Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review: The future of Chromebooks?

Value When Reviewed

$399.99

Finest Costs At this time: Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

Again within the day, Chromebooks had been nothing greater than low-powered machines that ran an online browser as your working system, an extension of Google Chrome if you’ll. They had been sturdy and largely virus-free, making them a well-liked alternative within the academic market. These days, they’re able to cloud gaming, which I by no means thought I’d see. Effectively, Google gave us whiplash as soon as once more with the brand new Chromebook Plus line of laptops. These units promise higher efficiency, 1080p webcams, AI-powered apps, and extra. That’s the place the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is available in. It’s an actual recreation changer so far as cloud-based machines go.

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 places rather a lot on the desk. The {hardware} is extra highly effective than your typical normal fare, the display is shiny, and the colour scheme is to die for.

It has all of the markers of an costly machine with out truly being one. In truth, it has a beginning value of $399.99, making it extra accessible to individuals with various budgets. Not everyone (hello) can shell out a thousand {dollars} for an on a regular basis laptop computer that each performs properly and appears good. Learn on to be taught extra.

Searching for extra choices? Try PCWorld’s roundup of the perfect laptops accessible proper now.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Specs

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is accessible in a variety of completely different configurations. Our assessment unit comes geared up with an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. It’s a modest quantity of energy, however nice for a Chromebook, and it’s designed with on a regular basis duties in thoughts.

• CPU: Intel Core i3-1215U
• Reminiscence: 8GB RAM
• Show: 14-inch 1920×1080, nontouch
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Webcam: 1080p
• Connectivity: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Sort-C, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Sort-A, 1 x HDMI 1.4, 1 x 3.5 mm audio combo jack
• Battery capability: 50 Wh
• Dimensions: 32.64 x 21.44 x 1.87 cm
• Weight: 3.17 lbs
• Value: $399.99

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: AI capabilities

Usually talking, I’m semi-resistant to utilizing AI, as I’m troubled by the moral issues with AI-generated paintings. That mentioned, the one AI characteristic I wished to attempt for the sake of this assessment shouldn’t be accessible but and that’s the AI wallpaper generator. Already accessible on Google’s Pixel 8 units, all it’s important to do is choose a class after which sort no matter you need into the textual content fields to get the precise consequence you’re on the lookout for. It’s positively fascinating, however I wasn’t in a position to check drive it for this assessment.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Design, construct high quality

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

After I eliminated the Asus Chromebook Plus CX43 from its snow-white field, I discovered myself repeatedly operating my arms over the shiny lid, oohing and aahing on the silky smoothness of it. It positively feels dearer than it truly is. The 180 diploma hinge that connects the show to the keyboard feels tight and safe, even when adjusting it a click on or two. No floppy shows right here! The keyboard deck is strong as properly. I pressed down arduous on the deck with each arms and observed zero creaking, which is all the time an indication of a well-made machine.

Let’s discuss concerning the pearl white colour scheme for a second, which I completely adore. It’s positively stylish and minimalist, but it surely’s not so over-the-top that it’ll draw a lot consideration. In truth, I’d say it’s the proper search for an workplace atmosphere, because it’s actually refined. The darkish gray keys additionally properly steadiness the white chassis.

The vent placement provides an fascinating contact to the general design, too. Until you flip the laptop computer upside-down, you’ll in all probability miss it, however there are three vents of various lengths on the underside of the machine. It’s cool and classy, however doubtless sensible too.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Show, webcam, audio

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The very first thing I observed concerning the Plus CX34’s 1080p show is the brightness stage. Usually, I prefer to bump the brightness up on laptops as a result of I’m a goblin in a human swimsuit and I prefer to function in darker environments. Nonetheless, the show on this explicit machine could be very shiny, even when it’s at 50 %. It positively appears brighter than Asus’ reported 250 nits. It’s not very best for out of doors use, however that’s probably not a deal-breaker for me. As for colours, they’re surprisingly wealthy! After I watched the ultimate episode of Ahsoka, the crimson cloaks the nightsisters had been sporting had been each deep and luscious.

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 comes with a 1080p webcam, which excites me to no finish. All the new Chromebook Plus laptops have 1080p webcams. I’m so over 720p webcams, as they’re simply not sharp sufficient for distant or hybrid employees. As for picture and video high quality, it’s comparatively colour correct and I didn’t seem washed out or overexposed. I earn a living from home regularly, so having a webcam that may seize clear video is vital, particularly when I’ve to hop on a piece name.

