04 Dec
Blog

HP Chromebook x360 14c Review: Premium Chromebook For Cheap

The HP Chromebook x360 14c sits at an angle on a desk.

HP Chromebook x360 14c

RRP $ 690.00

"The HP Chromebook x360 14c has errors, but is supported by its low price."

advantages

  • Robust build quality

  • Conservative good looks

  • Good display

  • Excellent touchpad

  • Solid productivity performance

disadvantage

  • Disappointing battery life

  • Keyboard is a little too light

  • Pen is not included

Chromebooks have essentially caught up with Windows laptops in terms of form factors, and the Convertible 2-in-1 is well represented among Chrome OS devices. As an example, HP has its Chromebook x360 14c, which it has updated with an 11th generation Intel Core CPU for 2021.

It's still held back by a 16: 9 display as the rest of the world moves towards larger 16:10 or 3: 2 panels, but otherwise it's a representative example. There's nothing that really stands out other than, as we'll see in a moment, the price.

My test configuration of the HP Chromebook x360 14c with a Core i3-1125G4 and a 14-inch 16: 9 Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display costs $ 690, but it's on offer since I've been rating this for a long time Time to write tastier $ 510. At this price point, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is an attractive 2-in-1 convertible for anyone looking for a Chrome OS laptop with some flexibility.

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HP Chromebook x360 14c tent stand.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The HP Chromebook x360 14c isn't cheap enough that you would accept poor build quality, especially for a Chrome OS computer. So it's good that the laptop is made of aluminum and cannot bend in the lid or bend in the keyboard deck and in the lower chassis. HP has made a solid machine that is almost as tough as laptops that cost twice or more than the Dell XPS 13, which sets the standard for premium laptops.

Some only give in when the lid is pressed down, which puts the HP Chromebook x360 14c in a different class. It's significantly stiffer than the Asus Chromebook Flip C536, another 14-inch Chrome OS convertible 2-in-1 that costs about the same and is probably HP's most relevant competitor.

If you want a laptop that stands out, the HP Chromebook x360 14c isn't for you.

The hinge is a bit tight and requires two hands to open the lid, but it holds the display firmly in place in any of the four modes – clamshell, tent, media or tablet. Strong magnets hold the lid tightly to the lower chassis, so you'll need to pry it open first.

Aesthetically, the HP Chromebook x360 14c is a very conservatively designed device in dark silver, with just a chrome-plated HP logo on the lid to break things up. The lines and angles are simple, with rounded corners and edges that make the laptop minimalistic but comfortable to hold.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 is a much more eye-catching laptop with its white outer case and black keyboard deck, as well as its more aggressive angles. Both are attractive laptops, but if you want one that stands out, the HP Chromebook x360 14c isn't for you.

On the right side of the HP Chromebook x360 14c there is a USB-C and a USB-A port suitable for a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD card reader.

There is a USB-C port on the left side of the HP Chromebook x360 14c.

The Chromebook x360 14c's display bezels are thin on the sides and reasonably large on the top, and the bottom chin is smaller than some other budget 2-in-1 convertibles. That makes the laptop just a little wider and deeper than average, while being 0.71 inches thin and weighing 3.35 pounds, also above average for the modern 14-inch class.

That said, the HP is smaller than the Asus Chromebook Flip C536, which is 0.73 inches thick and weighs 4.3 pounds. In addition, the Asus is more than an inch wider and deeper, which makes the Chromebook x360 14c appear tiny in comparison. You won't hate carrying around the Chromebook x360 14c, but it's not the smallest 14-inch laptop you can buy.

Connectivity is decent, with two USB-C ports and one USB-A port for a 3.5mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 offer wireless connectivity.

power

Rear view of the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP has equipped the Chromebook x360 14c with a dual-core Core i3-1125G4 CPU of the 11th generation, which should be sufficiently fast for Chrome OS. Add in 8 GB of RAM and a fast PCIe 256 GB solid state drive (SSD) and there is reason to be optimistic.

We can only run limited benchmarks in Chrome OS, so most of my performance metrics are subjective. I ran the Android Geekbench 5 benchmark and the Chromebook x360 14c overwhelmed with just 898 in the single-core test and 2,866 in the multi-core test. That is behind the Asus Chromebooks Spin C536 with the slower Core i3-1115G4 in the single-core test and equivalent in the multi-core test at 1209 and 2849 respectively. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with its quad-core Core i5-1135G7 achieved 1,237 in the single-core test and 5,114 in the multi-core test. It's a lot faster.

The HP Chromebook x360 14c is fast and efficient no matter how many Chrome tabs I open.

I also ran the Speedometer 2.0 web benchmark and the Chromebook x360 14c did well here, scoring 141. The Chromebook Flip C536 was slightly faster at 158. Most laptops, Chrome OS or Windows, score below 100 on this test, so these are good results.

Subjectively, I found the HP Chromebook x360 14c to be fast and efficient, no matter how many Chrome tabs I had open or Android apps were running in the background. These may not be the fastest benchmark results on our database, but the 2-in-1 kept up with everything I've given it, including running an Android game like Asphalt 9.

That's a pretty demanding title as far as Chrome OS games go, and the Chromebook x360 14c ran it without any stuttering or chopping. This is a 2-in-1 device that is fast enough for demanding productivity workflows, at least as far as Chrome OS is concerned.

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The display of the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Chromebook x360 14c has a 14-inch Full HD IPS display that is touch and pen capable. I couldn't test the display with my colorimeter, but I would rate it as a good panel. It's bright enough for my usual work environment, but at a nominal output of 250 cd / m² it won't overcome very bright ambient lighting – in fact, you don't want to use it outside with sunlight.

The colors were pleasant and not oversaturated, so I suspect they are pretty accurate. Watching Netflix and viewing photos was fine. The contrast was acceptable, black text sticking out on a white background without looking grayish. My biggest complaint was that the display was the old school 16: 9 aspect ratio and its Full HD resolution was just bordering on sharpness.

Overall, this is a comfortable display for productivity and media frenzy. Creative guys who crave dynamic colors and deep contrasts won't like it, but that goes for most Chromebook displays.

Close-up of the speakers on the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Two upward-facing speakers on each side of the keyboard produce the sound, and they provide crisp highs and mids with a hint of bass. That's the good part.

The volume was not so great, as it was low even when the volume was turned up all the way. That is unfortunate.

There was no distortion, however, meaning that if you're playing Netflix by yourself you are covered, but music will benefit from headphones, and a Bluetooth speaker is handy for entertaining groups.

Keyboard and touchpad

Close-up of the keyboard, trackpad, and pen on the HP Chromebook x360 14c.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP makes great keyboards, as evidenced by the version in its Specter range. Unfortunately, this keyboard didn't make it onto the Chromebook x360 14c. While the keyboard has plenty of room and large keycaps, the switches are too light. There's a lot of travel and snappy ground motion, but too little pressure is required to register a button press.

I like lighter keyboards, and so this one was just over the top. If you like a light touch on your keyboards, you'll be fine with this one, but too little pressure can be as tiresome during long tips sessions (like writing this review) as too much.

My test device came with a pen for testing, but this is an additional purchase.

The touchpad, on the other hand, is excellent. It's bigger than usual and has a soft tactile feel that is great for precise wiping. The buttons have a nice, quiet click that sounds good without waking your partner up when you use the laptop in bed at night. This is one of the better touchpads I've used on a Chromebook.

My test device came with a pen for testing, but this is an additional purchase. It worked well with Chrome OS's built-in pen tools so I can take notes and highlight with precision. The pen is magnetically attached to the case so it's easy to take with you, although the magnets aren't that strong, so be sure to keep an eye on it.

A switch on the left side that turns the webcam on and off provides additional security. There's also a fingerprint reader that allows you to log in without a password, which is convenient and unusual for devices in this price range.

Battery life

HP Chromebook x360 14c on a desk.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP has packed a battery with 58 watt hours in the Chromebook x360 14c, which should be enough for a Chrome OS laptop with a 14-inch full HD display and an energy-saving CPU. In terms of battery life, I expected great things.

I don't have that. Surprisingly, the Chromebook x360 14c only lasted 7.75 hours in our web browser test, which is where Chrome OS computers typically get the best results. On the other hand, I shouldn't have been surprised, because the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 with the slower Core i3 and 57 Wh battery only lasted 6.75 hours. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436, the predecessor of the C536, had a 10th generation i3 and only 42 watt hours of battery and lasted 10.5 hours – a much better result.

Even the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with its 1st Gen Full Power Core i5 CPU managed it to last 8.5 hours. In our video test, which repeats a local 1080p movie trailer, the Chromebook x360 14c only got eight hours, compared to the Chromebook Flip C536 with 10 hours and the C436 with 13 hours. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 lasted 10 hours. Here, too, the HP lagged behind.

I was disappointed with these results. The Chromebook x360 14c probably won't even last a full work day even running the lightweight Chrome OS, which is usually the norm for the platform.

Our opinion

The HP Chromebook x360 14c is an attractive, well-built Chrome OS Convertible 2-in-1 that is great value for money at $ 510. At $ 690, it's a little less attractive.

It's fast enough for the demanding productivity user, but its battery life will let you down. The keyboard is a bit loose, but the touchpad is a winner and the pen support is a plus. If you can find it on sale then definitely add it to your list.

Are there alternatives?

The most natural competitor, the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 offers similar performance and slightly better battery life for the same price. It has a more distinctive look, so it's better for someone looking for a laptop that will stand out.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is another competitor, similarly expensive but much faster and with better battery life. It also offers a sharper, more productivity-friendly 3: 2 display, which is a plus for getting the job done.

Finally, if it's not sold with a 2-in-1, Google's Pixelbook Go should be considered. It has better battery life, a better display, and superior audio quality, all in a smaller package. You'll spend more, but it's worth it.

How long it will take?

The Chromebook x360 14c is a relatively rugged 2-in-1 that feels like it will last for years. And its components should keep Chrome OS running for quite some time. The typical one-year guarantee is more palatable at such prices.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you can get it on sale, it's value for money and a solid Chrome OS 2-in-1.

Editor's recommendations



03 Dec
Blog

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook Review: OLED For Cheap

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook open on a table.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook

RRP $ 500.00

"The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook brings OLED quality to a surprisingly affordable 2-in-1."

advantages

  • Acceptable productivity performance

  • Very long battery life

  • Excellent advertisement

  • Solid build quality

  • Payable

disadvantage

  • The display has the old school 16: 9 aspect ratio

  • Limited to WiFi 5

  • Stand add-on is impractical

Chromebooks don't often beat Windows in the market for implementing new technology, but Lenovo's IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook did just that. It is the first detachable tablet with OLED display, launched just before the Asus Vivobook 13 Slate, which is the first detachable Windows 11 tablet with OLED technology. The IdeaPad Duet 5 is based on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, an ARM chip, and is thus another first. It's a bigger tablet, but still an alternative to other low-cost devices like the Apple iPad and Microsoft Surface Go 3.

I tested the midrange configuration of the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook, which costs $ 500 and includes the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 and a 13.3-inch 1080p OLED display. I found the tablet to be way above its price and one of the best 2-in-1 tablets at this price point.

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The Asus ZenBook 14X OLED in its case.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The first thing you'll notice about the IdeaPad Duet 5 when you take a closer look is that the display is old-school, 16: 9. The laptop world is moving in the direction of larger displays, 16:10 or 3: 2, which is particularly useful for tablets that mimic a standard sheet in portrait format. In comparison, a 16: 9 tablet is longer and slimmer, making it less convenient to view documents and take notes with a pen.

The bezels of the IdeaPad Duet 5 are small on the sides and a bit thicker at the top and bottom. They're not huge for a tablet, and the IdeaPad Duet 5 is reasonably large considering the display. Compared to its closest Windows 11 competitor, the Microsoft Surface Pro 8 with its 13-inch 3: 2 display, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is almost an inch wider, while the Surface Pro 8 is almost an inch higher.

At 0.37 inches, Microsoft's tablet is thicker than the 0.28-inch of the IdeaPad Duet 5, but the Surface Pro 8 has its kickstand built in – more on that in a moment. Of course, the IdeaPad Duet 5 is significantly larger than the Apple iPad and Microsoft Surface Go, which are built around 10.2-inch and 10.5-inch displays. If you can take the size, the Lenovo is a viable competitor.

Another competitive tablet with a 12.3-inch 3: 2 display, the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is roughly the same size as the Surface Pro 8 thanks to the smaller bezels. In terms of weight, the IdeaPad Duet 5 alone weighs for the tablet 1.54 pounds, compared to the Surface Pro 8 at 1.96 pounds and the ThinkPad X12 Detachable at 1.67 pounds. The IdeaPad Duet 5 is not a small tablet, but it is manageable. Using the smallest tablets from Apple or Microsoft would save you about half a pound.

