Why am I, an editor on a website specializing in the Microsoft and Windows ecosystem, recommending a Chromebook deal for Black Friday? Hear me out. For most people, I think that the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is the laptop to buy right now for less than $500. Sure, it runs Chrome OS and not Windows 11, but honest truth, I think you’re going to love it.
More great early Black Friday deals
A classy looking laptop with a 120 Hz display
I recently spent some time with looking at whether a gaming Chromebook is a viable alternative to a Windows laptop and came away pleased and a little surprised. The one I have isn’t the Acer deal featured here, it’s actually a less-powerful laptop that currently costs more. This one has a 12-core, 16 thread Intel Core i5 at its heart with Intel Xe graphics. Our pals over at Android Central have reviewed the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, though, and gave it a healthy 4.5/5.
If you’re looking solely for a gaming Chromebook, it’s tough to argue with what Acer has brought to the market with this one. The Chromebook 516 GE packs a powerful punch and has all of the ports that you could want (save for Thunderbolt), and you’ll probably have a tough time going back to a 60Hz refresh rate after spending any time with the 120Hz panel here.
Andrew Myrick – Android Central
For $450, the fact you’re getting a 120Hz 2560 x 1600 resolution display alone is reason to run to your nearest Best Buy and get one. Whatever device you’re using, once you make that jump from 60Hz, there really is no going back.
While this is technically a Chromebook aimed at gamers, aside from an RGB keyboard, there’s nothing else that screams the fact. It’s a subtle, classy design, and haters of number pads will love the fact that the keyboard doesn’t have one. It’s centered, like it should be!
For gaming, the key play is the cloud, and one of the perks currently available is a three-month free trial to NVIDIA GeForce Now Ultimate and its gaming at up to 120 FPS. So you can put that display to work. You can install Steam, too, but with Intel Xe graphics you will be limited. But hey, it’s $450!
An easy transition from Windows for Microsoft users
Alongside Windows 11 (of course) I currently use a Chromebook most days. It’s a very fast, aesthetically pleasing OS, and like Windows is able to use both Linux and Android apps. You can’t use Windows applications, of course, but for those embedded into Microsoft’s ecosystem you’re still well taken care of.
Microsoft is actually working with Google to make the seamless setup of Microsoft 365 on Chromebooks better, and you can already integrate OneDrive with the Chrome OS Files app with relative ease. Microsoft 365 on Chromebooks relies on web apps, but they’re really good, and most people would be hard pushed to tell the difference.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is a joy using the browser, too, you can hook up your wireless Xbox controller, hell, if you’d rather not use Google Chrome, you can even install Microsoft Edge on a Chromebook, too!
There are plenty of Chromebook deals on Black Friday, but the combination of the price, design, and the hardware you’re getting, this is the absolute best one. And even if you’re more used to Windows, or you want to do a little gaming, for under $500 you can’t beat this.
