It delivers on that remit with decent build quality, a reasonable screen and a good webcam.
But the bland styling makes it hard to get really excited about Asus’s latest Chromebook.
The latest member of this initiative is the new Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, anIntel-powered 14-inch model.
(Image credit: Future)
That applies to both hardware and software.
Meanwhile syncing both to and from Google Drive works seamlessly.
More broadly, Google is making a few AI-related claims about these Chromebook Plus machines.
But the hardware is nothing special in that regard, so that’s a bit of a stretch.
The styling is pretty bland and the screen bezels are hardly minimalist.
Overall performance is reasonable from the Intel chip.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s worth noting that only the highest spec model comes with a proper M.2 SSDs.
Our test system was specified with generic flash storage.
All of which makes this a worthy enough gadget that offers reasonable value.
(Image credit: Future)
But it’s not cheap enough to be truly compelling.
Notionally, you’re getting better performance than most similarly priced Chromebooks.
However, the most significant option is arguably 16GB of RAM.
(Image credit: Future)
It’s also worth noting that you’ll need that 512GB storage upgrade to get a proper M.2 SSD.
The 128GB and 256GB options make do with generic UFS flash drives with much lower bandwidth.
It’s a premium alternative to cheaper Chromebooks.
However, in design terms, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 has a pretty bland and basic aesthetic.
The plastic chassis is sturdy enough, though the keyboard bed is a little bouncy.
More of a highlight is the integrated 1080p webcam.
It’s a definite step above most laptop webcams, even on much more expensive machines.
It also has a physical shutter for guaranteed privacy.
We’re back to that basic vibe, again.
The trackpad is reasonably proportioned and there’s nothing conspicuously wrong with the overall design.
But the vibe is slightly dated and dreary.
If worthy and workmanlike is your thing, this Asus delivers.
The question is whether it matters.
Google even makes a pitch for these devices as content creation machines, including video editing.
But that’s pretty unrealistic, as is the AI narrative Google is attaching to these Chromebook Plus laptops.
So, any remotely significant AI work will be done in the cloud.
But short of running out of RAM, general system responsiveness is good.
And they’ll find it’s well up to the task.
As for the 14-inch display, it offers decent working space thanks to 1080p native resolution.
Brightness is decent at 250 nits, and the colors are reasonably vibrant.
The integrated speakers, meanwhile, are pretty terrible.
The volume levels are OK, but the sound quality is horribly thin.
That said, one of the better hardware features is the 1080p webcam.
It has much better image quality than most laptops, even far more expensive machines.
Nor do Intel CPUs have the best reputation when it comes to operating away from a wall outlet.
But given the modest price point, the battery life is in line with expectations.
Should you buy the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34?
But it’s well built, has a decent screen, a good webcam, and reasonable battery life.
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34’s built-in speakers are terrible.
If you want more flexibility, this is a great choice.
Just how does Google’s Chromebook Plus standard stack up?
Read more about how we test
First reviewed March 2024