Close-up on the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED stand.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Now for this stand. As with the HP Chromebook x2 11, the IdeaPad Duet 5's stand is an add-on that clicks into place on the back of the tablet and is held in place by strong magnets. That makes the tablet thicker and impractical – it's another thing to carry around with you. The Surface Pro 8 and ThinkPad X12 Detachable are much more convenient to use with their built-in kickstand, although the version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 works just as well. It also holds the tablet upright without wobbling and extends just as far until the tablet rests almost flat on a surface. If you don't mind fiddling with another piece, then the version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 will be just fine. And let's not forget that this is a $ 500 tablet, while the Lenovo and Microsoft versions are more than twice as expensive when fully configured.

The IdeaPad Duet 5 is made of plastic, with the upper part of the back being a soft-coated version. It feels solid enough in the hand, and your first clue that it isn't made of a metal alloy like the other laptops I mentioned is that it doesn't feel as cold after a while. If you don't mind plastic gadgets, that's no real blow to the IdeaPad Duet 5 – especially given its price point.

Aesthetically, the tablet is a dark gray (Storm Gray) or blue (Abyss Blue) plate, with only the two-tone part on the back giving it a little pizzazz. Minimalist designs are pretty much the standard for tablets, however, with the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable having the most exotic look.

There are two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one on each side of the tablet (both can be used for charging).

The pogo pin connector on the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook for the detachable keyboard.

Connectivity is limited to two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one on each side of the tablet – each can be used for charging – and a pogo-pin connector for the detachable keyboard. That's it. And yes, Lenovo has done without a 3.5mm audio jack. That's a huge disappointment in my book, and it's the first tablet I know that got disconnected.

You will be limited to bluetooth headphones which I consider liability. Speaking of wireless connectivity: the Snapdragon chipset limits the tablet to Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.1. There's no always connected internet option like the HP Chromebook x2 11.

power

Asus ZenBook 14X OLED open on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebooks use the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 System-on-Chip (SoC), a slightly updated version of the same ARM processor used in the HP Chromebook x2 11. As far as I can tell, the only significant difference is a tiny speed threshold from 2.4 GHz to 2.55 GHz. Unsurprisingly, the IdeaPad Duet 5 performed similarly to the Chromebook x2 11. In other words, the ARM CPU could keep up with Chrome OS as long as I didn't open too many tabs in Chrome or too many Android apps were running in the background. I'm sure the 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage had something to do with it.

We don't have all of the benchmarks available for Chromebooks, but the IdeaPad Duet 5 scored 599 in single-core mode and 1718 in multi-core mode in the Android Geekbench 5 app. That's just a tiny bit faster than the 590 and 1,689 of the Chromebook x2 11. It lags far behind faster Chromebooks like the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 with a Core i5-1115G4 that scores 1209 and 2849 points, and the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 with a Core i5-1135G7 that hits 1,190 and 4,151. The IdeaPad Duet 5's score in the Speedometer 2.0 web benchmark was 47, just ahead of the Chromebook x2 11's with 45. In comparison, the Chromebook Flip CX5 achieved 163.

Overall, you will be satisfied with the performance of the IdeaPad Duet 5 as long as your productivity workflow is not too demanding. As I said, with a reasonable number of tabs and Android apps open, the tablet ran fine. However, if you exceeded that amount, things got noticeably slower. And limit yourself to occasional Android games – Asphalt 9, the Android game I use to test Chromebooks, was choppy and showed significant lag when I tried to run it on the IdeaPad Duet 5, which is a more usable gaming tablet .

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Close up on the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED display.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

From the moment I turned on the IdeaPad Duet 5, I could tell that something was different. OLED displays are so much more dynamic and eye-catching than IPS displays, and the 13.3-inch Full HD version of the IdeaPad Duet 5 is no exception. The colors were pleasant and natural, the contrast was deep with inky black tones, and the display was more than bright enough for all of my work environments.

My two complaints start with the 16: 9 aspect ratio, which, as mentioned earlier, isn't nearly as functional as 16:10 and 3: 2 displays in portrait mode, and it looked squashed too. It's not a deal breaker – many 16: 9 laptops and tablets are still made today – but it's far from ideal. Next, the Full HD resolution was just okay with a display size of 13.3 inches. A sharper screen would have helped, especially with text, and while black text showed up on a white background, they did it with a few pixels. A higher resolution display would have been nice too, but for $ 500, it's hard to complain about.

Close-up on the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED display without keyboard attachment.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Even so, most users will love this display. Even creatives looking for a Chromebook to view photos and videos will love the colors and contrast. This display will please everyone except the pickiest of pixel peepers and those who use a pen to take lots of notes.

Unfortunately, the sound does not do justice to the display despite four speakers radiating from the side. First off, there's not much volume even when it's all the way up, and worse, there's distortion that cuts out the little bass and makes a very tinny sound. The mids and highs are clear at about half volume, but the bass is missing. Overall, you'll want to use bluetooth headphones or speakers for anything but system sounds and the occasional YouTube video.

Keyboard and touchpad

Close up on the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook keyboard.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook case with keyboard.

Lenovo includes a detachable keyboard with the IdeaPad Duet 5 that shares the same basic design as most keyboards – with one exception. It is attached to the tablet via magnets and connected via pogo pins, but unlike most keyboards, it has no way of supporting it at an angle. They're stuck when you lay it flat, which isn't nearly as comfortable. Thanks to the 13.3-inch display and the width it offers, there is plenty of key spacing and the keycaps are large and comfortable. The switches offer a lot of spring travel and have a snappy bottom movement. The keyboard feels great – if only Lenovo had built in an angle.

The touchpad is also good and big enough to be comfortable using the Chrome OS suite of multitouch gestures. The surface can be wiped comfortably and the buttons have a nice click without being too loud. The display is of course touch-enabled and supports an optional Lenovo Active Pen. One was not included with my test device, so I could not test the coloring with the IdeaPad Duet 5.

Battery life

OLED displays can sometimes be the death knell when it comes to battery life. But that's mainly because most OLED laptops use 4K resolution. The IdeaPad Duet 5 uses a 1080p screen and combines it with a Snapdragon processor with low power consumption. It also contains 42 watt hours of battery, a decent amount for this device – and more than the 32 watt hours found on the HP Chromebook x2 11. I was curious to see how long the detachable tablet would last on one charge.

I was positively surprised. In our web browser test, which ran through a number of popular and demanding websites, the IdeaPad Duet 5 lasted for 15.5 hours – an excellent score that beat the Chromebook x2 11's 12.75 hours. The 10.1 inch Lenovo IdeaPad Duet with its 27 watt hour battery and the MediaTek Helio P60T ARM processor lasted about 13 hours. In our video test replaying a local 1080p movie trailer, the IdeaPad Duet 5 achieved a whopping 21.75 hours – one of the longest-lasting devices we tested. It outperformed the 11 hours of the Chromebook x2 11 and the 12.5 hours of the IdeaPad Duet.

Simply put, the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook will last you a full day while you still have some time to watch Netflix. Chromebooks with ARM CPUs should have great battery life, and the IdeaPad Duet 5 keeps that promise.

Our opinion

At $ 500, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is excellent value for money. You get adequate productivity performance and great battery life. The OLED display looks great too, even if it's not perfect.

Anyone looking for an affordable Chrome tablet that they can use for web browsing, email triage, and media consumption will find that the IdeaPad Duet 5 is a great choice.

Are there alternatives?

the HP Chromebook x2 11 is a close alternative with almost the same CPU and very similar performance. At the same time, the display is good, but not great, and the battery life is wasted. You can also get it for $ 100 less, albeit with half the space.

Another option is the Microsoft Surface Go 3. It's a Windows 11 laptop and it's smaller, but its build quality and performance are just as good, and it has its own great display. It's more expensive when you add the cost of the keyboard, but it's well worth it too.

After all, the Apple iPad is a good tablet, although it is also a bit smaller. You might want to stick with the entry-level model of $ 329 or risk spending a lot more. But it's faster thanks to a faster ARM CPU and a highly optimized operating system, and it has a great display. It's also thin, light, and well built.

How long it will take?

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook could be made of plastic, but that doesn't mean it won't last for years. You'll also get a lot of performance out of Chrome OS for some time. The one-year warranty is fine for a $ 500 laptop.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 is fast enough for the price, which makes it a long-lasting secondary device with a beautiful display for media consumption. It's the best tablet you will find for the money.

Editor's recommendations



02 Nov
Blog

HP Chromebook x2 11 Review: A Chrome-Based iPad Competitor?

HP Chromebook x2 11 sitting on the tabletop (front view).

HP Chromebook x2 11

RRP $ 599.00

"The HP Chromebook x2 11 is a well-built detachable tablet with an excellent display and sufficient productivity performance and battery life."

advantages

  • Decent productivity performance

  • Solid build quality

  • Excellent advertisement

  • Battery life for good productivity

  • Payable

disadvantage

  • Limited to WiFi 5

  • Stand add-on is kludgy

  • Keyboard action is below average

The iPad has dominated the tablet world for years, with few valid competitors from other platforms. Microsoft has the Surface devices, but Chrome OS didn't have such a strong competitor. Most of its detachable tablet and 2-in-1 offerings are budget-conscious affairs.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 changes that, offering a premium option for the iPad or even the iPad Pro. It's the first detachable Chrome OS with an 11-inch 2K 3: 2 display, the first with a Qualcomm 7C chipset, and the first with optional 4G LTE forever connected internet. There's finally a Chromebook that can rival Apple's best.

I tested the mid-range HP Chromebook x2 11 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage, which is $ 599. That's a solid configuration for Chrome OS, at least in terms of RAM and storage, and at an affordable price. You can spend $ 30 less on 4 GB of RAM and $ 80 more for 128 GB storage. The HP Chromebook x2 11 has a few new features, but does it all come together in one great package? That's what I thought to myself, even given the performance difference compared to the latest Intel-based Chromebooks, as well as a disappointing keyboard and stand.

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HP Chromebook x2 11 while sitting on a table.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is made from a single block of CNC machined aluminum, so it was as solid as any other tablet I've ever handled. It corresponds to the very well built Microsoft Surface Go 3 and the Apple iPad Pro without bending, bending or twisting. The display is made of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 4. You will feel safe in the construction of the HP Chromebook x2 11 when you carry it and hold it in your hand.

In terms of its aesthetics, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is a silver plate with subtle accents that is simple but attractive.

Given its larger 11-inch display compared to the 10.5-inch panel of the Surface Go 3, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is slightly larger at 9.94 inches wide and 6.96 inches high – the Surface Go 3 is 9, 65 inches by 6.9 inches tall. The HP Chromebook x2 11 is thinner at 0.3 "versus 0.33" and essentially the same weight at 1.23 pounds versus 1.2 pounds.

The two tablets are roughly the same thickness and weight when you add in their detachable keyboards and, in the case of the HP Chromebook x2 11, the kickstand add-on that magnetically attaches to the back of the tablet. Overall, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is small and light enough to be wonderfully comfortable in tablet mode, while equally usable on your lap with the keyboard and stand attached – that is, it's an OK experience, but not a great experience by comparison to clamshell laptops.

HP Chromebook x2 11 sitting on the tabletop (rear view).Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Speaking of stands, I found the design a bit clunky. The Surface Go 3 has a built-in kickstand that's so much more convenient than fiddling with the HP Chromebook x2 11's add-on. Once attached, the stand was just as functional, holding the tablet firmly in place and opening at a wide angle.

The problem is that it's another piece that needs to be carried around and connected which I found a little annoying. I think I would get used to it over time, but it's just not that elegant a solution.

In terms of its aesthetics, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is a silver plate with subtle accents that is simple but attractive. It has rounded edges like many tablets today and will generally go unnoticed. The display bezels are smaller than those of the Surface Go 3, so a more modern design, similar to the iPad Pro.

There is little else to say about the appearance of the HP Chromebook x2 11. It's a simple silver tray that blends into its background. Note that you can add a pop of color by choosing between night teal (my review unit) and shaded keyboards and stands.

HP Chromebook x2 11 with two micro USB ports.

HP Chromebook x2 11 rear camera. "Aria -describedby =" gallery-3-2817660

  • 1.
    Two USB-C ports, microSD card reader and the optional SIM slot.
  • 2.
    8MP outward-facing camera.

Connectivity is limited to two USB-C ports, one of which is used to power the tablet, a microSD card reader and an optional SIM slot for 4G LTE. One weakness is that the Qualcomm chipset only offers Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, which is a disappointment given the proliferation of Wi-Fi 6 on other devices.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 has two webcams, one at 5 MP for the user and one at 8 MP for the world. Both offer great resolution for Chrome OS applications and make the tablet a great video conferencing tool.

power

The HP Chromebook x2 11 sits on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, which drives the HP Chromebook x2 11, is an 8-core ARM CPU with up to 2.4 GHz. It is said to offer good productivity performance with long battery life and always connected internet. Coincidentally, I recently got some Chromebooks with Intel 11th Core CPUs. Chrome OS runs on much faster hardware. I could certainly tell the difference between these devices and the HP Chromebook x2 11.

