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Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 in review: 1,200 Euros for a Chromebook?

Expensive.

The 2-in-1 Chromebook from Asus has a good hardware configuration, a backlit keyboard, and a USB-C port with Power Delivery. The IPS touchscreen display can be used both with fingers as well as with a separately purchasable stylus.
Chromebook Convertible / 2-in-1 Tiger Lake Touchscreen

With the Chromebook Flip CX5, Asus introduces a 15.6-inch 2-in-1 laptop that is powered by a Core-i7-1165G7 processor. As the name already reveals, the operating system isn't Microsoft's Windows 10 here, but rather Google's Chrome OS. The competition includes devices like the HP Pavilion x360 15, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05, the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA (Chromebook Flip CX5 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-1165G7 4 x 2.8 - 4.7 GHz, Tiger Lake-UP3
Graphics adapter
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Core: 1300 MHz
Memory
16 GB 
, LPDDR4X
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, capacitive, 10 touchpoints, native pen support, IPS, capacitive, 10 touchpoints, glossy: yes, 60 Hz
Storage
512 GB NVMe (M.2-2280), 450 GB free
Connections
3 USB 3.1 Gen2, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: combined headset port, Card Reader: microSD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Sensors: acceleration, gyroscope
Networking
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 18.5 x 357 x 240 ( = 0.73 x 14.06 x 9.45 in)
Battery
57 Wh, 4940 mAh Lithium-Polymer, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 11 h
Operating System
Google Chrome OS
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.95 kg ( = 68.78 oz / 4.3 pounds), Power Supply: 179 g ( = 6.31 oz / 0.39 pounds)
Price
1 Euro
Links
Asus homepage
Asus notebook section
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Price
83.6 %
v7 (old)
09 / 2021
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs		2 kg18.5 mm15.60"1920x1080
80.8 %
v7 (old)
07 / 2021
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs		1.8 kg19.9 mm15.60"1920x1080
79.2 %
v7 (old)
05 / 2021
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
R7 5700U, Vega 8		1.6 kg20.8 mm14.00"1920x1080
79.1 %
v7 (old)
06 / 2021
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
i5-1135G7, Xe MAX		1.5 kg18.7 mm14.00"1920x1080
86.2 %
v7 (old)
04 / 2021
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620		1.4 kg16.8 mm13.50"2256x1504

Case and connectivity - Asus convertible offers Power Delivery

The two-tone case of the CX5 is mostly made of plastic. Only the lid's back is crafted from aluminum. The chassis appears to be well-made and doesn't reveal any major stability flaws. However, the base unit should be more rigid, as it can be twisted a bit too much. The battery is firmly built into the device. The internals are accessible after removing the bottom cover.

Asus equips the laptop with three USB ports (1x Type-A, 2x Type-C), all of which operate according to the USB 3.2 Gen 2 standard. The USB-C interfaces support Power Delivery and DisplayPort via USB-C. As a result, the laptop has three video outputs together with the HDMI output.

The microSD memory card reader (reference card: 128 GB AV Pro V60 microSD) ranks in the lower midfield in terms of speed. The WLAN chip (Intel AX201) supports the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards and offers Bluetooth 5 functionality.

Size comparison

❌
357.6 mm / 14.1 in 229.2 mm / 9.02 in 19.9 mm / 0.783 in 1.8 kg3.95 lbs357 mm / 14.1 in 240 mm / 9.45 in 18.5 mm / 0.728 in 2 kg4.3 lbs324 mm / 12.8 in 220 mm / 8.66 in 18.7 mm / 0.736 in 1.5 kg3.31 lbs321.5 mm / 12.7 in 217.5 mm / 8.56 in 20.8 mm / 0.819 in 1.6 kg3.43 lbs301 mm / 11.9 in 235 mm / 9.25 in 16.8 mm / 0.661 in 1.4 kg3.02 lbs297 mm / 11.7 in 210 mm / 8.27 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Port configuration

