Asus makes some of the most well-rounded laptops on the market at just about every price point. Whether you need one of the best Chromebooks on the market or something more budget-friendly, Asus surely has a laptop to suit your needs. It’s also one of the pioneers of the recent Chromebook Plus certification, which promises great performance and support for advanced technology including AI processing.
With so many different Asus models on the market, it can be tough to wade through which models have been released recently, what features you really need, and how recent they are, which ensures long-term support. We’ve removed the guesswork by combing through all the available Chromebooks to bring you the best that Asus has to offer. Whether you need it for business, school, gaming, or just to use around the home, an Asus Chromebook is always a great choice.
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ASUS Chromebook Flip CX1
Enough firepower to run Chrome OS smoothly for years
One of Asus’ latest midrange convertible clamshells, the CX1 combines efficient, powerful hardware with a premium design, and promises long-term performance and convenience at a respectable price. A Full HD resolution and high-speed connectivity make it a great choice for work or play.
- Quad-core CPU and 8GB of RAM won’t bog down
- Good-looking display with relatively slim bezels
- Good build quality in a 2-in-1 design
- Weighs nearly 4 pounds
Chromebooks’ focus on web-based activity makes them clear winners at enjoying shows, movies, and other streamed media. The Flip CX1’s convertible design makes it especially convenient to watch online content wherever you are. It’s not limited to streaming, though, with above-average hardware like a quad-core Pentium CPU running at up to 3.3GHz, and 8GB of RAM for smooth internet sailing.
It employs one of the better displays you’ll find on 2-in-1 Chromebooks this size, with Asus claiming the NanoEdge bezels allowed it to pack this 14-inch screen into, essentially, the body of a 13-inch laptop. The Full HD resolution also helps make the most of not just movies, but also modern websites and productivity tools.
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As a midrange model, it won’t be burning down the house when playing 3D games or engaging in heavy multitasking, but the price is right at just over $300. The only meaningful drawback is that it’s a little heavy, with 3.5lbs of heft making it tough to use one-handed.
Asus Chromebook CM1402
Not super fast, but capable and affordable
Low-cost Chromebooks necessarily make performance sacrifices, but they’re usually offset by the platform’s low-overhead operation. That’s the case with this entry-level option. Its 4GB of RAM might bog down under a massive collection of browser tabs, but the Chrome browser is, thankfully, a little better at optimizing memory usage than in the past.
- Efficient, effective 8-core MediaTek CPU
- 14-inch, 1080p display
- As affordable as good Chromebooks get
- Lacks a touchscreen
- Only 64GB of onboard storage
You don’t have to spend much to get a quality Chrome OS laptop. The CM1402 takes advantage of the mobile laptop platform’s low resource requirements, offering just enough firepower to complete everyday online tasks without major slowdowns. In particular, the 8-core MediaTek Kompanio CPU gives you performance when you need, and efficiency when you don’t, able to manage simple processes like loading web pages in the background without sucking huge amounts of power.
Make no mistake, this is an entry-level device that won’t blaze through complex tasks, and might stutter a little with complex animations. But it’s cheap, and it works, making it a great laptop for basic needs. It even supports high-speed Thunderbolt 4 connectivity for fast external storage and widely compatible secondary display output.
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It makes expected tradeoffs for the price, like merely OK performance and minimal onboard storage. It also lacks a touchscreen, which might be a dealbreaker for some. On the other hand, some outlets offer microSD cards up to 256GB bundled with it, which isn’t nothing.
Asus ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus
Excels everywhere, but could use more battery
In stark contrast to most Chrome OS laptops, the CX54 boasts impressive performance backed by mostly high-end components. Its specs are reminiscent of a decently powerful Windows laptop, in fact, with an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU and up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM that ensure a snappy experience. As you might expect, it’s not cheap.
- Hard-to-beat performance for a Chromebook
- Premium touchscreen that refreshes at 120Hz
- Weighs under 3 pounds
- Below average battery life
- Dual-action hinge makes on-lap use clumsy
If you do a lot more than browse the web on your Chromebook, the CX54 is worth considering. The hardware is outright among the best in the field, including a big/little/little 8-core Intel CPU at up to 4.2GHz — so you won’t be waiting around for this one to finish loading complex software or completing resource-heavy tasks.
The display also shines, with a QHD+ resolution at 120Hz, and better brightness than Chromebooks typically offer. It’s a great choice for anybody who frequently enjoys the ever-expanding crop of Chrome OS and Android games. You can also opt for up to 512GB of internal storage, so you won’t have to run everything on the cloud.
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The biggest downside is a predictable one. At roughly $700, it’s far more expensive than the average Chromebook. We also weren’t impressed by the battery life, although it should just about eke out all-day use if you’re careful, and tweak the power use a little.