It's not that the HP tablet was slow. It wasn't as long as the number of open Chrome tabs didn't get too high or I didn't have too many Android apps running in the background. With a decent workflow, things were snappy enough that I didn't notice the HP Chromebook x2 11 was struggling to keep up. In Geekbench 5, it didn't do well with just 590 in the single-core test and 1,689 in the multi-core test, compared to the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5, which scored 1,190 and 4,151, and the Chromebook C536 with 1,209 and 2,849.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 with its MediaTek MT8183 was slower with 299 and 1,407 respectively. Interestingly, the HP Chromebook x2 11 performs similarly to the 920 and 1,704 of the Microsoft Surface Go 3. This tablet runs the full Windows 11 – I would rate the subjective performance of the HP Chromebook x2 11 as slightly better than that of the Surface Go 3.

The HP Chromebook x2 11 only achieved 45 points in the Speedometer 2.0 web benchmark. That's on the lower end of the scale, beating the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet (another smaller detachable Chromebook tablet) at 27 and the Chromebook Flip CM3, which only hits 24 but is way behind the rest of the field. For example, the Chromebook Flip CX5 achieved the highest score in our database with 163.

Still, I found the HP Chromebook x2 11 to be a competent performer. I wrote this review using the tablet as I usually do, and I found WordPress to be just as responsive as it is on other Chromebooks I've used. The 8GB of RAM helps keep multitasking up to date, and as long as I haven't opened too many tabs or too many apps running in the background, the HP Chromebook x2 11 has easily kept pace with my workflow. It would be a great tablet for college students or a secondary device for productivity users looking for something light and portable to complement a more powerful laptop.

I've tried Asphalt 9, the Android game I use to test Chromebook game performance, and it got a little choppy at times. You should limit yourself to casual gaming unless you're okay with the occasional stutter.

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Close-up of the HP Chromebook x2 11 display.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The HP Chromebook x2 11 has an 11-inch display in the productivity-friendly 3: 2 aspect ratio, which also comes into its own in portrait mode. It's closer to the dimensions of a real sheet of paper than old school 16: 9 displays and even the slightly larger 16:10 panels. It corresponds to Microsoft's Surface line in this regard and allows for great ink input with an active pen. HP calls the display “2K” based on a resolution of 2,160 x 1,440. Call it what you will, but at 236 pixels per inch (PPI), the 11-inch display is incredibly sharp.

It's also a very colorful display that is bright and has a lot of contrast. I wish I could use my colorimeter to test the display – it doesn't work with Chrome OS unfortunately – because I think this display would do well. If I hold the HP Chromebook x2 11 next to the Surface Go 3, which has an objectively and subjectively excellent display, I find the display from HP just as pleasant as that from Microsoft.

Black text is sharp and pops on a white background, which is especially important to me as an author, and colors are dynamic without looking unnatural. Photos look great and streaming videos is a treat. The display also seemed brighter than other Chromebooks I've used lately, and held up well in even the brightest environments I've worked in – though it couldn't compete with the southern California sunshine but few laptops can do this.

HP Chromebook x2 11 display in tablet mode.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

You want a good display on a tablet given the media consumption you typically use it for, and the HP Chromebook x2 11 delivers that score. It's one of the best Chromebook displays I've used, and it's a real strength.

Two front-facing speakers provide the sound, and they produce usable sound. The volume was loud enough to share a YouTube video, with just a tiny bit of distortion and crisp mids and highs. Unsurprisingly, bass wasn't there, which makes this a sound system that is best complemented by a good pair of headphones for music and Netflix binge.

Keyboard and touchpad

HP Chromebook x2 11 case.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

I've already talked about how I don't like the kickstand add-on, so I won't go into this point any further. However, the detachable keyboard is a more traditional design. It magnetically snaps into place on the bottom of the tablet and has pogo pins to make the required connection. Like most detachable keyboards today, it can lie flat or prop up at an angle. In the latter mode, it's at a comfortable angle, although it jumps a bit when you type. In this respect, it is similar to the Surface Go 3, while the keyboard of the Lenovo ThinkPad X12 Detachable is significantly stiffer.

I found the keyboard itself a bit small, another feature shared with the Surface Go 3. The keycaps are tiny and there isn't much clearance. The switches are also very loose, there is no biting mechanism and they suffer from a loud, rattling passage.

I wasn't a fan of this keyboard and much preferred the faster, more precise Surface Go 3 version. Like I said, I wrote this review with the HP Chromebook x2 11 and the keyboard was the only thing holding me back.

Close-up of the HP Chromebook x2 11 keyboard.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is better, with a smooth surface and a nice size. It has solid support for the entire suite of Chrome OS multitouch gestures. The display is of course touchable and supports a USI certified active pen, which was included in my test configuration but is otherwise optional. The pen worked just as well as any other I've used, with low latency and smooth action.

The fingerprint reader built into the power button was an additional feature that I particularly appreciated and that you won't find on many Chromebooks. Chrome OS requires you to sign in with your password or PIN after restarting, but waking up from hibernation and signing in was a simple matter of pressing the power button. It was quick and reliable, and made getting back to work faster and more convenient than many other Chromebooks.

Battery life

HP Chromebook x2 11 stand seen from the side.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is equipped with a 32-watt-hour battery that powers the energy-efficient Snapdragon 7c and Chrome OS. This combination should offer at least a full day of battery life, and that's what I was hoping for in our battery tests.

As it turned out, the HP Chromebook x2 11 did well, but not spectacularly. The HP Chromebook x2 11 lasted for 12.75 hours in our web browsing test. That's a strong score on its own and when compared to Intel laptops, but it isn't that impressive when compared to other ARM-based machines. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet, for example, lasted an hour longer with its Mediatek Helio P60T ARM CPU, a 27 watt hour battery and a 10.1 inch display. The Lenovo Flex 5G with Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx lasted 17.25 hours in this test.

You can hardly complain about the HP Chromebook x2 11 here – after all, this value shows much better than the all-day battery life, our basic standard – but I would still have liked the tablet to last a few hours longer.

Battery life is good when it comes to productivity, but it lacks it for media consumption.

In our video test, which repeats a local 1080p movie trailer, the HP Chromebook x2 11 made it to 11 hours. It's not uncommon for Chrome OS machines to last longer than the video tests while browsing the internet, which is unlike Windows and Mac OS laptops. The HP Chromebook x2 11's score was about 1.5 hours below that of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet and a full 17 hours below that of the Lenovo Flex 5G. In fact, it's not a good score for the components, period.

Overall, the battery life is good in terms of productivity, but it is lacking in media consumption. It's not that 11 hours of video playback is awful, it's just not where I expected the HP Chromebook x2 11 to fall. Again, we're talking about all-day battery life, but not necessarily what an ARM CPU should offer.

Our opinion

The HP Chromebook x2 11 embodies the qualities that make a good Chromebook: Ease of use, efficiency and sufficient performance on low-end hardware. Its display is also excellent and a pure pleasure to use, which is welcome at a price point of $ 599.

As an iPad or Surface competitor, the HP Chromebook x2 11 is a major achievement in the world of Chromebooks. It's not perfect, as the clumsy kickstand and awkward keyboard prove, but if you're looking for a very portable Chrome OS device that can take a long time to charge, then HP's tablet should be on your short list.

Are there alternatives?

The most compelling alternative is the Microsoft Surface Go 3. Yes, it runs Windows 11 and not Chrome OS, but in terms of size, build quality, display, and performance, it's a close competitor to the HP Chromebook x2 11. It's more expensive, when it's configured for good performance and because Type Cover and Surface Pen are optional add-ons. However, if you're looking for a tablet rather than an operating system, the Surface Go 3 is a great option.

Next up is the Apple iPad – most likely the entry-level model for $ 329. It offers faster performance due to its fast ARM CPU and highly optimized operating system, and it has a great display too. It's also thin, light, and well built. Again, however, this isn't a Chrome OS device if that's what you're looking for.

The thing is, I don't know of any other Chrome OS detachable tablet that I would put against the HP Chromebook x2 11. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet is an option, but it's significantly cheaper and feels that way in its build quality. But if you're looking to save some money and have a similarly portable device then it's an alternative.

How long it will take?

The HP Chromebook x2 11 is very well made and conveys confidence in years of productive use. Chrome OS doesn't slow down over time, so components should keep up well. You have to be content with the industry standard one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. The HP Chromebook x2 11 is a great little tablet that is suitable for college students or as a secondary device for more demanding productivity users. And it's an affordable alternative to the iPad Pro.

Editor's recommendations



05 Aug
Blog

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Review: Slow But Really Cheap

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 sits on the tabletop.

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Review: The Ultimate Chromebook for Students?

RRP $ 330.00

"The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is not the fastest Chromebook in the world, but the price is unbeatable."

advantages

  • Inexpensive

  • Solid build quality for the price

  • Surprisingly nice display

  • Very good battery life

  • Excellent touchpad and active pen

disadvantage

  • Performance is below average

  • Keyboard is tight

  • Touch display is fussy

Sometimes a product comes along that is defined by a certain characteristic. That's the price for the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Convertible 2-in-1. The starting price of $ 330 will be extremely attractive to those looking for cheap access to the Internet. Budget laptops have their place, especially for students.

I tested the $ 330 Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 configuration with a MediaTek MT8183 CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of eMMC storage, and a 12-inch IPS (1366×912) 3: 2 display . There are certainly some tradeoffs to achieve this rock bottom price. But most of the time, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 makes the right compromises for a cheap student laptop.

design

Angled view of the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is a mixture of a silver lid made of an aluminum alloy and a matching plastic housing. It uses the same electroplating as the more expensive Asus Chromebook Flip C536, which creates a ceramic-like texture on the lid. There's also the same in-mold roller process used on the C536 that gives the Chromebook Flip CM3's all-black keyboard deck a velvety feel that makes the palm rests surprisingly comfortable. This kind of technology is not expected in such an inexpensive laptop, and it gives it an attractive, if simple aesthetic that looks like it should cost quite a bit more.

The quality of workmanship is just as impressive: the lid only bends slightly under pressure, and the keyboard bends a little under strong pressure. Here, too, the Chromebook Flip CM3 surpasses its weight class and offers a surprisingly robust workmanship. It might not be built quite as well as the Chromebook Flip C536 (which itself was a step behind the Asus standard) or the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, but both of these laptops cost around $ 600. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is another 2-in-1 that is roughly the same price as the Chromebook Flip CM3 and is made entirely of plastic but still feels solid.

This is a small laptop, although not as small as it could be. It's built around a 12-inch 3: 2 display, which should result in a tiny chassis, but the bezels are large and add to the width and depth. Even so, it's smaller than 13-inch laptops and is 0.64 inches thick and 2.51 pounds. Overall, it feels like a thin and light laptop that is easy to take with you.

Connectivity is limited to a single USB-C port, a USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2, both of which are a generation behind.

Left side view of the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3. Features: micro USB port, micro SD slot, USB port and headphone jack.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

perfomance

Do you remember when I asked what corners were cut? Well, the simplest answer here is: performance. The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 uses a MediaTek MT8183 ARM CPU with 2 GHz. Although this processor has been optimized for Chrome OS, there is only one way to characterize it. It's slow.

Look at the 2-in-1's Geekbench 5 scores, a low of 299 in single-core mode and 1,407 in multi-core mode. The closest comparison I could find in our database is the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 with a Core i3-1011U CPU that scored 938 and 1,653 points. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5, on which the Core i3-1011U also runs, scored 975 and 1,649 points, respectively. It's clear that the MediaTek processor makes multi-threaded apps run better than single-threaded apps.

I would stick with simpler, less graphics-intensive games on the Chromebook Flip CM3.

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 also scores very poorly in the Speedometer 2.0 web browser test and only achieves 24.4. That's at the bottom of our database and less than half what you can expect from other Chromebooks. Of course, most of these cost hundreds of dollars more than the Chromebook Flip CM3. It is noteworthy that the Chromebook Flip C536 scored 158 points in this test with a Core i3-1115G4.

Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 folded back, sitting on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In real use, I found the machine not as slow as these benchmarks suggest. It got choppy when I opened too many browser tabs and some Android apps were running in the background, but with a more reasonable workload, the Chromebook Flip CM3 was perfectly usable. Given the price, it's a decent second machine that is easy to move around, and for users who just need to browse the web and check email, the performance is acceptable.

