Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

Acer Chromebook Spin 315 vs ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about students, knowledge workers, and home users who want a fast Chromebook without breaking $500 — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #4 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

Acer Chromebook Spin 315

4.3

$349

The Spin 315 is the long-battery 2-in-1 pick. MediaTek ARM chip means 12+ hours of battery — beats every other pick here. Trade-off is occasional ARM compatibility quirks for power users. Best for travelers and students who prioritize battery life over CPU peak.

Strengths

— 2-in-1 convertible like the Lenovo Flex 5i
— MediaTek Kompanio 828 chip — ARM-based, very long battery (12+ hours)
— Quiet fanless operation

Watch-outs

— ARM CPU compatibility quirks with some Linux apps and Android emulation
— Big bezels — looks dated next to the ASUS Plus CX34
— Display is 1080p but trails IPS panels in color accuracy

$349 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

4.6

$449

The CX34 is the best-overall Chromebook under $500. Chromebook Plus tier means Google's higher hardware floor — i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD — which puts it ahead of bargain bin Celeron Chromebooks. Best for everyday productivity, browser-based work, and student use.

Strengths

— Intel Core i5 (12th gen) — most CPU horsepower at this price
— 14" 1080p IPS display with anti-glare coating
— Chromebook Plus tier — Google's premium spec floor (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD minimum)

Watch-outs

— Plastic chassis trails MacBook-grade ultrabooks on feel
— No backlit keyboard at the base SKU
— Speakers are functional, not impressive

$449 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Acer Chromebook Spin 315

ARM chip (vs Intel x86 on every other pick). Best battery life. Fanless design. Bigger bezels than the ASUS CX34.

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

Most powerful CPU in this lineup. Better battery than the ASUS Chromebook CX15. Higher RAM/SSD floor than the Acer Chromebook Spin 315.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Acer Chromebook Spin 315	ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
CPU	MediaTek Kompanio 828	Intel Core i5 12th gen
RAM	4GB	8GB
Storage	64GB	128GB
Display	15.6" 1080p 2-in-1	14" 1080p IPS
Battery	12+ hours	—
Tier	—	Chromebook Plus

← See the full ranking of best chromebooks under $500