Acer, ASUS, HP, and Lenovo launch new ‘Chromebook Plus’ models starting at $399

What it’s worthwhile to knowGoogle has partnered with Acer, ASUS, HP, and Lenovo to launch new Chromebook Plus fashions.These all meet Google’s minimal necessities for a Chromebook Plus system. Pricing begins at $399, and all of those shall be obtainable beginning on October 8. It’s one factor for Google to announce its new Chromebook Plus initiative, however with out the assistance of OEM companions, we’d most likely nonetheless be questioning precisely what the purpose was. As we noticed final 12 months with the shock launch of gaming Chromebooks, Google is partnering with the likes of Acer, ASUS, HP, and Lenovo to launch a lineup of Chromebook Plus laptops so that you can select from. All of those choices meet the minimal necessities that Google has laid out for the Chromebook Plus program. This contains pricing that begins at $399, together with that includes a Full HD IPS show, a 1080p webcam, and at the least 8GB of RAM. So, in case you’re questioning what Chromebook Plus fashions it is best to think about, we have rounded all of them up. Acer(Image credit score: Acer)Acer is popping out swinging for the fences with two new Chromebook Plus fashions, beginning with the Chromebook Plus 515. This is the bigger of the 2, because it contains a 15.6-inch FHD show and in addition affords essentially the most flexibility with six totally different processor configurations to select from. If you are a fan of choices, the Chromebook Plus 515 will most likely be the way in which to go. That’s to not say that the Chromebook Plus 514 is a slouch by any means. But as a substitute of counting on Intel for its processing prowess, this 14-inch Chromebook is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 3 7320C or Ryzen 5 7520C. You’ll nonetheless stand up to 512GB of storage, all-day battery life, and the entire nice options coming to ChromeOS. Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0 Acer Chromebook Plus 515Acer Chromebook Plus 514Show15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS; 250 nits; Touchscreen optional14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS; 16:10; 250 nitsProcessorIntel Core i3-1215U / Core i3-1305U / Core i3-1315U / Core i5-1235U / Core i5-1335U / Core i7-1355UAMD Ryzen 3 7320C / Ryzen 5 7520CRAM8GB / 16GB LPDDR5X8GB / 16GB LPDDR5XStorage128GB UFS; 256GB / 512GB NVMe SSD128GB UFS; 256GB / 512GB NVMe SSDConnectivityWi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.1Wi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.1Webcam1080p FHD1080p FHDPorts2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C; 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; 1x HDMI 1.4; 1x 3.5mm audio combo jack2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C; 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; 1x HDMI 1.4; 1x 3.5mm Audio Combo JackBatteryAs much as 10 hoursUp to 12 hoursDimensions14.2 x 9.39 x 0.79-inches 12.56 x 8.96 x 0.84-inchesPrice$399.99$399.99ASUS(Image credit score: ASUS)ASUS is getting in on the enjoyable with two new fashions of its personal, beginning with the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34. This system contains a 14-inch touchscreen show and as much as Intel’s Core i7-1255U processor. Not solely will you’ve gotten loads of energy, however the CX34 additionally options a wide selection of ports, as much as 10 hours of battery life, and begins at simply $399.The firm can also be launching its ASUS Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip. However, ASUS didn’t share the ultimate spec sheet for the system forward of the announcement. Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0 ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34Show14″ FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS; 250 nits; Touchscreen optionProcessor12th Gen Intel Core i3-1215U / Core i5-1235U / Core i7-1255URAM4GB / 8GB / 16GB LPDDR5Storage128GB / 256GB UFS; 512GB M.2 SSDConnectivityWi-Fi 6; Bluetooth 5.2Webcam1080p FHD w/ Webcam ShieldPorts2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C; 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; 1x HDMI 1.4; 1x 3.5mm audio combo jackBatteryUp to 10 hoursPrice$399HP(Image credit: HP)While we give HP a lot of praise in regards to how incredible its Dragonfly Pro Chromebook is, the