounds, so the spec sheet doesn’t list an exact weight. It’s immaterial though; if it was under 2.1 pounds, the company would let us know.

There are two ways to hit a weight like that. One is to use a low-power CPU, and the other is to use a magnesium alloy. HP went with the latter, using magnesium-aluminum. The fun thing about that is you don’t end up taking a performance hit in order for the PC to be light.

Side view of HP Pavilion Aero 13

Indeed, rather than going for thin and fanless, this is a full laptop. It even has two USB Type-A ports, both of which use a drop-jaw hinge, as this is a thin machine. In fact, it even has HDMI 2.0, a nice addition that will allow you to connect a high-resolution monitor. The USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port can do that too, supporting DisplayPort 1.4. There’s no Thunderbolt of course, being an AMD-powered laptop.

Side view of HP Pavilion Aero 13

One notable compromise is this machine does have a barrel charging port, which we still tend to see on mainstream and entry-level laptops. Obviously, I’d rather have seen a second USB Type-C port, but we should probably remember this is still a Pavilion.

Side view of HP Pavilion Aero 13 showing chamfered front

It has a chamfered edge in the front, something I really like about HP laptops. It just makes it nice and comfortable to open the lid.

This actually comes in four colors: Natural Silver, Warm Gold, Ceramic White, and Pale Rose Gold. HP sent me Natural Silver.

The HP Pavilion Aero has a 13.3-inch 1080p display, with a QHD option

If I told you this thing weighs under a kilogram in a package that feels premium, has an AMD Ryzen 5000 processor, and it has 16GB RAM and a 512GB RAM at its price point, that would be pretty wild. Even at that point, you’d start looking for places that HP cut corners.

We’re not done yet though, because the display is awesome. It has a 13.3-inch 16:10 1920×1200 screen. Yes, the 16:10 aspect ratio makes it taller, and it’s a popular feature we’ve seen show up over the last year. That’s all well and good.

Close up of HP Pavilion Aero 13 screen

What really blows me away is the quality of the display. That’s a common compromise at mainstream price points. At that price point, you’ll start to notice color distortions at certain viewing angles, and the screen won’t have a wide color gamut. The display on the HP Pavilion Aero 13 is actually really good.

Close up of HP Pavilion Aero 13 webcam

The bezels are surprisingly small as well, on all four sides. It does have a webcam at the top, but here’s where some compromises come in. It’s a 720p webcam and there’s no IR camera for facial recognition.

There’s one other thing to note. There’s actually a QHD option for the display, so if 1920×1200 isn’t enough for you, there’s a step up.

The keyboard backlight isn’t standard

The keyboard on this product is pretty good. It’s no Elite Dragonfly Max, but the HP Pavilion Aero 13 stands out above its competition. There’s only one problem, which is the keyboard doesn’t actually have a backlight on the model HP sent me. When you configure your unit, you’ll have to pay an additional $20 for that.

Top down view of HP Pavilion Aero 13 keyboard

It’s a shame. A backlit keyboard is a standard for many. This is a compromise I’ve seen on Pavilions in the past, and I really don’t get it. It really shouldn’t be a premium on anything over $500.

Other than that, the keyboard is actually quite good. It reminds me of what you’d have found on a Spectre a few years ago. I’ve had plenty of bad experiences with keyboards on mainstream laptops, but HP has put a lot of effort into keyboards in the last few years, and it shows across the entire lineup.

The HP Pavilion Aero 13 is an exciting product

Mainstream laptops tend to be one-trick ponies; they do one thing well, and the rest is just fine. As I mentioned, the last HP Pavilion I reviewed was a $700 laptop that had 4G LTE, along with Intel Core processors. However, it used a CPU that didn’t have Iris Plus Graphics, it weighed over three and a half pounds, it was three quarters of an inch thick, the keyboard had no backlight, there was no Windows Hello, and it had a dim display.

