Asus unveils new Chromebooks with 4G connectivity, 360-degree hinge, and spill-proof durability
There is no denying that a sizeable chunk of laptop users, especially students, have extremely modest performance demands from their machines. For such folks, Chromebooks, despite all their shortcomings, can be a viable choice. Asus appears to be aware of that market and has announced the CR series of affordable Chromebooks with rugged designs that prioritize durability.
The laptops will be available with 11.6-inch and 12.2-inch 16:10 displays, with support for touch input. Convertible options will also be offered, while the rest will utilize 180-degree hinges allowing for lay-flat functionality. As can be expected from a Chromebook, performance is by no means a priority, and the systems will only be available with up to a 6-watt Intel N250 CPU with a four-core, four-thread configuration and a boost clock of 3.8 GHz.
That said, for the majority of lightweight tasks, the Intel N250 should easily suffice. LTE connectivity is also on offer, along with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth. The systems can be equipped with up to 16 GB of memory and 128 GB of eMMC storage. While the amount of memory on offer is sufficient, the same cannot be said for storage, which is rather disappointing. The port selection is pretty decent, including dual USB-C, dual USB-A, HDMI 1.4b, an audio jack, as well as a Kensington lock. Asus claims the built-in keyboard is spill-resistant, which is certainly a welcome addition.
There is no word on pricing or availability yet, although more details should be available soon enough. Considering the specifications, it would be safe to assume that the Asus CR lineup of Chromebooks will be decently affordable.
Source(s)
