If you’re out in the market choosing a new Chromebook and you can’t wrap your head around the perfect hard drive size for you, you’re in the right place. This guide will cover all you need to know about different hard drive sizes in Chromebooks and which one is the pick you should go for.
ChromeOS comes slapped on devices in ample configurations. However, to cast a lens on the production of relatively recent Chromebooks, the technical specifications and the hardware standard seem to increase. Look at the Asus Chromebook CX9 and the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, and you’ll understand what we’re talking about.
For now, though, let’s talk about hard drive sizes and which one would do you and your Chromebook better.
- In the meantime: How to check hard disk health on a Chromebook.
What is a hard drive in a Chromebook?
A hard drive, otherwise called Hard Disk Drive (HDD), is one of the major hardware components of any computer, whether it’s a Chromebook or a Windows laptop. It not only functions as a storage part of the computer but also helps get a bevy of tasks done in tandem with the internal memory of the device, also known as RAM.
It paves the way for a hard disk to read and write the storage compartments of the operating system as a whole, thereby not only serving the storage function but also allowing PCs to boot up and down as per requirement. We won’t get much into the technicality of the matter here, but you get the point.
Now, in the domain of Chromebooks, you’ve got these devices coming in with multiple different hard drive sizes. Of course, if you’re new to making such purchases, you want to read up on the perfect rugged drive-sized Chromebook for your cause, so you don’t regret your decision later.
Let’s take a close, hard look at the most commonly available hard drive sizes in Chromebooks and talk about them in detail, so you can realize which option will do you better. So let’s get started with no further ado.
Picking the right hard drive size for your Chromebook
Now, Chromebooks come in all sorts of hard drive sizes, but you’ll probably choose only one of the available options. The bullet point list ahead enlists the most common storage capacities coming in-built on various Chromebooks.
- 32 GB
- 64 GB
- 128 GB
- 256 GB
Let us break each of these hard drive sizes down, so you can understand whether they’re for you or not. Before we begin, it’s worth noting that picking the right size of your storage drive is directly proportional to your requirements.
Therefore, you’re going to be the one who will evaluate the storage capacity you need. By considering that, let’s look at the 32 GB storage size.
32 GB
You’ll notice how we didn’t start with 16 GB of hard drive size, but there’s a good reason for that. The bare minimum for most modern-day Chromebooks is slated for a 32 GB storage size, so venturing anything below seemingly asks for trouble. We highly recommend you look for options 32 GB and up to get a substantial ChromeOS experience.
Now, 32 GB is fantastic until you discover yourself stacking up files after files, photos after photos locally on your Chromebook. You’ll quickly end up saturating the device wholly and perhaps even make it run slow. But, of course, you don’t want that at all with ChromeOS. After all, what would be the benefit of purchasing a Chromebook then?
So, 32 GB is recommended for people who don’t plan to save important documents, files, and media to their Chromebook’s local storage. On the other hand, if you’re someone who does not fail to meet the description here, go for a 32 GB Chromebook in tandem with the other hardware specifications of the device.
Here are some of the best Chromebooks with a 32 GB hard drive slapped on.
64 GB
Moving up the ladder, we’ve got ourselves the 64 GB hard drive size. This one comes across as reasonably appreciable, given its double storage capacity compared to our first option. 64 GB is an admirable option if you’re looking to make things stay in balance.
Ideally, choosing this hard drive size would mean that you’re not too fond of local storage endeavors, but even if it did come down to that, you’d feel comfortable knowing that there is enough space in your Chromebook to hold a fair amount of data without slowing it down.
64 GB still isn’t a lot and is bound to fill up soon if your work revolves around operating with local storage. It is, however, a good balance that can back you up in times of need and not let performance stutters or speed lagging prevail. Then again, the majority of the decision boils down to your preferences.
Some of the best Chromebooks that offer a configuration with a 64 GB hard drive size are:
- Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.
- Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3.
- Acer Chromebook 514.
- Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook.
128 GB
A 128 GB hard drive is the perfect size for local file storage enthusiasts moving forward. This is enough capacity to meet your requirements on any given day, considering that you’re not looking to overload your Chromebook with more media than it can handle.
A 128 GB storage size can also come in the form of an NVMe SSD, which is much better than a regular hard disk drive and amounts to faster read and write speeds. Therefore, the latter is an added benefit that might be available when your device is purchased.
Some of the best Chromebooks available in this hard drive size are:
256 GB
Lastly, the 256 GB hard drive size is just for the individuals who are not taking anything inferior as an answer. What we have here comes slapped onto the most top-of-the-line Chromebooks that cost well north of $1,000. If you’ve got that kind of a budget to spare and don’t mind a seemingly extra bundle of storage, this is the storage capacity to opt for.
Usually, a person who has much to do with their Chromebook’s local storage will readily opt for such devices, but our guess is that rather than individuals who would want a device for personal use, businesses are going to opt for such Chromebooks, so they do not compensate on hardware in any way.
Check out this duo of some of the best 256 GB-fitted Chromebooks ahead. Do mind that budget-friendliness is no longer in the equation in the wake of these selections.
An alternative solution to local storage
Clicking on the “Google Drive” folder
It feels wrong to talk about storage and not mention an exceptionally novel technology making rounds across the spectrum for the past several years. Chrome OS harnesses this standard quite profoundly and is a “cloud-first” operating system.
That’s right. Cloud-based storage solutions are becoming more and more widespread as the days go by. Even more so, they are powering up numerous corporations and businesses worldwide, thanks to the ease of use and convenience they bring forth to the table.
Chromebooks benefit from Google’s proprietary software, Google Drive, which integrates right within ChromeOS. If you’ve noticed, you’ll find that Drive even has a separate section incorporated within the “Files” system application that allows Chromebook users seamless access to the cloud-based program.
Furthermore, it just isn’t Drive that can accommodate you with your storage ventures. There are other options to look toward, such as pCloud, another high-quality cloud storage service that lets individuals enjoy limited free storage and allows them to purchase paid plans just as well.
Now that times are changing hard and fast, people are starting to realize the effectiveness of cloud storage. Look into this yourself when you’re questioning the right hard drive size. Who knows? Your perspective might completely change for the better.
Conclusion
ChromeOS is a speedy, simple, and secure operating system that likes to keep things as minimal as possible. This is one of the possible reasons the developers decided to go a different route with the software and not convolute it with a bevy of other processes. The fact that Chromebooks cannot run Windows apps natively is beneficial and a downside.
With that said, we’re happy with the former half of the two ends, considering how Chromebooks manage to get things done on the fly. It wouldn’t be possible if they weren’t made the way they are. As for the hard drive size you need to get started with, the write-up above should now have covered all of your queries.
Personally, we fare that the 128 GB hard drive size is the ideal one out of the bunch. Chromebooks with this storage capacity aren’t too decked out, nor do they boast a hefty price tag. You should be able to do great with the wide variety of Chromebooks in the relevant price bracket.
Do let us know in the comments section if there’s still something you’re on the fence about. Till then, have a good one!
- Before you leave: Chromebook review in 2022 – Is it better than a laptop?
