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



Nikon Z 5 Review: Full-Frame but Too Slow

nikon z 5 review 7529

"The Nikon Z 5 would be a great entry-level full frame camera if it weren't for the unreliable auto focus in low light and slow burst speed."

  • Good picture quality

  • Compact

  • Affordable

  • Dual SD slots

  • Slow autofocus in low light

  • Inconsistent autofocus in mixed / low light

  • Slow burst mode at 4.5 fps

While the race for mirrorless full images develops from sprinting speed to marathon, camera setups are becoming more and more diverse – and cheaper. The Nikon Z 5 is currently the company's cheapest full-frame camera on the market and less expensive than the aging DSLR D610. The Nikon Z 5 with a kit lens costs $ 1,400 or $ 1,700 and combines size, ergonomics, stabilization, and even most of the image quality of the company's more expensive Z 6. In fact, the Z 5 even offers an upgrade that the Z 6 and Z 7 don't offer – two SD card slots.

However, the entry-level designation introduces some important cutting features of the more expensive models. The speed is reduced significantly, 4K videos can only be recorded with one trim and the design is not quite as robust. The question is, does the Nikon Z 5 offer enough to save $ 1,400? Called a camera for “more than just photographers”, who is the Z 5 best suited for?

I spent almost two weeks trying the Z 5 to see where the entry-level full screen mode stands. During this time, the Nikon Z 5 has proven to be a good full-frame camera for beginners in my opinion, which is unfortunately held back by below-average autofocus in poor lighting conditions and slow burst speeds.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Simple design

While the design of the Z 6 is almost the same as the Z 7, the Z 5 deviates a little more from this family line in good and bad ways. On the positive side, the Z 5 offers two UHS-II SD card slots. This is ideal either to create backups in the camera so that a card failure doesn't mean a catastrophe, or to create an overflow for fewer card swaps. The Z 5 also doesn't use XQD cards, a good move for an entry-level camera considering the card type is available in three digits at retail outlets, much compared to the Affordability SD which was a lot of high capacity cards for only $ 20.

Despite the addition of an additional card slot, the Z5 is only an inch wider than the Z 6 and Z 7 and doesn't add any weight. At less than a pound and a half, the camera is light enough for all-day shooting. (I can't say that for the rough texture of the included neck strap, though.) Combined with the kit lens, the Z 5 didn't cause any major pain during a two mile hike.

The Z 5 uses a magnesium alloy frame, but combines it with a plastic housing that feels like an entry-level Nikon DSLR. The body is weatherproof, but not as sturdy as the Z 6 and Z 7. So I would still have an inexpensive rain poncho in my pocket for more than a drizzle.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

The camera's control scheme is a nice mix of access to controls and not overwhelming novice users. There is no additional LCD screen on top of the camera. I contend that an upward-facing LCD isn't particularly uncommon for mirrorless screens, but its absence here departs from Nikon's design choices in its entry-level full-screen DSLR, the D610, which kept the screen intact.

The camera's control scheme is a nice mix of access to controls and not overwhelming novice users.

Instead, the mode dial at the top is within easy reach of the shutter button, dual control dials, and keyboard shortcuts for recording videos, adjusting ISO, and tweaking exposure compensation. With practice, all of these controls can be accessed without pulling the camera away from your face, although it's difficult to blindly distinguish between the ISO and Exposure Compensation buttons, as opposed to the easily recognizable raised record button.

Although the Z 5 is an entry point into the full-screen category, it retains my favorite camera control: the joystick. This is a quick and ergonomic way to adjust the autofocus point. However, toggling between autofocus modes, as well as a number of other controls that Nikon's DSLRs leave plenty of room for, requires switching to the quick menu or assigning them to the two custom buttons on the front. Most beginners don't mind, however, as controlling the camera is less daunting. Shortcuts to customize burst mode and a focus option for the back button, as well as playback, menu, and display options take up a remainder of the camera's rear controls.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Even for the low price, the connections were not removed – in contrast to the two SD card slots, the Z 5 still has connections for microphone, headphones, HDMI, USB and a cable release. As with many full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Z 5 lacks a pop-up flash.

