#ad: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Need a cheap, light laptop for the plane, the train or a weekend away? The Samsung Chromebook 3 became the one I use pretty much all the time.
I bought mine refurbished on Amazon for about $126 and haven’t had any problems. Here’s what I like and don’t like about it, from the ports to the keyboard and battery life. This is an older model, so check the current listing’s condition and Chrome OS support before you buy.
- Slim and very portable
- Matte screen cuts glare and fingerprints
- Small, tidy charging brick
- Plays 1080p YouTube and movies from a flash drive
- Refurbished unit looked like new
- Doesn’t feel premium
- Keys feel a bit chintzy with shallow travel
- Weak speakers
- Choppy on 2K/4K video; only 2 GB RAM and 16 GB storage
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Refurbished and still like new
Refurbished, I paid about $126; new was closer to $170. Mine came wiped to factory settings and I couldn’t see any signs of wear.
I’ve had refurbished things with nicks and dents, but this wasn’t one of those.
Design and build
It’s all plastic, and it doesn’t feel premium, but the lid has a light basket-weave texture in charcoal gray that hides fingerprints and wear. It looks pretty handsome.
It’s slim and not heavy, so it’s great for a plane, train or weekend trip. The sides kick out where the ports are, which gives it an illusion of thinness.
Ports and charger
One side has a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a USB port. The other has the power plug, a charging LED, another USB port, full-size HDMI and a microSD slot, which is handy for action-camera files on vacation.
I really like the charging brick. It’s small and thin, with a fairly long cable and an L-shaped plug.
Screen, trackpad and keyboard
The 11.6-inch screen looks good, though it’s not super high resolution, and it has a matte finish that’s great for glare and fingerprints. I usually run a click or two below max brightness.
The trackpad isn’t huge but handles two-finger scrolling well. The keys are where you feel the price: shallow travel, a bit of side-to-side play, and plastic that feels a little chintzy.
Video playback and movies from a flash drive
YouTube at 1080p plays fine. When I pushed my own 2K and 4K videos, I got some herky-jerkiness, which I think is the hardware.
I copied an MP4 and an M4V onto a flash drive, and both played in the built-in player with no stuttering, so it works like an old-school portable DVD player for flights. The speakers aren’t great, so pair Bluetooth headphones.
Battery life and verdict
The battery estimate said about 7 hours 18 minutes. In my use, I’ve run it about 6 hours and the battery was getting low, so call it 6 hours plus.
Overall it’s a really good value. Everything’s in the cloud, so if you drop it, you just log in on the next one.
FAQ
How much RAM does the Chromebook 3 have?
Mine has 2 GB RAM and a 16 GB SSD.
Can it play movies offline?
Yes. MP4 and M4V files from a USB flash drive played fine.
How long does the battery last?
About 6 hours plus in my use.
Does it have HDMI?
Yes, full-size HDMI, plus two USB ports and microSD.
Is refurbished worth it?
Mine was about $126 and looked like new.
Leave a Reply