The creation of the Universal Stylus Initiative (USI) opened the door to better compatibility for using styluses on Chromebooks. USI has been around for a while now, and there are a lot of great Chromebooks that support the standard. Some even come with a stylus.
Investing in one of the best Chromebooks with a stylus saves you the hassle of searching later and has everything you need right out of the box. If you’re confused about choosing one, here are all the best options based on your budget, battery life, etc., or just the best!
What do you get when you combine solid hardware with great internals and an included stylus? The answer is the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, improved for 2022 with Intel’s 12th generation chipset and Iris Xe graphics. With the Spin 714, Acer actually addresses some of the complaints we’ve had with some of its best Chromebooks. Although the newer Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) is now available, the newer version no longer comes with a stylus. Therefore, the 2022 version remains the best Chromebook with a stylus.
The Intel Core i5 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM is more than enough to handle just about anything. But it also comes with a beautiful 16:10 aspect ratio display, and plenty of ports, including multiple Thunderbolt 4 ports. The highlight of the Spin 714 is the garage-style USI stylus located on the edge of the bottom case. It’s easy to pick up the stylus when you want to flip to tablet mode or need to quickly sign a document.
Perhaps more importantly, having a stylus stored away eliminates the need to worry about losing your Chromebook stylus. While it’s not the most comfortable USI stylus we’ve used, we do like the convenience of being mounted in the chassis. Now you can just download your favorite note-taking app like Google Cursive or Nebo, pop the stylus out of the slot, and start writing notes by hand from anywhere without trying to find the exact spot where you placed the stylus.
best budget
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick/Android Central)
Great budget option in a pinch
Specification
exhibit: 10.9-inch, 2000 x 1200, IPS touchscreen (400 nits)
CPU: Snapdragon 7c second generation
Memory: 4GB/8GB
Storage: 64/128GB eMMC
Battery Life: up to 12 hours
port: 2x USB-C Gen 3.2, pogo pins
weight: 1.14 pounds
color: storm gray
Other features: USI 2.0 stylus compatibility, included stand cover, up to 45W charging speed,
Automatic update expiration date (AUE): June 2030
Reasons to buy
+
Long lasting battery life
+
Includes stand, keyboard
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Convertible form factor ideal for portability
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Compatible with USI 2.0 pen
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USB-C ports on both sides
Reasons to avoid
–
Not powerful enough for multitasking
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Display may be a bit too small for some
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Only 8GB/128GB model comes with stylus
While there have been a few companies trying to release ChromeOS tablets, none have really taken off like the original Lenovo Chromebook Duet. This is truly the ultimate tablet for media consumption, especially if you just want to spend the day relaxing on the couch. Considering its popularity, we figured it was only a matter of time before Lenovo released a successor.
That’s exactly what Lenovo has done with the IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3. Although the naming scheme has been changed to be consistent with the Chromebook Duet 5, Duet 3 addresses some of the issues we encountered with the original Duet, with a few caveats. Not only is it one of the first USI 2.0-compatible Chromebooks to be released, it’s also the only Chromebook currently available with a USI 2.0 stylus only. This means that if you have one of the best styluses for Chromebooks, you’ll want to adjust accordingly.
While Lenovo includes a detachable keyboard and stand case in the box, you might be disappointed if you buy the model with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.That’s because Lenovo only Including its new USI 2.0 stylus, this model uses 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
It’s a bit frustrating, sure, but you can also buy Lenovo’s USI 2.0 stylus separately if you just want the base model. At the end of the day, the Chromebook Duet 3 remains one of our favorite Chromebooks, and its smaller form factor makes it perfect for taking around.
