Acer
Acer has two updates to existing models, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 and the Chromebook Plus 516 GE. These were already two of my favorite Chromebooks, and they’ve now been updated with new Intel chips. The Spin 714 starts with an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U processor, while the 516 GE has a Core 5 120U processor. Both of these laptops already had solid performance, but it’s good to get them with the latest chips Intel has to offer.
The Spin 714 retains the lovely 14-inch touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge and 1,920 x 1,200 resolution; it also has up to 16GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage. The 516 GE is one of the most gaming-oriented Chromebooks you can buy – which is why it has features like a large 16-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a 120Hz refresh rate. It also has customizable RGB keyboard lights and anti-ghosting technology, an ethernet port and Wi-Fi 6E. You can get up to 2 TB of storage and 16 GB of RAM on this machine. Despite its gaming focus, I found it to be the best performance-oriented large-screen Chromebook you can buy, no matter what you want to do with it. The Spin starts at $714,700 and the 516 GE starts at $650; both are available at Best Buy for starters.
ASUS
Perhaps the most interesting new device from ASUS is the ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus, a high-end laptop that should compete with Acer’s Spin 714. Given its highfalutin name, it’s no surprise that you can get the ExpertBook CX54 up to an Intel Core 7 processor. , coupled with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The display also sounds remarkable: the 14-inch touchscreen has a resolution of 2560 x 1600, a significantly higher pixel density than the Spin 714. It also has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera, as well as two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and an HDMI port – which will allow you to connect three external monitors. Finally, there are two USB-A ports and a microSD slot, which makes this laptop a good choice if you need to connect multiple devices. ASUS has not yet announced when the device will be available or how much it will cost.
The company is also updating the Chromebook Plus CX34 with a 13th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, though that extra power will cost you more — it’s on sale for $499 at Best Buy, compared to the $399 you can get at Target with the 12th generation. -gen i3 chip.
ASUS also has a new 2-in-1 Chromebook, the CM30. I’ve had a few Chromebooks like this over the years, but never used them. Regardless, the CM30 has a 10.5-inch 1920 x 1200 display and 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $299. It includes a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, so it won’t be a performance beast. But if you want a small device for your child, this could be a decent option.
HP
Confusingly, HP has two new models, both of which come as “Plus” and “Non-Plus” variants, for lack of a better descriptor. The HP Chromebook 14-inch and HP Chromebook x360 14-inch both come with Intel’s N100 or N200 processors, both of which only have four cores. Plus models come with a Core i3-N305 chip that offers eight cores. Both chips were introduced in early 2023, so they’re not the most current, but it’s safe to say that of the two options, you should prefer the i3 options.
The two models are actually pretty similar, with the main difference being the x360’s hinge, which allows you to flip the laptop all the way around, a gimmick that many Chromebooks have offered over the years that I don’t find useful. However, your mileage may vary. Both laptops have 1080p displays (the HP Chromebook Plus 14 offers touch and non-touch options), while the x360 has slimmer bezels. Both have two USB-C ports and one USB-A port and come with 8GB of RAM or 128 or 256GB of storage. If you want the lightest option, the x360 weighs just over 3 pounds, while the standard model weighs 3.2 pounds.
The 14-inch HP Chromebook starts at $249 at Walmart – while its processor isn’t the fastest, it’s not bad for a budget option. You can get the Plus model at CostCo for $449. As for the Chromebook Plus x360, it will set you back $429 at Walmart.
What to buy?
While Google has standardized things by using the Plus tag to assure people that they are getting a certain level of performance, there are still many options on the market to sort through. While HP’s $429 x360 Plus sounds like a solid choice, both of Acer’s new laptops should be good for people who spend more for a higher-end experience. He said that, lovely Chromebook it’s probably still Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5i, but I’ll dig into those laptops soon and see if any of them offer a better value.
