what you should Know
- Acer, ASUS and HP announced a total of six new Chromebooks.
- These include five Chromebook Plus models and even a ChromeOS tablet.
- Prices for the various devices start at $299 for the ASUS Chromebook CM30 and go up to $699 for the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714.
We wondered where all the new Chromebooks were hiding, since there weren’t many new devices hitting store shelves. Well, the wait is over as Acer, ASUS and HP announce six new options.
Starting with Acer, the company is updating two of its best offerings, including the Chromebook Plus moniker. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 features the same great 2-in-1 design and build quality we’ve come to know and love. However, along with a slight name change, it’s also one of the first Chromebooks to be powered by Intel’s Core Ultra processor.
Last year’s Spin 714 pretty much stayed at the top of the list of best Chromebooks, and we hope that trend continues. Along with Intel Core Ultra 5, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 features a 14-inch touchscreen display, a 1440p QHD webcam, and plenty of port choices.
When it comes to large-screen Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE was one of our favorites. Even with the gamer aesthetic, it was a powerful machine, and now the Chromebook Plus 516 GE is here. It also continues to feature many of the same design cues and features that helped make its predecessor so popular.
It’s still the perfect Chromebook for cloud gaming, thanks to the beautiful 16-inch, 2560×1600, 120Hz display. Although Acer chose not to use the latest Intel Core Ultra series of chips, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE isn’t a bad thing as it’s powered by Intel’s 13th generation instead. Both Chromebooks will be available this month at prices of $699 or $749.
ASUS is next, and it’s coming in hot with two new Chromebooks of its own. The Chromebook Plus CX34 is the company’s flagship option for those who want a traditional 14-inch Chromebook. It is powered by the 13th generation Intel Core i5 and can be configured with or without a touchscreen.
One could argue that the star of the show is the Chromebook CM30, which gives us the first ChromeOS tablet for consumers since Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 3. The CM30 comes complete with a magnetic stand cover and keyboard, making it easy to go from emailing to playing a game in an instant. There’s also a USI stylus garage, which is great for jotting down notes or using the CM30 as a drawing tablet.
There’s another entry from the ASUS camp as the ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus is finally available. This debuted at the beginning of the year as it was the first Chromebook to be announced using Intel’s Core Ultra processors. However, it is not yet available for purchase, but that is no longer a problem.
There is currently only one configuration available, which includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 SoC, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Priced at $799, the only place you can get the CX54 Chromebook Plus is directly from ASUS. Here’s hoping we not only get our hands on one, but that it makes its way to more retailers.
Completing the package are several Chromebooks from HP. While we still don’t have a successor to the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, HP isn’t just sitting around with nothing new to show. The company’s popular 2-in-1 is now called the HP Chromebook Plus x360, still featuring a 14-inch touchscreen display. And while it won’t blow your nails in the performance department, the x360 makes up for it with a durable battery and HP Fast Charge.
Last but certainly not least is the HP Chromebook 14, which we already expect to be one of the best Chromebooks for students at $249. As the name suggests, it features a 14-inch display packed with 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 1080p webcam “enhanced by temporary noise reduction.” It’s also expected to be a battery champ, as HP rates it at more than 12 hours on a single charge.