Asus Chromebook Flip
It wasn’t until the Asus Chromebook Flip that the concept of “premium Chromebook” was fully realized. This portable attempts to show the world what exactly a premium Chromebook should look and feel like while still keeping things fairly affordable to mere mortals.
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The Asus Chromebook Flip is lightweight with a svelte chassis that comes with that versatile, 2-in-1 form factor and the kind of performance you might expect from a flagship like the Google Pixelbook. It even goes above and beyond by preserving the value that people look for when shopping for a Chromebook, keeping the price tag down in that affordable, mid-range level.
Simply, the Asus Chromebook Flip is not only among the best Asus laptops out there. It’s also one of the best Chromebooks and one of the best laptops in the mid-range sphere.
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Spec Sheet
CPU: 0.99Ghz Intel Core m3-6Y30 (dual core, 4MB cache, up to 2.2GHz)
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 515
RAM: 4GB LPDDR3
Screen: 12.5-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) LED backlit anti-glare
Storage: 64GB eMMC + TPM
Ports: 2 x USB 3.1 Type-C (Gen 1), microSD card reader, headset jack
Connectivity: Intel 2x2 802.11ac; Bluetooth 4.2
Camera: 720p webcam
Weight: 2.6 pounds (1.18kg)
Size: 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (33 x 23.1 x 2.29cm; W x D x H)
Pricing and availability
When the Asus Chromebook Flip first hit the streets, it went for $649 (about £509, AU$926) with an Intel Core m5 processor, 64GB storage and 4GB RAM. That was definitely a huge price tag for a Chromebook.
However, because the Asus Chromebook Flip has been available for a while now, you should be able to find some great deals out there.
If you’ve been contemplating getting an HP Chromebook, the HP Chromebook 14 may be marginally bigger and come with an Intel Celeron N2940 processor, Intel HD Graphics 500, 4 GB memory and 32 GB eMMC storage. However, it’s considerably cheaper at $299 (about £234, AU$426).
At the same time, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 for work goes for around $766 (about £604, AU$1,112) with an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and 64GB of flash storage.
The Samsung Chromebook Plus is unquestionably the biggest rival here, as it goes for about $499 (about £349, AU$725) and comes with an ARM CPU, a sharper 2,400 x 1,600 display and a built-in stylus, though it is fitted with half the storage and memory.
Samsung’s model also comes with a Pro SKU, which has the same Intel Core m3 CPU as the Asus Chromebook Flip, for $599 (about £472, AU$870) – however, again, with only half the storage and memory.
Finally, there’s the Acer Chromebook R13, which also boasts a convertible build, with a full HD display for $369 (£399, about AU$536). Though, the 2.1GHz quad-core chip comes from MediaTek, instead of Intel.
Design
Like the Asus Chromebook C100 before it, the Asus Chromebook Flip is fitted in an all-aluminium chassis, though this time it comes with an anodized finish instead of a brushed texture. Overall, it has a clean, no nonsense look, and folds up to a nearly symmetrical slab of metal.
Luckily, the original Chromebook C100’s long, bar-shaped hinge has been succeeded by the ZenBook Flip UX360’s multi-gear, metal mechanism. These two smaller hinges help this laptop feel less like a toy and also allows it to look like a regular notebook.
Weighing in at 2.6 pounds (1.19kg), the Asus Chromebook Flip is one of the most lightweight Chromebooks around, only 0.3 lbs heavier than the Samsung Chromebook Plus. It’s also one of the first convertible Chrome OS computers you’ll actually want to use in tablet mode, unlike the 3.3-pound (1.5kg) Acer Chromebook R13.
In all, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 continues in the footsteps of every other unibody laptop inspired by the MacBook Pro in recent years. However, the straight edges, rounded corners and 0.9 inch (2.29cm) slim frame all add up to a smart design that contends with HP and Google’s more premium models, but at a significantly lower price tag.
Portability aside, the Asus Chromebook Flip seems to have been specifically designed for tablet use. Asus has added a clever magnetic clasp that pulls the screen lid tight to the underside of the notebook. It’s an inspired detail that helps the 2-in-1 Chromebook feel like one solid machine rather than a foldable electronic, and we’re surprised this solution hasn’t come sooner.
When you’re not using the Asus Chromebook Flip in tablet mode, it relies on an excellent keyboard that makes it as familiar and comfortable as any traditional laptop. The keys provide a satisfying 1.4mm of crisp key travel that’s been missing in a world of ultra-thin notebooks.
As for the trackpad, we can only say that it’s there and it exists. It offers accurate tracking, but lacks any multi-touch features or two-finger scrolling, which is nothing to write home about.
Android apps on tap
Having a functioning tablet mode is becoming more and more common in Chrome OS devices as Google is steadily improving the platform’s Android integration. The Asus Chromebook Flip did not originally launch with access to the Play Store, so we had to switch over onto Chrome OS beta channel in order to download apps during our time with the device.
