ChromeOS Flex: A Lifeline for Old Windows Laptops!
we’ll explore a budget Windows laptop running Chrome OS Flex. You may have heard about Google bringing Chrome OS to Windows laptops and MacBooks with Chrome OS Flex—this is it, right here. I have to say, this is a game-changer, especially for older Windows laptops with Pentium or Celeron processors.
Why Chrome OS Flex is Ideal for Budget Laptops
This laptop came pre-installed with Windows 11, but it had a terrible user experience. With a Celeron dual-core CPU, UHD 500 graphics, 4GB RAM, and an HDD, Windows 11 is slow and struggles with basic tasks. Even on the first startup, performance was disappointing; I recorded a video showing the CPU usage spiking to 100% even when idle. Simple actions like refreshing the screen or opening the Start menu caused CPU usage to skyrocket, and the system often crashed or lagged heavily.
After trying out Windows, we installed Chrome OS Flex, which immediately transformed this laptop. Now, it boots up in about 30 seconds—compared to the nearly three minutes on Windows 11. I tested video playback with a 1080p video and even ran an 8K video with fewer stutters than I experienced on Windows. With Chrome OS Flex, I could open multiple tabs, use split-screen, and record the screen without issues. The performance has been fantastic.
Battery and Performance Improvements
Another huge benefit has been battery life. On Windows, a full charge showed only about five hours of runtime, but Chrome OS Flex bumped this to over seven hours. In an hour of use, it only dropped about 15%, so battery performance looks promising.
Chrome OS Flex Features
Chrome OS Flex focuses on web apps, and it’s based on Chrome OS 100, with all the usual Google web apps pre-installed. It includes the Chrome Web Store for easy app installations, and while it has the Google Play Store icon, Android app support isn’t enabled yet. However, Chrome OS Flex does support all basic hardware features like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, speakers, camera, and ports, and Chrome OS gestures work well with the laptop’s touchpad.
Chrome OS Flex also provides excellent integration with Android, so you can share files with nearby sharing, receive phone notifications, and see your phone’s status in the Chrome OS notification center. Plus, you get Google Assistant, and there’s full-fledged Linux support, which opens up more functionality for advanced users.
Final Thoughts
Chrome OS Flex is an excellent solution for reviving old Windows laptops, giving them new life and usability. It’s a perfect fit for students attending classes, professionals in meetings, or parents browsing the web. This option also reduces e-waste, as many older laptops can be repurposed instead of discarded. With the increasing prices of new laptops, Chrome OS Flex is a cost-effective way to get more out of your existing hardware.