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
An all-purpose performer, at a sometimes great price
The exceptionally well-balanced CX34’s newest iteration delivers impressive performance in a premium package. It hits all the right notes, with a powerful Intel CPU, plenty of RAM and storage, and a great-looking Full HD matte display that resists glare well. It’s normally a little costly, but you can frequently find it at a discount.
- Can handle just about the most intense Chrome OS tasks
- Feels like a high-end laptop and weighs just over 3 pounds
- All-day battery life in most cases
- We wish it had a touchscreen
- Questionable speaker configuration
When we first reviewed the newest entry in the CX34 lineup, its price made it something less than a slam dunk. Now that it’s often available at a big discount, it’s easily in the conversation for best midrange Chromebooks. If you can find it in the neighborhood of $300, it’s a great buy.
That’s partly due to the Intel hardware powering it, which ensures you won’t get frustrated at things moving slowly. Plenty of system memory and storage mean it should perform well for years down the line, too. The connectivity’s there, including plenty of USB ports and Wi-Fi 6, although it does lack the latest in Thunderbolt 4 support.
Read our review
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review: Productivity on point
Subtly sweet software and sturdy hardware make for a dependable laptop
Our hands-on evaluation proved it comes off as a premium piece of equipment, and was a pleasure to use for many hours a day. We had no problem getting it to last an entire workday, and you’d need to really push it to run the battery out entirely by nightfall. Our biggest gripe was its lack of touchscreen. Asus also made the confusing decision of orienting the speakers in a down-firing position, which doesn’t make media sound the best. Either way, it’s an excellent clamshell for getting work done.
Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable (CM3001)
A portable unicorn that calls for a little patience
There aren’t many like the CM30, which sports a detachable 2-in-1 form factor that transitions between laptop and tablet. That form factor, and its necessary sacrifices, limit its practicality for some use cases. But it’s as portable as portable can be, and enables on-the-go browsing in a way few others can.
- Just 1.5cm thick altogether
- Supports and includes a USI 2.0 stylus
- Good for light work, play, and art on the go
- Makes big performance sacrifices
- Questionable build quality
Today’s ultraportable devices open up a lot of possibilities for mobile productivity, and that’s exactly what the CM30 aims for. It’s even less powerful than other devices equipped with the 8-core Kompanio 520 chipset, with notable performance sacrifices making up for the small battery. It works out if you’re not too picky, though, as battery life was actually acceptable.
The display looks a little better than you might expect, with an FHD+ resolution and USI 2.0 digitizer combining to enable artistic productivity — as long as you aren’t attached to high brightness levels or professional color accuracy. The detachable form factor goes a long way toward making this a fun, affordable drawing device.
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Unfortunately, you might have a hard time finding the higher-spec model that mitigates some of the performance concerns. It tends to go in and out of stock (it’s presumably in higher demand than the base model), and the lowest-priced version’s 4GB of RAM severely limits multitasking abilities. But if you’re OK with the tradeoffs, there’s almost nothing like this one. It’s in a class almost its own, with little competition other than the Lenovo Duet lineup.
Asus Chromebook Plus Flip CX5601
Heavy on performance, and also just heavy
If you want the Flip CX5601, you’ll know. Even Windows laptops this size don’t get a lot of run, and given the Flip CX5601’s nearly 5 pounds of heft, you won’t be running while you carry it, either. Weighing it down inside is a 6-core Intel CPU, along with the entire framework needed to qualify for Chromebook Plus certification. It’s certainly powerful, and it can do whatever Chrome OS asks of it.
- 12th Gen Intel Core performance
- FHD webcam with privacy shutter
- Durable convertible design
- Huge 16-inch touch display with FHD+ resolution
- Somewhat pricey
- Awfully big and heavy
The Asus Chromebook Plus Flip CX5601 is a 16-inch convertible laptop that can do just about anything. The 16-inch screen has a 16:10 aspect ratio with a boosted 1920×1200 (FHD+) resolution, giving you plenty of room with which to work. And because of the convertible design that lets you fold the screen around 360-degrees, the screen is touch-enabled for added versatility. It’s a big tablet, but it’s a tablet nonetheless. Above the display is a crisp FHD webcam with privacy shutter.
Inside is a 12th Gen Intel Core i3-1215U putting up strong performance in ChromeOS. It’s joined by 8GB of RAM and a 128GB M.2 SSD that’s much faster than eMMC storage. You’ll be able to tackle productivity work with ease, and browsing, streaming, and light gaming (especially on the 16-inch screen) will also be a non-issue. Asus claims the battery will go for about 10 hours on a charge, but that number will likely come down a bit if you’re pushing the system.