However, the game did not go well. I tried Asphalt 9, my favorite Chromebook testing game, and it wasn't fun. I would stick with simpler, less graphics-intensive games on the Chromebook Flip CM3.

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Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 sits on the tabletop.Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 has a 12-inch IPS display with a productivity-friendly 3: 2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1366 x 912. The larger aspect ratio is another surprise with such a cheap laptop – it's a real boon for you anyone who appreciates more vertical space and less scrolling. The resolution is lower at 1366 x 912, but still sharp given the small screen size.

I liked this display at least as much as the more expensive Asus Chromebook Flip C536 and Acer Chromebook Spin 713

The difference is barely noticeable to the naked eye, but a 13.3-inch 1080p screen technically comes in at 165 pixels per inch compared to the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3's 137 ppi.

I cannot test Chromebooks with my colorimeter and can therefore only give my subjective opinion. And in my opinion, this is – surprisingly again – a vivid display for such an inexpensive device. It's not particularly bright, but it was able to overcome all of the indoor ambient lighting that I threw on it. I couldn't use it outside in direct sunlight, but that's not uncommon. The colors were pleasant and seemed accurate when I used the Chromebook Flip CM3 side by side with other more expensive laptops. Photos and videos looked great without being too light or too dark. The contrast wasn't as high as I'd like it to be, but black text on a white background wasn't grayish like it is on many budget laptops.

I liked this display at least as much as that of the more expensive Asus Chromebook Flip C536 and Acer Chromebook Spin 713. It doesn't rank at the top like the premium display of the Google Pixelbook Go. But even here you pay twice as much money to get this higher quality. Asus has excellently equipped the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 with a display that will delight all but the most discerning creative professionals – who won't buy this laptop anyway.

Keyboard and touchpad

The pen sits on the keyboard of the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3.

The small chassis has an unfortunate byproduct and that is a very cramped keyboard. The keycaps are tiny and there isn't much space between them. If you have larger hands, you will likely have trouble typing on this keyboard. The switching mechanism offers a lot of spring travel, but is a bit boring without the click that contributes to precise typing. The floor movement is a bit abrupt, and I would definitely rate this keyboard as one of the less comfortable ones I've used. As already mentioned, the palm rest is amazingly comfortable thanks to the special coating, but the keyboard does not drag. Note that the keyboard is not backlit, which is disappointing.

The touchpad is better as it's bigger than expected thanks to the extra palm rest offered by the taller display. It's fluid and responsive, provides precise cursor control, and supports all of the usual Chrome OS multitouch gestures.

As usual with 2-in-1s, the screen is touch-enabled, and I found it finicky. Sometimes I had to tap two or three times to respond, especially when trying to activate smaller on-screen buttons. It's not outrageous, but it has detracted from the touch panel's usefulness. The Chromebook Flip CM3 supports an optional active pen with 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity that was included with my test device. I found it to be as good as any other Chromebook pen I've used and it supports the suite of Chrome OS pen tools with great precision.

Battery life

Close up of one of the hinges on the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3.

The MediaTek processor, while slow, is also efficient. The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 has a 32-watt-hour battery, which is not particularly large, even considering the low-resolution 12-inch display.

Even so, the 2-in-1 lasted almost 12.5 hours in our web browser test, which is a strong score. The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 only managed 6.75 hours in this test, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 8.45 hours. I went back a couple of years and couldn't find a Chromebook that would last longer.

In our video test, which ran through a local Full HD movie trailer, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 lasted just over 12 hours. It's not uncommon for Chrome OS computers, unlike Windows 10 laptops, to last longer in the web browser test than they did in the video test. Here, too, the Chromebook Flip CM3 outlasted the comparison laptops by a few hours.

Overall, the Chromebook Flip CM3 offers impressive battery life for such a small device. If you use it as the primary system you get a full day of work from it, and if it's a secondary laptop you get days of use.

Our opinion

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is an affordable Chrome OS 2-in-1 that exceeds expectations based on its low price. It's slower than I'd like, but it has great battery life and a solid, comfortable chassis. The keyboard could be bigger and the touchscreen a little more responsive, but the touchpad and active pen are excellent.

I wouldn't recommend buying the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 as your primary work device unless your requirements are minimal. But as a second laptop to take with you and for surfing the web and checking emails, or as an entry-level laptop for students, it's a great option.

Are there alternatives?

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is another Chrome OS 2-in-1 with a similar price and performance. The build quality is a bit better, but the battery life can't keep up.

You can jump up a bit in price and consider the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, which costs around $ 600 but is much faster and has a sharper 3: 2 display.

Finally, as we usually recommend, Google's Pixelbook Go should be on your list if you don't need the flexibility of a 2-in-1. It's more expensive, but it also has a long battery life and a stunning display that can't be beat.

How long it will take?

The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 feels solid enough to withstand years of typical use. The biggest question is how Chrome OS is performing – if at some point it needs more CPU power, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 can't keep up. The one-year warranty is fine for this price.

Should you buy it?

Yes. As a second laptop, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is a great bargain that is worth the small investment.

Editor's recommendations



03 Aug
Blog

Asus Chromebook Flip C536 Review: Flawed But Inexpensive

Two Asus Chromebook Flip C536 sit on a desk and show different folding options.

Asus Chromebook Flip C536 in the test: flawed, but the price wins

RRP $ 580.00

"The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 strikes a solid balance between premium design and affordability."

advantages

  • Attractive price

  • Nice aesthetics

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Pen support

  • Solid productivity performance

disadvantage

  • Build quality is a little below average

  • Bad battery life

  • Housing is bigger than it should be

The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 was one of the best Chromebooks you could buy. It was stylish, high quality, and extremely powerful – especially for a Chromebook.

Now the Chromebook Flip C536 has superseded that machine, and there have been some significant changes.

I have an entry-level Chromebook Flip C536 configuration with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD), and a 14-inch Full HD IPS -Display (1920 x 1080) tested aspect ratio 16: 9. It's available for a more attractive price of $ 580, which makes it a bargain given the components.

design

Person using a pen on the Asus Chromebook Flip C536.Asus

The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 is a handsome white laptop with a black interior, a contrast that makes for a bold look that you normally don't get at this price point. The laptop's lines are simple and streamlined and have very typical angles, but the color scheme makes all the difference and there's just enough chrome to add accents without being intrusive.

Asus has provided the device with a series of special coatings that use a galvanic coating process on the lid and base, which creates a ceramic-like look and feel, and an in-roller process for the keyboard deck, which creates a wonderfully soft and warm surface for yours Palms. In this regard, it is similar to the Dell XPS 13, which uses a carbon fiber material to achieve the same effect. The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 isn't the most flashy laptop, but you will feel like you are carrying around a much more expensive product.

The build quality is not quite as top notch, which is not typical for Asus. The company typically makes solid laptops as boulders and subjects them all to military standards, which are tested for ruggedness, but the Chromebook Flip C536 falls a little short. The main problem lies in the lid, which bends too much and distorts the display. There is a little bit of keyboard flex and the bottom chassis only gives way a little.

Overall, it's not bad for the price, but the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a Chromebook in the same price range that is more solid. The previous model of the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 was also more robust (and a bit more expensive), which makes this version a little step backwards. I'd like to point out that the Chromebook Flip C436's hinge allowed the lid to be opened with one hand, while the Chromebook Flip C536 version is much stiffer and requires two hands. However, it moves smoothly through clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes and has the Asus ErgoLift feature that supports the back for a better typing angle and improved airflow.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 has thin bezels on the sides, but the top bezel is thicker and the lower chin is huge. That makes for a case that's not as small as many other 14-inch laptops, including the Chromebook Flip C436, which is quite a bit smaller. When I first took the Chromebook Flip C536 out of the box, I thought it was a 15-inch device. It's 0.72 inches thick and weighs 4.17 pounds compared to the C436, which is 0.54 inches thick and weighs 2.42 pounds.

Close-up of the HDMI and USB ports on the Asus Chromebook Flip C536.

Close-up of the headphone jack and USB and micro-USB ports on the Asus Chromebook Flip C536.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is even smaller with its 13.5-inch 3: 2 display. Among other things, the C536 is heavier than the C436 because it is made of an aluminum alloy compared to the lighter magnesium alloy of the previous model. It also has a 57 watt hour battery versus the 42 watt hour battery on the older model. In all fairness, it's a bit of a surprise that the Chromebook Flip C536 has gained so much weight and girth from one generation to the next.

Asus built solid connectivity into the Chromebook Flip C536. There is a USB-C 3.2 port, a USB-A 3.2 port and a 3.5mm audio jack on the left and another USB-C and USB-A port on the right for a micro -SD card reader. This is an improvement over the previous model. Wireless connectivity is Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

perfomance

Two Asus Chromebook Flip C536 on a desk with video games.Asus

My test device was equipped with a Core i3-1115G4 (a Core i5-1135G7 is available), which should offer plenty of performance for Chrome OS. We can't run all of the benchmarks on Chromebooks, but the Chromebook Spin C536 only managed 1,209 single-core and 2,849 multi-core in the Android Geekbench 5 app. That's not particularly strong even for Chromebooks, which usually don't do well here. However, it is quite a bit faster than the Asus Chromebook Flip 436 with its Core i3-10110U, which scored a meager 938 and 1,653 points, respectively.

Even with this mediocre Geekbench 5 score, I found the Chromebook Flip C536 very quickly. I've been running a variety of Android apps and opening numerous Chrome tabs and never noticed any slowdown. The 8GB of RAM likely helped keep things going, and the PCIe SSD likely helped too. You can configure the Chromebook Flip C536 with up to 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, but our test configuration will likely be enough for most Chrome OS users.

Playing on the laptop was fine. The Core i3-1115G4 is limited to Intel UHD graphics and not to the newer Intel Iris Xe, but still plays Android games like Asphalt 9 without stuttering or frame loss. It's a great laptop for tablet mode, the most convenient way to play Android games, but it performed well.

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4 variations / ways to use the Asus Chromebook Flip C536.Asus

The Chromebook Flip C536 uses a 14-inch Full HD IPS display in the increasingly old-fashioned 16: 9 aspect ratio. Asus doesn't provide any information about the display, and I can't use my colorimeter with Chrome OS laptops. That limits the objective data that I can provide.

Subjectively, however, I found the display bright enough for typical indoor lighting conditions. The contrast seemed good but not great, with a touch of gray that kept black text from really showing up on a white background. The colors were bright and natural, and showed photos and videos with obvious accuracy when I compared them side by side with other laptops. Compared to some other Chromebooks, I would rate the Chromebook Flip C536 as good, but not great, with the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 and Google Pixelbook Go offering more vibrant and enjoyable displays.

Even so, I enjoyed using the Asus display during my test. It won't please creatives who crave wide and accurate colors, but for productivity, web browsing, and Netflix with the display rotated in media mode, it's a display that beats its price.

The sound wasn't quite as good. The volume was sufficient for system sounds and watching YouTube videos that clearly show the mids and highs. Bass was missing as usual and there was some distortion at maximum volume. You should pull out a pair of headphones to listen to music and catch Netflix.

Keyboard and touchpad

Asus Chromebook Flip C536 backlit keyboard.Asus

One of the things that companies sometimes skimp on when making a cheap laptop is the keyboard. I've seen some great budget machines torpedoed by a bad one, and suffice it to say, Asus avoided this trap here. The Chromebook Flip C536's keyboard has a good clearance, comfortable keycaps, and a crisp mechanism that offers plenty of wiggle room and a clicking floor movement.

I found the keyboard to be precise, comfortable, and quiet during my tests, and there is even a tiny number pad if you are entering a lot of data. You can find the usual wide range of Chrome OS keyboard backlights that are effective and consistent. I liked this keyboard better than any I've used on a Chromebook lately, including the Chromebook Flip C436 and Chromebook Spin 713, and just like most Windows 10 laptops.

The touchpad has a wide format, which is a shame because Asus could have accommodated a larger, square touchpad given the available palm rests. It's a decent size, but it could have been bigger. Fortunately, it makes up for it with responsiveness and perfect control over the entire suite of Chrome OS multitouch gestures. The display is touchable, of course there is an optional active pen that you can purchase for coloring. It supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and is designed to provide a great handwriting and drawing experience on the display.

Asus has in no way designed to allow you to log in without a password, which is not to be expected at this price point. A fingerprint reader would have been nice though.

Battery life

Music video is played on the close-up image of the headphone jack and the USB and micro-USB ports of the Asus Chromebook Flip C536.Asus

The Chromebook Flip C536 has a larger battery than its predecessor, 57 watt hours versus 42 watt hours, as described above. That should have led to a significant increase in battery life.

