The announcement of the Universal Stylus Initiative, (USI), opened up the possibility for better compatibility with a Chromebook that uses a stylus.
Although there have been some hiccups following USI 2.0’s announcement, you may be surprised at the number of great choices available if you are looking for a Chromebook that comes with a stylus.
The best Chromebook comes with a stylus, so it’s easy to find one when you get home.
These Chromebooks are top-rated with stylus
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022)
Best out of all reviewed!
Specifications
You get reliable hardware, excellent internals, and an integrated stylus. Acer Chromebook Spin 714, updated in 2022 with Intel’s 12th Gen chip-sets, and Iris Xe graphic, is the solution. Acer solved some of the problems we had with other Chromebooks by introducing the Spin 714.
The 8GB RAM and Core i5 processors of Intel provide more power than most other chipsets. It also features a stunning display that has a 16-to-10 aspect ratio and a multitude of ports including several Thunderbolt 4 ports. Its star feature is the Spin 714’s garaged USI stylus, which is located on the outside of its bottom case. It is easy to reach the stylus from any angle, whether you are looking to switch to tablet mode or sign documents quickly.
Even more important, a garaged stylus eliminates any worry of losing your Chromebook stylus. It’s not the most comfortable USI-style stylus, but we like the ease of having it housed in the chassis. It’s easy to download and use your favourite note-taking app, like Google Cursive, Nebo or Google Cursive, then take the stylus from the slot. You can start handwriting notes wherever you are without having to search for the exact spot.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
Although there have been a number of companies that attempted to launch ChromeOS tablets in the past, none succeeded as well as the original Lenovo Chromebook Duet. It was the perfect tablet to consume media, even if you were just looking for a place to relax after a long day. Given its popularity, it seemed only natural that Lenovo would release a successor.
This is exactly what Lenovo did for the IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3 Although the Duet 3’s naming was changed to match the Chromebook Duet 5 model, it still solved many of our issues with the Duet 1. This Chromebook is the first Chromebook with USI2.0 compatibility. It’s also one of only a few Chromebooks that can use USI 2.0 stylus pen. You will have to modify your Chromebook’s stylus if you own one.
The box contains a detachable keyboard, kickstand case and Lenovo’s standard 4GB RAM. However, the 64GB model will be more expensive. Lenovo’s model with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage is the best, because Only including its new USI 2.0 Stylus Pen with the model using 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Although it is frustrating, you can still purchase the Lenovo USI 2.0 Stylus Pen as an accessory if you don’t want to buy the base model. The Chromebook Duet 3 is still our favourite Chromebook, with its small form factor being a joy to use.
HP Chromebook X2 11
Even though the HP Chromebook X2 11 may be a little older than last year, it remains one of the most popular Chromebooks. HP also packed a premium design into the 11-inch format. In the box, you’ll find the detachable keyboard with kickstand, a 45W power adapter, and HP’s Wireless Rechargeable USI Pen.
The HP USI pen is magnetically attached to the side of X2 11. This allows it to be easily reached and charges the stylus even when not in use. The Chromebook manufacturer’s approach to providing a similar experience as the iPad with its Apple Pencil is this one.
The hardware is the X2 11, a sleek ChromeOS tablet that has one of the most impressive build quality. This tablet has an 11 inch IPS display, and a resolution of 2160×1440. It can also reach 400 nits at peak brightness. The power button has a fingerprint scanner and the battery lasts for just over 11 hours.
The Snapdragon 7c Gen 1 chip has a slight performance hit, so we suggest lowering the resolution. If you are looking for a ChromeOS tablet with a lot of features, the X2 11 may be the best choice.
ASUS Chromebook flip CX5 (CX5400)
CX3: A step beyond!
View Price on Amazon
Specifications
Display: Touchscreen 14 inch, 16/9 aspect ratio, 300 Nits brightness
Resolution: 1920 x 1080
CPU: Intel Core i3-1110G4, i5-1130G7 and i7-1160G7
RAM: 8-16GB
Storage: 128GB, 248GB, or 512GB M.2 SSD
Battery: 48WHrs
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1), Combo Audio Jack, microSD card slot
Weight: 3.09 pounds
Colors: AI Blue
Others features US Mil-STD 810H Military-Grade Standard, Dockable USI Stylus, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 45W Power Delivery and Wi-Fi 6. Bluetooth 5.2
Date of Auto Update Expiration (AUE). June 2030
PROS
- Fantastic design
- USI stylus kept on the right
- Intel 11th Gen chips offer plenty of power
- Convertible design is enjoyable
CONS
- Speakers that fire downward
- It’s not much different than the CX3.
