Our favorite foldable Chromebook just got a whole lot better. The new Asus Chromebook Flip C434 (reviewed at $569) outperforms its great version, the Chromebook Flip C302CA, with a bigger display, longer battery life, and improved performance. The Chromebook Flip C434 also sports a sleek aluminum body and a 14-inch display that is both vibrant and brilliant.
These positive changes resulted in one of the greatest Chromebooks ever seen. Not only that, but the Chromebook Flip C434 is easily one of the greatest computers in this price range, Chromebook or otherwise.
When it was launched in 2017, this Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA was one of our favorite Chromebooks. For 2019, Asus has finally replaced it with the Chromebook Flip C434, which employs lower bezels to fit a bigger screen size into a comparably small structure while also containing the most recent components.
What you will see here?
Price and Configuration
The cheapest model that looked at costs $569 and has an Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. The Flip C434 will also be available with Core i5-8200Y and Core i7-8500Y CPUs, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 128GB of eMMC storage from Asus.
According to an Asus official, the Core i5 model will be available in May and will cost approximately $650, while the Core i7 variant will be ready in June and will cost around $700.
The Chromebook Flip C434 is available through Amazon, Newegg, and Asus.com.
Design
The Asus Chromebook Flip C434 hardly even bezels that surround the display are the first thing you’ll notice when you open the laptop. The Flip C434 is one of the smallest 14-inch laptops ever seen, with an 87 percent screen-to-body ratio.
Inside the Flip C434, you’ll discover a silver keyboard and chrome trim around the deck, as well as the touchpad, volume and power buttons, and hinges. The C434’s design isn’t great, but the consistent silver/chrome style divides it from the look of the MacBook, something you couldn’t say about the Flip’s original.
The C434 has the capacity to “flip” 360 degrees into laptop or tent mode. Even so, the laptop’s two heavy-duty chrome screws lock into place at 180 degrees. The display then flips backward until the transition to tablet mode is complete.
When you consider the size of the machine’s display, the Chromebook Flip C424 is small and lightweight. The 2-in-1 measures 12.6 x 8 x 0.6 inches and weighs 3.1 pounds, making it thinner but heavy than the 12.3-inch Samsung Chromebook Pro (0.6 inches, 2.4 pounds) and the 12.5-inch Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA (0.6 inches, 2.6 pounds). The HP Chromebook x2 12.3-inch (0.6-inch, 3.1-pound) is almost the same size and weight as the Flip C434.
Ports
The Chromebook C434’s super-thin shell doesn’t have enough room for connectors, yet it still contains all the necessary.
On the left side of the body, there is a USB 3.1 Type-A connector, a USB-C port, and a headphone jack, and on the right side, there is a second USB-C port and a microSD card.
Charging is supported by both USB-C ports, so you may plug in from either side of the Flip C434.
Durability
Users dropped 11 popular Chromebooks to see which ones lasted the longest and which lasted the shortest. Unfortunately, Asus’ Chromebook Flip C434 finished dead last in a Chromebook drop test. When they dropped the laptop from 2.5 feet and 4.5 feet onto carpet and concrete, the aluminum chassis was severely damaged, the touchpad buttons snapped, and the screen fractured (resulting in a block of dead pixels). Nonetheless, you should avoid dropping the Flip C434 and use extreme caution while handing it to a youngster.
Audio
The Flip C434’s bottom-firing speakers provide clean music that is powerful enough to fill a big space. And tapped the foot in time with the speakers’ powerful version of Glass Animals’ “Pools.” The low-frequency bass tones are a little faint, but the voices sound clear, and one could clearly hear each instrument, even during the hectic chorus.
The speakers struggled with the damaged piano chords in Sampha’s piano-driven song “(No One Knows Me) Like the Piano.” It’s a shame that the buzzy noise distracts from the otherwise great sound quality.
Battery life
The Flip C434 beat its predecessors’ already decent (8:52) lifetime by more than an hour, lasting 9 hours and 58 minutes. That’s faster than the Chromebook Pro (8:05) and Chromebook x2 (8:50) speeds, as well as the impressive category average (9:02).
It’s the greatest Chromebook option for kids, thanks to its military-grade durability, extended battery life, and included pen.
Heat
The Chromebook Flip C434 stays cool when sessions consisted of watching a 15-minute film on full screen. The touchpad remains at a pleasant 83 degrees Fahrenheit, while the middle of the keyboard (87 degrees) and bottom panel (92 degrees) likewise remains below the 95-degree comfort criteria. Only the lower-left corner (99 degrees) warmed to alarming temperatures.
Conclusion
Chromebook Flip C434 is a fantastic choice. The 2-in-1 laptop improves on its predecessor’s already superb performance by providing a bigger, 14-inch display in a similarly sized aluminum body. The Flip C434 sports loudspeakers and lasts about 10 hours on a charge, in addition to a pretty bright and colorful 1080p display.
However, no laptop is flawless. The Flip C434 is a bit pricy for a Chromebook at $569. Nonetheless, the Chromebook Flip C434 is an outstanding 2-in-1 that provides convincing reasons for Mac and Windows users to transition to Chrome.
If you want a detachable and have some extra cash, the $599 HP Chromebook x2 is a 12.3-inch hybrid tablet with a brilliant display, good battery life, and a comfy detachable keyboard. And if you’re looking to save money, the Samsung Chromebook 3 might be the laptop for you. While the Chromebook 3 doesn’t have the same performance as the Flip C434, the $179 price tag is a value given its lengthy battery life and beautiful display.
Overall, the Chromebook Flip C434 is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop and the device recommended to anyone making the switch to Chrome OS.
