If we look back over the past few years, ASUS has had a notable presence in the world of Chromebooks. From prominent devices, such as the original ASUS Chromebook Flip C100 to the fan favorite Flip C302, the company has continued to make Chromebooks that users love and enjoy using. The sequence of the C302 – the Flip C434 – was particularly interesting, as it took almost two years to reveal and really pushed things forward with a bigger screen, small bezels and a thin / solid frame that was part of the overall maturity of the Chromebook platform. Notable devices launched at that time were the Dell Inspiron 14 Chromebook, Lenovo Yoga C630 and HP x360 14.
When 2020 came and we launched it to Las Vegas for CES, we were looking forward to seeing how the ASUS upgrade to the well-received Flip C434 would be and, although it was good in the showroom, our review time with this Chromebook was far from exemplary . In fact, I was almost depressed at how angry I was with the Flip C436 after using it for a short time. With a high starting price, a mediocre screen, a hard-to-see keyboard and a fragile feeling, this Chromebook was totally overshadowed by what Samsung brought to the same show that year on the original Galaxy Chromebook.
Changing the tide
But this year, everything seems to have changed. While there were some hiccups in the PR cycle that made us believe that there would be no new ASUS Chromebooks at CES 2021, ASUS was preparing an announcement not just for a single new Chromebook, but for a small family of them. We presented the specifications, photos and details of the new ASUS Chromebook CX9, Flip C536 and Flip CM5 in a previous post, but the story is more than spec sheets and photos.
Simply put, it looks like ASUS is back. Back to creating crisp, attractive devices, back to the right spec sheet advances and back to building Chromebooks that I think many people will love. Among the three, there should be options to fit different budgets, screens that look great with their smaller bezels and construction materials that are not only attractive, but also have a pleasant feel. The fact that they draw attention to the Flip C536 and Flip CM5 keyboard tells me that they are paying attention to the feel of these Chromebooks. The fact that they include the substantial ergonomic lift on the Chromebook CX9 that you see only on high-end ASUS laptops tells me that they are taking Chrome OS and Chromebooks much more seriously.
While the Flip CM5 and Flip C536 are likely to come as mid-sized Chromebooks (with higher spec options), the Chromebook CX9 will be an absolute beast for advanced users and creative professionals. In addition to not rotating in a tablet orientation, this device seems to get everything right, from appearance to features and portability. At just 2.2 pounds, it will be the lightest 14-inch Chromebook ever made and will come with everything you need for massive productivity. 11th generation Intel processors with tons of RAM and storage (up to 2 TB on some models) will marry the 400 nit screen, backlit keyboard and Thunderbold 4 for the ultimate in flexibility and power. It will probably be expensive, but it will also be a beast.
Rather than just putting that device on the market, however, ASUS really did present a complete offering this year. With AMD processors on board, the Flip CM5 will probably be the most affordable in the group, and I could see models of this Chromebook appearing for less than $ 500 as a starting price. Of course, the more sophisticated configurations with more RAM and storage will increase and I can see the CX9 being one of the most expensive Chromebooks of all time, in the top finish, but that’s the beauty of it. With all of these devices and all of their varied options, there must be a device and configuration to meet the needs of most users.
Frankly, I am shocked by everything ASUS is doing in the Chromebook space this year and I am excited to see these devices and have them in hand. We have to wait a while for the CX9, as it is scheduled for a second quarter launch, but we will see the Flip C536 soon with its first quarter launch schedule. To start the Tiger Lake Chromebook era, I don’t think I could ask for much more from one company. Now, about that Acer device that Intel provoked in its presentation …
