The Asus Chromebook Flip C436 is just not your atypical Chromebook. It’s not even an atypical premium Chromebook. Starting at $800, the ultraportable two-in-one appears and feels nearly as good as prime Windows 10 laptops just like the 2020 Dell XPS 13 or Apple’s newest MacE-book Air. It’s additionally one of many first Chromebooks to be co-engineered with Intel as a part of its Project Athena program, which implies it meets sure necessities that make it speedier than others.
LikeBeautiful designStrong Chrome performanceBacklit keyboard, fingerprint reader and Wi-Fi 6 add to the package deal
Don’t LikeBattery life shorter than different premium ChromebooksEnergetic pen not included
The C436 has higher-end elements like 10th-gen Intel Core i3 and i5 processors and PCIe NVMe SSDs for storage as an alternative of slower eMMC flash reminiscence. It additionally has a fingerprint reader, a backlit keyboard and USI lively pen assist with 4,096 ranges of stress (although it is not included within the field, sadly) — all stuff you will not discover on most cheaper fashions. It’s nonetheless a Chromebook, although. Support for Android apps and Linux instruments, editors and IDEs definitely broaden what this Asus is able to. But in order for you or want to simply set up and use Windows or Mac software program, no Chromebook — no matter what you spend — will do the trick. If that is you, take into account one thing like Lenovo’s glorious Yoga C740 or the brand new Air or different inexpensive choices.
Asus Chromebook Flip C436FA
Price as reviewed
$800
Display measurement/decision
14-inch 1,920 x 1,080 contact show
CPU
2.1GHz Intel Core i3-10110U
Memory
8GB LPDDR3 2,133MHz (onboard)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics
Storage
128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Networking
802.11ax wi-fi, Bluetooth 5.0
Operating system
Chrome OS
Asus contains a beautiful padded sleeve, however I’d moderately have an lively pen.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
For the Chrome convertsSo what precisely does it imply to be a premium Chromebook? Well, for starters the Flip C436’s physique is a magnesium alloy so it has a nicer feel and appear than cheaper plastic fashions, and it is thinner and lighter at about 2.5 kilos (1.1 kg). To make it simpler to open, Asus angled the entrance fringe of the lid and physique right into a V form to make it simpler to open, however you may seemingly nonetheless want a second hand to do it.Under the lid is a high-quality full-HD contact show with slim bezels that assist make this 14-inch Chromebook related in measurement to older 13-inch ones. Color and distinction are good as is display brightness, however not sufficient to get previous reflections from the shiny coating. You get an enormous, easy touchpad, too, with gesture assist and a snug full-size Chrome keyboard. There’s not a variety of key journey, however they do have a satisfying poppiness to them. The keys are backlit too, which once more is not typical of Chromebooks. And neither is its fingerprint reader that is on the keyboard’s prime proper nook. The C436’s 360-degree hinges barely angle the keyboard up right into a extra comfy typing place.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
At first I assumed the reader was the facility button, too, however that is really on the left aspect with a quantity rocker together with a USB-C port and headphone jack; a microSD card slot and second USB-C port are on the suitable aspect. There are 4 audio system, one on all sides and two on the prime between the 360-degree hinges, so you have got clear audio in any place they usually sound first rate at average ranges.
Since the Flip C436 is a two-in-one, you should utilize it as a pill, although the 14-inch 16:9 display measurement makes it a bit of awkward to make use of handheld. Using it on a desk is ok although and it does assist USI lively pens, it is simply that Asus would not embrace one. Paying for performanceA large a part of the worth bump right here is the elements. Inside the $800 one I examined is a 10th-gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD. Spend $1,000 and you will get a Core i5 CPU, 16GB of reminiscence and a 512GB SSD. Most folks will discover the Core i3 to be greater than sufficient for internet apps and the additional processing energy is nice to have for Android apps, together with video games. Unfortunately, not all apps work nonetheless, so you may need to confirm any apps you completely need will run before you purchase. Call of Duty Mobile crashed on launch, however Modern Combat 5 and different Gameloft titles ran properly on the C436.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
Also, if you happen to’re one of many many who instantly want to make use of your webcam to get by the workday, the C436 has an honest one on the prime of the show. Video high quality from it’s first rate so long as you have got loads of mild and a powerful connection — the C436 does have Wi-Fi 6 providing you with a little bit of futureproofing. There’s no possibility for LTE, although, and that is form of a bummer contemplating Chrome is at its finest with an online connection. But actually the most important situation you might need with the Chromebook Flip C436, apart from the worth, is the battery life. And it is not even that it is unhealthy. I acquired 10 hours, 43 minutes of life on our streaming video take a look at. That’s definitely good, however generally use you are extra like 6 hours of straight use relying in your show brightness and what you are doing. We’re used to seeing Chromebooks run for two or 3 hours longer, comparable to Acer’s Chromebook 714 that has related specs and ran for 15 hours, 21 minutes on the identical streaming take a look at. Need Office? Microsoft’s apps loaded up simply high-quality.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
The C436 does cost shortly, although, getting you as much as 4 hours on a 30-minute cost. Also, with USB-C ports on each side of the laptop computer, you have got extra flexibility while you plug in and you’ll cost it off an influence financial institution like Anker’s EnergyCore so you do not essentially want an outlet to recharge. Basically, if you happen to can reside with the battery life and do not thoughts paying $800 or $1,000 for a two-in-one Chromebook, the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 would not disappoint. As Chrome OS matures, the additional processing efficiency is definitely good to have as is having that efficiency in a beautiful design. This actually is for full-time Chrome customers, nevertheless, so if you happen to simply want one thing for part-time use, you have acquired a number of different, inexpensive choices.