This $3 USB flash drive installs ChromeOS Flex on your PC

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Want to run ChromeOS, but don't want to buy a Chromebook? Google's ChromeOS Flex software basically lets you turn an old PC or Mac into a Chromebook by replacing your computer's operating system with a version of ChromeOS.

First introduced in 2022, ChromeOS Flex is available as a free download. But now Google has announced a pilot project with Back Market to sell a USB flash drive that comes with ChromeOS pre-installed. The Back Market + ChromeOS Flex USB Key is available now for $3.

Of course, if you've already got a USB flash drive lying around, you don't need to spend any money at all to set it up as a ChromeOS Flex installer.

But if you don't already have an 8GB or larger flash drive handy, this is actually… not a bad deal? According to BackMarket, the ChromeOS Flex Key is a 16GB USB 2.0 flash drive with a swivel-style design that protects the USB connector when you're not using it.

Sure, it's not a blazing-fast flash drive, and it doesn't have enough storage space to hold your complete music, movie, or game collection. But what did you expect for $3?

Google notes that refurbished electronics seller Back market also offers installation guides and videos, and the flash drives are "waste-compensated," meaning that while they're not necessarily made from recycled materials, "an equal amount of electronic waste by weight is collected and responsibly recycled by Closing the Loop.

ChromeOS Flex is said to work on "most Mac, Windows, and Linux laptops from 2010 onward," but you should probably look up your laptop on Google's list of certified models before ordering the USB key.