The lower price tag doesn't fare terribly on the Z 5's viewfinder either. The electronic viewfinder shows enough details with 3.69 million points and is denser than the new Panasonic Lumix S5. The important thing is that the Z 5 shows a fairly accurate representation of your shot, unlike some budget cameras I've tried that don't give an accurate preview of the exposure or color balance. The 3.2-inch touchscreen is tilted for wide-angle shots, but doesn't fold forward for vlogging or selfies.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

Stuttering performance

Budget cameras are known to be slow, and the Z 5 is no exception. Despite the same processor as the 12 fps Z 6, the Z 5 offers less than half this speed. Some might argue that the Z 5 uses SD cards instead of the faster but more expensive XQD cards, but the transfer rates we're looking at here are well below the SD speed threshold. Curious.

With a maximum burst speed of 4.5 frames per second, I'm not even sure why there is both a low and high speed option as even high speed is pretty slow. Thankfully, the shutter speed is still a maximum of 1 / 8,000 (entry-level cameras used to be regularly limited to 1/4000), which is useful for bright situations.

The top speed of the Z 5 of 4.5 fps is switched off for about 21 pictures with RAW + JPEG. The official number of buffers on the back of the camera is 16, but the pace is slow enough for the camera to write some of these shots while it takes the rest. In JPEG mode, it will take a few more shots with the camera recording for more than 20 seconds before stopping.

However, what is a little more difficult to determine from a quick look at the camera's specifications is the auto focus. With a 273 point hybrid system, the Z 5's system looks almost identical to the Z 6's until you dig a little deeper into the details. And if you dig far enough, you'll find the camera's biggest flaw: an autofocus detection range of only -2 EV, or -3 when using autofocus in low-light camera's conditions. However, Nikon rated AF with a f / 2 lens in low light, so the kit lens and many other lenses available for the system don't work as well as what Nikon claims, a claim that is already not great. It's not outright lying, but it's misleading.

The autofocus of the Z 5 in limited light is consistently poor.

This is why the Z 5's autofocus struggled indoors. Even in a room with windows on three walls, the Z 5 was slow to focus. In low light, the camera often took two to five seconds to get involved in the subject and occasionally did not find the subject at all. While this is not a problem for still images, capturing motion in limited light with such a delay becomes problematic. However, the camera automatically activates the autofocus mode in poor lighting conditions – a plus when you consider that the mode must be activated in the menu for the original Z 6 and Z 7. Low-light autofocus is more accurate and allows you to focus in difficult scenarios, but it is slow.

Because of the way the autofocus system works, the camera can also find it difficult to focus on dark objects. As with any contrast detection system, however, this should be mitigated by the phase detection points of a hybrid system. The Z 5 made it much easier to focus on subjects with a lot of contrast, such as B. Lights or a bright object on a dark background, but it shouldn't be as hard as it is on dark objects. It's a hybrid autofocus system that only acts as a contrast agent in some cases, and that's disappointing.

Low-light autofocus was a complaint on the Z 6 and even the Z 7 with a tendency to get hit or miss, but the Z 5's autofocus in limited light is consistently poor. In comparison, the Z 6 is rated in such a way that it reaches -6 EV in poor lighting conditions, whereas the Z 5 is only -3.5.

Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

What makes autofocus really disappointing in low light is that the Z 5 would otherwise be an excellent camera in the dark. The five-axis stabilization in the body is solid. If I did everything in my power to help the camera stay close to a tripod – holding my breath and supporting the camera with my elbows – I could get close to one with the kit lens at 24mm Shoot down for half a second. This is an excellent system for the price of the camera, but the slow autofocus in low light makes it difficult to take pictures before the camera even has to go that low. Of course, stabilization isn't just for low light – stabilization comes in handy when you're working with telephoto lenses.

Continuous autofocus provides clear, slow-action photos most of the time, although roughly half of the shots where the subject came directly on the camera were soft. It is not intended for action, but in general use it will take some sharp shots, such as taking pictures of children or people moving at walking pace.

The focus system recognizes eyes pretty easily and quickly.

The Z 5's autofocus isn't bad, however. Eye AF worked well and even outperforms the more expensive Canon EOS R6 when it comes to focusing on the lashes when shooting from a high angle. The focus system recognizes eyes pretty easily and quickly. The system is not fast enough when doing sports, for example, but as already mentioned, the Z 5 is not an action camera. Pet Eye AF is included but I couldn't get it to work on my cat. (To be fair, I couldn't use the Canon version on my cat either.)

