On the vanguard of Google’s Chromebook Plus initiative, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 delivers every little thing you want from an on a regular basis laptop computer at a superb beginning value of $399.
Is Chromebook Plus value it?
Unveiled in the beginning of the month, Chromebook Plus is a brand new program from Google that units a minimal normal of high quality for ChromeOS {hardware}. Earlier than this, some Chromebooks would generally underperform and underdeliver on account of less-than-stellar specs on entry-level gadgets. With the brand new Chromebook Plus branding, now you can know your subsequent buy will greater than suffice for work and college.
Together with a assure of stable specs, Chromebook Plus fashions just like the Asus CX34 additionally embody a set of unique options starting from the sensible to the pleasant. Over the approaching months, Google is ready so as to add AI-generated video backgrounds and wallpapers, AI help in writing, and extra.
Specializing in what’s accessible at this time, when you use video calling apps for work or faculty, you’ll discover a suite of digicam enhancements at your disposal. In my testing, the “Enhance lighting” toggle manages to make my face look evenly lit, even when I solely have a light-weight on one facet. The background blur setting was a bit much less spectacular, showing related in high quality to the identical characteristic in apps like Zoom and Google Meet. The principle benefit is having it constructed into your machine.
What I discovered most helpful was the inclusion of world toggles for the digicam and microphone. It’s reassuring which you could flip the digicam off on the system degree and know that no apps can entry it. Even higher, when you attempt to communicate after muting your mic, ChromeOS will remind you that you just’re muted, hopefully saving extended embarrassment.
Outdoors of the handful of exclusives, utilizing the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 nonetheless appears like ChromeOS. You’ll discover the identical streamlined design move – albeit with a current Materials You makeover – the identical library of Android, Linux, and internet apps, and the identical regular tempo of safety and have updates, assured for 10 years from launch.
Smooth, reliable {hardware}
What initially drew me to the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 was truly its design, pairing a speckled white chassis with gray accents. Within the crowd of samey black and silver laptops within the preliminary Chromebook Plus lineup, the CX34 stood out with out being flashy. After all, the draw back of the white exterior is that any little little bit of grime can be boldly seen, which can be higher or worse than the blatant smudges on most dark-colored devices.
You’ll discover the underside is completely lined in heating vents. Sadly, these could make it a bit tougher to make use of the Asus CX34 for heavy workloads (or when charging) whereas in your lap – you already know… like a laptop computer – as the warmth fortunately radiates out.
Talking of charging, the quantity that you just’ll have to do will, predictably, rely in your day by day workload. My typical day includes bouncing between a dozen or so tabs, some extra taxing than others – youWordPress. Stack on the few Linux apps I would like, like Visible Studio Code, and issues begin draining a bit quicker.
In my testing, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 manages to attain the all-day battery life it guarantees, however not with out inducing a little bit of battery nervousness within the afternoon. However once more, that’s with an extreme quantity of tabs. Most individuals will possible breeze by way of the workday with a number of hours left to spare.
The mannequin I examined included a Thirteenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of UFS storage, and no touchscreen, whereas there are set to be fashions as excessive as a Core i7, 16 GB of RAM, high-speed SSD storage, and a full touchscreen. Regardless of these mid-range specs, I had little concern utilizing the Asus CX34 as my day by day driver apart from the battery life. Whereas I’m sometimes a proponent of touchscreens on ChromeOS, I didn’t thoughts it being lacking on the clamshell, particularly if it helped scale back the price.
Shifting to the keyboard, I discovered the keys to be sufficient, with good journey and no “mushy” feeling. Every little thing is properly laid out and sufficiently spaced regardless of the compact dimension. The neighboring touchpad is sizable and feels good to the contact, however I did have a number of situations the place the palm rejection might have been higher.
Do you have to purchase Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?
Total, I discovered the Asus CX34 to be a shining instance of what the Chromebook Plus program goals to attain. You may anticipate a dependable, balanced, and performant laptop computer at an approachable value level.
Over the course of my evaluate interval, I had no concern utilizing the CX34 as my day by day driver for work, faculty, and even cloud gaming. I can truthfully say that that is probably the most inexpensive Chromebook I’ve been ready to make use of with out main complaints.
Should you’re searching for a laptop computer that may deal with a web-heavy workload, can combine along with your Android telephone, will final you a number of years, and can achieve the newest in Google AI capabilities, look no additional than the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 – or actually any machine within the “Plus” lineup.
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. Extra.