Front view of HP Pavilion Aero 13

All of that’s fine for a $700 laptop, except perhaps for the non-backlit keyboard. It’s even more acceptable when you’re adding key features like cellular connectivity. There’s no cellular connectivity option on the HP Pavilion Aero 13, but it really seems like there are fewer compromises here than there should be, which is a very good thing.

Here’s what I see as compromises — the backlit keyboard isn’t standard (but it exists), the webcam is still 720p (but 1080p webcams still aren’t even very common on PCs), there’s no IR camera (but there’s a fingerprint sensor), and there’s no cellular option. If you pay the extra $20 for the backlit keyboard, you’re in good shape.

Here’s what we do get from the HP Pavilion Aero 13. It’s ultralight at under a kilogram, it has a lot of power that doesn’t break the bank, it has a great display with FHD+ and QHD+ options, and it feels premium. I’m really excited to spend more time with it.

    HP Pavilion Aero 13
    The HP Pavilion Aero 13 weighs under a kilogram, but still has AMD Ryzen 5000 power and more.

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Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available in the Xbox app for Windows

Microsoft is expanding the reach of Xbox Cloud Gaming by making it available in the Xbox app for Windows. Just recently, the company brought the service to web browsers, which already made it available on Windows and iOS. The experience is currently only available to Xbox Insiders.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is a perk of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, Microsoft’s premium game subscription service. With this subscription, users get access to over 100 games which they can download on PC or Xbox consoles, but cloud gaming makes most of those games available to play on your phone or tablet, too. Plus, if you play on PC, you no longer need a high-end gaming rig, you can just stream the experience from Microsoft’s servers.

To get in on the fun, you’ll need to be a part of the Xbox Insider program, which isn’t the same as the Windows Insider program. If you want to enroll in the Xbox Insider program on your PC, you’re going to need to install the Xbox Insider Hub. This lets you sign up for the program, as well as any other Xbox-related Insider tests. Once you sign up, you may need to check for updates in the Microsoft Store to make sure you have the latest version of the Xbox app. If everything is in order, you’ll see a Cloud Gaming tab on the landing screen of the Xbox app.

The cloud gaming experience on the Xbox app for Windows won’t offer any significant major differences from the web version. However, it is quickly accessible and the interface may be more fluid. Still, if you’d rather not join the Insider program, you can go here to play these games on your browser. And if you haven’t yet, you can buy a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate using the link below. A three-month subscription is $5 off right now at Amazon if you want to save a little extra money.

    Xbox Game Pass Ulatime (3-month membership)
    With Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you get access to over 100 games on PC and Xbox consoles, plus the ability to stream them to a phone or other device.

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Here are the Best Chromebooks for Students to Buy in August 2021

With an increasing number of students attending classes at home, the demand for laptops and Chromebooks is through the roof right now. But finding the right Chromebook for school could prove to be a bit of a challenge, especially since some eCommerce portals are flooded with older models that aren’t a part of Google’s eight-year update plan for new Chromebooks.

So if you’re on the lookout for a great Chromebook for school or university, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve curated a list of the best Chromebooks for students available right now, and it includes options that will fit every budget and use case.

Navigate this article:

Best battery life: ASUS Flip CM3

Flip CM3 on green background

Those that care more about battery life than performance will love the Flip CM3. The ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 strikes the balance between work and play. The 360 degree hinge enables multiple modes and provides the versatility to work or study using the orientation you like the best. Featuring a 12 inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and thin bezels, the ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 provides an expanded view in the portrait orientation to inspire you to see the world from a new perspective.

ASUS Pen (USI) support enables intuitive writing with an active stylus for enhanced productivity. The ultra-portable design and long-lasting battery life are tailored to an on-the-go lifestyle, and the silky-smooth palm rests and ErgoLift hinge design ensure comfort when typing.

