What you need to know
- Acer, ASUS and HP announced a total of six new Chromebooks.
- This includes 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 on store shelves. Well, the wait is over, as Acer, ASUS and HP are announcing 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 has the same great 2-in-1 design and build quality we’ve come to know and love. However, 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 has largely remained 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 has a 14-inch touchscreen display, a 1440p QHD webcam and plenty of ports.
When it comes to large-screen Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE was one of our favorites. Even with the toy aesthetic, this was a powerful machine, and now there’s the Chromebook Plus 516 GE. And it continues to include many of the same design decisions and features that helped make its predecessor so popular.
It’s still the perfect Chromebook for cloud gaming, thanks to its gorgeous 16-inch, 2560×1600, 120Hz display. Although Acer decided against using the latest Intel Core Ultra series of chips, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE is not a bad thing because it is powered by Intel’s 13th generation instead. Both of these Chromebooks will be available this month, with prices starting at $699 or $749.
ASUS is next in line 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 a 13th generation Intel Core i5 and can be configured with or without a touchscreen.
Arguably the star of the show is the Chromebook CM30, bringing us the first consumer ChromeOS tablet since the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3. The CM30 comes bundled with a lid with a magnetic stand and keyboard, making it easy to transition from emailing to gaming in no time. There’s also a garaged USI stylus, which is great for taking 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 with Intel’s Core Ultra processors. However, it’s still not available for purchase, but that’s no longer a problem.
Currently, only one configuration is available, which includes an Intel Core Ultra 5 SoC, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Priced at $799, you can get the CX54 Chromebook Plus directly from ASUS. We’re hoping not only to get our hands on one, but to get more sellers.
Rounding out the package are several HP Chromebooks. While we don’t yet have a successor to the Dragonfly Pro Chromebook, HP isn’t sitting around without anything new to brag about. The company’s popular 2-in-1 is now called the HP Chromebook Plus x360, and it still has a 14-inch touchscreen. And while it won’t blow your mind in the performance department, the x360 makes up for it with a long-lasting 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 student Chromebooks with its $249 price tag. As the name implies, it has a 14-inch display, along with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and a 1080p “Enhanced Temporal Noise Reduction” webcam. This is also expected to be a battery champ as HP rates it at over 12 hours on a single charge.