This has since been fixed by Asus, and now the device completely supports Google Play Store Android apps.
Currently, the hybrid Chromebook is fully outfitted to plumb the depths of the Android ecosystem. We booted up our favorite apps just as we would on any Google tablet. To our surprise, the hybrid Chromebook is also furnished with gyroscopes, allowing us to play motion-controlled games like Asphalt 8.
Regrettably, not everything about running Android apps is perfect. Slack and many other useful apps that we regularly use on a smartphone don’t scale quite right on Chromebooks, leaving us with very small text on certain apps. Additionally, the Kindle app isn’t available on full screen mode in portrait orientation.
Mobile apps are made with consideration for a touchscreen interface, and at times this doesn’t translate well to the touchpad and keyboard setup of the Asus Chromebook Flip. Of course, it’s easy to switch the hybrid to tablet mode.
We chalk these flaws up to the beta version of Chrome OS, which corrected some problems and introduced new ones during the course of our review.
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Despite these issues, we’re thankful we don’t have to search through the beleaguered Chrome Web Store full of knockoff apps and games. Having access to the Play Store gives us that many more useful programs on the Asus Chromebook Flip.
We enjoy using Android apps in tablet mode just as much as sitting down with the Asus Chromebook Flip as a conventional Chromebook for long browsing and writing sessions. The hybridization of Google’s two platforms also finally allows us use mobile apps along with the staple elements of Chrome OS.
First reviewed November 2017
Images Credit: TechRadar
Benchmarks
Here’s how the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 performed in our suite of benchmark tests:
Octane: 21,900
Mozilla Kraken: 1,276ms
JetStream: 123
Battery Life (TechRadar movie test): 10 hours and 46 minutes
Intel Core M-series CPUs might just be the perfect processors to power Chromebooks, seeing as they deliver more performance than your typical Celeron chip while also being more efficient. And, that’s not just us saying that: the benchmark results prove it.
With its Intel Core m3 CPU, the Asus Chromebook Flip runs almost twice as fast as the Dell Chromebook 13 with a Celeron processor. That said, this hybrid doesn’t quite have the juice to keep up with the Intel Core i5-powered Acer Chromebook 14 for Work or the Core m5 chip inside the discontinued HP Chromebook 13 (the newer HP Chromebook 13 G1 has better specs, albeit a higher price tag), even if it’s only a quarter less power.
Regardless of the actual specs, the Asus Chromebook Flip’s performance is incredible, even with two Chrome windows open with 12 tabs each. Alongside our heavy browsing habits, we also had Google Music playing in the background and the Slack Android app open.
Battery life
Chromebooks are known for having a long battery life, and the Asus Chromebook Flip continues that tradition. In fact, it’s the longest-lasting premium Chromebook we’ve tested at the time of this review, having ran for an impressive 10 hours and 46 minutes during our standard local movie playback test.
In contrast, the Acer Chromebook 14 ended its run an hour and 10 minutes sooner while the HP Chromebook 13 only managed just a minute over eight hours.
With our typical workload, however, the Asus Chromebook Flip did run just a bit short of making the eight-hour, all-day battery life mark. Still, you can boost battery life dramatically by running less tasks, turning off the keyboard backlight and reducing the display brightness.
Screen and speakers
Although the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 only comes with a 1,920 x 1,080 display, FHD is really all you need on a 12.5-inch screen. It’s not as sharp as the QHD HP Chromebook 13, but the lower pixel count offers two more hours of battery life – a tradeoff that many folks would happily make.
Still, text and photos stay crisp and the colors rich, which are exactly what we hope to see in a companion device to flip through e-comics, watch online videos and browse through envy-worthy travel photos. Run-of-the-mill contrast levels – dark pixels often falling off to deep blacks – is the only weak part of the display. Nevertheless, it’s a step up from most Chromebooks, and we favor this over muddy grays.
As far as audio, the Asus Chromebook Flip’s speakers don’t offer much nuance to really appreciate music. They can get loud, but the frequency is a little bit tinny, which limits how high you can set the volume before it’s unbearable. Do your ears a favor, and opt for a pair of headphones if you’re in the mood to rock out.
Final verdict
If you’ve been considering switching to a premium Chromebook, the Asus Chromebook Flip has a hundred reasons (read: dollars, pounds … you get it) to make you go for it. That isn’t a huge price bump considering that the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 rises to its premium status with a stunning screen and a much improved keyboard, more than what some Ultrabooks can offer.
Additionally, this is the first Chromebook that really feels as comfortable to use as a tablet as it is in traditional laptop mode. While the Samsung Chromebook Pro almost makes this version irrelevant with its sharper screen and built-in stylus, it doesn’t hold a charge quite as long and isn’t any more powerful.
For now, the Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is king of the Chrome OS hill and still is a worthy Chromebook candidate, even in 2019.
Images Credit: TechRadar
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