The amazing battery life and 3:2 aspect ratio make this a unique choice for those that need portability to work on the road. Inside, this Chromebook is powered by a MediaTek 8183 Processor 2.0 GHz (1M Cache, up to 2.0 GHz, 8 cores), up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 128 GB eMMc storage. While the processor isn’t the beefiest one out there, the average of 16 hours battery life on a single charge is worth the trade-off. This is undoubtedly the best ASUS Chromebook for amazing battery life.

    ASUS Flip CM3
    Amazing battery life is something you expect with a Chromebook. But with the Flip CM3 you get up to a whopping 16 hours of usage on a single charge. If you don't mind a MediaTek processor, this is the Chromebook that lasts all day and night.

Best for engineering students: ASUS Chromebook CX9

ASUS CX9 on pink background

Powered by the latest 11th Gen Intel Core processors with up to Intel Iris Xe graphics, ASUS Chromebook CX9 delivers performance and responsiveness to empower users with the ultimate device for productivity and portability. You can configure the CX9 with up to 16GB of RAM and 512 GB of SSD storage. Even though it’s thin and light, ASUS Chromebook CX9 offers comprehensive IO ports for frequent business use. You get two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, an HDMI port, a single USB3.2 GEN2 port, microSD slot, and a Kensington lock slot for security.

The ASUS NumberPad is an LED-illuminated numeric keypad that’s perfect for crunching numbers, built right into the touchpad. Tap the NumberPad icon on the top right of the touchpad to turn it on, and tap the icon on the left to toggle between two brightness settings. This is a standout feature that you won’t find on any other Chromebooks. Add in an amazing display, fingerprint sensor, and webcam shield, and you have the best overall Chromebook you can buy today. The price may seem a bit high at $1,149 for the i7 model, but if you compare to other Chromebooks with similar specs, this is a steal.

    ASUS Chromebook CX9
    The ASUS Chromebook CX9 is a powerhouse in every sense. You can get up to a core i7 Tiger Lake processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage. If you want to get even fancier, there's a 4K version of this Chromebook releasing later this year.

Best style on a budget: Samsung Chromebook Go

Galaxy Chromebook Go on blue background

The Galaxy Chromebook Go is a new entry in Samsung’s Chromebook lineup. Announced just a few weeks back, this 14″ Chromebook has a solid display and attractive white on black design. This Chromebook also passed Mil-STD-810G testing, making it a very durable choice for younger children. On the inside you get an Intel Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB eMMc storage.

Samsung also included plenty of connectivity, with 1 USB3.2 port, 2USB-C ports, microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone/mic jack. If you care about portability, this Chromebook weighs just 3.2lbs making it fairly light for a 14″ device. Since this is a newer device, you’ll also get Chrome OS updates for a long time, making this a device students can use throughout their school years.

    Galaxy Chromebook Go
    Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Chromebook Go and it's a beautiful device. The white on black contrast makes this one of the best looking Chromebooks under $300. You also get a quality display and a newer Intel Celeron processor inside.

Best with built-in stylus: ASUS Flip C214

Flip C214 on blue background

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 is built to deliver an innovative and inspirational learning experience. As well as a versatile touchscreen display and a built-in stylus, there’s also a 360 degree hinge and a world-facing camera. The ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 has classroom-ready durability to reassure teachers and students alike, with an all-round rubber bumper, spill-resistant keyboard and ultra-tough hinge. With its school day-long battery life and time-saving, easy-to-service modular construction, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 is ready for anything. This laptop isn’t really about the internal specs, but you get an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB eMMc storage inside.

Accidents happen, and the ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 is ready for them. It’s built to withstand everyday classroom knocks, bumps, drops and spills without damage. Built to surpass demanding military-grade MIL-STD-810G durability standards, it’s also torture-tested to pass stringent ASUS quality tests. It can withstand occasional drops of up to 120cm — more than standard desk height — and the hinge and I/O ports are fully tested to endure the stresses and strains of everyday use.

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 includes a special world-facing camera so students can explore and learn in a totally new way, allowing them to capture photos and videos in tablet mode. There are also plans for the world-facing camera to support versatile apps, giving both students and teachers an exciting new learning aid.

