【2004 Archives】

Google announced a suite of new Chromebook features Tuesday004 Archives including new generative AI tools and a centerstage spot for its Gemini chatbot on Chromebook Plus models. In turn, we're also getting some new Chromebook hardware that ships with those features at launch.

Read on for a brief overview of all the new Chromebooks that are available now (or will be very soon).

New Chromebooks

With a detachable keyboard and a compact frame, the new Asus Chromebook CM30 will be easy to bring on the go. Credit: Google

Standard Chromebooks now support GIF screen recordings, one-click access to Google Tasks, and a new Game Dashboard that lets you remap controls to your keyboard. You can also set them up using an Android phone.

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Asus Chromebook CM30

Asus' new Chromebook CM30 is a 10.5-inch, MediaTek Kompanio 520-powered convertible that comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. It's a good pick for casual users who prioritize portability, as it includes a stand and a detachable keyboard. It sports 5MP front and rear cameras, and Google says it offers up to 13 hours of battery life. Shoppers have the option of upgrading it with LTE connectivity.

The Chromebook CM30 is now available at Best Buy and Walmart for $299.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Chromebook CM30 (MediaTek Kompanio 520, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) $299 at Best Buy
Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Chromebook CM30 (MediaTek Kompanio 520, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC) $299 at Walmart

HP Chromebook 14-inch

The HP Chromebook 14-inch is a simple 14-inch laptop with a low-end Intel Pentium CPU and UFS 128GB of storage. The only thing that doesn't seem aggressively basic about it is its finish: It comes in fun colors like "lilac lavender" and "sky blue" in addition to "glacier silver" and "chalkboard gray."

The Chromebook 14-inch isn't out yet, but it will eventually start at only $249 at Walmart.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Chromebook 14-inch (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $249 at Walmart

New Chromebook Plus laptops

The new Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE looks sexy in obsidian black. Credit: Google

Chromebook Plus models are guaranteed to have least 128GB of storage, 8GB of memory, 1080p+ webcams, and other standardized specs. This new wave of them is equipped with a slew of new Google AI tools at launch (in addition to the aforementioned Chromebook-wide features), including a "Help me write" text generator, generative wallpaper and video backgrounds, Magic Editor on Google Photos, and a Gemini chatbot that's built right into the app shelf. They also come with a year's worth of Google One AI Premium (normally $19.99 per month), which gets you Gemini Advanced, Gemini in Google apps, and 2TB of storage.

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Two quick notes: One, we're playing a little fast and loose with the word "new" when it comes to specs, here. None of the Chromebook Plus devices Google announced Tuesday were built completely from scratch: Two of them are Plus-ified versions of older Chromebooks, and the other two are different variants of some laptops from Google's initial Chromebook Plus launch last fall. But hey, it's always nice to have more options.

SEE ALSO: A Google rep played 'Tic-Tac-Toe' with his face: 5 wild AI features coming to Gemini-powered Chromebooks

Secondly, Google's blog post mentions a fifth new Chromebook Plus — an updated Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with an Intel Core CPU — but that model actually launched back in mid-April. It starts at $349.99 at Costco.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714

Recommended by Google for users "looking for extra power," this Plus upgrade to Acer's existing Chromebook Spin 714 packs a new Intel Core Ultra 5 115U processor. (That's a pretty big step up from the Chromebook Plus series' CPU baseline.) It keeps the same convertible 2-in-1 design, which includes a 14-inch touchscreen, an aluminum chassis, and a 1440p QHD webcam.

The base Chromebook Plus Spin 714 with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage is listed for $699 at Best Buy, matching the non-Plus version, and it's now up for grabs.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (Intel Core Ultra 5 115U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $699 at Best Buy

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

Mashable's current favorite gaming Chromebook has also gotten the Plus treatment, which includes a slick new obsidian black finish and a better Intel Core 5 120U processor (up from 12th-generation Intel Core i5). It stuck with its predecessor's vivid 16-inch 1660p display and RGB keyboard — but it also has the same ultra-reasonable price of $649, which is clutch.

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Best Buy has the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE in stock with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (Intel Core 5 120U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $649 at Best Buy

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

This new configuration of the Chromebook Plus CX34 (one of the original eight Chromebook Plus models) swaps its 12th-gen Intel Core i3 processor for a newer 13th-gen Intel Core i5 CPU. It otherwise retains the same 14-inch build, complete with 180-degree lay-flat hinges and a speckled white finish. It's still configurable with a touchscreen, too.

The Chromebook Plus CX34 is now available at Best Buy starting at $499 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. That's $50 pricier than the original model's base configuration.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 (Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) $499 at Best Buy

HP Chromebook Plus x360 14-inch

HP has added another 14-inch hybrid Chromebook Plus variant to its lineup, this new one being the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14b. It's a slight downgrade from the first version, the 14c (which we reviewed), trading its Intel Core i3-1215U processor and SSD storage for an Intel Core i3-N305 processor and UFS storage. But it's also significantly cheaper.

Walmart will soon sell its base configuration with 8GB of memory and 128GB of UFS storage for $429. For comparison's sake, the 14c variant starts at $789.99 on HP's website.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Chromebook Plus X360 14-inch (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $429 at Walmart

Topics Google