Since its launch more than a year ago, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet has been in a category of its own. After all, before it arrived and since it started being marketed, there has never been a Chromebook like this. Lenovo overcame the lower end of the Chromebook’s spectrum with a solid tablet that can act as a laptop-type device when needed and blew up everything else when it was shipped with a $ 299 price tag that included the keyboard and support bracket.
The device certainly sold well and has become a recommendation for almost anyone looking for a more enjoyable and affordable Chromebook option. Part of the duet’s success is due to the price and value proposition it represents. But another part is entirely due to the fact that it has remained isolated on the market as the only real Chromebook tablet option available today. With Slate officially gone and the other education-oriented tablets from a few years ago disappearing from memory, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet had the Chromebook detachable sector just for it. At least so far
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Expectedly, but still surprisingly, ASUS appears to be very close to launching a removable MediaTek MT8183 Chromebook tablet in the coming weeks. The device appears to be shipped with the ‘Flip’ mark on some of the sites we found it on (here is the best list with the best photos), but it will clearly be a detachable tablet with ARM technology that will arrive with a keyboard, back support and stylus USI collapsible, all in the box. From the looks of the photos, you may even have some cool tricks up your sleeve to support the tablet in both portrait and landscape modes, but we’re not sure how that is possible. Take a look for yourself, as we not only have a few photos to share, we also have a full spec sheet.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3000 specifications
- MediaTek MT8183 processor
- 4 GB of RAM
- 128 GB eMMC storage
- 10.5 inch 1920 × 1200 16:10 touch screen
- 320 nits and 118% sRGB color scale
- 2 MP (1080p) front camera
- 8 MP rear camera
- Wi-Fi 5
- Bluetooth 4.2
- 27Wh battery
- 3.5mm headphone / microphone connector
- USI pen included
- Removable keyboard included
- 1.16 pounds
- 255 mm x 167 mm x 8 mm
While this new Chromebook tablet may appear to be appearing out of nowhere, I think we’ve been tracking it under a different name for some time. ‘Kakadu’ is the only other MediaTek tablet that we found and when we found it, we realized that the Lenovo Duet was a little more exclusive than we imagined. When all devices based on the ‘Kukui’ card started to appear, we thought they would all be tablets like Duet (‘Krane’) and Lenovo 10e (Kodama). This is clearly not the case.
When ASUS launches this device, how much it will actually cost (those initial listings may be a long way from our experience) and how many markets they will launch will determine the overall success of this new Chromebook. I like the extra space on the 10.5-inch screen and combined with decently small sockets, I think it will still be a great feeling for a tablet, allowing a little more space to spread the keyboard buttons compared to what we have in the duet . And speaking of the keyboard, notice how it fits magnetically into place, similar to what we see in the Microsoft Surface line of devices. This is a great move by ASUS for sure, as it really helps to solidify the keyboard when the entire device is in your lap.
Add to this already impressive equation the fact that the pen not only comes with the device, but can be stored inside the tablet and you come out with a general package that I think will really give the Lenovo Duet a much needed run for its money. Until we know more, however, we will have to wait and see how all of this is going to happen. After all, I know I’m looking forward to the Snapdragon 7c tablet ‘Coachz’ and / or ‘Strongbad’, so ASUS really needs to launch this tablet quickly if it wants to stay relevant. As we know very well, there are tons of Chromebooks hitting the shelves this year. If they want a chance with this one, the time is now and the price needs to be low. Here’s the hope!
