If you are debating between a Chromebook or laptop, the first thing you should ask yourself is what you intend to do with the device. Let’s say you just want something for web browsing, checking email, or light document editing. A Chromebook would be a fine choice to handle these tasks and would save you some money.
On the other hand, say you’re a college student with an interest in graphic design. Such an interest would require both specialized software and powerful hardware. You’d be best off purchasing a laptop, since you’ll want a device with adequate RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and local storage to withstand your work.
Fundamentally, the tradeoff is simplicity and affordability for power and flexibility.