Not too long ago, the thought of spending $800 on a Chromebook was laughable. It is still a common practice in some circles. I have criticised all sorts of Chrome OS devices because they are too expensive for the features they offer. However, the Chromebook Duet at $259.99 is one of my favorite laptop deals in the market today.
So, I prepared to complain when I opened my $828 Chromebook CX5 review unit. Although it would be midrange for a Windows laptop of this price, it is still quite high for a Chromebook. Most other reviewers have also criticized the device for its price. The CX5 proved me wrong. It is a fantastic mid-range Windows laptop that can be used for work. The prices of Chromebooks have increased with the times.
Our review of Asus Chromebook flip CX5 Verge score 9 out of 10 Good Stuff Smooth texture
Good specifications
Very good battery life Bad Stuff 16/9 display
Chromebooks are expensive
Touchpad is stiff. Buy it for $724.99 on Amazon or $828.99 at CDW
The CX5's unique finish is unmatched among Windows laptops. The "electro deposition coating" Asus uses to cover the chassis of the CX5 is something I don't know, but I do love touching it.
The keyboard deck and lid are nearly incomprehensiblely smooth. The best description I can think of is "Velvety". The only laptop that felt this good was the Dell XPS 13, which has a controversial woven-glass texture. The touchpad is also smooth. It is spacious and does a good job at palm rejection. However, it can be stiff so that sometimes I needed to use two hands to operate it.
The build quality is also excellent and comparable to many laptops this price. The screen is solid and the keyboard deck is rigid. It barely picks up fingerprints and was able to survive being carried around in my backpack for a while without any damage.
Port selection is also reasonable, with two USB-C-3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A, an audio combo Jack, and a microSD card slot (no Thunderbolt). The CX5 supports dual band Wi-Fi 6 as well as Bluetooth 5.0. It also includes various technologies to stabilize connectivity, including a "metamaterial filtre" that is meant to "isolate electromagnetic interference."
Asus Chromebook Flip X5 specs (as reviewed). Processor: Core i5-1135G7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 128GB SSD NVMe
Weight: 4.17 lbs
Thickness: 0.7 in
Three-cell battery: 57Wh
Display: 15.6 inch touchscreen, 1920x1080
Camera: 720p
Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Bluetooth 5.0
The chassis has two major issues that I have. First, the power button. It's located on my left edge and I accidentally pressed it multiple times while holding the device as a tablet. The weight is the second aspect of tablet mode. The CX5 weighs in at 4.17 pounds for a 15 inch Chromebook. It is also heavier than the Asus Zephyrus G15 gaming notebook, and more than a pound lighter than the Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 15-inch Chromebook. If I was looking for a tablet-sized device, I would choose something else.
The CX5 is also a great entertainment and productivity tool. Harmon Kardon-certified, the downward-firing speakers have good percussion and great volume. However, I could hear some distortion at the top. Although the keyboard has decent travel and click, it is a little loud and cramped for small fingers.
The 1920x1080 touchscreen is bright and gives off little glare. Although the bezels look old-fashioned and are a bit bulky, they are still practical for 2-in-1s that may require you to reach from the sides.
Accept to Continue: Asus Flip CX5 Before you can use your smart device, you must agree to a set of terms and conditions. These are contracts that almost no one ever reads. We are unable to review and analyze all of these agreements. We started counting how many times you must click "agree to use devices" when we reviewed them. These are agreements that most people don’t read and can’t negotiate. You must agree to the following: Sync Chromebook apps, bookmarks, passwords and history with Chromebook Flip CX5. Allow Google to use this history to personalize search results and other Google services. After setup, you can choose to review the sync options.
Google Play Terms of Service. After setup, you can choose to review the Google Play options. These agreements can be optional: Sign in to a Google account
Backup to Google Drive
Apps and services that use location permission may ask for your device's coordinates. Google may use this information anonymously to improve its location accuracy and provide location-based services.
Google Assistant can access screen shots to give you tailored answers when you ask questions
Allow Google Assistant to Match Voices
You can connect your Chromebook to an Android phone to allow them to sync WiFi networks and offer new features "as they become available".
Then there is the performance. My Chromebook test unit came with a Core i5-1135G7 processor and 16GB LPDDR4X SDRAM. These are impressive specs for a Chromebook consumer. It was able to run all of my apps and Chrome tabs, as well as a few Android apps. I also used Zoom calls or YouTube videos occasionally. The fan did not make any noise or heat. One issue I experienced was that Spotify running for long periods of times sometimes caused my computer to crash. I don't know if it's Spotify or Asus. I have asked them and will let you know if I find out.
The power of the chips inside makes the battery life quite reasonable. The CX5's screen was set at medium brightness for eight hours and 31 mins of continuous use. Some trials easily exceeded nine hours. Although it's not an extraordinary result, it will let you go a full-day of use without the need for a charger if you have a similar workload to mine. It also charged fast enough for a Chromebook. The device was able to charge up to 60% in just 57 minutes.
There are also 14-inch versions of the CX5 available. A 14-inch model can be purchased with a Core I3 at $724.99 Amazon and a Core II7 at $1,049.99 Asus. The i5 performed flawlessly in my testing and I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who uses Chrome a lot. People who require that level of power probably know their names. For those who don't mind paying a little more and want a larger screen, the i3 may be an option. In my testing, the i3 was able to handle most Chrome OS tasks. This unit also boasts 8GB RAM, which is quite rare in Chromebooks of lower-tier.
The CX5 is a Windows laptop that rivals others in price and features. It's not slow, flimsy or poorly built like Chromebooks in years past. If you are considering the CX5 for your primary driver, you need to consider whether Chrome OS will work well for you.
Since I started reviewing Chromebooks almost two years ago, I have seen Chrome OS grow before my eyes. Chrome OS has evolved from an operating system with many bugs and holes to one that feels very similar to Windows (especially considering the fact that Windows recently moved its icons to center of its taskbar).
There are still some things that will get you, even if your work is almost exclusively in Chrome. Some apps take some time to resize. It's no longer possible to use Slack in an app, so I keep it in my endless pile of Chrome tabs. Every morning, Messenger continues to bombard me with notifications about every message that I have received in the past night. Although many Android apps are more accessible on Chrome OS, I still find them less useful than their browser counterparts. Most of the ones that I use are almost identical. You can also forget about the many desktop apps that Windows offers.
For some, however, the simplicity of Chrome OS and its other benefits outweigh any drawbacks. You're one of them, so more power to you.
The CX5's $828.99 price is the elephant in the room. This is far more than most people would consider Chromebook territory. This projection is often based on the assumption Chromebooks are inexpensive hardware. I remind you that this price is not outrageous for well-built Chromebooks. I think this one is.
The Pixelbook Go is an option. The cost of a Pixelbook Go with the same specs as my test unit is $999. Google's device is lighter and thinner than the CX5, however it has a smaller screen and has fewer ports. It also has an older processor and doesn't flip. It is not clear that it is a better buy for everyone.
The CX5 is not outrageously priced if you prefer Chrome OS to Windows. It's a reliable laptop with an innovative design. There are good reasons to choose it over a Windows laptop of similar price, regardless what operating system it runs.
It communicates loudly and clearly the message that many laptop manufacturers have tried to send over the years: Premium chromebooks are now a thing. These Chromebooks are not a novelty that Google showcases every now and again. They're available on shelves, they can be used for everyday computing, and they target everyone. Be prepared to pay a little more.
