Best ASUS Chromebooks to buy in 2022

If you’re looking for a new Chromebook to buy in 2022, then don’t feel hesitant about buying one from ASUS. Right alongside other companies like Acer and HP, ASUS is behind a lot of great Chromebook models, many of which can become your next device. From more premium products to devices that fit great for school or work and multimedia, ASUS has a ton of options. There are also options out there if you’re looking for something for multimedia, too.

ASUS has a long history of making Chrome OS devices, and we have the best picks for you right here. Our list covers all kinds of categories. We’ll be giving you a look at the best ASUS tablets, education Chromebooks, budget, cheap, and more. We’ll also talk more about why these ASUS Chromebooks are a good buy for your money. That said, let’s dive deeper.

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Best overall: ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400

The best ASUS Chromebook you can buy right now is the Chromebook Flip CX5 (CX5400.) We say that because this is quite the go-to device with the last generation 11th generation Intel CPUs, a thin and light design, a garaged stylus, and an overall great design. All of this comes at $700, or up to $1,000 if you opt for a faster CPU.

Speaking of CPU, this Chromebook is powered by two options. You can choose either the Intel Core i3-1115G4 or the Intel Core i7-1165G7. Both of these CPUs are 11th generation, which is now a year old, but you should not let that fool you. Everyone wants the latest in a Chromebook, but 11th-generation Intel CPUs are plenty fast, especially for day-to-day web browsing. When you pair that up with the 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD, you’ll have everything you need for saving documents or speeding through things in Google Workspace apps like Google Pages or Google Docs.

Now, for the design. The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400 is rated for military-grade durability thanks to the all-metal chassis. What that means is that you can travel safely with this Chromebook on the go, and not worry about it getting damaged. Even with that, it’s still plenty thin and light. The dimensions come in at 0.62 inches in thickness, and about 3.09 pounds in weight. Combine that with the cool “All Blue” color option, and you’ll be looking quite stylish when you sport this Chromebook on the go.

You’ll even be able to use the device comfortably, as this Chromebook has ASUS’ patented “Ergolift Hinge,” where the keyboard is tilted up as you type at a more comfortable angle. A backlit keyboard is the other plus, as it means you’ll be able to work in the dark at night without worry. Asus rates the keyboard with up to 1.5 mm of key travel.

The other cool part of this Chromebook is the pen. The 1920 x 1080 resolution 14-inch display on the Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400 supports the garaged ASUS Stylus. Since this is a 2-in-1, this means you use it in tent, tablet, or stand mode and can draw on the screen, take notes, and safely house the pen away when it’s not in use. It’s something you might want to do anyway, as ASUS slimmed down the bottom chin on the device, as well as the side bezels to make your content feel more immersive. The device has an 85% screen-to-body ratio.

Ending with ports, this Chromebook has plenty. There are 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports, a MicroSD card reader, and a headphone jack. We appreciate the addition of MicroSD, as it means you’ll have a separate space to save important files.

Best hard to find: ASUS Chromebook Flip C43

Sometimes a Chromebook is so good and popular that it becomes hard to find. While we’ve chosen the Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400 as the best ASUS Chromebook you can buy, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C43 comes in a close second, as it’s quite similar but better in a few areas. The addition of a bigger stylus, a fingerprint reader, and an interesting design choice is what brings this Chromebook on our list.

Jumping into the design of this Chromebook first, ASUS made the Chromebook Flip C43 extra stylish. To set it apart from cheaper models on our list, ASUS gives the Chromebook Flip C43 a dual-tapered edge. Yes, it still has an all-metal design, but the chassis sports a dual-tapered design where the body and lid meet to form a V-shaped edge. This makes it easier to open the laptop. That combines with a new color finish. It comes in an “Aerogel White” which shifts in color from white to blue, purple, red, and pink at various different angles. All of this comes in a slim package, too, as the Chromebook Flip C43 is 0.53 inches thin, and just 2.4 pounds in weight.