Right side: memory card reader (microSD), HDMI, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C; Power Delivery, DisplayPort)
Right side: memory card reader (microSD), HDMI, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C; Power Delivery, DisplayPort)
Left side: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C; Power Delivery, DisplayPort), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), combo audio, volume rocker, power button
Left side: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C; Power Delivery, DisplayPort), USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A), combo audio, volume rocker, power button
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Average of class Convertible
  (22.4 - 209, n=27, last 2 years)
76.8 MB/s +35%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
74.3 MB/s +30%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
74.3 MB/s +30%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
57 MB/s 0%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
  (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60)
57 MB/s
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
26.6 MB/s -53%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Average of class Convertible
  (25.2 - 263, n=26, last 2 years)
114.1 MB/s
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
88.1 MB/s
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
85.3 MB/s
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
27.6 MB/s
ColorChecker
28.8 ∆E
27.8 ∆E
30.1 ∆E
24.7 ∆E
31.1 ∆E
17.5 ∆E
21.5 ∆E
33.1 ∆E
22.4 ∆E
25.3 ∆E
17.7 ∆E
16.3 ∆E
28.5 ∆E
22.1 ∆E
22.8 ∆E
14.4 ∆E
24.5 ∆E
24.1 ∆E
1.8 ∆E
11.3 ∆E
25.3 ∆E
25 ∆E
20.7 ∆E
14.4 ∆E
ColorChecker HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng: 22.13 ∆E min: 1.76 - max: 33.13 ∆E
ColorChecker
29.3 ∆E
22.5 ∆E
29.1 ∆E
28.9 ∆E
26.1 ∆E
18 ∆E
22 ∆E
32.8 ∆E
21.2 ∆E
22.4 ∆E
17.1 ∆E
22.6 ∆E
27.4 ∆E
28.1 ∆E
22.7 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
23.1 ∆E
30.5 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
12.5 ∆E
22.9 ∆E
25.9 ∆E
24.6 ∆E
2.8 ∆E
ColorChecker Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V: 21.99 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 32.77 ∆E
ColorChecker
9.4 ∆E
18.2 ∆E
15.9 ∆E
3.5 ∆E
12.9 ∆E
15.8 ∆E
23.8 ∆E
25.4 ∆E
18.7 ∆E
8 ∆E
7.9 ∆E
6.9 ∆E
27.8 ∆E
21.3 ∆E
19 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
16.5 ∆E
15.5 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
11.8 ∆E
22.3 ∆E
19.2 ∆E
11.8 ∆E
20.8 ∆E
ColorChecker Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ: 15.33 ∆E min: 2.33 - max: 27.76 ∆E
ColorChecker
15.6 ∆E
14 ∆E
17.1 ∆E
17.6 ∆E
16.1 ∆E
13.4 ∆E
13.9 ∆E
18.4 ∆E
18.3 ∆E
12.2 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
12.7 ∆E
12.3 ∆E
12.2 ∆E
19.1 ∆E
10.9 ∆E
17.2 ∆E
14.4 ∆E
2.5 ∆E
8.8 ∆E
10.9 ∆E
12 ∆E
9.2 ∆E
8.2 ∆E
ColorChecker Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS: 13.32 ∆E min: 2.53 - max: 19.13 ∆E

Input devices - The CX5500FEA comes with keyboard backlighting

The flat keys of the backlit chiclet keyboard have a short travel and a clear pressure point. The resistance provided by the keys is acceptable. The keyboard yields minimally during typing. This didn't prove to be annoying, though. All in all, Asus delivers a keyboard that is suitable for everyday use here. Moreover, the smooth surface of the multitouch-capable ClickPad (approx. 13 x 6.6 cm) makes it easy for fingers to glide on it. The pad has a short travel and a clear pressure point.

Input devices of the Chromebook Flip CX5
Input devices of the Chromebook Flip CX5

The touchscreen (10 touchpoints) responds quickly to inputs. It can be operated with the fingers as well as with the Asus Stylus Pen SA300 (starting at 55 Euros (~$65)), which can be purchased separately.

Asus Stylus Pen SA300
Asus Stylus Pen SA300

Display - IPS on board

While the glossy 15.6-inch touchscreen display (1920x1080 pixels) delivers a good contrast (1,880:1), the average brightness (259.1 cd/m²) is too low. We consider values beyond 300 cd/m² to be good. On the other hand, PWM flickering was not detected.