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The laptop has a plastic base but uses an aluminum alloy for the lid for extra stability. Asus put it through MIL-STD 810H testing to ensure it can withstand use and abuse, and overall the device is quite thin. Connectivity options are generous. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 cover the wireless side of things, and for ports there’s dual Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Asus has included four Harman Kardon-certified speakers for bumping sound, and the keyboard is comfortable with its 1.4mm of key travel. It’s even spill resistant.
Asus Chromebook CX1
Trading performance for display size
The Asus Chromebook CX1 is a great 15.6-inch option for those looking to spend less. It has an FHD display, a durable build with MIL-STD 810H certification, and a relatively low asking price. The performance hardware will handle lighter work, and you should be able to get double-digit battery life if you’re not pushing the system.
- 15.6-inch FHD display
- Durable chassis, comfy keyboard
- Decent battery life
- Generally quite affordable
- No touch functionality
- Not as powerful as other options
Those who want a large screen without a high price should check out the 15-inch Chromebook CX1. Its plastic chassis has undergone MIL-STD 810H testing to prove its durability, its keyboard (with number pad) has 1.4mm key travel for a comfy typing experience, and it has a fair selection of ports. These include two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 1), a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
Performance is centered around an Intel Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. This laptop isn’t going to be the end-all performer, but it will certainly handle productivity work, browsing, streaming, and more. Keep it from handling too many tasks at once and you won’t have an issue. A lot of budget Chromebooks skimp on the display resolution, but not here. The 15.6-inch screen boasts a 1920×1080 (FHD) resolution with narrow-ish bezels, and the anti-glare finish helps work in bright areas.
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If this isn’t quite what you’re looking for, but you love the price, be sure to check out our best cheap Chromebook picks for every budget.
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip
Nearly as much power as the platform can handle
The Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip doesn’t come cheap, but gamers and pro users who want a ton of performance potential in a sleek convertible Chromebook will love what’s on offer. The 14-inch touch display is also accompanied by a built-in stylus for easy inking anytime.
- 14-inch touch FHD+ display with 144Hz refresh rate
- RGB keyboard and stylized chassis design
- 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs and real SSD
- Users report Steam gaming support
- No Thunderbolt
- Not on the Steam beta list for ChromeOS
The Vibe CX34 Flip is one of the most expensive Chromebooks that Asus makes, but its gaming intentions and overall versatile design make it appealing to power users who don’t want the more common low-end Chromebook performance. It’s a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with a stylized design (in this case with a Pearl White finish), highlighted WASD keys, and an RGB backlight that you can customize on the go. Port selection is generous with its dual USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2), USB-A 3.2 (Gen 2), HDMI 2.1, microSD card reader, and 3.5mm audio jack. I just wish there was Thunderbolt 4 support.
The laptop is powered by 12th Gen Intel Core CPUs, with up to an i7-1235U with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. You’ll more commonly see the Core i5-1235U model for sale, and it will still power a great gaming experience. The CPU is accompanied by up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to a 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD for quick transfers and load times.
A 14-inch touch display with 144Hz refresh rate and FHD+ resolution for the 16:10 aspect ratio looks great, and the fact that you can rotate it around 360-degrees for tablet mode covers all types of games. There’s even a built-in stylus that you can pull out at any time to start inking. Wi-Fi 6E is also on board for a reliable internet connection when streaming games.
Choosing the right Asus Chromebook for you
Asus has made moves to adopt the latest Chromebook Plus platform that promises good performance and AI-compatible hardware to offer a long-term user-friendly experience. In that light, high-end options like the CX54 and CX34 Chromebook Plus entries make excellent laptops that can take advantage of some of today’s cutting-edge tech.
Overall, most people will like the Flip CX1 and its all-around good performance and versatile convertible design. It’s great for enjoying media, getting work done, and even engaging in light gaming. Serious gamers who also want to stick with Chrome OS should consider the Vibe CX34 Flip, which apparently supports the Steam gaming platform without needing to opt into the Chrome OS beta build.
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If you’re in the market for low cost or extreme portability, Asus has you covered there, too. The CM1402 won’t wow you with high-speed performance, but it costs as little as you can expect to pay for a competent laptop experience. And if you’re OK with periodic slowdowns and a small form factor, almost nothing on the market is as portable as the CM30 detachable. It’s a great way to enable artistic creativity without having to invest in a separate drawing tablet, although models like the Wacom One 13 do finally support some mobile devices.
If you do decide to pick up a new Chromebook, be sure to check out some of the best Chromebook accessories as well as the best Chromebook monitors to complement your new laptop.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX1
The best mix for most people
The Chromebook Flip CX1 combines good performance and a reasonable price with an ultra-convenient 2-in-1 form factor. It’s the best Chromebook for most people due to the wide range of purposes it can serve.
