The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: The Best Google Laptop I’ve Tested

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 stands out as the most impressive Chrome OS laptop available today, combining premium design, vibrant display quality, and reliable performance into a package that challenges even established favorites like the MacBook Air. With its sleek aluminum build and thoughtful features, it redefines what users can expect from a modern Chromebook.

This device marks a significant step forward for Chrome OS, moving beyond the perception of Chromebooks as purely budget or educational tools. Its metal construction feels solid and refined, resisting fingerprints while maintaining a clean appearance. The design echoes Google’s own hardware aesthetic, with subtle branding and a unibody-like appearance that enhances its premium feel.

Weighing just 1.17kg, the Chromebook Plus 14 is highly portable, and its compact power adapter adds to its travel-friendly nature. The built-in 5MP webcam delivers sharp video for calls, supported by Google’s useful background effects. A fingerprint reader provides quick login, and smartphone integration allows seamless connectivity for notifications, tabs, and media, a feature that outperforms many Windows alternatives.

Connectivity is one area where some users might wish for more, with two USB-C ports (one used during charging), a single USB-A, and a headphone jack. While an HDMI port is absent, the USB-C ports support display output, offering a practical workaround.

The keyboard offers an excellent typing experience with well-spaced keys, comfortable travel, and even backlighting. The large glass touchpad responds smoothly to gestures and clicks, making navigation effortless. It’s a pleasure to use for extended periods, whether typing documents or browsing the web.

Opening the laptop reveals its stunning 14-inch OLED display, which boasts rich colors, deep blacks, and sharp detail thanks to its 1920×1200 resolution. Although the refresh rate is 60Hz, the screen feels responsive and vibrant, making media consumption a real highlight. Reflections can be an issue in bright settings, but the display gets bright enough for outdoor use. An optional touchscreen version is available with upgraded RAM and storage.

Audio quality is another strong suit, with a quad-speaker Dolby Atmos setup that delivers clear, balanced sound with surprising depth, uncommon in laptops of this size.

Performance is driven by the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor, which features eight cores, integrated graphics, and a dedicated NPU for AI tasks. With 12GB of RAM and 128GB of fast SSD storage, this Chromebook handles multitasking, Android apps, and even light gaming with ease. It remains cool and silent thanks to its fanless design.

Battery life is exceptional, lasting up to 16 hours in video playback tests and around 13 hours with mixed use. This endurance rivals far more expensive laptops and makes the device ideal for all-day productivity.

The Chromebook Plus 14 also introduces several AI-enhanced features, including context-based prompts, NotebookLM for research, and generative video tools through Google Veo. Smart Grouping automatically organizes apps and windows, while Select to Search provides quick information from highlighted text. Buyers also receive a year of Google One Premium membership with 2TB of cloud storage.

While this laptop may not replace specialized software-dependent workflows, it excels as a primary device for most everyday tasks. Its combination of style, performance, and value is hard to match, positioning it as a top choice for anyone seeking a high-quality Chrome OS experience.

Specifications include a 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED display, MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor, 12GB RAM, 128GB storage, and Chrome OS. Connectivity features two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and a 3.5mm audio jack, powered by a 60Wh battery rated for up to 17 hours of use. Dimensions are 314x219x15.8mm, with a weight of 1.17kg.

(Source: Stuff.tv)