285
cd/m²		261
cd/m²		266
cd/m²
255
cd/m²		282
cd/m²		241
cd/m²
250
cd/m²		253
cd/m²		239
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 285 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 259.1 cd/m² Minimum: 7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 84 %
Center on Battery: 284 cd/m²
Contrast: 1880:1 (Black: 0.15 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.55 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.88
ΔE Greyscale 4.97 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
Gamma: 2.41
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"		HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
AU Optronics AUOC48A, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"		Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
Chi Mei N140HCA-E5B, IPS, 1920x1080, 14"		Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Chi Mei CMN N140HCA-EAC, IPS, 1920x1080, 14"		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
IPS, 2256x1504, 13.5"
Display
Display P3 Coverage
39.8
42.32
41.6
sRGB Coverage
59.7
62.7
62.1
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
41.1
43.87
43
Response Times
-12%
2%
-8%
27%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
35 ?(16, 19)
42 ?(19, 23)
-20%
38.4 ?(23.2, 15.2)
-10%
39 ?(20, 19)
-11%
36 ?(10, 26)
-3%
Response Time Black / White *
27 ?(15, 12)
28 ?(15, 13)
-4%
23.2 ?(12.4, 10.8)
14%
28 ?(16, 12)
-4%
12 ?(3, 9)
56%
PWM Frequency
25000 ?(20)
200 ?(40)
Screen
-25%
-55%
-37%
-14%
Brightness middle
282
249
-12%
236.7
-16%
205
-27%
426
51%
Brightness
259
246
-5%
221
-15%
186
-28%
388
50%
Brightness Distribution
84
93
11%
81
-4%
78
-7%
85
1%
Black Level *
0.15
0.29
-93%
0.2
-33%
0.22
-47%
0.56
-273%
Contrast
1880
859
-54%
1184
-37%
932
-50%
761
-60%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.55
6.01
-8%
7.83
-41%
5.14
7%
2.25
59%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.46
11.01
-48%
23.74
-218%
19.57
-162%
5.29
29%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.97
4.67
6%
8.6
-73%
4.1
18%
3.53
29%
Gamma
2.41 91%
2.79 79%
1.96 112%
2.2 100%
2.32 95%
CCT
6473 100%
6390 102%
5901 110%
6807 95%
6368 102%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
40.3
43.04
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59
62.3
62.1
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
3.8
3.17
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-19% / -23%
-27% / -43%
-23% / -31%
7% / -6%

* ... smaller is better

Display Response Times

ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
   ↔    Response Time Black to White
27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15 ms rise
↘ 12 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 65 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
35 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 45 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (32.6 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8529 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

The display offers a very decent color reproduction, but it misses the target (DeltaE less than 3) with a deviation of nearly 5.5. It doesn't suffer from a blue tint, though.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color saturation

The viewing-angle stable IPS panel can be read from any position. Outdoors, this is usually hindered by the glossy screen surface and the low display brightness.

The CX5 outdoors.
The CX5 outdoors.

Performance - Asus uses Tiger Lake

With the Chromebook Flip CX5, Asus has a 15.6-inch Chromebook convertible in its lineup that provides sufficient performance for office and Internet applications.

Processor

The Core i7-1165G7 quad-core processor (Tiger Lake) operates at a base clock rate of 2.8 GHz. An increase to 4.1 GHz (four cores) or 4.7 GHz (one core) is possible via Turbo. Hyper-Threading (two threads per core) is supported.

The processor performs well in the browser benchmarks, delivering above-average results.

Geekbench 5.5 | Sunspider | Octane V2 | Mozilla Kraken 1.1 | WebXPRT 3 | JetStream 1.1 | Jetstream 2
Geekbench 5.5
Single-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (806 - 2275, n=62, last 2 years)
1712 Points +31%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (1302 - 1595, n=77)
1524 Points +17%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1417 Points +9%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1401 Points +8%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7
1302 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
1186 Points -9%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
949 Points -27%
Multi-Core
Average of class Convertible
  (2188 - 22023, n=62, last 2 years)
9168 Points +137%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U
6630 Points +71%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Core i5-1135G7
5329 Points +38%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (3078 - 5926, n=77)
5155 Points +33%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7
5059 Points +31%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7
3872 Points
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
3314 Points -14%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U (Chrome 90)
251.5 ms * -85%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Chrome 92)
135.9 ms *
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (134.3 - 135.9, n=2)
135.1 ms * +1%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (50984 - 123023, n=13, last 2 years)
87648 Points +35%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Chrome 92)
65153 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (57117 - 68127, n=21)
63893 Points -2%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Edge 91)
58872 Points -10%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U (Chrome 90)
41604 Points -36%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U (Chrome 90)
1067 ms * -81%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (Chrome 82)
796 ms * -35%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Chrome 82)
712 ms * -20%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Chrome 82)
711 ms * -20%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (591 - 795, n=79)
653 ms * -10%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Chrome 92)
591 ms *
Average of class Convertible
  (407 - 1089, n=65, last 2 years)
555 ms * +6%
WebXPRT 3 - Overall
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Chrome 92)
314 Points
Average of class Convertible
  (171 - 426, n=64, last 2 years)
279 Points -11%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (196 - 314, n=74)
252 Points -20%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Chrome 82)
240 Points -24%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (Chrome 82)
217 Points -31%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U (Chrome 90)
190 Points -39%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
398 Points +26%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Chrome 92)
314.9 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (258 - 356, n=17)
293 Points -7%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7 (Edge 91)
275.4 Points -13%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U (Chrome 90)
191.3 Points -39%
Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score
Average of class Convertible
  (127.2 - 435, n=24, last 2 years)
286 Points +54%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7 (Chrome 92)
185.4 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (161.5 - 209, n=30)
175.1 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U (Edge 90.0.818.49)
148.3 Points -20%