The Z 5 adds a new option for autofocus bracketing that automatically adjusts the focal length between shots in a series in order to later create a focus stack on a computer. The new function is easy to use for anyone who has previously worked with Nikon bracketing or time lapse. However, the recordings are activated by pressing Start in the menu. This means that you will see the menu in the viewfinder and not be able to perfect the composition before you hit start. It's a usability bug that we hope will be improved in later firmware updates.

Excellent pictures and videos

The Z 5 makes fewer sacrifices when it comes to image quality. With a 24.3 megapixel full-frame sensor, the Z 5 only has a slightly lower resolution than the more expensive Z 6. The larger sensor size makes it easier to create bokehs with the kit as well and offers a lot of flexibility in the post. The detail is good, and when it's perfectly focused, even the kit lens is pretty sharp.

ISO 12800 with noise reduction and harvest Hillary K. Grigonis / Digital Trends

A lower resolution is a good sign of ISO, and under perfect conditions I was able to bring out the noise of an ISO 12800 shot with little loss of detail. Photos are best kept under ISO 6400, which has noticeable color noise but can be easily corrected with software.

The color was what I would expect from a Nikon DSLR – broadly accurate, with the occasional tendency to skew the white balance a bit green for my tastes. Skin tones are rendered pretty well.

RAW files are also what I would expect from an entry-level full-screen Nikon DSLR. I was able to restore a good amount of detail and even texture from the shadows until I almost inverted a silhouette. As with almost any camera, it is harder to recreate blown highlights, and photographers should be best wrong on the too dark, not too bright side.

The Nikon Z 5 offers 4K video, but with a 1.7x crop and without all the frills of the Z 6 and Z 7, such as. B. N-Log. The 1.7x crop means both light loss and lenses aren't that great, but this isn't uncommon for an entry-level option. As with the pictures, colors and sharpness are consistently good, and the Z 5 searches less sharply than a Nikon DSLR while taking the picture.

Our opinion

The Nikon Z 5 is a good full-frame camera for entry-level users – but slow autofocus in low light, inconsistent accuracy in mixed lighting, and a sluggish burst mode prevent the camera from being a great full-screen option for entry-level users. The Nikon Z 5 is a great option for avid photographers, influencers, and other creative types who regularly take photos in good light.

Image quality and design are both superb, while slower performance is Nikon's clear differentiator when it comes to the extra $ 400 for the Z 6. If the Z 5 were $ 1,000 or even $ 1,200, this would be an easy recommendation. But at just $ 400 less than a significantly more powerful camera, it's a tough sell.

How long it will take?

Camera bodies typically last a few years, and the Z 5 is likely no exception. The weather seal and materials are not as high quality as the Z 6 and Z 7, but with the right care the camera housing should continue to serve you well in the future.

Is there a better alternative?

If you want a full-screen Nikon and you can't spend more than $ 1,400, no. Even the aging Nikon D610 only focuses on -1 EV and costs $ 200 more at list price. Waiting for an additional $ 400 for the Z 6, however, is a good idea for any photographer who regularly takes photos indoors or of moving subjects.

However, the full frame mirrorless market is crowded for photographers who have not yet invested in a lens system or are ready to make a switch. The Canon EOS RP has a better autofocus system thanks to the dual pixel technology and is designed for a focus of only -5 EV, but it lacks the stabilization in the body. Outside of these two models and older generations, it's hard to find another camera for $ 1,400. The Sony A7 III is a faster camera but costs $ 600 more. The very new Panasonic Lumix S5 offers better autofocus, advanced video modes, and faster bursts, but again is in the $ 2,000 range, not less than $ 1,500.

Moving to the Crop Sensor category fixes these performance issues, but it sacrifices the larger sensor. Nikon's own Z 50 is much faster with similar ergonomics and lens compatibility, but autofocus in low light is still not ideal. The Fujifilm X-T30 has a faster burst, more video capabilities and great autofocus, but it is not stabilized. The Sony a6600 offers fast burst and autofocus while maintaining stabilization, but it also has this smaller sensor.

Should you buy it?

Buy the Nikon Z 5 if you want a full-screen Nikon, take pictures outdoors in good light, and can't spend more than $ 1,400. However, if you're planning on taking a lot of shots in sub-ideal conditions, including low-light or fast-moving subjects, avoid the Z 5. Wait until you can save another $ 400 on the Z 6, or pull a crop sensor or the unstabilized EOS RP.

Editor's recommendations