Chromebooks have loved a large footprint within the laptop computer world for a number of years, however Google has simply upped its sport. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 ($399) is among the cheaper programs in a batch of recent so-called “Chromebook Plus” fashions which are included in Google’s newest push to enhance Chromebooks. The CX34 and different Plus programs all meet fundamental {hardware} spec necessities for higher options and efficiency throughout the board than most ChromeOS laptops have delivered, like greater, brighter 1080p shows, elevated RAM allotments, and a revamped model of the ChromeOS software program. However the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 impressed us by together with all of those options at a particularly inexpensive value. In a season that is seen many producers jack up costs for minimal enchancment, the brand new Chromebooks appear to be that a lot a greater worth, and this one earns our Editors’ Alternative nomination for funds Chromebooks.
Configurations: Succesful From Finances to Premium
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is out there in three totally different varieties, starting from the funds mannequin we’re reviewing right here, as much as a extra highly effective (and dearer) mannequin that competes with premium Chrome laptops.
Our $399 take a look at unit is the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, which comes with an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, which can be somewhat older, however is extra highly effective than the MediaTek and Celeron chips utilized in most low-cost Chromebooks. That is paired with 8GB of RAM—previous to the Chromebook Plus shift, that was the utmost reminiscence you’ll discover in most Chromebooks—and a 128GB UFS storage drive. That is not the standard eMMC, which is actually a flash-card reminiscence module used as major storage, however it’s comparable: Common Flash Storage (UFS) is optimized for low-power units (it is normally utilized in telephones), however is not mainstream in laptops but.
Dearer fashions embrace processors as much as Intel Core i7, storage of 256GB or 512GB as full SSDs, and a bump as much as 16GB of RAM, however particular pricing particulars haven’t been launched on the time of this writing.
Design: Plastic, However Not Low-cost
The Chromebook Plus moniker contains a number of options that have not been widespread on inexpensive Chromebooks prior to now. High amongst these is the 14-inch FHD IPS panel. (An IPS-tech or higher display is a part of the Chromebook Plus mandate.) Asus surrounds the display with a bezel that is slender on three sides, making for a pleasant-looking show even in comparison with some more-premium rivals. Whereas Asus sells a contact model of the CX34, this $399 unit has no contact functionality, so it is all keyboard and touchpad for this mannequin.
Above the display is a 1080p webcam, so you’ll be able to look your greatest in on-line courses and Zoom calls, and the digital camera has a vibrant orange bodily shutter, so it is simple to see when the digital camera is roofed and the shutter is closed. The upper decision is a welcome improve from previous inexpensive Chromebooks, however it’s not a whole win: The element is okay, however the colours seemed a bit grey, leading to much less life-like pictures in video calls.
About the one factor that hints on the budget-friendly value of the CX34 is the plastic chassis. Performed up in white with grey keycaps (with a metallic grey model obtainable), it appears to be like clear and presentable. You possibly can really feel some noticeable flexing, although, once you carry the open laptop computer by one nook. Regardless of the flex, Asus says the machine has handed MIL-STD-810 testing for sturdiness, holding as much as extremes in cold and warm, humidity, altitude, vibration, and even sand and mud. Most pertinent to the typical consumer will likely be shock exams (normally a drop on arduous flooring from desk peak), although the “explosive environment” take a look at may be relevant when you’ve got a very rambunctious child at house.
Regardless, it’ll survive each day life, even when the body flexes somewhat once you choose it up. That flexing would not appear to be noticeable when typing, although, so the construct really feels pleasing in real-world use. And the accompanying touchpad, which measures 5.7 inches diagonally, is roomy. Utilizing each felt snug, with first rate key journey and easy, responsive pad motion with a bodily click on.
Asus additionally claims to guard customers of this Chromebook from bacterial progress, because of a signature antimicrobial coating on the chassis. Although the floor would not really feel any totally different from every other plastic-bodied Chromebook, it’s useful to know that the keyboard, touchpad, and palm relaxation are all made to inhibit floor nasties. That will matter if you happen to intend to move this Chromebook round, say amongst workmates on totally different shifts, or amongst a number of college students in a classroom.
Measuring 0.73 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches and weighing 3.17 kilos, the CX34 can also be fairly transportable, although not as mild as a number of the latest 14-inch Chromebooks we have reviewed. The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023), for instance, is 0.15 pound lighter.
Utilizing the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Expanded Ports and Connectivity
The connectivity on the CX34 can also be fairly considerate, with twin USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (each doing double responsibility as a charging connection, but additionally supporting DisplayPort for USB-C screens), together with a pair of USB Kind-A ports (USB 3.2), a full-size HDMI output, and an audio jack. For underneath $500, that is a powerful checklist of connections.
For wi-fi connectivity, the system has each Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, placing it on a par with any funds Home windows system.
ChromeOS, Now with Video Modifying and Gaming
Chromebooks all use ChromeOS, Google’s browser-first working system, which places Google search and providers entrance and middle, together with a wealth of extensions and apps from the Google Play Retailer and all types of cloud-based options.