company also has some pretty great offerings that won’t break the bank. Like the others launching new models, HP is releasing both a 15.6-inch and 14-inch Chromebook Plus laptop.The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6 inch is great for those who just want to browse the web and maybe play some lighter games on a larger screen. It’s powered by the Intel Core i3-N305 and is paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. Battery life is also expected to be superb as HP rates it to last for up to 13 hours. If you want a bit more power and flexibility, then the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14c is the way to go. It has a smaller 14-inch display and relies on Intel’s Core i3-1215U or Core i5-1235U chips paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Battery life falls a bit short compared to the Chromebook Plus 15.6, but it will still get you through the day without much of a hassle.Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0 HP Chromebook Plus 15.6 inchHP Chromebook Plus x360 14cDisplay15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080 IPS; 144Hz; 250 nits14″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS; Touchscreen; 250 nitsProcessorIntel Core i3-N30512th Gen Intel Core i3-1215U / Core i5-1235URAM8GB LPDDR58GB / 16GB LPDDR4XStorage128GB / 256GB UFS128GB / 256GB / 512GB NVMe M.2 SSDConnectivityWi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.3Wi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.3Webcam1080p FHD1080p FHDPorts2x USB Type-C; 1x USB Type-A; 1x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack; 1x microSD card reader2x USB Type-C; 1x USB Type-A; 1x 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack; 1x microSD card readerBatteryUp to 13 hoursUp to 10.5 hoursDimensions14.28 x 9.51 x 0.78-inches12.33 x 8.68 x 0.71-inchesPrice$499$699Lenovo(Image credit: Lenovo)Rounding out the pack is Lenovo, with a couple of Chromebook Plus models of its own. The ultra-popular Flex 5i is getting a massive upgrade, as it’s now powered by Intel’s 13th Gen processors and is paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. It also sports a 14-inch touchscreen display capable of reaching up to 300 nits of peak brightness.Lenovo’s Slim 3i Chromebook Plus is also impressive in its own right, as it is rated to last for up to 12 hours on a single charge. The 14-inch display can be configured as a touchscreen or just a standard display but is also capable of reaching up to 300 nits of brightness. Swipe to scroll horizontallyHeader Cell – Column 0 Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook PlusLenovo Slim 3i Chromebook PlusDisplay14″ 16:10 FHD IPS; Touchscreen; 300 nits14″ FHD IPS; Touchscreen (optionally available) ; 300 nitsProcessor13th Gen Intel Core i3-1315U / Core i5-1334UIntel Core i3-N305RAM8GB LPDDR4X8GB LPDDR5Storage128GB eMMC; 128GB / 256GB SSD128GB / 256GB eMMCConnectivityWi-Fi 6 / 6E; Bluetooth 5.0Wi-Fi 6 / 6E; Bluetooth 5.1Webcam1080p FHD w/ privateness shutter1080p FHD w/ privateness shutterPorts1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C; 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C; 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack; 1x microSD card slot; 1x Kensington Nano Security Slot1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C; 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A; 1x HDMI 1.4b; 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack; 1x microSD card slot; 1x Kensington LockBatteryAs much as 10 hoursUp to 12 hoursDimensions12.4 x 9.0 x 0.8-inches (315.5 x 229 x 19.7mm)12.8 x 8.5 x 0.8-inches (324.4 x 216.2 x 19.3mm)Starting value$499.99$549.99It’s a startLooking by the record, you may need observed that none of those Chromebooks price greater than $649. We aren’t certain whether or not this was accomplished deliberately, as this might simply be the primary section of a bigger plan to make the method of buying a Chromebook simpler. It shall be fascinating to see if Google begins rolling out classes to assist differentiate Chromebooks based mostly on value and options. An instance of that is with Acer’s Chromebook Spin 714 and even HP’s Dragonfly Pro Chromebook. Both of those fashions simply meet Google’s necessities, nevertheless it’s unknown whether or not the entire distinctive Chromebook Plus options will come to these fashions.