Unfortunately, things didn't turn out that way. Again, we're limited in the tests we can run based on Chrome OS, but we have two tests we can run. The first is our web browser test, which goes through a number of popular websites. The Chromebook Flip C536 only managed 6.75 hours, well below the 10.5 hours the C436 achieved. The Chromebook Spin 713 lasted for 11 hours. In our video test, which ran through a local Full HD Avengers trailer, the Chromebook Flip C536 achieved a few minutes under 10 hours, compared with the C436 with almost 13 hours and the Chromebook Spin 713 with almost exactly 10 hours.

These are disappointing results and I ran each test twice to make sure I wasn't missing a thing. Most Chromebooks will get you through a full day of work thanks to the lightweight Chrome OS, and given the Chromebook Flip C536's Full HD display, that's at least what I expected, if not more. Unfortunately, you are unlikely to make it through an 8-hour day without turning on at some point.

Our opinion

The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 is a nice looking Chromebook that offers good performance and great input options. It lags a bit behind typical Asus build quality, but it's by no means a fragile machine. However, the battery life is a real buzzkill that sets this laptop back a lot.

Compared to its predecessor, the Chromebook Flip C536 is larger (with the same display) and cheaper. It would be hard to recommend for the same price, but it's a few hundred dollars cheaper. That is liberating and makes the Chromebook Flip C536 much more attractive.

Are there alternatives?

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a tough competitor that is roughly the same price but has a faster CPU and a sharper, more productive 13.5-inch 3: 2 display. It's also a bit smaller, which makes it more functional in tablet mode.

As far as it can still be purchased, the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 is itself a competitor of the successor. It's better built, has better battery life, and is a lot smaller. It is proof that new does not always mean better.

Finally, if you don't need a 2-in-1, keep Google's Pixelbook Go on your list. The battery life is better, the audio quality is superior, and it comes in a smaller package. It's a little more expensive, but not by much, and the vastly superior display will blow your mind.

How long it will take?

The Chromebook Flip C536 isn't fragile, but it's not as sturdy as some of its competitors – including most other Asus machines. It will hold you, but you will feel like you should be more careful with it. The typical one-year warranty is there, but acceptable at the price.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Chromebook Flip C536 has its weaknesses, but the price tag makes it an attractive option nonetheless.

Editor's recommendations



07 Apr
Blog

HP Elite C1030 Chromebook Review: Business Laptops

HP Elite C1030 Chromebook

HP Elite c1030 13.5 "Chromebook

"The HP Elite C1030 Chromebook isn't cheap, but it has a lot of business acumen."

  • Great job

  • Excellent 3: 2 display

  • Excellent keyboard and touchpad

  • Solid build quality and conservative appearance

  • Chrome OS Enterprise perpetual license included

  • Average battery life

  • Active pen is optional

  • Very expensive

Most people don't spend more than $ 1,000 on a Chromebook. There are way too many options for much less money that will make Chrome OS run like a dream. However, the growing Chromebook business has shown there is an interest in premium Chromebooks that have all of the manageability and security tools an IT department needs.

The new HP Elite C1030 Chromebook Enterprise fits right in with this new trend.

I had the chance to test a near-top-notch version of the Elite C1030 Chromebook that costs $ 1,529 for an 11th Gen Intel Core i7-10610U vPro CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe solid version. State Drive (SSD) and a 13.5-inch IPS display with an aspect ratio of 3: 2 and a WUXGA + resolution of 13.5 inches (1,920 x 1,280).

The price also includes a perpetual Chrome OS Enterprise license, which is typically $ 50 per year. That's a lot of money for a Chromebook – does the Elite C1030 deserve its high price?

design

First of all, this is a nice looking laptop. It follows HP's elite aesthetic that is modern yet conservative. Yes, the chassis is all silver, and that sometimes seems generic. But the way HP uses contrast, with matte silver on top and bottom and shiny silver on the sides, makes it special.

The lid is rounded at the edges and the case back has just enough angles – it just works. The Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is another enterprise machine that has the iconic ThinkPad look and feel – all black with a soft coating – while the consumer-facing Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a more angled look and darker gray that is also appealing. All of them are attractive options, but the HP Elite C1030 is one of my favorites.

HP Elite C1030 ChromebookMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The HP Elite C1030 Chromebook has smaller bezels than these two laptops and offers a 90% screen-to-body ratio that looks far more contemporary. The lower chin is actually relatively small for a 2-in-1 device that requires a complex hinge. Both HP and Acer use displays with an aspect ratio of 3: 2 and are therefore larger than the old-school Lenovo with an aspect ratio of 16: 9.

Even so, the Elite C1030 Chromebook is smaller in width and height than the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook and Chromebook Spin 713 thanks to its smaller bezels, while still offering the larger palm rest and touchpad that laptops have in common with larger displays. The HP is 0.7 "thick and 2.87 pounds, compared to the 0.7" and 3.3 pounds of the Lenovo and the 0.66 "and 3.02 pounds of the Acer.

The Elite C1030 Chromebook is rock hard.

In terms of build quality, the Elite C1030 Chromebook is rock hard, at least as much as the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, and it's tougher than the Chromebook Spin 713. The company's systems have been military-tested for durability, it shows – they're in a different class, virtually every premium laptop on the market today. The Elite C1030 Chromebook's hinge requires two hands to open, but holds the display in place in all four modes – clamshell, tent, presentation, and media.

HP also builds in some security features that are uncommon on Chromebooks these days. The first is the fingerprint scanner, which offers passwordless login and works just as well as any Windows 10 Hello fingerprint scanner. Second, this is the switch to turn the webcam on and off electronically, something HP borrowed from previous Specter computers (which have since switched to a physical webcam blocker).

Finally, HP offers the world's first (optional) privacy screen that blocks viewing from any angle but in a straight line. My test device didn't equip this display, but I've seen it on Windows 10 computers and it's impressive.

HP Elite C1030 ChromebookMark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP Elite C1030 ChromebookMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Connectivity is solid, but not spectacular. On the left you will find a 3.5 mm audio jack, a USB-C 3.2 port and a Kensington lock port. On the right side there is another USB-C 3.2 port, a USB-A 3.2 port and a microSD reader. The wireless connection is provided via Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

My test device was built around a 10th generation Intel Core i7-10610U vPro CPU, which makes it a powerful Chrome OS laptop. This operating system is much lighter than Windows 10 or Mac, and a Core i7 of any stripe will work fine. When you add 16GB of RAM and a fast 256GB PCIe SSD, you have a recipe for a Chromebook that won't slow you down.

We don't have a lot of objective benchmarks to run on Chromebooks. So much of my analysis is subjective. The Elite C1030 Chromebook achieved 1,102 points in the Geekbench single-core test and 3,216 points in the multi-core test, which is far behind Windows 10 laptops, but ahead of the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with its Core i5-10210U CPU (966 resp. 3,040). and the Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook with AMD's Chrome OS-optimized Ryzen 5 3500C (907 and 2,739).

In the Tachometer 2.0 benchmark, which measures the responsiveness of web applications, the HP achieved 114 compared to the Lenovo with 86 and the Acer with 101.

HP Elite C1030 ChromebookMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Subjectively, I just want to say that you have to work really hard to slow down the Elite C1030 Chromebook. I opened Scads from Chrome tabs and ran several Android apps in the background. I couldn't shake the thing. I doubt you'll have performance issues no matter what you throw at the machine.

I could even play a little. The 10th generation CPU is limited to Intel's older UHD graphics, but it can still handle games like Asphalt 9: Legacy without delay or hesitation. You should be able to play a few light games on the Elite C1030 Chromebook to get all of your work done.

display

The Elite C1030 Chromebook has a 13.5-inch WUXGA + display (1,920 x 1,280) with a productivity-friendly 3: 2 aspect ratio. I can't test it with my colorimeter. This is simply not supported in Chrome OS. However, I found the display to be sufficiently bright in all lighting conditions I tested (HP promises 400 nits of brightness), except outside in bright sunlight – which is to be expected. Colors popped without looking oversaturated, but I can't confirm accuracy without my colorimeter.

When I look at pictures next to the Dell XPS 13, which has good colors but not great, I couldn't see any difference. Finally, the contrast appeared to be sufficient, with black text showing off nicely on a white background and images looking like they had sufficient depth.

HP Elite C1030 Chromebook ScreenMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 benefited from a higher sharpness of 2,256 x 1,504 on its 13.5-inch 3: 2 display. I would have appreciated this on the HP, but I can't say I noticed any noticeable graininess on the Elite C1030 Chromebook. I liked the display more than the 16: 9 panel on the Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook, which felt tight to me.

Most users will love this display especially when they see more vertical information thanks to the higher aspect ratio. Media consumption was fine, as was the productivity work, and I have no real complaints.

Keyboard and touchpad

HP makes great keyboards that you can find on the Specter and Elite models. The Elite C1030 Chromebook is no different. It has an island keyboard with silver caps with legible gray font, lots of spacing, and a very sharp mechanism that doesn't require a lot of pressure to snap into place, yet still has a satisfactory ground effect to work with, knowing you pressed a key.

It's as good as a keyboard that you can find on any Windows 10 laptop. It's better than the Chromebook average – including the two I highlighted in this review – and it can rival the Magic keyboard on Apple's latest MacBooks. There are the usual five levels of backlit Chrome OS brightness that let you fine-tune how much light your keyboard emits.

HP Elite C1030 Chromebook KeyboardMark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP Elite C1030 Chromebook KeyboardMark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP Elite C1030 Chromebook TrackpadMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad is larger than usual thanks to the additional space on the larger display and works very well. It's fluid and precise, and does a great job with the suite of Chrome OS multitouch gestures. The touch display is also responsive and supports an optional HP Active Pen for those who want to write ink on their Chromebook.

Battery life

The Elite C1030 Chromebook has a 50 watt hour battery with a reasonable resolution and a fast CPU. I wasn't entirely sure what battery life to expect.

As it turned out, the HP fell in between the other two Chromebooks I mentioned in this review. Our web browser test, which ran through a number of popular websites, got 8.5 hours compared to the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (11 hours) and the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook (7.25 hours). In our video tests with a Full HD Avengers trailer, the Elite C1030 Chromebook achieved 10.5 hours, compared to 10 hours for the Acer and only about 7.5 hours for the Lenovo. These would be mediocre results compared to the universe of Windows 10 laptops, but they are average for the recently reviewed Chromebooks.

You probably get a full day of work with the Elite C1030 Chromebook, but not much more.

Chrome OS Enterprise

As mentioned in the introduction, with this configuration of the Elite C1030 Chromebook, HP has included a perpetual license for Google Chrome OS Enterprise, which typically costs $ 50 per year. That means you get the business-centric controls and plug-ins that will improve security and remote management forever.

Your organization can manage the Google Play Store to regulate which apps are installed, and support for the Google Chrome browser extension is also controlled by the company. Other features include single sign-on, Microsoft Active Directory support, and 24/7 business support beyond what you normally get from Google.

HP Elite C1030 ChromebookMark Coppock / Digital Trends

HP also talks a little about Parallels Desktop for HP Chrome Enterprise, a virtual machine solution that enables a company to add Windows 10 emulation to its fleet of Elite C1030 Chromebooks with minimal effort. The solution is easy to manage and offers advanced features for HP enterprise customers. It's not included with the laptop, but it's an interesting option nonetheless.

Our opinion

The HP Elite C1030 Chromebook is aimed at corporate customers. It's fast, and has the best security features you'll find on a Chromebook, plus the option of a Chrome OS Enterprise perpetual license. All of these add up to a good corporate laptop. The purchase price is also aimed at companies that have a strong need for security and manageability.

You can just as easily get a Chromebook for half the money in terms of hardware and performance. However, you don't get a laptop that fits seamlessly into a company's fleet of machines.

Are there alternatives?

The Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook offers the same support for Chrome OS Enterprise as the HP, without the same level of security. It's also roughly the same price as a similarly configured AMD Ryzen 7 3700C CPU with 16 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD.

I didn't mention it in this review, but the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook is a comparable corporate computer that's a few hundred dollars cheaper and costs $ 1,279 for a computer with the same specs as our Elite C1030 Chromebook review unit. with the exception of the 14-inch display from Dell). You get similar build quality and performance, but none of the advanced security features.

If you don't need the Chrome OS Enterprise features, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a great choice. It's also pretty quick and well built, and costs about half the money for a similar configuration.

How long it will take?

The Elite C1030 Chromebook is very well built and equipped to keep Chrome OS running for years. You will also appreciate the three-year warranty that comes with our test device.

Should you buy it?

If you're a corporate customer looking for a secure and manageable Chromebook, the Elite C1030 Chromebook should be on your shortlist. Otherwise, you'll want to save your money and use a consumer Chromebook instead.

Editor's recommendations




25 Mar
Blog

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 Review: A Supremely Fast Chromebook

Acer Chromebook Spin 713

"The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is one of the fastest, longest-lasting Chromebooks ever made."

