Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go Review: Lightweight ChromeOS on a Budget

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go is a no-frills Chromebook built around a 14-inch display, Intel Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. At around $215, it runs ChromeOS, which means it leans heavily on web apps and cloud storage rather than local processing power. Samsung's Galaxy branding places it in the company's mainstream consumer line, and the Chromebook Go name signals its purpose: a simple, portable machine for getting online quickly.

The 14-inch display is a step up from the 11- and 12-inch screens you usually see on Chromebooks at this price. It gives you more screen space for web browsing, document editing, and streaming, which makes a real difference for productivity.

The Intel Celeron N4500 is an entry-level processor designed for ChromeOS workloads - it handles web browsing, Google Docs, streaming, and light Android apps without trouble, but it's not built for anything demanding. The 4GB of RAM is tight but typical for Chromebooks at this price; ChromeOS is more memory-efficient than Windows, so 4GB goes further here than it would on a Windows machine.

The 64GB of storage is meant for local files and Android apps, with the expectation that you'll rely on Google Drive for most of your storage needs. ChromeOS boots quickly, updates automatically, and is generally low-maintenance compared to Windows.

As the only Chromebook in this review set, the Galaxy Chromebook Go occupies its own category. Compared to the Windows laptops here, it's cheaper and lighter but more limited in what software it can run. The HP Stream 14 at $234.99 is the closest Windows equivalent - similar price, similar specs, but running Windows 11 instead of ChromeOS. The Stream 14 offers more software flexibility, while the Chromebook Go offers faster boot times, better battery life, and lower maintenance. If your needs are entirely web-based, the Chromebook Go is the simplest and cheapest option. If you need Windows applications, the HP Stream 14 or HP UltraBook 2026 are better choices at similar prices.