Compared to Microsoft, Google had little representation at the CES 2019 in terms of new hardware unveiled run by the two companies operating systems. However, there were some pretty impressive Chromebooks from various OEMs unveiled; Asus led the pack with a portfolio of five new Chromebooks.
It is important to point out that AMD unveiled new all-in-one A-Series ‘c’ chips (aka Accelerated Processing Units) that are optimized to run the Chrome OS. It is common to find Chromebooks ship with MediaTek and Intel chips, but the new AMD A-Series ‘c’ chips promise great performance when the user is running Android apps on a Chromebook. But that remains to be seen with time.
Top Chromebooks unveiled at CES 2019
The following are the best Chromebooks that were unveiled at the CES 2019 in Las Vegas, USA.
Acer Chromebook 315
Acer partnered with AMD to produce the new Chromebook 315 that comes with a 15.6-inch IPS display. Full HD resolution screen that is available as both touch and non-touch. But as usual with any Chromebook, it comes with limited RAM and onboard storage. That means you will need to put some of your files to a microSD card especially now that you are going to be using some of your Android apps on the laptop.
The laptop comes with upward-facing speakers placed at both sides of the keyboard; a big change from the bottom position they are usually located. At the bottom, the sound comes out muffled from the ears, and the upward-facing speakers in the Acer Chromebook 315 have addressed that problem.
The Chromebook also comes with USB Type-C connectivity, and on the touch screen model, the keyboard is backlit. The laptop weighs about 3.70 pounds and will start retailing in North America sometime in February with a starting price of about $279.
Asus Chromebook Flip C434
This Chromebook is not powered by an AMD chip and is the successor of the Flip C302. It is running on the 8th Gen Intel Core Y-series processor that is designed to consume less power. Therefore the Chromebook should stay longer on the battery in between charges.
Unlike the Flip C302, the Flip C434 comes with 14-inch Full HD resolution screen. The previous model has the same features but in a 12.5-inch display. As you might have derived from the name, the Flip C434 comes with a 360-degree hinge that can allow use the device in laptop, tent, and tablet position.
Under the hood, the Flip C434 comes with 8GB RAM, and up to a maximum of 128GM of onboard storage. You can extend that storage through a microSD card. It also has two USB Type-C port, USB Types-A, and an audio combo jack.
The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 will start shipping over the course of the next few months and its starting price is said to be $569.
HP Chromebook 14
HP also partnered with AMD to produce the Chromebook 14 with an all-in-one processor. It has a 14-inch display with a lower HD-class resolution. It has one USB Type-C port, a pair of USB Type-A ports, and a microSD card slot.
The HP Chromebook 14 is your typical Chromebook with a 180-degree hinge that allows you to lay the device completely flat. The manufacturer says it can take you nine hours and 15 minutes on a single charge.
It weighs 3.4 pounds and will start shipping on 22nd this month with a starting price of $269.
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
This is another non-AMD Chromebook on our list. It is also the first Chromebook to support Intel’s Core i7 processors, and can easily meet your professional needs. It has a 14-inch IPS touch screen display with Full HD resolution. 16GB RAM, and up to 64GB onboard storage.
As the name already gives away, it has a 360-degree hinge that enables you to use it in laptop, tent, and tablet mode. It comes with two USB Type-C ports, a single USB Type-A port, microSD slot, backlit keyboard, and a battery said to support 13 hours of work or playtime. HP has also thrown in a free Classroom Manager software for free into the package.
The HP Chromebook x360 14 G1 will start shipping this month, though there is no official announcement of the price yet.