  • Very good performance

  • Fairly long battery life

  • Conservative looks good

  • Good touchpad

  • Excellent 3: 2 display

  • No active pen option

  • The chassis could feel a bit more stable

  • The keyboard wasn't as sharp as some

The inventory of high-end Chromebooks continues to grow, and new products seem to be coming online all the time. But not every good machine is brand new. Take the convertible 2-in-1 Acer Chromebook Spin 713, which was launched in the summer of 2020 and is still a relevant laptop today thanks to fast components and willing buyers. In other words, it's current enough to consider today, and a lot of people are buying it. That's a good sign.

Acer sent me a mid-range version of the Chromebook Spin 713 priced at $ 630 for a 10th generation Intel Core i5-10210U CPU, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, a 128 GB solid state drive (SSD) and a 13.5-inch display on the Internet with a higher aspect ratio of 3: 2 and a resolution of 2K (2256 x 1504). That's not cheap for a Chromebook, but the price matches the components. Note that you can spend up to $ 1,000 if you go for a Core i7 and 16GB of RAM.

Does the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 still have what it takes to compete with the latest and greatest Chromebooks?

design

Acer Chromebook Spin 713Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a light gray (or dark silver depending on the lighting) case that is conservative but attractive. The beveled edges and angled lower chassis add some sheen, but don't stand out too much. For example, it's not a bright red like its near-rival Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2, nor does it have the rounded edges of the Google Pixelbook Go (if that's the look you're into). Think of the Acer as a modern sedan and the Samsung as a sports car and you get the picture. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 is much closer to the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 in terms of aesthetics and nobody would find fault with either machine.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 would look more modern if the bezels were slimmer. The side bezels are thin enough, but the top bezel is relatively thick and the lower chin is huge. Coupled with the 3: 2 aspect ratio, these bezels not only detract from the look, but also result in a laptop that is much deeper than it could be. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 has smaller bezels with a 14-inch display with a 16: 9 aspect ratio – we prefer 3: 2, but there's no doubt that the Asus looks a bit slimmer.

Apply extra pressure and the lid will bend.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is 3.02 pounds and 0.66 inches thick, which is quite a bit heavier and thicker than the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 (2.5 pounds and 0.54 inches) and the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (2, 71 pounds and 0.55 inches thick)). Each of these machines is a 2-in-1 convertible, so Acer couldn't use a more complex hinge to excuse the laptop's weight.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has an aluminum case that is almost on par with a premium laptop in terms of build quality. Put a little more pressure and the lid will flex a little more than I like and the keyboard deck has a little flex. That's fine for $ 630 but gets a little less acceptable at $ 1,000 for the most expensive configuration. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 feels like a more rugged laptop and costs about the same price as the Acer.

Note that Acer put the MIL-STD-810g series laptop through durability and reliability tests. Hence, there is a reason to trust that is beyond my subjective experience. The display of the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is made of Corning Gorilla Glass with an antimicrobial coating to reduce the growth of certain microorganisms. The touchpad uses the same glass and offers the same protection.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 closed "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1056-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 closed "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1057-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 closed "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1055-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Acer has equipped the Chromebook Spin 713 with a solid selection of ports. On the left side you will find a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, a USB-A 3.0 port and a microSD card reader. On the right side there is another USB-C 3.2 port and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. That outperforms both the Samsung and Asus laptops, which are limited to USB-C and microSD. The Chromebook Spin 713's wireless connectivity is completely up-to-date with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

performance

We don't have a lot of benchmarks to objectively measure a Chromebook's performance. I can refer to Geekbench 5, where the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with its quad-core core i5 scored 966 in the single-core test and 3,040 points in the multi-core test. That surpasses the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (at least in multi-core) with 1,003 and 2,179 with its dual-core core i3 and the Asus Chromebook Flip C436, also with the same processor, with 938 and 1,653. Interestingly, the Acer also beat the Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook with AMD's Chrome OS-specific CPU, the AMD Ryzen 5 3500C. This laptop scored 907 and 2,739.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Despite the lack of objective measures, I can say that the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a fast Chrome OS laptop that keeps up with everyone else I've reviewed. I used the laptop with a handful of Android apps running and a ton of Google tabs open, and the laptop didn't skip a beat. This is likely due in part to the 8GB of RAM, which is sufficient for Chrome OS, as well as the fast SSD.

I also launched a few games, including Asphalt 9: Legends, and the Chromebook Spin 713 ran smoothly with its built-in Intel UHD graphics. It was a bit bulky in tablet mode, but I was still able to do a few races with no lag or choppiness. This is a huge improvement over the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook's AMD Radeon graphics, which turned this game into something of a slide show.

As mentioned earlier, you can upgrade the Chromebook Spin 713 to a Core i7 and 16GB of RAM, but I don't see any reason to. In my configuration, it's a fast laptop and one of the faster options you'll find for just $ 630.

display

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 screenMark Coppock / Digital Trends

One of the more exciting trends in laptops is the move to taller displays. The 16:10 and 3: 2 aspect ratios show more vertical information, which is important for surfing the Internet and for creating and viewing documents. The Chromebook Spin 713 followed this trend early and was one of the first on a Chromebook with its 3: 2 display. The 2,256 x 1,504 resolution is also welcome and offers sharp text and images.

I was unable to subject the display to my colorimeter, so unfortunately, as with performance, I don't have a lot of objective metrics. In fact, I don't have any. Subjectively, however, I found the display bright enough to work comfortably in a lot of ambient light – although working outside under bright sun wouldn't be a great experience. I've used brighter displays – the Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360 14 OLED are both brighter – but I'm not complaining.

The combination of quality and the aspect ratio of 3: 2 made this display an attractive display.

The contrast was sufficient to make black text appear on a white background. Eventually the colors looked natural and not oversaturated, although I cannot confirm the accuracy. Gamma must have been spot on too, since Netflix videos didn't look too light or too dark.

The combination of quality and 3: 2 aspect ratio made this display a delightful display that is more than good enough for most Chromebook users. If you need a wide color gamut and precise accuracy, I can't confirm how well the display will work for you. I haven't seen the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 in person, so I can't tell if the QLED display is better – but I can imagine that it has QLED's ability to show off beautiful colors.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 foldsMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The audio quality was a different story. The volume wasn't particularly loud and I noticed an indication of 100% distortion. The highs were cut off a bit and the midrange was muddy – and of course, as is common with most laptops, the bass was missing. The sound quality was fine for the occasional YouTube video, but I recommend headphones or bluetooth speakers for Netflix binging and music.

Keyboard and touchpad

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713's keyboard is pretty typical island style, with good, but not large, key spacing. I found the mechanism only slightly muddy, with a lot of spring travel and a soft floor movement, but not as crisp as I would like it to be. The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 responded more precisely than I found it to be more comfortable in the long run, and the Acer keyboard didn't really come close to my favorites, HP's Specter keyboards and Apple's Magic keyboard on the latest MacBooks.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 keyboard "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1041-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 Trackpad "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1042-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://img.dtcn.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1043-640x640.jpg "srcset = "https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touchpad was larger than usual as the larger display offers additional space on the keyboard deck. As mentioned earlier, it consists of a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass with an antimicrobial coating. I found it very convenient to swipe Google's multitouch gestures and use them precisely. The touch display also responded, but unfortunately the laptop does not support an active pen.

Acer also didn't add biometric login to the Chromebook Spin 713, which is disappointing. A fingerprint reader would have been welcome.

Battery life

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 foldedMark Coppock / Digital Trends

Acer packed 48 watt hours of battery life into the case of the Chromebook Spin 713, and that's a decent amount for the light and efficient Chrome OS. For example, the Chromebook Spin 713 lasted 11.25 hours in our web browser test, which is almost two hours longer than the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2. At the same time, the Samsung spent almost 13 hours going through our Full HD Avengers trailer for almost three hours longer than the Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Samsung's QLED display likely contributed to this as it tends to be less power hungry than IPS displays.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 lasted about 10.5 hours in our web browser test and the same time as the Samsung in our video loop test.

Given that the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 uses a faster CPU than any of these competitors and has a tall, high-resolution display, these are good battery results that promise a full day of work. I would describe the battery life as the strength of the Chromebook Spin 713.

Our opinion

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 fits nicely into the premium Chromebook space, offering good performance and battery life, as well as decent build for a reasonable $ 630. It's not the sharpest laptop, but its conservative looks obviously appeal to a number of buyers.

I would have liked an active pen option for the laptop, but that's only a deal breaker for those who rely on digital ink. Otherwise, this is a great option for anyone looking for a quickly convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook.

Are there alternatives?

A natural competitor to the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 offers the same 2-in-1 flexibility and sharper look. But it's not that fast, it doesn't have the same ability to boost performance when you need it, and it's stuck in the past with its 16: 9 aspect ratio. However, it's a little cheaper.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 is another strong competitor to the Acer and offers a convertible 2-in-1 device with a 14-inch 16: 9 display. It's also slower than the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, but also a little cheaper.

If you don't want to turn the display over, Google's Pixelbook Go is your best option. You get better battery life, improved audio quality, and a smaller body – all for about the same price. There's a reason we picked the Pixebook Go as the best all-round Chromebook.

How long it will take?

The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 isn't quite as sturdy in the hand as some of the other Chromebooks we tested, but Acer trusted it enough to put it through some grueling tests. It will take as long as you need it, and Chrome OS will continue to hum for years to come. The laptop comes with the usual one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a solid premium Chromebook offering that has a few advantages over the competition, including fast performance.

Editor's recommendations




01 Mar
Blog

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Review: A Step Backward

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review 1

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 review: one step forward, two steps back

  • QLED screen is gorgeous

  • Rock solid design

  • Responsive, quiet keyboard

  • Fast performance

  • Thick lower bezel

  • Sloppy touchpad

Every year we expect the technology to be faster and better than last year. Samsung did the opposite with the Galaxy Chromebook 2.

It has a lower resolution screen, is thicker and heavier, and doesn't have a built-in S-Pen slot. It even uses a slower processor. What kind of sequel is that?

Well, the Galaxy Chromebook 2's name might be a misnomer, but the device is a Chromebook sweet spot in terms of its $ 550 price point. It's a far more palatable price than the $ 999 original Galaxy Chromebook. But did Samsung sacrifice what made this laptop so special to bring the price down?

design

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook had two distinctive features: the insane thinness of its profile and the bold red color of the case. The color remains, although there is now a more general silver option as well.

Unfortunately, its size has grown. The original was a staggering 0.39 inches thick – and only 2.29 pounds. It's still one of the lightest laptops you can buy. The continuation is much more conventionally 2.71 pounds and 0.55 inches thick. It's by no means too big, but now a bit thicker and heavier than the Pixelbook Go. This also corresponds to the Asus Chromebook Flip C436, another premium Chromebook.

That's not to say that this is the least bit bad-looking laptop. The Fiesta Red color is more fun than ever and the build quality is exceptional. I miss the CNC cut side panels, but it's still one of the nicest Chromebooks you can buy. That is, before I got my fingerprints on the lid. It's a bit like a fingerprint magnet.

Overall, however, I prefer the sharper angles and edges over the overly rounded style of the Pixelbook Go.

One feature of the design that hasn't changed is the lower bezel. However, over the past year we've seen a shift towards bigger screens with slimmer chins, whether that's 16:10 or 3-2. Even Chromebooks like this Acer Chromebook Spin 713 I switched to the boxy aspect ratio of 3: 2, which I preferred to the squat 16: 9.

Either way, the bottom bezel is a thorn in the side, although that's also an issue that the Pixelbook Go and Acer Chromebook Spin 713 have. Only the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 managed to remove enough grease from the lower bezel to meet modern laptop standards.

The port selection hasn't changed and is still limited to just two USB-C ports and a microSD card slot. You will also find an on / off switch and a volume rocker on the sides.

This is of course because the Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a 360-degree hinge. The larger size and lack of a built-in pen limit the usability of the device as a tablet. However, this is unlikely to be why you are buying a Chromebook.

Keyboard and touchpad

The color of the keycaps is the most notable change to the keyboard. They're black now, which is a little more conventional. And also a little more boring.

It's still a wonderful keyboard for typing, as long as you can familiarize yourself with the shallow travel. The buttons click while remaining quiet, and I was happily typing at my normal speed in just a few minutes.

The touchpad isn't such a nice experience. It's spacious, but the surface isn't as smooth as I'd like it to be, resulting in awkward clicks and pulls and finger jumps.

Display and speakers

The original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook had an OLED 4K screen. This is practically unknown for a Chromebook. As great as it was, the impact on battery life wasn't worth the extra pixels. The 1080p QLED screen Samsung worked with here is a much better choice. Samsung's patented QLED screen technology has shown excellent results on laptops such as the Galaxy Book Flex.

