Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

Acer Chromebook Spin 315 vs Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

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

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about students who take handwritten notes and casual users who want a tablet/laptop hybrid — 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 #2 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

4.5

$399

The Flex 5i is the convertible pick. 2-in-1 hinge plus touchscreen plus Chromebook Plus tier hardware makes it the right buy for note-takers and Netflix-on-the-couch users. Trade-off vs the ASUS CX34 is raw CPU.

Strengths

— 2-in-1 360° hinge — tablet, tent, and laptop modes
— Chromebook Plus tier with Intel Core i3 / 8GB RAM / 128GB SSD
— Touchscreen with stylus support

Watch-outs

— i3 CPU trails the i5 in the ASUS CX34 on raw throughput
— Heavier than the ASUS CX15 at 3.2 lbs
— Hinge mechanism adds wear over years

$399 · 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.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus

Only 2-in-1 convertible pick. Lower CPU than ASUS CX34. Heavier than ASUS CX15. Touchscreen advantage.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Acer Chromebook Spin 315	Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
CPU	MediaTek Kompanio 828	Intel Core i3 12th gen
RAM	4GB	8GB
Storage	64GB	128GB
Display	15.6" 1080p 2-in-1	14" 1080p touchscreen
Battery	12+ hours	—
Hinge	—	360° 2-in-1

← See the full ranking of best chromebooks under $500