Intel Celeron N3050 Chromebooks

The Intel Celeron N3050 launched in Q1 2015 as part of Intel’s Braswell family, built on a 14nm manufacturing process using tri-gate transistors. This dual-core, dual-thread processor was designed for ultra-budget laptops and entry-level Chromebooks where affordability, silent operation, and battery life took priority over performance. With a base clock of 1.6 GHz that could burst to 2.16 GHz and a 6-watt TDP, the N3050 enabled manufacturers to build thin, fanless devices capable of running for 10+ hours on a single charge.

The N3050 powered a small wave of budget Chromebooks from Samsung, HP, and Lenovo during 2016, typically priced between $189 and $229 at launch. These 11.6-inch devices targeted the education market and cost-conscious consumers who needed simple machines for web browsing, email, and basic document editing. The processor’s efficiency improvements over its Bay Trail predecessor (the Celeron N2840) came from the new 14nm process, though the performance uplift remained modest since both featured the same dual-core configuration.

All Chromebooks equipped with the N3050 have now passed their Auto Update Expiration dates, with support ending between June 2021 and June 2022. While these devices may still boot and run, they no longer receive Chrome OS security updates, making them unsuitable for continued use with personal accounts or sensitive information.

Performance

The Intel Celeron N3050 sits near the bottom of the Chromebook processor hierarchy. With a PassMark CPU Mark score around 590 and an Octane 2.0 score of approximately 7,900, it delivers roughly 37% of the performance of the Intel Celeron N4500 found in current budget Chromebooks. The N3050 ranks among the slowest processors tracked by PassMark, placing 4,871st out of over 5,500 CPUs in multi-threaded performance.

Its successor, the Intel Celeron N3060 released a year later, offered about 9-17% better performance primarily through a higher burst frequency of 2.48 GHz versus the N3050’s 2.16 GHz limit. This meant N3050 Chromebooks ran noticeably slower than even their immediate successors when both processors were under sustained load.

In practical terms, the N3050 handled basic tasks but showed its limits quickly. Light web browsing with two or three simple tabs, Google Docs editing, and email worked adequately. However, media-heavy websites, multiple simultaneous tabs, or Android apps caused noticeable slowdowns. Reviewers consistently characterized these processors as suitable only for simple everyday tasks like light internet browsing or office applications, explicitly noting they could not handle complex software or modern games.

The integrated Intel HD Graphics with 12 execution units provided basic display output through HDMI or DisplayPort. While incapable of gaming, the GPU supported hardware video decoding including H.265, enabling smooth streaming from YouTube and Netflix despite the modest CPU performance.

Ideal Use Cases

N3050 Chromebooks originally served a narrow but valid purpose. Schools deployed them for basic computer literacy programs, typing instruction, and Google Classroom access where minimal per-device cost mattered more than speed. The fanless designs ran silently, avoiding noise disruptions in classroom environments. The exceptional battery life, often exceeding 10 hours, meant devices could last through a full school day without charging.

Home users with extremely basic needs also found adequate functionality. Someone who primarily checked email, read news websites, and occasionally wrote documents could get by with an N3050 Chromebook if they exercised patience and kept their expectations modest. The lightweight, compact designs made them portable companions for simple tasks.

These processors were never appropriate for multitasking, running Android applications beyond simple utilities, or working with web applications that assumed modern hardware. Users who attempted to push beyond basic browsing encountered frustrating delays and sluggish performance.

What to Look For

We cannot recommend purchasing or continuing to use Chromebooks with the Intel Celeron N3050. All devices with this processor have passed their Auto Update Expiration dates, meaning they no longer receive Chrome OS security patches. Using an unsupported Chromebook with personal accounts exposes users to browser vulnerabilities and other security risks.

For historical context, RAM configuration made the most noticeable difference among N3050 Chromebooks. The HP Chromebook 11 G5 offered versions with either 2GB or 4GB of RAM, and the 4GB models handled basic multitasking significantly better. The Samsung Chromebook 3 and Lenovo N22 both shipped with 4GB standard, though storage varied from 16GB to 64GB of eMMC across different SKUs.

Build quality varied by manufacturer. The Samsung Chromebook 3 emphasized portability with a 2.54-pound weight and fanless operation. The Lenovo N22 featured a spill-resistant keyboard and more durable construction aimed at education environments. The HP Chromebook 11 G5 offered a balance with its 12.5-hour battery life and compact dimensions.

Buyers seeking similar value today should look at current budget Chromebooks featuring the Intel Celeron N4500 or MediaTek Kompanio 520, which deliver dramatically better performance at comparable or lower prices while providing years of guaranteed software support through their extended Auto Update Expiration dates.