The other design change? It’s on the keyboard, where ASUS includes a fingerprint reader and an upward-facing sound bar. This makes it easy to log into your device and feel more immersed in your movies and other multimedia. The keyboard is quite similar to the one on the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400, though. This is because it keeps backlighting and has 1.2 mm of key travel. Even the Ergolift Hinge is here, which helps improve your typing speed.

Of course, this is a convertible, and you can use it in various modes like tent, stand, tablet, or laptop. That’s why ASUS has an optional stylus. This one is much larger than the one on the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400 and is more comfortable to hold. You might want to hold that pen and draw anyway. That’s because the screen is quite immersive. It comes in at FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution.

As far as processing power goes, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C43 has a little bit more than the Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5400. The CPU choices include the Intel Core i3-10110U or the Intel Core i5-10210U. These are both 10th-generation options, but you can add up to 16GB of RAM, if needed, and expand storage to 512GB. It’s rare to see this much storage and RAM on a mainstream Chromebook, which is why we included it on our list.

Best budget: ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3

If budget is your concern and you’re only willing to spend between $500-$700 on a Chromebook, then the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 should sit right with you. This device comes in at $400 and has everything you might want to flip between work, play, school, and more. It keeps a lot of premium design features but won’t bust your wallet.

In talking about a budget Chromebook, we’ll mention the CPU first. For less than $500, you can’t expect an Intel or AMD CPU on a Chromebook. That’s why this device has a MediaTek Kompanio 820 (8192) SoC inside. This is actually an ARM-based SoC, so it results in a few things. First up, Android apps will perform really well, since they’re coded for phones that use similar ARM-based chips. Secondly, there’s longer battery life. Most ASUS Chromebooks we’ve mentioned so far come in at 10-12 hours of battery life, but ASUS is rating this one for up to 16. With 64GB of eMMC storage and 4GB of RAM, this helps keep the Flip CM3 a lot less power-hungry.

What else makes this a good budget Chromebook? Well, it’s the display. Most Chromebooks have a boxy 16:9 aspect ratio. This isn’t ideal for stacking windows side by side or multitasking. This one sports a 12-inch 1366 x 912 resolution panel tuned to the 3:2 aspect ratio. While that not be the highest resolution, it still gives you a lot more vertical space on the screen in either of the tent, stand, tablet, or laptop modes. And it’s not like ASUS is taking away your screen with thick bezels, either. Just like more premium Chromebooks, this one has a decent screen-to-body ratio of 78%. It’s not the highest, but it’s great for this price.

The other cool thing for this price? It’s the pen support. If you buy the optional ASUS Pen, you can draw on your screen, take notes, annotate webpages, and more. This is great for on-the-go folks or students who sit in lectures. Combine that with the soft and smooth palm wrest, and typing will be super comfortable.

Generally speaking, this is a slim device, too. It measures 0.66 inches thick, and 2.51 pounds. That’s thanks to the smaller screen. Other portability aspects include the ports. There’s a lot like 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a Micro SD card reader. You still might need a dongle to connect to a display.

Best tablet: ASUS Chromebook Detachable

ChromeOS tablets are becoming more popular now, and one of the options from ASUS is the Detachable CM3. This product is a lot like Lenovo’s popular Duet Chromebook tablet, which has similar specs. It’s also an ultra-portable device, too, and quite cheap at around $400. Read on for more about why we like it so much.

With the design of the ASUS Chromebook Detachable, ASUS promises you’re getting a device that’s all about versatility, mobility, and productivity. The company says all that because this tablet has a unique vertical and horizontal stand design that sets it apart from the competition. You won’t get this with other ChromeOS tablets. Just detach the keyboard, flip out the stand and use the tablet vertically to scroll through webpages and social media in a more natural matter similar to your phone. Or, you can attach the full-size magnetic keyboard cover and take notes, and scroll through webpages as you would on a laptop thanks to the case’s hinge. You even can use a stylus, which is garaged right into the chassis, meaning you won’t have to worry about losing a pen.