The audio, nevertheless, left me wanting extra. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has downward firing audio system, which implies the sound goes into both the desk or your lap (relying on the place you’re utilizing the machine). It’s fantastic in the event you’re watching YouTube or a present on Netflix, however for listening to music, during which there’s numerous highs and mids, it’s simply okay. I might hear most issues when the amount was turned as much as 50 %.

That mentioned, I’m not too choosy in terms of laptop computer audio. If I can hear the present I’m watching with out having to show the amount up all the way in which, I’m good. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is ample on this regard.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Connectivity

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 options two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Sort-C ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Sort-A, one HDMI 1.4, and one 3.5 mm audio combo jack. That’s a wide variety proper there, particularly in the event you’re trying to hook as much as an exterior mouse and show. You in all probability gained’t have to tote round an adapter, both. It has sufficient connectivity choices for most individuals.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

All I’ve to say concerning the typing expertise is… wow! I’ve by no means acclimated to a brand new keyboard so quick, which is admittedly saying one thing. I’m a blazing quick typist. That’s not a flex, as I are inclined to make a variety of typing errors, particularly after I’m excitedly blabbering away with coworkers on Slack or with my husband on Discord. I don’t regulate to new keyboards properly, however that’s not the case with the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. The keys really feel good and springy beneath my fingertips. There’s 1.4 mm of key journey and anti-ghosting, which implies you may press a number of keys directly they usually’ll all register. Actually, the keyboard felt like residence to my fingers.

The touchpad is straightforward to make use of as properly. It measures a roomy 5.7-inches and is centered in the midst of the keyboard deck, which I want over the asymmetrical selection. There’s nothing extra aggravating to me than an off-center touchpad (I’m you, gaming laptops!). I didn’t discover many misfires, as my palms didn’t appear to float over to the corners of the touchpad all that a lot. This can be a drawback I frequently have with these pesky off-center touchpads. The floor on the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s touchpad feels clean as glass and it registers each multi-touch swipes and clicks simply fantastic.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Efficiency

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 presents dependable efficiency, particularly in the event you’re utilizing it for day-to-day duties like checking e-mail and watching Netflix. In actual world use, I discovered it to be general very snappy. Each time I booted up the machine or jumped from tab to tab in Google Chrome, it solely took just a few seconds (if that). That’s doubtless because of the Intel Core i3-1215U processor, which has six cores and eight threads in addition to a most turbo frequency of 4.40 GHz. An Intel Core i5 or larger will likely be even sooner, but it surely’s nonetheless quick and higher than the lower-end processors present in normal Chromebooks.

Right here’s how the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 fared within the 5 browser-based benchmarks. 

• CrXPRT 2: 181
• Speedometer: 114
• Basemark Internet 3.0: 1111.74
• Kraken: 466.5ms
• Jetstream 2: 250.141

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 smoked the comparable Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip, which has an AMD Ryzen 3 7320C CPU. Within the Speedometer benchmark, which measures the responsiveness of net purposes, the Plus CX34 earned a rating of 114, beating out the CM34 Flip’s rating of 73.3. The Plus CX34 additionally earned a better efficiency rating of 181 in CrXPRT 2, which measures how properly the Chromebook handles on a regular basis duties like watching motion pictures or doing homework. General, it’s speedier and extra responsive than the CM34 Flip.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Battery life

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 lasted simply over 12 hours in the course of the web-based battery benchmark, a modest consequence. Whereas it’s not as record-breaking because the Acer Chromebook CM34 Flip’s 19 hours of battery life, it’s nonetheless fairly good, particularly in the event you journey usually or (in the event you’re a pupil) prefer to take your laptop computer to class with you. You don’t have to fret concerning the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 dropping juice anytime quickly,. You can in all probability squeeze extra hours out of it in the event you flip down the brightness.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Do you have to purchase it?

Undoubtedly!

What it boils right down to is that this: The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a strong, moderately priced on a regular basis laptop computer. The pearl white minimalist chassis is gorgeous and complicated, and the 1080p show is beautiful to binge watch your favourite exhibits on. The keyboard is effortlessly simple to get used to and the 1080p webcam will make you look good on work calls. Plus, battery life is simply over 12 hours and efficiency is each zippy and dependable. Whereas the audio might positively be higher, a criticism I’ve of most laptops, it wouldn’t dissuade me personally from shopping for this laptop computer.

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is an thrilling debut for the brand new Chromebook Plus idea — and it exhibits that even with all these further bells and whistles, a really good Chromebook nonetheless doesn’t want to interrupt the financial institution.