Last update on 2024-04-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
It is widely known that Chromebooks are not machines meant to playing games, but rather for working and studying.
However, in the last few years, Google released Stadia, a new option for gaming that should only require a steady internet connection.
With such a resource, are Chromebooks capable of becoming great gaming machines? That’s what we are about to find out.
Checkout our guide on Chromebooks For Geforce.
Will Stadia Work On A Chromebook?
Yes, it will. The minimum requirements of Stadia are highly compatible with most Chromebooks you can find to buy on the most common retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, etc.
While there are minimum hardware requirements for playing on Stadia, what you should be most careful about is the speed of your connection to the internet. If you plan to play with resolution graphics and instant response, your internet should be genuinely good, without intermittences.
That way, playing with Stadia becomes a bit cheaper if we compare the price of gaming computers to what you pay to your internet provider.
Let’s check which the minimum hardware requirements for playing on Stadia are:
- RAM: 4 GB
- GPU: Intel HD 3000
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
- HD/SSD free space: 1 GB
- OS: Windows 7 and higher
And here are the internet requirements:
- 10 megabits per second: 720p, 60 fps, stereo sound
- 20 megabits per second: 1080p, 60 fps, HDR, 5.1 surround sound
- 35 megabits per second: 4K, 60 fps, HDR, 5.1 surround sound
How Do You Get Stadia on a Chromebook?
There are currently two options through which you can play Stadia on a Chromebook. If you already know plenty about these devices, you probably already guessed what these two methods are.
Web Application
It is crazy to think that in 2021 you can play AAA game titles on your browser on a low-end computer, but that’s right.
Stadia should be accessible from any Google Chrome browser or browsers which are based on Chromium (including but not limited to Edge, Vivaldi, Brave).
The only thing Stadia requires from your physical device is to pair a controller or adjust your preferred keys on the keyboard.
All the processing is done on remote servers, so you should be able to play your favorite games on the Chrome browser without worry.
Installed App
Stadia is also available through an app that you can download. This app is available on the Play Store, meaning that you can play on your phone running Android as well as on your Chromebook that runs Chrome OS. The app is also available for Apple users.
Recently, Google announced that new Chromebooks come with Stadia preinstalled. This means you can get yourself a Chromebook and start playing immediately with your Stadia account.
How much do Stadia cost on Chromebook?
Stadia’s cost is the same for whichever device you choose to play it on. When you sign up for a Stadia Pro account, you pay US$9.99 each month to have access to an ever-growing library of games.
You can access your account from any device compatible with the service, meaning you can sell your old computer, buy a new one and keep playing the same titles on it.
Not all games of Stadia are available through the Pro subscription, though. Some games need to be bought separately.
Stadia isn’t available in all countries yet. Here is the full list of countries that have access to the service as of July 2021.
It strikes as strange that the service is still unavailable in huge game markets such as Brazil and Japan, but hopes are that these and many more countries should get Stadia soon.
- U.S
- Canada
- UK
- France
- Italy
- Germany
- Austria
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Romania
- Hungary
3 Best Chromebooks For Stadia
Considering that Stadia cares more about internet connection than proper hardware, picking up any laptop or Chromebook with the minimum specs should be enough.
However, if you are new to Chromebooks and would like help navigating through the several models offered, we put up a list of three of the best Chrome OS devices you can buy to use with Stadia.
We shall attempt to recommend to you machines which adequately fit the purpose of playing with Stadia.
2021 Flagship Acer Chromebook 15.6″
Product currently unavailable.
Since we are talking about playing games in a Chromebook, we decided to first recommend you an Acer Chromebook with a 15.6-inch display.
One of the main difficulties playing games on Chromebooks, aside from the OS which is not compatible with most of them (but Stadia is web-based so no worries!), is the small screen.
Of course, if you already had experience playing with Nintendo’s or PlayStation’s portable consoles, you might not have many difficulties adapting to a small screen. But when we consider PC gaming, the minimum for comfort is a display with 15 inches.
