ASUS has been busy making state-of-the-art Chromebooks ever since it stepped foot in the Chrome OS industry. Devices like the C423 and the C436 truly show you what this Taiwanese manufacturer is all about. Packing in good specs with a touch of affordability, ASUS’s line-up of current-gen Chromebooks is definitely something to look out for.
However, what we have today at our disposal is a unique Chromebook that’s powered with an Intel 11th Gen processor. Promising lightning-fast performance with terrific looks, the ASUS Chromebook CX5 has gathered immense anticipation for itself. That being said, we cannot vouch for the device any further without getting down to business with it, and that’s what we’re going to do now.
In this article, we’ll be reviewing the latest Chromebook CX5 to help buyers out there whether this laptop is worth the time and money or not. We’ll be sure to highlight its major pros and cons and talk about its fundamental features to make you understand what the CX5 is packing. Without any further ado, then, let’s get right into it.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 Specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i3 1115G4 Processor
- Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Touch Screen Display
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Hard Drive Size: 128 GB NVMe Storage
- RAM: 8 GB
- Camera: 720p HD Webcam
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 3.5 mm Headphone Jack, microSD Card Reader Slot, HDMI 2.0
- Battery: 57Wh, 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion, 8-10 Hrs Battery Life
- Charging Speed: 0-50% In 45 Minutes
- Weight: 4.30 lbs (1.95 kg)
- Price: $569
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 In-depth Review
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5
1. Design
Coming from ASUS, the design of the CX5 is nothing but impressive. The white exterior does a great job at uplifting this Chromebook’s demeanor and making it look absolutely gorgeous. It sports a high-quality aluminum lid coupled with a plastic bottom, but the interesting thing here is that both of these areas have a similar type of coating, thereby making the finishing look just on point. The whole unit feels premium, and you genuinely assume that you’re holding something that costs at least $1000. The plastic bottom may suggest a substandard quality at first on paper, but it doesn’t seem cheap at all, nor fragile, neither frail. However, weighing about 4.30 pounds and boasting a 15.6-inch display, the CX5 is a sizable Chromebook, and this is where portability takes a hit. It’s not the slimmest of devices out there, but there’s no hiding the fact that the CX5 makes great use of all the space that it has been given.
The device is also admirably durable. It’s mil-spec rated, has passed several durability tests, and coming from ASUS, you know that these machines can take a beating. When you open the clamshell Chromebook, you’ll see how fantastic the all-black color scheme looks across the keyboard deck, trackpad, and everything else. The contrast of the white exterior chassis and the black interior strikes a seemingly perfect balance that’s bound to impress right from the get-go.
Moving forward to the elegantly designed screen panel of the CX5, the 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) touch screen display with a 16:9 aspect ratio affords a great viewing experience. The colors look sharp and vibrant, and the viewing angles are stellar as well. The top, bottom, and side bezels aren’t thick but rather provide a nano-edge look to the CX5. The touch screen works just as you’d expect – fluid, responsive, and right up to speed. The Chromebook is also USI stylus compatible, so don’t fret about using a digital pen to make those drawings and work on the fly. Furthermore, the CX5 has a convertible form factor, allowing you to experience different viewing modes. The whole screen package is just amazing, but some users might question the 250-nits brightness of this Chromebook. Those figures may underwhelm what is otherwise a sensational Chromebook, especially in a setting where sunlight is directly hitting your screen, or you’re thinking of taking your device outdoors. Other than this complaint, you get a sensational Chromebook with a spectacular screen.
Coming down to the keyboard, the CX5 has failed to disappoint yet again. Despite being made out of plastic, the keyboard deck feels rather high-end and attributes to a phenomenal typing experience that’s nearly as good as the Google Pixelbook Go. It’s LED-illuminated as well, giving you backlighting in dimly lit environments, and features a quality click mechanism. The travel, according to Asus, is about 1.4mm, and there’s even a dedicated number pad slapped onto the right side of the keyboard deck. The praise continues down to the trackpad, a wide, glass-made, and high-quality one that does everything soundly. Clicks feel nice and tight, and the overall movement is picked up swiftly by the trackpad. So far, ASUS has got almost everything right with the CX5.
Another thing you’re going to love about this Chromebook is its highly generous port selection. There are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports on either side, a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microSD card reader slot, and lastly, a highly convenient HDMI 2.0 port whose handiness is unmatched in times of video conferencing and online meetings. Last but not least, the speakers of the CX5 are pure magic. They sound loud, crisp and do not fail to hit that sweet spot. One more awesome feature of this Chromebook, to say the least.
2. Performance
You’re going to want to read this section if you’re thinking of buying this Chromebook for yourself. Right off the bat, let us put it out here that the CX5’s performance is ridiculously amazing. It has marked the beginning of a whole new generation of Intel processors, which is exactly what seriously shines on this device. The 11th Gen dual-core i3 processor is blazing-fast and makes sure nothing ever lags or slows down. The rest of the internals are outright monstrous as well, offering you 8 GBs of internal memory and 128 GB NVMe storage for better read/write speeds. We’re definitely looking at a special Chromebook here that’s powered with technical specifications like no other. An 11th generation i3 processor can outclass the 10th generation i7 CPU, which should be enough to endorse the potential of this Chromebook’s performance. You also get Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, both of which are built for the future.
The best part is, everything above was all about the base model of the CX5. ASUS has manufactured multiple configurations for this Chromebook where the processor goes as up as a quad-core i7, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16 GB internal memory, and 512 GB NVMe storage. On the other hand, the pricing also increases subsequentially, but to talk about the base model, $569 is an exceptionally affordable price for the value you’re getting here.
3. Battery Life
Being a large Chromebook, the battery life of the CX5 is quite satisfactory, lasting about 8-10 hours of runtime on a full charge. It’s not up there with the likes of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet or other Chromebooks that are the kings of battery life, but it’s still enough to get you through the whole day without having to worry about the battery dying on you anytime soon.
Sporting a USB-C port for charging, the CX5 charges up to 50% somewhere around 45 minutes. A full charge will take you about 2-3 hours at best.
4. Final Thoughts
The ASUS Chromebook CX5 is a marvelous Chromebook with performance levels that are second to none on the Chrome OS market right now. It wields a great build quality and design, a superb duo of trackpad and keyboard, high-end speakers, and decent battery life. All that for an affordable price of $569 is enough to set you up for the next 5-10 years without breaking a sweat. We highly recommend getting the CX5 if your budget allows you to since this device offers unreal value for money and quite possibly delivers one of the best Chrome OS experiences to date.