The tablet is also designed in a very premium way. It has a Mineral Grey-colored aluminum unibody chassis that is finished with matte black diamond cut edges. And, like newer Windows laptops, this ChromeOS tablet also has a 16:10 aspect ratio display. This means that you’ll fit more vertical content on the 10.5-inch screen. That might seem small, but it’s not like ASUS is skipping out on screen quality either. The resolution comes in at 1920 x 1200, which is pretty sharp for a smaller screen. You’ll be able to see all the fine details on web pages and when watching movies.

Those are just surface details, and similar to the ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 which we previously described, the ASUS Chromebook Detachable is powered by an ARM-based SoC. This time it’s the MediaTek 8183. This is a slightly faster processor and should be great for using Android apps, as well as web browsing. Combine that with the 4GB RAM, and you’ll get decent enough performance for everyday tasks. Battery life is great, too, rated at 12 hours on a single charge.

The only downside to this tablet is that it has just one USB 2.0 Type-C port and a single audio jack. You’ll likely need to buy an adapter for connecting to displays if you plan to use this in your work at home or at school.

Best education: ASUS Chromebook Flip C214

Looking for a Chromebook for use in education, either at home or in school? This is what the Asus Chromebook Flip C214 is for. It’s specially designed for the education market and is built tough for all kinds of scenarios. Not to forget it’s also fully convertible, so students can use it in various modes. Here’s why we’ve picked it.

The first thing to mention is durability. An education Chromebook will be put through a lot of stress, and the Asus Chromebook Flip C214 is designed for this. It sports a rubber bumper and a spill-resistant keyboard. It’s also easy to grip and is tamper resistant and anti-scratch. This makes managing the device as a parent, teacher, or IT admin a lot easier. It also ensures that the internal components will always be safe and sound. ASUS rated the C214 through MIL-STD-810G durability testing, which means it can withstand drops from the standard desk height. The hinges and ports are tested as part of that, too, meaning it can survive whatever students put it through when using the Flip C214 in the various tent, stand, tablet, or laptop modes.

Next up are education-specific features. The Flip C214 sports a special world-facing camera so students can explore and learn in a totally new way, allowing them to capture photos and videos in tablet mode. There are also plans for the world-facing camera to support versatile apps, giving both students and teachers an exciting new learning aid. This webcam is at the bottom of the keyboard deck. Also included in the Flip C214 is the garaged stylus. This is so students can take notes manually and mark up documents. Being garaged, there’s less of a chance that it can be lost, too.

Getting into processing power, it is the Intel N4000 CPU under the hood of this Chromebook. That’s paired with 4GB of DDR4 RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage. These specs ensure speedy access to the thousands of apps in the Google Play Store, as well as multitasking with web browsing, and long 12-hour battery life. IT admins can also configure the Flip Spen C214 as they see fit with access to Google apps like Docs and Pages. And, when something goes wrong, open the back of the device and replace components, thanks to a modular design.

Best for business: ASUS Chromebook CX9

Chromebooks are not just for education and home use anymore. Many businesses are opting to roll out Chromebooks to employees since they’re much easier to manage. And, many Chromebook makers like ASUS are pushing out business-first ChromeOS devices. The best example of this is the ASUS Chromebook CX9, which has everything a business might want or need from a Chromebook.

For business, the top thing needed in a Chromebook is performance as well as management options. Coming with the top tier 11th Gen lntel Core i7 processor, this is where the Chromebook CX9 is best. Of course, an Intel Core i3 option is available, too, but both of these CPUs are all about power and performance. You can configure the CX9 with up to 512GB of storage, or up to 16GB of RAM. This will make the CX9 a multitasking machine, for running all kinds of Android apps and viewing all kinds of web pages. These specs also make the machine Intel Evo certified, meaning it goes through Intel’s rigorous security tests and battery tests so the device can last up to 14 hours on a single charge.

Other than power, businesses also look for the best display in a Chromebook, and the Chromebook CX9 will not disappoint in this area. It sports options for a 4K UHD touch display. This type of display gives more pixels for opening Chrome tabs, and more room for your favorite apps. Combine that with Wi-Fi 6 that’s included, and using Google Workspace apps will not only look good, but load up very quickly, too. Note that all display options give the CX9 a 92% screen-to-body ratio, so there are less annoying black bezels and more actual screen space.