However ChromeOS has gotten a number of upgrades with the transfer to Chromebook Plus, and extra are promised with Google-powered AI options ready within the wings. Suffice it to say, ChromeOS has come a great distance, and it is nearer to a full-fledged PC expertise than ever earlier than. We have checked out Android apps and cloud gaming on Chromebooks earlier than, and that is all nonetheless right here, however Google companions like Adobe and LumaTouch now have ChromeOS-friendly instruments for working with images and movies with out having to get a extra highly effective system. Plus, prospects who purchase a Chromebook Plus system between now and January 2024 will get a free three-month trial of Adobe Photoshop Net.
That is all to say that, if it has been some time since you’ve got thought of a Chromebook, you would possibly need to take a second have a look at all the things that is not too long ago been added to ChromeOS. It is extra succesful than it is ever been.
Testing the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Primo Efficiency for a Pittance
As talked about earlier, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 advantages from Google’s new larger commonplace for budget-friendly Chromebooks, with an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB UFS drive. That places it nearer, in lots of respects, to the dearer Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) than it does the budget-friendly HP Chromebook x360 13b (2023) or Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook. Nevertheless it’s additionally not the one Plus mannequin launched this week (eight fashions are debuting), so we in contrast it with the equally outfitted Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which has practically equivalent {hardware} and pricing.
As identified earlier, the 8GB of reminiscence places essentially the most fundamental Chromebook Plus on the identical stage as previous premium fashions, and the 128GB of storage is a step up from previous fashions that used 64GB and even 32GB drives.
Productiveness Assessments
We take a look at Chromebooks with three total efficiency benchmark suites: one ChromeOS, one Android, and one on-line. The primary, CrXPRT 2 by Principled Applied sciences, measures how shortly a system performs on a regular basis duties in six workloads equivalent to making use of photograph results, graphing a inventory portfolio, analyzing DNA sequences, and producing 3D shapes utilizing WebGL.
Our second take a look at, UL’s PCMark for Android Work 3.0, performs assorted productiveness operations in a smartphone-style window. Lastly, Basemark Net 3.0 runs in a browser tab to mix low-level JavaScript calculations with CSS and WebGL content material. All three yield numeric scores; larger numbers are higher.
By way of uncooked productiveness, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 was simply among the many peppier Chromebooks we have seen. Not solely did it match the way more costly Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) in all of our productiveness exams, however it defeated the opposite inexpensive fashions by a giant margin. However that margin of victory won’t be as spectacular when you think about that the brand new Acer Chromebook Plus 515 put up comparable (and typically barely higher) efficiency numbers utilizing the identical {hardware}. The true takeaway right here could also be that the Chromebook Plus line is a big constructive change, largely as a result of higher processing and extra mandated system RAM.
That can clearly contribute to easy and snappy searching and operating native apps, however the brand new ChromeOS additionally options machine studying for all types of on-device features, like managing webcam options and the brand new Materials You UI design. The tip outcome will likely be a greater Chrome expertise in just about each manner.
Element and Battery Assessments
Two different Android benchmarks give attention to the CPU and GPU, respectively. Geekbench by Primate Labs makes use of all obtainable cores and threads to simulate real-world functions starting from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine studying, whereas GFXBench 5.0 stress-tests each low-level routines like texturing and high-level, game-like picture rendering that workouts graphics and compute shaders. Geekbench delivers a numeric rating, whereas GFXBench counts frames per second (fps).
Lastly, to check a Chromebook’s battery, we loop a 720p video file with display brightness set at 50%, quantity at 100%, and Wi-Fi and keyboard backlighting disabled till the system quits. Typically we should play the video from an exterior drive over USB, however the Asus has greater than sufficient inside storage to carry the video file.
It is solely in processor-specific duties—as measured in Geekbench and GFXBench, which take a look at processing and graphics efficiency, respectively—that the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 fell noticeably behind the premium Acer Chromebook Spin 714. However even because the more-expensive Acer led by a big margin, the Asus CX34 nonetheless delivered a substantial lead over most inexpensive ChromeOS laptops, just like the HP Chromebook x360 13b and the Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook.
Actually, the one space the place the Asus CX34 did not have an enormous lead over a lot of the competitors was battery life. The Asus nonetheless delivered greater than 12 hours of battery life, however this is not a drastic change from present Chromebooks, which incessantly final so long as 15 hours on a single cost. Regardless, that is sufficient to get you thru a day of labor or courses simply.
Verdict: Within the CX34, Chromebook Plus Makes a Fuss
After testing and utilizing the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, it is clear that the Chromebook Plus title is greater than only a advertising and marketing gimmick, because it brings actual enhancements to the inexpensive finish of the ChromeOS-powered household of units. That includes a pointy 1080p show, beneficiant RAM, and spectacular efficiency, the CX34 actually redefines what we will anticipate from inexpensive Chromebooks. Though it is predominantly made from plastic, it impressively withstands sturdiness exams and boasts sensible touches like an antimicrobial coating. Plus, it comes with a variety of ports, and the added Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 assist make it an excellent higher deal. At this value level, we’re lastly getting a number of the greatest components of the Chromebook ecosystem at costs most consumers need, and it is a breath of recent air.
It is not an all-encompassing improve, because the battery life is just about what Chromebooks already provided, and the brand new UFS storage format has but to essentially show itself somehow. However the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 represents a standout worth in comparison with different Chromebooks we have seen, making it a simple suggestion, and incomes it an Editors’ Alternative for funds Chromebooks (successful the award over the Acer 515 Chromebook Plus mannequin, because of longer battery life). If that is the brand new route Chromebooks are heading, we’re all for it.
