11 Jan 2024

Chromebook vs MacBook vs Windows laptop

Chromebooks, Apple MacBooks and Windows are all fighting for your cash. Discover the pros and cons of each so you can choose the laptop that's right for you.

Which?Editorial team

In this article

Should I buy a Chromebook?
Should I buy a MacBook?
Should I buy a Windows laptop?
The Bottom Line: MacBook vs PC vs Chromebook

Choosing a laptop used to be far more straightforward. If you were a fan of Apple products and had the money to spend, a MacBook might have been too tempting to resist. On a budget, or more of a Windows user? You'd plump for one of the many Windows machines available.

Now that Chromebooks have entered the mix with a range of designs from budget-friendly to flagship killer, the waters have been muddied. So how do you go about choosing, how much should you spend and what features are most important for your needs?

This guide will take you through the pros and cons of each type of laptop, based on our expert, lab-tested laptop reviews.

Just want to know which models excelled in our tests? See our pick of the best laptops

Should I buy a Chromebook?

Chromebook pros

They feel fast. Without Windows hogging system resources, Chromebooks with relatively light specifications can feel a lot faster than comparable Windows machines. This means paying under £200 for a Chromebook will get you a laptop that feels faster than a £200 Windows laptop.
They’re very simple to use. If you can use a web browser you can use a Chromebook. With no extra apps required to get up and running, Chromebooks offer one of the easiest set-up experiences of any tech device out there.
Almost all Chromebooks take the form of thin and light laptops with excellent battery life. This means they’re perfect for taking away on trips and ideal for carrying around school or campus if you’re a student.
Chromebooks can run Android apps from the Google Play store. This is a blessing and a curse; there's a lot of variety but many of the apps are optimised for phones so might not be easy to use.

Chromebook cons

You pay a price for simplicity; you won’t be able to run the Windows software you’re used to on a Chromebook. There are browser-based alternatives for most types of applications including photo-editing apps, but if there’s a program you can’t live without, a Chromebook isn’t the best bet.
Chromebooks work best when connected to the internet. Applications such as Google Docs can be set up to work without an internet connection, and will sync changes to your files to the Cloud when you reconnect to the internet. But most other web-based apps won’t work at all without a connection. You’ll also need a Google account to get everything set up properly.
Because most Chromebooks are cheap, you end up having to face some compromises in various areas, including screen quality, speakers and occasionally build quality. Our reviews highlight any shortcomings.
Chromebooks have an expiry date when they stop receiving updates. For more details on this, see our investigation into ChromeOS updates.

Discover the best in our guide to the best Chromebooks.

Should I buy a MacBook?

MacBook pros

Apple's operating system, MacOS, has a well-earned reputation of being fast, slick and easy to use. This is partly because MacOS only runs on a very small number different models of Macs, making it easy to produce an operating system that runs consistently well. There may be a bit of a learning curve while you adjust to its layout and functions, but once you’re up and running, you may never look back.
Apple has invested a lot of money on the look and feel of its computers. That usually means a premium, metal finish but, on top of that, MacBooks feel like they were built to last. It’s not uncommon to hear about a MacBook that’s been in heavy use for a decade or more that’s somehow still plugging away. Indeed, Apple consistently ranks highly in our most reliable laptop brands survey.
MacBooks come pre-loaded with strong software for video and photography editing, and making music. Not only that, there’s a lot of premium applications available, making MacOS a common choice for those working in creative industries. Many apps available for iPads are also available on MacOS, too.

MacBooks Cons

One word – price. While deals and discounts can be found at high-street retailers, the Macs will typically run you at least £900 for the cheapest model.
Instead of the likes of Word and Excel, Macs have their own word processing (Pages or TextEdit) and spreadsheet (Numbers) software. These free Mac programs lack the depth you'll be used to from the Microsoft Office versions. And if you want to open a Word or Excel document from your old computer or that somebody has emailed you, you may notice they look a little different. But you can always buy Office for Mac or download a third-party program if that's a major concern. You could also use Google Docs and Sheets, or use Microsoft Office Online, which can be used in your web browser.
MacBooks have been quicker to adopt technologies at the expense of others, for example MacBooks ditched HDMI ports and full-size USB ports in 2016, only to reinstate the former in its 2021 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. The MacBook Air, however, only has USB-C/Thunderbolt ports.

Read our guide to the best MacBooks to help you decide which model is right for you.

Woman sitting, using a silver laptop outside

Should I buy a Windows laptop?

Windows laptop pros

With its decades of dominance in the market, most people are familiar with the layout of Windows, which can be comforting especially if you've never used anything else.
Windows lets you run Word, Excel and other Microsoft products with ease, and it’s flexible, too. For users with basic needs, it tends to be easy to work with; for more advanced enthusiasts, there are plenty of tweaks you can make.
There's a massive range of prices you can choose from if you're buying a Windows laptop. We've tested models that range up to around £1,500 but, we've also reviewed perfectly reasonably Windows laptops that will cost you just £300.
Windows laptops are sometimes easier to upgrade, allowing people with little technical knowledge to add a larger hard drive or more memory to improve performance, although this entirely depends on the laptop you choose.

Windows laptop cons

Windows PCs are a much bigger target for virus creators than Macs and Chromebooks. Take a look at our Best Buy antivirus software listings if you want some extra peace-of-mind. Keep in mind, though, that all operating systems are ultimately as secure as the person using them; you can accidently visit a phishing site that steals your personal details on whichever operating system you happen to be using.
Windows updates continue to be a bit of a pain. They have improved markedly in recent years, but the best way to avoid them from causing disruption is to let Windows install them when it asks you to, instead of putting it off for months and being forced into a long restart at an inopportune time.
Although it's handy that Windows laptops come in all shapes and sizes, so you can pick one that suits you best, the huge choice can be a curse, too. There are as many duds as there are stars, without the same consistent quality of the smaller Mac range.

Read our guide to the best Windows 11 laptops for more.