* ... smaller is better

System performance

The smooth system didn't cause any problems. Chrome OS is loaded quickly, and applications are launched promptly. The processor provides more than enough computing power for office and Internet applications.

RAM (16 GB, LPDDR4X) is soldered and can't be expanded.
RAM (16 GB, LPDDR4X) is soldered and can't be expanded.
PCMark for Android: Work 3.0 | Storage 2.0
CrXPRT 2: Score | Photo Effects | Face Detection | Offline Notes | Stocks Dashboard | DNA Sequence Analysis | 3D Shapes
PCMark for Android / Work 3.0
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
12778 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
12778 Points 0%
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
10843 Points -15%
PCMark for Android / Storage 2.0
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
20627 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
20627 Points 0%
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
2368 Points -89%
CrXPRT 2 / Score
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
181 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
181 Points 0%
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
109 Points -40%
CrXPRT 2 / Photo Effects
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
355 Points +72%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
206 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
206 Points 0%
CrXPRT 2 / Face Detection
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
2979 Points +93%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
1546 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
1546 Points 0%
CrXPRT 2 / Offline Notes
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
127 Points +74%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
73 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
73 Points 0%
CrXPRT 2 / Stocks Dashboard
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
161 Points +40%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
115 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
115 Points 0%
CrXPRT 2 / DNA Sequence Analysis
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
443 Points +155%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
174 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
174 Points 0%
CrXPRT 2 / 3D Shapes
Average of class Convertible
  (n=1last 2 years)
5324 Points +3%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7
5149 Points
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
5149 Points 0%

Storage

Asus equips the CX5 with a 512 GB NVMe SSD (M.2-2280). Replacing the SSD is possible.

An NVMe SSD serves as system drive.
An NVMe SSD serves as system drive.

Graphics card

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EU graphics core (400 to 1,300 MHz) is in charge of graphics output. A decoder that is integrated into the GPU can unload the processor when playing videos in common formats like H.264 and HEVC/H.265.

3DMark
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Unlimited Graphics
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
28890 Points
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (n=1)
28890 Points 0%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-10210U
8007 Points -72%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score
Average of class Convertible
  (55846 - 642928, n=5, last 2 years)
337309 Points +80%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, Intel Core i5-1135G7
271921 Points +45%
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (159203 - 375145, n=42)
231970 Points +24%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
187300 Points
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
167562 Points -11%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-10210U
79523 Points -58%

Emissions and energy - The Asus Chromebook provides good battery life

Noise emissions

Overall, the convertible generates little noise. The fan often stands still in everyday use and silence prevails. The fan only turns up when the hardware load is high. A maximum sound pressure level of 41.8 dB(A) is a normal value for a device in this performance class.

Noise Level

Idle
26 / 26 / 26 dB(A)
Load
28.5 / 41.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
  
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 26 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2027.924.628.227.92531.327.932.231.33129.129.131.929.14026.32527.826.35028.729.428.628.76323.920.82423.98018.11822.618.110017.917.918.317.912519.618.418.419.616021.818.616.921.820023.219.31623.225020.316.814.220.331523.516.413.723.540024.216.11324.250025.415.612.525.463026.215.312.426.280026.716.112.626.7100027.816.712.427.8125031.619.912.731.6160031.716.312.931.7200036.416.313.736.4250031.51613.731.5315027.915.21427.940002715.114.127500025.815.214.425.8630022.915.314.522.9800021.316.715.121.31000023.918.21523.91250023.817.21523.81600018.715.413.518.7SPL41.928.525.941.9N3.41.10.73.4median 24.2median 16.3median 14median 24.2Delta2.91.41.12.9hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs		HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs		Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000)		Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Noise
-3%
-5%
-16%
3%
off / environment *
26
26
-0%
24.6
5%
29.95
-15%
24.9
4%
Idle Minimum *
26
26
-0%
24.9
4%
29.95
-15%
24.9
4%
Idle Average *
26
26
-0%
24.9
4%
29.95
-15%
27
-4%
Idle Maximum *
26
26
-0%
24.9
4%
29.95
-15%
29.9
-15%
Load Average *
28.5
35.1
-23%
41.1
-44%
39.84
-40%
26.8
6%
Load Maximum *
41.8
39.6
5%
43.5
-4%
39.84
5%
32.9
21%
Witcher 3 ultra *
43.5
42.3