It's not as bright as a MacBook Pro or Surface Pro 7, but the Galaxy Chromebook 2's 13.3-inch screen makes up for it in colors. Pictures and videos are really colorful without ever looking oversaturated. You can thank quantum dot technology for this kind of color rendering that is rarely found outside of 4K panels.

All of this would result in a great multimedia experience – if these speakers sounded better. They point down at your face instead of up, with the grills resting flat against the bottom of the case. Most down-facing speakers are least built into the raised edges to bounce sound off tables and desks. But these are flat, which results in them being both muffled and too quiet. If you have them on a pillow or soft surface, they can become almost silent.

I'm assuming you want them to point at you in tent mode, but that's not a worthwhile compromise.

The sound from the speakers would be decent if they weren't where they are. Pity! The Pixelbook Go is still the undaunted winner in audio.

performance

Measuring performance on a Chromebook is difficult. Any Intel Core or AMD Ryzen processor will make a laptop like this fly. This applied to the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 with the Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. This is the more expensive configuration that costs $ 699. The startup configuration operated by Celeron is not the desired one, especially since it only contains 64 GB of eMMC storage.

You can't configure the Pixelbook Go in exactly the same way, but memory aside, the Pixelbook Go is $ 50 cheaper. I call it an impairment.

Both use a dual-core processor – the Pixelbook Go with the 8th generation Core m3 and the Galaxy Chromebook 2 with the 10th generation Core i3. There are also not the latest chips that can be viewed in a Chromebook. At the CES, Intel announced 11th generation processors for Chromebooks that have an improved 10 nm architecture and integrated graphics from Intel Iris Xe.

By the time they make it into the first Chromebooks, you can expect a more significant leap in gaming performance and creative endeavors. The meager built-in Intel UHD graphics are barely enough to play some of the more intense 3D Android games like Asphalt 9: Legends.

Do you want to work with dozens of tabs open at the same time? No problem.

Despite only two cores and four threads, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 feels snappy and responsive. I tested this further with the Tachometer 2.0, which measures how quickly the system can reload a JavaScript application. With a score of 118 runs per minute, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 doesn't slow down any of the web apps or Android apps that you depend on.

Want to work with dozens of tabs open, including audio and video streams at the same time? No problem. This likely doesn't apply to the Intel Celeron model, which lacks the ability to multitask. I ran the Galaxy Chromebook 2 on the Android version of Geekbench 5, which rated the system at 1,003 in single-core and 2,179 in multi-core mode. The quad-core options on the Pixelbook Go or the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 will surpass it, but it does well against configurations with similarly priced items.

Battery life

Battery life is arguably the most important test for Chromebooks. This is often one of their greatest strengths over similarly priced Windows notebooks. This was a problem with the original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook and wasn't fully resolved in the second generation.

Samsung promises a battery life of 13 hours, which is not too ambitious at first. The M1 MacBook Pro promises 17 hours of Internet surfing and 20 hours of video playback.

The battery life is 45 watts, which is slightly longer than last year. But the results didn't blow me away. It took just under 9.5 hours of light web browsing and only 13 hours of local video playback. It was a couple of hours behind the Pixelbook Go. It was neck to neck with the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 in video loop, but surfing the Internet an hour later.

Even so, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 will last most of a work day, and ultimately this will be enough for most people.

Our opinion

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is no better laptop than its predecessor. It's a better Chromebook, however. It fits exactly what people are looking for in a Chromebook and is finally affordable enough to recommend.

However, missing some of the special features of the original, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is less interesting than it used to be. However, the QLED screen is outstanding, the performance is great, and the design is undeniably attractive.

Are there alternatives?

Google's Pixelbook Go is the main alternative to the Galaxy Chromebook 2. It has longer battery life, a 1080p webcam, better speakers, and is more portable. This is the better option for most users and is even $ 50 less with a similar configuration.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 now starts at $ 523 and has a larger 14-inch screen, smaller bezels, and a better choice of ports.

How long it will take?

Nowadays, you can expect a Chromebook to last a few years longer than a Mac or Windows laptop. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 comes with a standard one-year warranty.

Should you buy it?

Yes, especially if you love the design and color of this laptop. I could see someone pick up the $ 550 base configuration as a lightweight computer for browsing the web and the occasional Zoom call. The Pixelbook Go has better battery life and some high-end features, but the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is one of the better Chromebooks that hit the market last year.

Editor's recommendations




25 Feb
Blog

Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review: Chrome at Work

Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company

ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook (13 inch) 2-in-1 laptop

“The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook fits well into the company and offers a high level of security and manageability. But consumers should look elsewhere. "

  • Solid build quality

  • Good full HD display

  • Comfortable keyboard, touchpad and pen

  • The performance is strong

  • Mediocre battery life

  • Expensive

Chromebooks have made a name for themselves in the education world. In business? There is still a lot to be done.

Part of the problem is the lack of high-end options for those who want something with a premium finish. Bringing the popular ThinkPad brand to Chromebooks should do the trick, especially if you add a powerful AMD Ryzen processor to the mix.

This is the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise, a long winded name for a laptop that emphasizes security and performance for high-end users.

My test device was equipped with the new Chromebook-specific AMD Ryzen 5 3500C CPU, 8 GB RAM, a 256 GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD) and a Full HD IPS anti-glare display (1,920 x 1,080). There were also a few add-ons, including a hybrid active capacitive pen and a 5MB camera with a view of the world, at a post-coupon price of $ 859 ($ 1,321 as configured).

Does the extra security and specialized AMD processor give the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook a head start?

design

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook follows the same general aesthetic pattern as the rest of the ThinkPad lineup. It's completely black with only a few embellishments (although the black isn't quite as deep and looks grayer) like the blinking LED "i" in the ThinkPad logo on the lid and the red accent on the keyboard provided by the TrackPoint nubbin .

Interestingly, Lenovo skipped the red stripes along the TrackPoint buttons, which made the keyboard deck a bit simpler than usual. The chassis lines are also a bit more complex than the ThinkPad X1 Nano, for example, with rounded backs on the lower case and lid and a more forward-facing design.

A Chromebook looks good, and I find it more noticeable than the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise, which is a pretty direct competitor – though the Latitude is a clamshell while the ThinkPad is a convertible 2-in-1.

Like all ThinkPads, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook made of aluminum has a robust construction. The lid, keyboard deck or lower case must not be twisted, bent or bent, and the 2-in-1 device provides a high level of safety when lugging around. You don't need to spoil this laptop.

The bezels make the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook bigger than it needs to be.

It's easily the equivalent of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook. In fact, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is as well built as its Windows 10 competitors including the HP Specter x360 13 and Dell XPS 13. I notice that the hinge is pretty stiff and requires both hands to open the lid. However, the display is held in place by the four modes of clamshell, tent, media and tablet.

One area where the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook falls behind is the frames. They are thin on the sides but quite large on the top and bottom and have quite a massive chin. Part of the chin size is for the 2-in-1 hinge, but overall it looks a lot less modern than the ThinkPad X1 Nano and Dell XPS 13.

The Latitude 7410 Chromebook falls somewhere in between. The bezels make the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook bigger than it needs to be. It's bigger than the ThinkPad X1 Nano, though that's no big surprise given the laptop's smaller 13-inch 16:10 display, and it's much larger than the Dell XPS 13 with a 13.4-inch 16: 10 display.

Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1015-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

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At 0.70 inches thick, it's also a bit chunky compared to the XPS 13's 0.58-inch and the Specter x360 13's 0.67-inch. The XPS 13 and Specter x360 13 weigh 2.8 pounds, compared to the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook at 3.3 pounds. The Latitude 7410 Chromebook is 0.67 inches thick despite its 14-inch display and weighs almost the same as the Lenovo at 3.36 pounds.

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook includes a few features that are of interest to corporate customers. First, there are some security features like the ThinkShutter slider that covers the webcam if you want to protect your privacy and a fingerprint scanner that provides a secure (and in my experience fast and reliable) way to log in without a password.

The Google H1 security chip works with Chrome OS to prevent software and firmware version resets, log transitions between developer and normal mode, protect user encryption keys and much more. These functions could of course also be attractive to consumers.

The 2-in-1 system can also host Google Enterprise, which offers a variety of resources for securing and managing a fleet of Chromebooks. Google Enterprise features include a managed Google Play Store that allows organizations to control which apps users can install, Microsoft Active Directory integration, managed Chrome browsers and extensions, single sign-on, and more. Google Enterprise is free to configure for the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, but comes with an annual fee of $ 50.

Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1009-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

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Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1024-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook offers solid connectivity. On the left side of the laptop there is a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. On the right side there is another USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port and a full-size HDMI 2.0 port. Wireless connectivity is cutting edge with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Finally, my test unit came with an optional ($ 20) second camera on top of the keyboard deck, a 5-megapixel model that can be used as a camera with a view of the world in tablet mode. Selecting this option will reduce the number of microphones to just one from the dual microphones that are not equipped with the 5 megapixel camera add-on.

performance

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

For the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, in this case the Ryzen 5 3500C, Lenovo opted for the latest Ryzen CPU from AMD, which is directly geared towards Chrome OS. This is the midrange CPU between Ryzen 5 3250c and Ryzen 5 3700C. The CPU is a quad-core CPU with eight threads that run up to 3.7 GHz. It is actually an APU with integrated AMD Radeon graphics with eight graphics cores.

According to AMD, the Ryzen 5 3000C series offers double to triple the performance of the previous AMD Chrome OS offering, the Athlon A6 series.

The only benchmark in our suite that we can run on Chromebooks is Geekbench 5, and the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook scored 907 in the single-core test and 2,739 in the multi-core test. This is very close to the 1,025 single-core and 2,712 multi-core rates achieved by the 10th generation Intel Core i5-10310U of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook.

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook was very fast in everyday use.

That's also roughly half the performance you'll find on most Windows 10 laptops with core processors, but Chrome OS is of course far lighter than Windows 10 and doesn't require anywhere near the processing power to get a good experience.

Probably thanks to the generous 8 GB of RAM (for Chrome OS) and the fast PCIe SSD, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook was very fast in daily use. I was able to open some tabs and Chrome OS apps while running some Android apps in the background without any noticeable slowdown. As with the Latitude, fans have occasionally dabbled with the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, but that's not too high a price for great performance.

I also played a few games on the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook, including the Asphalt 9, and found the performance a little underperforming. Asphalt 9 in particular was surprisingly choppy. You will be fine with the occasional Android game, but GPU-intensive titles seem to put a little strain on the APU beyond its capabilities.

display

I couldn't test the 13.3-inch Full HD IPS display on the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook with my colorimeter. Below are my subjective results. Lenovo rates my review unit's display at 300 nits of brightness, and I would guess it comes close to that number.

It's a glare-free screen too, so working in bright environments wasn't a problem for me – although I didn't bring it outside, where direct sunlight would likely turn out to be too much for the display. Lenovo also offers a 4K display along with higher specs (16GB of RAM and a Ryzen 5 3700C CPU) for about $ 100 more.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

The colors looked well balanced without being oversaturated, and they seemed accurate enough. I compared some images to some other color accurate displays (e.g. the Dell XPS 13) and they looked similar on the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook. I would rate colors as good for a premium laptop, but I can't quite say exactly how wide the color gamut is and if it's suitable for creative types. The gamma also seemed spot on, as the Netflix video didn't look too light or too dark.

The two speakers weren't something to write home about. The sound was just average, with medium volume but no distortion. Highs and mids were clear, but there is no bass to speak of. The audio works well for video conferencing and the occasional YouTube video. However, for Netflix binging or tones, I use headphones or a bluetooth speaker.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard of the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook corresponds exactly to that of the ThinkPad X1 Nano. This means that it has the same ThinkPad keycaps, the same spacing and the same spring travel and is even splash-proof thanks to the liquid drainage channels on the bottom of the case.

However, when I used the two keyboards side by side, I noticed a small difference in the mechanisms. The version of the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook was a little less fluid and had a slightly harder base than that of the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

Lenovo Thinkpad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review Company "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/olympus-digital-camera-1012-640x640. jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

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Maybe these are the same keyboards and all I saw was a normal manufacturing variance, but I found the Chromebook version to be a little less accurate. It's a good keyboard, don't get me wrong, and better than the one on Dell's Latitude 7410 Chromebook but not as good as the one I enjoyed on the ThinkPad X1 Nano.

It's also a step below the HP Specter line of keyboards and the Dell XPS 13, but a step above most (much cheaper) Chromebooks.

The touchpad is smaller than it could be as the two buttons support the usual ThinkPad TrackPoint node in the middle of the keyboard. The surface of the touchpad was comfortable and all the usual Chrome OS multitouch gestures worked well.

The TrackPoint worked just as well as it did on other ThinkPads and provided another way to control the cursor for those who like things like that.