Businesses also might look for special design features on a laptop, and there are five here on the ASUS Chromebook CX9. First is the LED-illuminated numeric keypad on the trackpad, for those who need a number pad but don’t want a bigger laptop. The second is the backlit keyboard. The third is the spill-resistance rating. Fourth is the Ergolift Hinge, which makes typing easier by elevating the laptop up a bit. Last up is the Google Titan C security chip, which helps keep fingerprint information and other critical data secure on the chip itself.

Other cool features on this Chromebook include a slider on the webcam, a Kensington lock to prevent theft, a wide array of ports from Thunderbolt USB-C to USB A, HDMI, and microSD card support.

Best cheap: ASUS Chromebook C223

We get that not everyone has the $500-$1,000 needed for a new ASUS Chromebook. That’s why we have the ASUS Chromebook C223 on our list. This Chromebook is a very basic device for a very low price of $240. It is a great first Chromebook for the price.

Coming in either a regular black or a more stand-out red color, the ASUS Chromebook C223 is powered by an Intel Celeron N3350 processor. This makes it great for basic day-to-day tasks like opening websites or using apps from the Google Play Store. It also comes with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. These are quite simple specs, which aren’t all that bad since most work on Chromebooks are done online. It helps with battery life, too, which is rated at 10 hours on a single charge, typical for this price.

The other great part of this Chromebook for the low price is the overall mobility and the display. It has a footprint that’s smaller than a sheet of A4 paper, weighs less than 1kg, and has one of the thinnest profiles of any 11.6-inch Chromebook. The 11.6-inch LED-backlit anti-glare display on the ASUS Chromebook C223 has really stunningly beautiful colors. ASUS even adds extra-slim bezels to minimize visual distractions.

You’ll likely be on a lot of web calls on this Chromebook, and with the HD front camera, you can enjoy crisp, clear, and natural-looking video calls with your friends, colleagues, or family. It’s below the 1080p standard, but for this price, it’s hard to complain.

Even though this device is priced cheap, ASUS still wants it to work great for multimedia, too. Featuring high-quality stereo speakers and extra-large resonant chambers that generate up to 82dB of high-fidelity audio, this Chromebook can deliver surround-sound effects that are good as much larger laptops, with crisp and powerful sound.

Finally, there are the ports. This device comes with USB-C ports, as well as USB-A, and microSD card expansion. You’ll still need to invest in a USB-C to HDMI dongle, though, as for this price, that port will be missing.

Best Chromebox: ASUS Chromebox 4

Not all ChromeOS devices have to come as laptops or tablets. That’s why there are also Chromebox devices. With this type of device, you can plug it into the back of your monitor or TV and get the full-screen ChromeOS experience. ASUS’ most popular option is the Chromebox 4, and it has a little bit of everything you’ll need to have the perfect Chromebox on your desk.

The ASUS Chromebox 4 features a 10th Generation Intel Core or Celeron processor and DDR4-2666 memory for faster, smoother, and more energy-efficient performance. These specs are configurable up to a Core i7 and 16GB of RAM. It also supports up to three 4K displays and comes equipped with versatile USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports for fast data transfers, and USB-C also supports power delivery and DisplayPort connections. All of these specs make this a great machine for multimedia consumption, like streaming Android apps to your big screen or even, in business using the Chromebox to power kiosks. 10th-generation Intel chips are now two years old, but with ChromeOS being lightweight and optimized, you should not have any issues.

Offering easy access to Android apps via Google Play, the device lets you enjoy your favorite apps. For the added benefit of Chrome Enterprise, the ASUS Chromebox Enterprise 4 option empowers businesses, IT administrators, and remote employees with the tools they need for enhanced productivity and efficiency. You can also configure this Chromebox with up to 256GB of SSD storage, an impressive amount for a Chrome OS device where files are typically saved to the cloud first.

Overall, this is the Chromebox for you if you need a top-of-the-line machine with a range of choices when it comes to internal specs. The ability to connect three displays makes this a workhorse at the office and should be at the top of the list for business users or consumers in need of a ChromeOS device for the big screen.