    ASUS Flip C214
    ASUS has quite a few solid options for students. This particular model is perfect for younger kids as it has a ruggedized design that's spill and drop resistant. The affordable price and convertible form-factor also make it an appealing option for college students as well.

Best 11 inch option: Lenovo Chromebook C340

Lenovo c340 on purple background

This 11″ Chromebook is portable enough to move around the classroom, but durable enough to withstand a few bumps. The lightweight Chromebook C340 11″ boasts an ultraportable, 360° convertible design and all-day battery life. It’s just 2.65lbs / 1.2kg and takes up less space than a piece of printer paper, but Intel processing gives it power that defies its size. The laptop comes in two snazzy colors, Platinum Grey and Sand Pink.

Inside you’ll find an Intel Celeron N4000 Processor (1.10 GHz, up to 2.60 GHz with Turbo Boost, 2 Cores, 2 Threads, 4 MB Cache),4 GB LPDDR4 2400MHz (Soldered) RAM, and 64 GB eMMC storage. It’s also easy to connect to other devices, thanks to its two ultrafast USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and audio jack. Built-in 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 make connecting wirelessly at school a breeze.

    Lenovo Chromebook C340
    Unlike most compact Chromebooks, the C340 Chromebook comes in a refined silver finish that offers a premium feel. In addition to working in the classroom, it’s also a great work from home pick, with a 720p webcam and two 2W speakers.

Best for high school/college: Galaxy Chromebook 2

Galaxy Chromebook 2 on gray background

The first Chromebook with a QLED display, this is the best option for users looking to make Chrome OS their go-to platform. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 continues the overall design of the original Galaxy Chromebook, but reduces some of the premium features to attain a more reasonable price. The most impressive feature here is definitely the display. Get awestruck by every image with the world’s first jaw-dropping QLED display on a Chromebook, which produces over 100% volume.

The processor options are not quite as high-end as the original Galaxy Chromebook, but the Intel Core i3 should do the job for most users. Storage on this device tops out at 128GB, but this is still ultra-fast SSD storage we’re talking about. You also retain 8GB of RAM, and get improved battery life. 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.

Overall, this is the best Samsung Chromebook for you if you can live with the removal of the 4K display and fingerprint sensor. The highly attractive price will sway most users to choose this 2nd-generation device.

    Galaxy Chromebook 2
    With the Galaxy Chromebook 2, Samsung removed a few premium features but also drastically reduced the price. As the first Chromebook with a QLED display, this machine still packs plenty of power and style for most users.

Best for durability: Dell Chromebook 3100 Education Edition

Dell 11 3100 on red background

Dell has an Education Edition of the popular 3100 series that’s designed to withstand the rigors of the classroom. Featuring the same specs as the 3100 2-in-1 series, this laptop was redesigned to improve durability. The Chromebook 3100 Education Series is rigorously tested to endure the school day and beyond. Students can learn uninterrupted with tamper- and spill-resistant keyboards and a long battery life. It’s tested to survive 5,000 free-fall micro-drops and 30-inch drops onto steel, while rubberized edges minimize impacts from drops and bumps.

Students can learn, discover and share without worry thanks to the spill and tamper-resistant keyboard that withstands up to 12 ounces of liquid. Plus, its top mounted design ensures the entire palm rest doesn’t need to be replaced in case of damage to the keyboard. Ports are covered and secured with reinforced brackets, and they’re tested to ensure students can connect and disconnect as many times as they need. Dell also has the option to add LTE connectivity for learners in remote areas without WiFi access.

    Chromebook 3100 Education Edition
    The Education Edition of the 3100 series offers additional reinforcement to the chassis of this popular Chromebook. The rubberized corners and spill resistant keyboard make it perfect for use in any classroom.