Moreover, Acer is known for making durable laptops. Older models had a problem with overheating, but you shouldn’t face that since the game will run on the Stadia cloud.
Aside from such considerations, this Acer Chromebook has all the necessary hardware for playing with Stadia.
Its specs are good enough for playing games right from the Stadia cloud without freezing or stuttering. The rest of the job depends solely on your internet connection.
One thing you should be aware of is that this Acer Chromebook is heavier than most Chromebooks out there. It is still lighter than other laptops with the same display size, though.
Specs:
- 15.6″ FHD 1080p IPS Touchscreen
- Intel Celeron N4020
- 4GB DDR4 RAM
- 64GB eMMC
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 4.19 lbs
Pros
- Metal chassis
- 1080p display
- Touchscreen
- Solid keyboard
- 12-hours battery
Cons
- Dual-core
- Flash memory
What do the reviews say?
Most customers are happy with their purchase and tell that this Chromebook delivers what it promises exactly.
It is a great machine for working and studying, as well as for accessing all the apps available for Chrome OS (including Stadia).
Google Pixelbook
Last update on 2024-04-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Finding good Chromebooks with huge displays is a hard task. On the other hand, there is a whole world of great Chromebooks with smaller displays, from 10-inch to 13-inch. Google Pixelbook falls into this category.
Pixelbook has already been recommended on this site. In other articles where we recommend Chromebooks for video or photo editing, working and studying, etc., we pointed all the great aspects of this device. And here we are once again telling you how great this machine is.
It is even funny to think that the company behind Chrome OS is also the company that released one of the best (if not the best) Chromebooks.
Sure enough, this isn’t a budget option in terms of Chromebooks.
But if you are looking for a very fast machine that has great connectivity with all online services you can think of, then Google Pixelbook is the machine you have been looking for for a long time. You will be certain of this by looking at its specs.
Specs:
- Intel Core i7
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB SSD
- 12.3″ Quad HD LCD Touchscreen Display (2400 x 1600)
- Intel HD615 Graphics
- 4.13 lbs
Pros
- High performance
- Incredible display
- Resilient
- Excellent keyboard
- Great stylus support
Cons
- Low battery life
- Poor audio
What do the reviews say?
Most customers are amazed by the quality of this Chromebook in comparison to most Chromebooks developed by other manufacturers. However, not everyone is satisfied with its price.
ASUS Chromebook C523
Last update on 2024-04-13 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
The third pick of Chromebook for playing with Stadia is the budget option of this article. Even though it is cheaper than the other two Chromebooks feature above, it is still within the average price range, so you might expect to pay more for it than you would pay for other Chromebooks.
The reason for its price is its screen. Again, gaming becomes better with a decently sized display.
The minimum size for gaming is around 15-inch, and this ASUS Chromebook comes with a 15,6-inch screen for you to play your favorite games and also watch shows and series on your preferred streaming services.
See Lenovo Laptops For Streaming.
Similar to the Acer Chromebook, this isn’t a machine you can let laying around, you need proper space for it because of its size.
Specs:
- 15.6″ HD NanoEdge Display with 180 Degree Hinge
- Intel Celeron N3350 (dual core)
- 4GB DDR3 RAM
- 32GB eMMC
- Intel HD Graphics 500
- 3.15 lbs
Pros
- Sleek, part-aluminum design
- Comfortable keyboard
- Lightweight considering display size
Cons
- Poor audio
- Low battery life
What do the reviews say?
Most people who bought this device love its size considering that it is a Chromebook. On the other hand, some complaints are about the display being grainy.
Final Thoughts
Games are becoming progressively more accessible. You can play on consoles, on gaming PCs, on your phone, and Stadia now lets you play from your favorite device accessing from the cloud.
Chromebooks let you access Stadia just as well as any traditional laptop or desktop. Picking up a Chromebook to play with Stadia isn’t hard, you just need to find the model which suits your budget or your preferences. For those who can afford a bit more, Google Pixelbook is the best option.
