Whether you are looking to upgrade your current laptop, or simply want to play games on the go, there are a few different Chromebooks available on the market today. Some have a dedicated graphics card, while others offer better performance but lack that special hardware.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Designed for gaming on Chromebooks you could try here, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a high-resolution, 16-inch laptop that can run up to 1,000 games in the cloud. It features a 120Hz refresh rate display and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD. The device is also equipped with the latest connectivity ports, including HDMI and USB-C. It comes with a full HD camera and quad upward speakers.
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is powered by a 12th Gen Intel Core processor. It has a 256GB PCIe NVMe solid-state drive and 16GB of RAM. It is also equipped with Bluetooth 5.2 for wire-free accessory connections.
The Acer Chromebook 516 features a 120Hz IPS display with a WQXGA (2560x1600) resolution. The device is also equipped with RGB support and an anti-ghosting keyboard. It also includes advanced DTS audio and temporal noise reduction technology. The Webcam is a full HD model with a flare-reducing design. The device also features USB-C and USB-A ports. The charger maxes out at 58W to protect the battery.
The Acer Chromebook 516 comes with a 65Wh battery. It offers up to nine hours of battery life. Its HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort over USB-C ports can be used to stream games at up to 120Hz. It also supports the highest performance tier of NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
Acer's Chromebook 516 GE is one of three new gaming-focused Chromebooks on the market. The other two are the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 and Lenovo's Chromebook 516 GE.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16
Whether you are a student or a gamer, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook will deliver stunning visuals and faster speeds. It also supports NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming. It comes with plenty of ports and is compatible with Amazon Luna. It has a full number pad, a large trackpad, and an audio combo jack. It also offers good mobility and up to 11 hours of battery life.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook is packed with Intel(r) power and offers a wide range of gaming features. It also comes with an anodized aluminum top cover. It has a four-zone RGB keyboard with 1.5mm key travel, a full number pad, and an anti-ghosting feature.
The IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook comes with a 16-inch display. It's a 2560 x 1600 pixel 100% sRGB display, and it has a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has a 16:10 aspect ratio and an anti-glare coating. It weighs just over 4 pounds. It has a microSD card slot, a headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. It supports Wi-Fi 6E and a USB 3.2 Type-C port.
Lenovo has also added an exclusive feature to the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook. It will automatically receive updates until June 2028. Lenovo's premium care service also offers 24-hour access to an expert technician. It also offers how-to guidance and fast repairs. You can get up to 11 hours of battery life, which can last you the whole day.
ASUS Chromebook CX9
Asus' new flagship Chromebook, the CX9, is a complete redesign. It's a powerful machine with high processor power and high memory capacity. It's also a pleasure to use.
The CX9 features a high-end 14-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1080. It offers a wide viewing angle thanks to its four-sided NanoEdge display. The screen also offers a 100% sRGB color gamut. The display has a Delta E of 1.39 and a brightness peak of 366cd/m2. It also features a high-contrast ratio of 1,663:1 and a black point of 0.22cd/m2.
The CX9's chassis is made of an ultra-strong aluminum alloy and is incredibly rigid. It also has an ultrathin profile that is only 16 millimeters thick. It's also quite light, weighing just over two pounds.
The chassis also includes a fingerprint scanner. It's located on the right side of the trackpad. This scan performs well for a small size, but can be a little wobbly.
The CX9 also has an HDMI port and two USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 ports. These ports can output video to up to two 4K displays. They can also supply charging power to connected devices.
The CX9 is a good choice for business users. It has a strong battery life and offers a smooth typing experience. It also features a fingerprint sensor for a password-free login. It is also built with structural reinforcements, and undergoes shock and drop tests.
Amazon's Luna
Earlier this year, Google announced a raft of Chromebooks designed to play games. The new machines are optimized for cloud gaming services. These include NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Amazon's own Luna service. The new Chromebooks are designed to run all the games in these services, though they won't include Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or GeForce Now.
The Chromebook's 512GB SSD storage, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor make it an ideal option for gaming. The device also supports 2.4 GHz wireless connections. A 5-GHz connection will provide the best gaming experience, though.
Acer, Asus, and Lenovo are currently shipping three-month trials of Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service. These Chromebooks have solid displays. They'll support full console games, including Forza Horizon 5, Gears 5, and Cyberpunk 2077. The devices will support 60 frames per second at 1080p.
Google will include a web app for Chromebooks that supports Xbox Cloud Gaming. This web app will also include a three-month trial for NVIDIA GeForce Now, which is included with the Luna+ service.
Amazon's new Family channel features 35 curated games that are safe and fun for kids. These games can also be played with other family members on up to two devices. Some of the titles include Space Otter Charlie, Garfield Kart -- Furious Racing, and DreamWorks Dragons: Dawn of New Riders.
Amazon's Luna service is free to use, but you can also subscribe to a family subscription for $2.99 per month. The family subscription includes all the games in the Family channel.
Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming
Previously known as Project xCloud, Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available for Chromebooks. The new service works through a website that's installed on your Chromebook. This means you'll be able to play games from the cloud anywhere with a browser.
While this service isn't available on all platforms, most Chromebooks will be able to run Xbox games. This includes the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, which has a 120Hz WQXGA display and 8GB+ of RAM. You'll also find a 144Hz FHD display on the ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55.
The Xbox Cloud Gaming service runs on Microsoft's servers. The company assumes that you'll use your phone for cloud gaming, but it also supports official PWAs that will allow you to play games on Chrome OS.
In order to play a game, you'll need a Chromebook and a Microsoft account. You'll also need to download the Game Pass app for Android. You'll also need a supported game in your region. You'll also need a minimum speed of 10Mbps down-speed, but some devices will need 20Mbps.
The new Chromebooks that are geared towards cloud gaming have RGB gaming keyboards, 120Hz displays and anti-ghosting capabilities. They'll also support three of the leading cloud gaming services. The highest tier on GeForce NOW supports ray tracing and a 120-frames-per-second (FPS) display.
The Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming service has also been optimized for Chrome OS. The site is similar to a native app, with a three-dot menu that lets you launch the service. You can also search for games to play.
Google's Stadia
Earlier today, Google announced a new line of Chromebooks optimized for cloud gaming. These new laptops feature high-resolution screens, RGB keyboards, and 120Hz or higher display refresh rates.
The devices also feature Nvidia GeForce NOW. Nvidia says GeForce NOW is the "highest performance tier." These devices support ray tracing and 120 frames per second gameplay. You'll get access to a free one-year subscription to GeForce NOW when you purchase a Chromebook.
The new Chromebooks will be available in three models. One is the Acer 516 GE, which features an Intel Core i5 processor and 120Hz display. Another is the Ideapad Gaming Chromebook from Lenovo. It has 120Hz and 1600p displays and immersive audio.
The other new Chromebook is the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip. It features an Intel Core i5 processor and RGB keyboard. The screen is 16 inches, WQXGA at 120Hz.
The new Chromebooks will come with an app for the "Cloud Gaming Partner Platform," which is a shortcut to Nvidia GeForce NOW. This app will surface hundreds of games, and will also offer access to gaming offers.
While it's unlikely that Google's Stadia service will ever make a return, the company plans to continue collaborating with third-party gaming services. This could boost third-party game streaming services, especially if Stadia users switch to these services.
Google has also announced plans to refund users for purchases made through the Stadia store. These refunds will be offered through the Google Play Store.