
If you want to spend a bit more, laptops with convertible touchscreens (otherwise known as 2-in-1s) offer a great deal of functionality. Chromebook prices can range anywhere from $200 up to $1,000. They’re affordable and designed to handle everyday tasks like writing papers, working on spreadsheets, and so on.
How much are you willing to spend on a laptop? If you’re working with an inflexible budget, Chromebooks are a good option. This is a way to gauge how well a Chromebook runs advanced workloads.
Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a combination of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript performance benchmark. Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how well a Chromebook can handle web-based applications. It simulates this by adding, completing, and removing a to-do list. Speedometer 2.0: This test determines a Chromebook’s web browser performance. CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark tests a Chromebook’s battery life. Video rundown test: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video using Windows 10’s Movies & TV app until the laptop dies. 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D performance remains consistent over time by running graphic-intensive clips. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a short period of time. Cinebench: Cinebench is a brief stress test of the CPU cores. It basically measures how long a laptop’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file. HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we determine how well the laptop handles lighter tasks like web browsing, word processing, spreadsheets, and so on. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of each test and the reasons why we run them. It wouldn’t be fair or possible to run the same kinds of tests on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Chromebooks, on the other hand, go through a series of web-based tests.
The idea is to push the laptop to its limits and then compare it against others we’ve tested. The PCWorld team puts each and every Windows laptop through a series of benchmarks that test GPU and CPU performance, battery life, and so on. If you don’t mind the lackluster battery life, this is a great laptop for watching movies and streaming video on.Īcer Swift 3 SF316-51review How we tested This is rather unfortunate, as the Swift 3’s slim profile makes it a capable laptop for travel.
However, battery life is subpar, so you’ll want to keep the charger on hand. It features an attractive 16-inch 1080p display, a solid chassis, and an enjoyable keyboard and touchpad. If you’re a college student working with a modest budget, the Acer Swift 3 is a fantastic option.