Best 14 inch value: Acer Chromebook 314

Acer 314 on peach background

Education users need a good mix of everything on their Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook 14 delivers just that with a nicely sized display, durability, and excellent battery life. The Intel Celeron N4000 processor Dual-core at 1.10 GHz powers this Chromebook, with 4 GB, LPDDR4 RAM, and 64 GB of flash storage. While this processor is the same one found on the 315 Touch, the battery life is quite a bit better with the small display panel. Featuring over 12 hours of use on average, this machine should get you through the day.

If you plan to gift this Chromebook to a child for school, it’s also incredibly durable and can withstand short drops. A good mix of portability, power and durability make this a solid option in the classroom or at home for assignments.

    Acer Chromebook 314
    Students need a good mixture of specs, durability, and portability. The Acer Chromebook 314 features a 14 touchscreen display with 64 GB flash storage for files and apps. This Chromebook is also durable enough to stand up to a few bumps and bruises.

Best for writing/term papers: Acer Chromebook Spin 713

Acer Spin 713 on pink background

Every Chromebook manufacturer has a hero device — for Acer that device is the Chromebook Spin 713. Inside you’ll find the impressive Intel Core i7-10510U processor Quad-core at 1.80 GH. Along with this powerful processor, the Spin 713 also packs 16 GB, DDR4 SDRAM and a 128 GB SSD for storage. In terms of display, you get a 13.5″ 2K (2256 x 1504) 3:2 IPS Touchscreen panel with excellent maximum brightness and clean viewing angles. The display is also protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass, as is the trackpad. With its 360-degree convertible modes, you can work in space-limited environments such as in-flight or on the train, while also easily making presentations or sharing your screen in convenient and collaborative ways.

If you need to stay connected on the go, this Chromebook comes with an insane number of functional features including Wi-Fi 6, a backlit keyboard, a built-in HDMI port, as well as dual USB Type-C ports to deal with productivity needs. Battery life is excellent for a high-performance Chromebook, over 10 hours of usage on average. On top of all of this, you can also run Chrome Enterprise seamlessly out of the box, making this an appealing option for business customers. All of these features are packed in a beautifully designed metal chassis that makes this the best overall Acer Chromebook.

    Acer Chromebook Spin 713
    Acer's Spin 713 is a ultra-premium Chromebook from top to bottom. With good looks and verified MIL-STD-810G military-grade durability, this is an impressive machine. Top of the line specs and a convenient 2-in-1 design give you the power and portability to work anywhere.

Best for younger students: HP Pro Chromebook 11 G8 EE

HP 11 EE on orange background

If you’re a fan of HP, the Pro Chromebook 11 G8 EE is one the best HP Chromebooks out there. The relatively low cost and general durability makes this Chromebook an excellent choice for students. If you’re an educator or parent choosing a Chromebook for students, the HP 11 G8 is an excellent option. This machine has a pick and spill-resistant, full-size, chalkboard gray and pebble gray keyboard with skirt anchored keycaps. Younger students can easily use this Chromebook, with the lay-flat design and 122 cm drop-tested design for durability.

Most education Chromebooks don’t blow anyone away with the spec sheet, and the HP 11 G8 is no exception. You get 4GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron processor that handles basic tasks with ease. Ports match those found on more premium models, and the display is sufficiently bright at a max of 220 nits. At under $300, this is an excellent option for student use at home or in the classroom.

    HP Chromebook 11 G8 Education Edition
    If you're an educator looking for Chromebooks for the classroom, look no further. The HP Chromebook 11 G8 has reinforced metal corners and is 122cm drop-tested.

If you’re writing several long papers in your program of study, the Acer Spin 713 is an excellent option for writers. Parents looking for a Chromebook for their younger children should check out the HP Pro 11 Chromebook G8 EE and the Dell Chromebook 3100 EE. Overall, Chromebooks make excellent school machines for all ages and are incredibly secure and resistant to malware. Let us know which device you plan to pick up for the new school year.

The post Here are the Best Chromebooks for Students to Buy in August 2021 appeared first on xda-developers.



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