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The Chromebook doesn't heat up too much. Under load (Octane V2 and Jetstream benchmarks running in a loop), the 40 °C (~104 °F) mark is exceeded at one measuring point. In everyday use (office and Internet applications), the values clearly remain in the green range.

Max. Load
 34.9 °C
95 F		36.9 °C
98 F		29.6 °C
85 F		 
 31.7 °C
89 F		28 °C
82 F		26.6 °C
80 F		 
 25.4 °C
78 F		24.8 °C
77 F		23.9 °C
75 F		 
Maximum: 36.9 °C = 98 F
Average: 29.1 °C = 84 F
28.5 °C
83 F		34.5 °C
94 F		41.4 °C
107 F
26.5 °C
80 F		31 °C
88 F		30.6 °C
87 F
24.2 °C
76 F		24.9 °C
77 F		25.7 °C
78 F
Maximum: 41.4 °C = 107 F
Average: 29.7 °C = 85 F
Power Supply (max.)  37.5 °C = 100 F | Room Temperature 22.4 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 29.1 °C / 84 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.9 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 60 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41.4 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 23.5 °C / 74 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.4 °C / 77.7 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28 °C / 82.4 F (+2.6 °C / 4.7 F).
Heat development - Top (load)
Heat development - Top (load)
Heat development - Top (idle)
Heat development - Top (idle)
Heat development - Bottom (load)
Heat development - Bottom (load)
Heat development - Bottom (idle)
Heat development - Bottom (idle)
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs		HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs		Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000)		Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Heat
-5%
-33%
-10%
10%
Maximum Upper Side *
36.9
39.9
-8%
52.8
-43%
41
-11%
31.8
14%
Maximum Bottom *
41.4
43.1
-4%
42.8
-3%
41.2
-0%
36
13%
Idle Upper Side *
25.4
26.3
-4%
31.8
-25%
29.6
-17%
24.1
5%
Idle Bottom *
26.9
27.4
-2%
43
-60%
30
-12%
24.6
9%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The stereo speakers produce a decent sound, but it hardly features any bass.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2027.128.227.12528.932.228.93130.331.930.34023.727.823.75030.528.630.56327.52427.58036.922.636.910044.518.344.512551.618.451.616054.416.954.420048.61648.625058.914.258.93156713.76740069.81369.850068.812.568.863068.912.468.980075.212.675.2100073.712.473.7125070.712.770.716007212.972200070.213.770.2250068.113.768.1315066.51466.5400069.414.169.4500070.314.470.3630077.314.577.380008215.1821000084.11584.11250075.31575.31600073.813.573.8SPL87.325.987.3N69.50.769.5median 69.8median 14median 69.8Delta4.71.14.720.921.920.927.232.127.228.335.528.319.22419.220.12620.120.321.720.316.722.816.717.920.517.916.318.616.321.214.521.228.614.528.647.213.547.253.914.353.957.113.457.15912.65961.710.561.768.911.368.97011.5707111.37171.811.371.876.212.176.276.512.476.576.412.876.477.61377.681.513.381.576.513.676.580.71480.781.914.581.974.713.274.762.913.262.988.724.888.771.40.671.4median 71median 13.2median 7113.41.313.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEAAcer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.8% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.7% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (12.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 14% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 84% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 10% of all tested devices were better, 2% similar, 88% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%

Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (81.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 40.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.5% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7.7% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (25.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 77% of all tested devices in this class were better, 5% similar, 18% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 76% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 19% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%