Lenovo C13 Yoga Chromebook EnterpriseMark Coppock / Digital Trends

The touch display was responsive and precise. Lenovo includes a docked hybrid "active capacitive" pen that does not require an active layer, making the display thinner and less complex.

The pen supports 2,048 levels of pressure sensitivity, and I found it to be good for scribbling and the occasional handwritten note. Chrome OS doesn't offer the same color support as Windows 10, but whatever support works there works just fine with the optional pen (a $ 44 add-on).

Battery life

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Lenovo packed 51 Wh of battery life into the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook's case, and that's a decent amount for a 13.3-inch Full HD device. We don't have any other experiences with the AMD Ryzen 5 3500C, so I was excited to see how long the 2-in-1 battery would last.

In our web browser test, which ran through a number of popular websites, the laptop lasted 7.25 hours, which is about 40 minutes less than the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook and Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 with an Intel Core i3-10110U.

As the best measure of laptop productivity longevity, this promises to be almost a full working day, but not quite. It's significantly less than many newer Windows 10 laptops that will last a few hours.

Many Chromebooks have significantly longer battery life.

In our video test, which ran through a Full HD Avengers trailer, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook lasted about 7.5 hours. That's two hours longer than the Latitude 7410 Chromebook, but not very competitive with the Windows 10 field, where 10 hours or longer is the norm.

Finally, I ran the 2-in-1 test through our most demanding test, the Basemark web benchmark (which for some reason doesn't run on Intel Tiger Lake laptops) and it took almost exactly three hours. This is an average score, but again 40 minutes less than the Latitude 7410 Chromebook.

Overall, I found the battery life to be a disappointment. Many Chromebooks last much longer thanks to the overall efficiency of Chrome OS. Either the AMD CPU is not very energy efficient, or Lenovo has tuned it more to performance than battery life. In any case, you want to have your power supply with you for longer working days.

Our opinion

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook has a target group and for this target group its strengths. However, it's not the best performing Chromebook we've used, nor is it the most durable on a single charge of the battery. It's as well built as ThinkPads always and takes on the Latitude 7410 Chromebook – the other enterprise Chromebook we tested – with the added flexibility of a convertible 2-in-1 device.

However, being Google Think-enabled is the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook's only real claim to fame. That explains the relatively high price, which is well above what a typical Chromebook buyer should pay.

Are there alternatives?

We've mentioned the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook a few times, and it's a comparable computer that isn't a clamshell. It's also significantly more expensive, costing $ 1,900 for a computer with a Core i5, 16GB of RAM, 256GB SSD, and a 4K display.

You can also consider the HP Pro c645 Chromebook Enterprise if it ever releases. The Acer Chromebook Enterprise Flip 13 is available now, offering the same Google Enterprise features in a 2-in-1 format for $ 1,300 – though you only get one 8th Gen Core i7 CPU. You will likely appreciate the 2,256 x 1,504 3: 2 display.

If you don't need the business features, then chances are you'll be looking at the Google Pixelbook Go, our pick as the best Chromebook you can buy. It's cheaper too, but it's also only for consumer use. As such, corporate buyers should consider one of the other machines on this list of alternatives.

How long it will take?

The ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook is built to last for years, and its components should keep Chrome OS running for just as long.

However, the one-year warranty is disappointing for an enterprise-class laptop.

Should you buy it?

For the average Chromebook buyer, no. It's a decent option for the corporate Chromebook user, but there are better Chromebooks out there for the average person.

Editor's recommendations




15 Oct
Blog

The Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise Review

Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise Review p1012395

Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise

"The Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise is for businesses who need precise, careful management of their laptops and are willing to pay for them."

  • Robust design

  • Excellent performance from Chrome OS

  • Good keyboard and touchpad

  • Superior 4K display

  • Extremely expensive

  • Many functions are only of interest to large companies

  • 4K shortens the battery life

The Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise is not your typical Chromebook. For my test device, it costs $ 1,900. It contains an Intel Core i5-10310U processor, 16 GB of RAM, a 256 GB PCIe solid-state drive and a 14-inch 4K display (3840 x 2160).

This is a hugely expensive Chromebook, and I have to wonder what justifies the high price. The answer? With this laptop, Dell is targeting large businesses that need to manage their laptops – including their Chromebooks – with a level of control that the average consumer would never even consider.

Is the Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise offering right value for its enterprise customers?

design

Dell advertises the longevity of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook. It touts a wide variety of military certifications as one of its selling points. The laptop mostly lives up to its bill. The lid is robust, without bending, the underside of the aluminum housing withstands pressure and there is only the slightest keyboard flex.

My test device with a 4K display and additional battery (more on that later) was 0.66 inches thick and, at 0.67 inches, a bit thinner than the Acer Chromebook 13 (another powerful Chromebook). The Dell weighs 3.36 pounds for the aluminum version, which is a bit much for a 14-inch laptop, but then the Acer Chromebook 13 is almost exactly 3.5 pounds. You have to look at something like the 13.3-inch (0.5-inch and 2.3-pound) Google Pixelbook Go if you want a thin, light Chromebook.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

It's a nondescript laptop with a dark silver or gray case – and a complete lack of gloss. The display bezels are not huge on the sides, but rather bulky at the top and bottom. It won't attract any attention in a boardroom or coffee shop.

The connectivity of a Chromebook is strong. On the left, you'll find two USB-C ports that support power and display, plus a full-size HDMI port and microSD card reader. On the right side you will find two USB-A 3.2 ports, a Kensington lock slot and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 provide wireless connectivity as well as an optional Intel XMM 7360 Global LTE advance chip (which was not included in my test device). You won't find many Chromebooks with this level of connectivity. This is a check box for Dell.

performance

My test device was equipped with the Intel Core i5-10310U Comet Lake CPU with quad-core of the 10th generation, a very fast processor for Chrome OS. The only common benchmark we can run from our suite (due to operating system compatibility issues) is Geekbench 5. There, the Latitude 7410 Chromebook scored 1,025 in the single-core test and 2,712 points in the multi-core test with the Android app . We recently tested the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 for $ 410 with a Core i3-10110U that scored 975 and 1,659, respectively. So the Core i5 definitely speeds things up.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

In practice, there was little I could do to slow down the Latitude 7410 Chromebook. With 16GB of RAM and a fast PCIe SSD for the overkill processor, I could easily open as many tabs as I wanted. The same was true for opening a handful of Android apps in the background. If you need a Chromebook that won't slow you down, the Latitude 7410 Chromebook will do the job.

I've played a few games like Asphalt 9, and the Chromebook has kept up with those too. There's no touch screen, so a lot of games aren't much fun. But for those who can get by with keyboard controls, you'll enjoy the experience.

display

Perhaps the most consumer-friendly feature of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook is the optional 4K IPS display, which Dell says will be the first with blue light protection to ship on a Chromebook. The display makes everything razor-sharp, aided by how easy Chrome OS makes it to scale the display to the apparent resolution you want. They can create screen elements just the right size for you while still maintaining incredible clarity which I really like.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

I couldn't put the display to my colorimeter – again, since our usual testing software doesn't run on ChromeOS – but my eyes told me it was bright, with natural colors and lots of contrast. It was a pleasure to work on and the videos and pictures looked great.

The 4K display is also equipped with a large 68 watt hour battery (versus 52 watt hour) to take into account the additional power consumption. However, it is also possible to configure the Full HD model with this larger battery. I would withhold this display from any Chromebook out there, including the excellent displays on the Acer Chromebook 13 and the Google Pixelbook Go.

The audio was average, with enough volume to watch YouTube for itself and, if necessary, surprise Netflix. The mids and highs weren't the clearest I've ever heard and there wasn't any bass, but the sound system is good enough for typical use. Include headphones or external speakers if you want to enjoy your music or really immerse yourself in an action movie.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard of the Latitude 7410 Chromebook is the typical island style with a lot of travel and a relatively stiff key feel. There is a very pronounced ground action that will let you know that you pressed a button. If you don't prefer a lighter touch, this keyboard will suit you.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

I found the keycaps a little small and the gap felt tight. I like the HP Specter line of keyboards better, and of course the new Magic keyboard on the MacBook is the best there is. However, most touch typists can run at full speed with the Latitude 7401 Chromebooks. The keyboard has the usual five levels of brightness from Chrome OS, which is always a nice bonus.

The touchpad is average in size, but it's covered with plastic, not glass. Still, it's convenient to swipe and use multitouch gestures with Chrome OS. I didn't have any problems with it during my tests. The display is non-contact so you only have to use the touchpad to stay in control.

Battery life

My Latitude 7410 Chromebook tester contains 68 watt hours of battery. That should be enough for a Chromebook, but think of the power-hungry 4K display.

In our demanding Basemark web benchmark test, the Latitude 7410 Chromebook lasted about 3.75 hours, which is an average score given the respectable Intel processor in this laptop. The Acer Chromebook 13, for example, lasted about 20 minutes less.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

Our web browsing test, which scrolls through a series of busy web pages and best reflects typical productivity, lasted nearly nine hours on the Latitude 7410 Chromebook. Compared to Chromebooks with low-power CPUs and Full HD displays, this would be a poor score, but reasonable for a computer with a fast processor and a 4K screen. The Acer Chromebook 13 uses a QHD + (2256 x 1504) 3: 2 display and it took about 10 minutes less.

In our video rundown test, which ran through a Full HD Avengers trailer, the Latitude 7410 Chromebook got a little off the rails. It only lasted a little under five and a half hours, which isn't particularly impressive even with the 4K screen. The Acer Chromebook 13 lasted almost four hours longer.

When Dell says that the Latitude 7410 Chromebook is the 10th generation's longest-lasting Chromebook, then of course it's not about my test configuration. If you want to guarantee all day battery life, you should opt for the Full HD display but keep the larger optional battery.

Corporate functions

The Latitude 7410 Chromebook justifies its high price point with features that are aimed directly at large companies that need to fully manage their laptops.

The first of these features is Chrome Enterprise, a confusingly named reference to a Chrome OS version that adds a variety of business-oriented controls and plug-ins that improve security and remote administration. These include a managed Google Play Store that allows companies to specify which apps are installed, manage the Chrome browser and installed extensions, Microsoft Active Directory integration, single sign-on and much more. There is also around the clock business support that goes beyond what the typical consumer will experience.

Mark Coppock / Digital Trends

There is an annual fee of $ 50 for these features, which is not included in the price of the laptop. Every company that chooses the Latitude 7410 Chromebook needs to factor that cost into their equations.

Another feature that is unusual for a Chromebook and offers added value is the optional LTE card already mentioned, which enables an always connected Internet. This was not included in our verification unit so you pay even more for the privilege.

Finally, the laptop has a sliding privacy screen that covers the webcam for added security. This is usually not the case in Chromebooks, although I imagine it won't be long before it becomes a standard feature in the Windows 10 world.

Of course, none of these features (except perhaps the privacy lock) are of interest to consumers. In this review, I asked myself if a very expensive Chromebook has its place, and it does – in large companies.

Our opinion

You really need the business features of the Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook Enterprise to justify the purchase price. It's a well-built, if somewhat bland-looking Chromebook with more than enough performance to meet the needs of Chrome OS. It offers things like a privacy lock and optional LTE that make it a more private and easy-to-use laptop. An additional $ 50 per year must be considered to unlock Chrome Enterprise features. However, if you are in your budget for $ 1,900, you shouldn't have a problem getting approval for the extra charge.

However, this is nothing close to a consumer Chromebook. If you are not a corporate employee making a calculated investment decision, you should steer clearly.

Are there alternatives?

If you want a fast Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook 13 is a great choice, though it still uses 8th generation CPUs. It's also less than half the price and doesn't include any corporate features. Hence, it is more of a consumer option.

The Google Pixelbook Go is another great Chromebook option that is far cheaper but is also just for consumer use. Corporate buyers will want to look elsewhere.

If you need an enterprise laptop, then you can consider the HP Pro c645 Chromebook Enterprise. It's not out yet, but it looks like it will bring businesses the same Chrome Enterprise benefits and a similarly robust design. If you can't wait, the Acer Chromebook Enterprise Flip 13 offers the same business management in a 2-in-1 format for $ 1,300, though you'll get stuck with an 8th Gen Core i7 CPU. The 2,256 x 1,504 3: 2 display would be a nice feature, however.

How long it will take?

The Dell Latitude 7410 Chromebook will keep Chrome OS running for years and is durable enough. A three-year on-site / in-home warranty is included in the Chromebook price, which goes far beyond the previous one-year mail-in warranty.

Should you buy it?

If you are a consumer, no. The price is insane and you can get a Chromebook that just as quickly has the features you need for a fraction of the price. If you're a large company that needs a rugged laptop with great connectivity and Chrome Enterprise on board, this might fit into your budget.

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