If you're in the market for a new Chromebook and would appreciate it doubling as a tablet, Asus has a couple of new Flip models to sell you.
Asus introduced two new 2-in-1 Flip C436 models this week to its Chromebook line-up, both of which take advantage of Intel's 10th-generation Comet Lake processors. They certainly aren't cheap, though.
The cheaper of the two models costs $799. For that you get a 14-inch Chromebook with a 1080p NanoEdge glossy touchscreen display. Inside is a Core i3-10110U running at 2.1GHz (4.1GHz turbo), 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 128GB M.2 PCIe SSD. There's also support for 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) wireless, Bluetooth 5.0, a HD webcam above the display, and an illuminated chiclet keyboard. The 42Whr battery is meant to get you a very respectable 12 hours from a full charge.
If you want a 2-in-1 Chromebook with a little more performance, then the $999 C436 may be worth the extra money. It's mostly the same as the cheaper model, but upgrades the processor to a Core i5-10210U running at 1.6GHz (4.2GHz turbo), there's also 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB M.2 PCIe SSD.
The chassis is magnesium alloy and available in either Aerogel White or Transparent Silver. At 13.7mm thick and 2.58lbs, Asus claims it's one of the thinnest and lightest 14-inch Chromebooks available while also being verified by Intel as a Project Athena laptop (long-life, low-power, high-performance). The fact it can double as a tablet should also help consumers get past the high price, as should an integrated finerprint sensor and four omnidirectional speakers certified by Harman Kardon.
We managed to get our hands on the C436 for review. What we found was an extra-classy Chromebook convertible with an elegant design, fast SSD, great 1080p display, and appreciated the fingerprint scanner. The only negatives are, of course, the high price, no HDMI port or LTE option, and the battery life not delivering on that 12 hour promise. Even so, it's an excellent choice if you want a new Chromebook.
Further Reading
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- Google Donates 4,000 Chromebooks, Free Wi-Fi to California Students
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