Energy consumption

The Asus laptop doesn't display any irregularities in terms of energy consumption. The device is quite frugal throughout the entire load range. The rated power of the included USB-C power adapter is 45 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 0.5 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.4 / 6.5 / 7.8 Watt
Load midlight 12.5 / 30.1 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs		HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs		Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
AMD Ryzen 7 5700U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 4000/5000)		Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Power Consumption
-61%
-74%
-168%
-14%
Idle Minimum *
3.4
5.4
-59%
4
-18%
8.6
-153%
2.7
21%
Idle Average *
6.5
8.8
-35%
6.6
-2%
9.56
-47%
5.5
15%
Idle Maximum *
7.8
10.4
-33%
7
10%
25.82
-231%
6.7
14%
Load Average *
12.5
33
-164%
42.6
-241%
47
-276%
25
-100%
Load Maximum *
30.1
34.6
-15%
65.5
-118%
69.48
-131%
36
-20%
Witcher 3 ultra *
33.6
40.8
45.9

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

The Asus CX5 achieves a runtime of 9:21 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test. Here, a script is used to simulate the load caused by accessing websites.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Chrome 92)
9h 21min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14ALC05 82HU002YUS
R7 5700U, Vega 8, 52 Wh
738 min +32%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, 50.3 Wh
619 min +10%
Average of class Convertible
  (305 - 981, n=63, last 2 years)
617 min +10%
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 57 Wh
561 min
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ
i5-1135G7, Xe MAX, 42 Wh
440.9 min -21%
HP Pavilion x360 15-er0155ng
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 43.3 Wh
408 min -27%

Pros

+ IPS display
+ NVMe SSD
+ hardly warms up
+ operates quietly most of the time
+ good battery life
+ backlit keyboard
+ USB 3.2 Gen 2
+ DisplayPort via USB-C
+ Power Delivery
+ three video outputs
+ ax WLAN
+ Android apps can be used

Cons

- reflective display surface
- soldered RAM (not expandable)
- high price

Verdict - Asus sets the CX5's price level too high

The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA-E60012 (90NX0361-M00120), provided by Asus Germany.
The Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA-E60012 (90NX0361-M00120), provided by Asus Germany.

A Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16 GB of RAM (onboard, not expandable), and a 512 GB NVMe SSD (M.2-2280) equip the CX5 for every imaginable application scenario involving a Chromebook. The device usually runs quietly to silently, and it hardly heats up.

The configuration variant of the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 at hand offers a poor price-performance ratio.

The convertible doesn't lack endurance. One battery charge is enough for a Wi-Fi runtime of 9:21 hours - this is good, but not outstanding for a Chromebook. Good: The CX5 can be charged via both USB-C ports (USB 3.2 Gen 2; DisplayPort, Power Delivery).

The touchscreen display (Full HD, IPS) scores points with stable viewing angles, decent color reproduction, and good contrast. The brightness is too low, though. In addition, it has a glossy surface. A 1,200-Euro (~$1,418) device should do much better in this respect. The touchscreen can be operated using the fingers as well as the Asus Stylus Pen SA300 (starting at 55 Euros (~$65), which can be purchased separately.

This configuration variant of the CX5 is the most powerful Chromebook that we have reviewed so far. This fact results in the device's main problem: It costs just under 1,200 Euros (~$1,418) - a lot of money for a 2-in-1 laptop with a narrow range of applications. The entry-level model (Core i3-1115G4, 8 GB of RAM, a 128 GB SSD; around 599 Euros (~$708)) of the series would be a more coherent choice.

An alternative to the Chromebook Flip CX5 would be the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W. It "only" has a 13.5-inch display, but it's in the 3:2 format. Furthermore, the device offers slightly better battery life and a full-metal case. The prices start at 550 Euros (~$650).

Price and availability

At the time of writing, the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 is listed as "coming soon" in the United States. You can preorder an entry-level model of the device (Core i3-1110G4, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, stylus) on Amazon for $699. A version with the Core i7-1160G7, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB SSD is available for preorder in the manufacturer's online store for $1,049.99.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA - 09/04/2021 v7 (old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
75 / 98 → 77%
Keyboard
80%
Pointing Device
85%
Connectivity
54 / 75 → 72%
Weight
64 / 20-75 → 79%
Battery
87%
Display
78%
Games Performance
66 / 78 → 84%
Application Performance
95 / 85 → 100%
Temperature
94%
Noise
94%
Audio
79 / 91 → 87%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
76%
84%
Convertible - Weighted Average

Price comparison

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 in review: 1,200 Euros for a Chromebook?
Sascha Mölck, 2021-09- 8 (Update: 2021-09- 8)