Best detachable
(Image source: ASUS)
3. ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3
Ideal 2-in-1 product for light use
Specification
exhibit: 10.5-inch touch screen, 16:9 aspect ratio, 320 nits brightness
solve: 1920×1080
CPU: MediaTek Kompanio 500, Titan C security chip
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 64GB, 128GB eMMC
Battery: 27WHrs, 1S2P, 2-cell lithium-ion battery
port: 1x USB-C, combo audio jack
weight: 1.12 pounds
color: mineral gray
Other features: US MIL-STD 810H military grade standard, compatible with USI stylus, Intel Iris Xe graphics card, 45W power supply, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2
Automatic update expiration date (AUE): June 2030
Reasons to buy
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great design
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USI stylus is on the right
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Comes with accessories
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The convertible design is interesting
It’s a bit dated now, but the Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is still one of the best detachable Chromebooks with a stylus.Powered by
The Chromebook Detachable CM3 features a 10.5-inch LCD with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio and up to 320 nits of brightness. The basic configuration comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage space, paired with Arm Mali-G72 MP3 graphics card.
As the name suggests, the Chromebook Detachable CM3 is a 2-in-1 convertible that lets you flip the screen around to take notes, or just prop it up to watch movies, or just pop out the keyboard to use it as a tablet. The case itself has a stand built into the back so you can prop up your Chromebook in laptop mode and tablet mode.
Unfortunately, there’s no microSD card slot, so you can’t add more storage if you need to. While we wish Asus had gone with a 16:10 QHD screen, the Chromebook Detachable CM3’s display still looks great.
best premium
(Image credit: Andrew Myrick/Android Central)
The ultimate Chromebook experience
Specification
exhibit: 13.5-inch, 3:2, 400 or 1000 nits peak brightness
solve: 1920×1280/2256×1504
CPU: Intel Core i3-1215U / Intel Core i5-1235U / Intel Core i5-1245U / Intel Core i7-1265U
Memory: 8-32GB
Storage: 128-512GB
Battery: 4 cores, 50 watt hours
port: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, microSD card slot, SIM card slot, 2.5mm stereo combo jack
weight: 2.83 pounds
color: dragonfly blue
Other features: Tactile trackpad, backlit keyboard, fingerprint scanner
Automatic update expiration date (AUE): June 2030
Reasons to buy
+
The only tactile trackpad on a Chromebook
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Includes magnetic digital pen
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Performance is as good as competing Windows and Mac laptops
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The display’s 3:2 aspect ratio makes it a great productivity machine
Reasons to avoid
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extremely expensive
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Custom configurations mean higher prices and longer wait times
ChromeOS has finally matured and we can start enjoying truly high-end hardware that rivals some of the best Windows laptops. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook. You’d be hard-pressed to find a Chromebook that can match what the Dragonfly offers.
In addition to a 13.5-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio, you also get 12th-generation Intel chips, configurable with up to 32GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are dual Thunderbolt 4 ports onboard, as well as full-size HDMI and even a microSD card slot. The real star of the show, however, is the tactile trackpad, which gives Chromebooks a taste of why the trackpads on the best MacBooks have so many fans.
As for stylus support, you don’t have to worry about compatibility since HP ships its USI digital pen in the box with the Dragonfly. It attaches magnetically to the side of the bottom frame, which helps you keep track of it, and it also charges the stylus whenever it’s connected.
While this is arguably one of the best Chromebooks ever made, its superior performance is only outweighed by its hefty price tag. This is definitely not the cheapest Chromebook on the market, but in our opinion it’s worth every penny as long as you have the money to spend.
Do you need the included stylus?
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Let’s be honest, every time a new Chromebook hits our desks, it’s definitely a little weird to find one that doesn’t support a stylus. However, not every Chromebook comes with a stylus in the box.
If you want a Chromebook with a stylus, there aren’t many options, so the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022) is more appealing. Not only does it offer incredible performance, but the stylus is always with you, so you don’t have to empty your bag to find it. Plus, you get one of the best processors Intel has to offer for a fraction of the price of premium options.
If you want a true ChromeOS tablet with a stylus, just make sure you buy the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Lenovo includes a USI 2.0 stylus in the box, along with a detachable keyboard and magnetic stand. The Duet 3 is lightweight and portable, making it a great choice for taking notes in class or playing card games.