It’s not uncommon to wonder how companies react when they launch new products. As an example, take ASUS’ Chromebook Flip CX3 or Chromebook Flip CX5. The 11th generation Intel chips power both the Chromebook Flip CX3 and the Chromebook Flip CX5 and they have the identical storage and RAM configurations. They also share the same USI stylus. The included Thunderbolt 4 stylus makes the Flip CX5 our top-rated Chromebook with a stylus. It costs only $100.
Chromebook Flip CX5 is a 14″ LCD display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The screen can achieve 300 nits brightness. With the Intel Core i3-1110G, base configurations come with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You can get the Core i7-1150G7 with 16GB of RAM or 512GB of storage if your hardware needs are more severe.
Chromebook Flip CX5 is, as the name implies, a convertible Chromebook. You can flip the screen back to make notes or to prop it up for watching a film. You can also add more storage to your device via the microSD card slot. Although we would have preferred ASUS to use a 16×10 QHD screen on the Flip CX5, its FHD display and LCD still look great.
HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook
Chromebook: The Ultimate Experience
View Price on Amazon
Specifications
Display: 13.5 inches, 3:2, 400 and 1000 nits peak brightness
Resolution: 1920×1280 / 2256×1504
CPU: Intel Core I3-1215U/ Intel Core II5-1235U/ Intel Core Core i5-1235U/ Intel Core Core i5-1245U/ Intel Core Core i7-1265U
RAM: 8-32GB
Storage: 128-512GB
Battery: 4-cell, 50-WHr
Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, microSD card slot, SIM card slot, 2.5mm stereo combo jack
Weight: 2.83 pounds
Colors: Dragonfly Blue
Others features Fingerprint scanner, Haptic Trackpad, Backlit Keyboard
Auto Update Expiration Date (AUE) June 2030
PROS
- Chromebooks are unique in that the haptic trackpad can be used on Chromebooks
- Includes magnetic Digital Pen
- The performance is comparable to Mac and Windows laptops
- Its impressive aspect ratio of 3:2 makes it a great productivity tool.
CONS
- It is extremely expensive
- For custom configurations, expect to pay higher prices and wait longer.
ChromeOS is now mature enough to allow us to enjoy truly top-quality hardware comparable with the finest windows laptops. The HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook is a great example of high-end hardware. It would be difficult to find another Chromebook with the same capabilities as the Dragonfly.
You’ll also enjoy the 13.5 inch display and its 3:2 aspect ratio. 12th Gen Intel chips are available, with 32GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. Thunderbolt 4 ports are available onboard as well as a full-size HDMI port and a microSD card slots. But the true star is the haptic trackingpad. Chromebooks will get a good taste of the trackpad that can be found on top MacBooks.
You don’t have any worries about stylus compatibility because HP comes with its USI Digital Pen. It attaches magnetically on the side of your bottom frame. This helps to keep track of it and also charges the stylus when it is attached.
This Chromebook is undoubtedly one of the most impressive Chromebooks, but its exceptional quality is only surpassed by its high price. While it may not be the most affordable Chromebook, this Chromebook will still prove to be a great value if you’re willing to pay the extra money.
Are you a fan of a stylus?
It’s quite common for us to see new Chromebooks that do not support stylus support when we come across them. Even Chromebooks like the ASUS CX9 are non-convertible and can still be used with USI pen if they have it.
The Acer Chromebook Spin714 is a great choice if you’re looking for a Chromebook with a stylus. The stylus not only provides incredible performance but it is always at your side, so you don’t have to go searching for it every time. The best part is that you get all the Intel’s latest products for a fraction of what Chromebooks, like the Elite Dragonfly, cost.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 has 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. Lenovo also included its new USI 2.0 stylus pen, as well as a detachable keyboard with magnetic kickstand. It is light and portable so it’s great for taking notes or playing solitaire.
