Dell has a new Chromebook on the market, and it’s far less expensive than what Google is offering.

The new Dell Chromebook looks great and acts as you’d expect from a Chromebook, but it’s significantly less expensive than Google’s current option. If you’re looking for a Chromebook that won’t break the bank, this review is for you.

A Tough Design

Dell’s Chromebook 13 has a magnesium alloy construction, which means that this laptop can take a beating - it’s the perfect option to throw into a bag without concern. It also has a carbon fiber weave coating, which just makes the whole thing look smooth without looking clunky in the least.

But all of that toughness means that the Chromebook 13 weighs in at 3.3 pounds, which is on the heavier side. So if you are going to throw this one into your backpack, you should get ready to build some muscle just from toting it around.

The Chromebook 13 also comes with a backlit keyboard, which is a really nice thing to have. Most people don’t put much weight into a backlit keyboard, but it’s easily one of those things that you will miss if you don’t have one. This laptop also comes with either a Gorilla Glass screen or a matte option. Both are nice to have, but you might find the glare that comes with true glass on the annoying side.

Inside the Chromebook 13

If you go with the standard model, the Chromebook 13 is powered by an Intel Celeron 325U processor. You can upgrade to a Core i3 or i5, but that’s a choice you’ll have to make depending on what you will want your laptop to do.

As far as battery life goes, you’ll have no problem taking this laptop on an all day trip with you on a single charge, which is pretty nice. Then again, the Chromebook really is akin to a web browser, so keep that in mind if you are considering this option.

But all of this doesn’t really matter if you’re not ready for a Chromebook. Is the Chromebook for you? That’s entirely based on what you like to do with a laptop or computer or whatever you want to call it.

The Chromebook is (really) a web browser. So if you want to do something like run Spotify or check Facebook, the Chromebook is for you. If you want to do photo editing and write a bunch of stuff in Word, the Chromebook is not for you.

Pricing and Availability

If you do want to get your hands on Dell’s new Chromebook 13, the price is right at $429 for a base model (again, upgrading this laptop really depends on what you want to do with it). For some people, a Chromebook makes perfect sense.

For others, it’s really not a work tool in any sense, and that immediately means that other laptops are better suited. But if you are looking for a Chromebook, the Dell Chromebook 13 is a great option that’s lightweight, has great style, and is completely affordable.