Intel on Thursday debuted its next-generation chips, dubbed Meteor Lake. Instantly following, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX54 appeared on-line as the primary Google Chromebook with an Intel Meteor Lake chipset. With the 14th technology Intel CPU, this 14-inch Chromebook Plus laptop computer ought to provide a noticeable enhance in total efficiency and graphics.
This laptop computer new laptop computer is formally referred to as the ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus Enterprise (CX5403). There’s extra info on the non-U.S. model of Asus’ website, however this mannequin does have a touchdown web page within the U.S. With “enterprise” within the title, it’s clearly meant for enterprise. That normally means good, if not glorious efficiency, and a extra premium design.
Particulars on the Asus Chromebook Plus CX54
The design of the Asus Chromebook Plus CX54 isn’t a giant departure from the corporate’s present choices. It does look a bit sleeker and wow, does that trackpad look enormous for a 14-inch laptop computer.
The 14-inch display screen makes use of a 2560 x 1600 decision panel, making for a 16:10 side ratio. Brightness is a implausible 500 nits. I like how the show’s backside bezel is hidden by the keyboard. I’m not a fan, nonetheless, of shows that dig into my legs. And at the moment, the non-U.S. tech specs say this isn’t a contact display screen. The backlit keyboard has 1.4 millimeters of journey, which is lots.
There are additionally loads of ports. A USB Kind-C is on the left facet, subsequent to a micro SD card slot. The proper facet has a second Kind-C port, two Kind-A jacks, a headphone/microphone jack, and an HDMI output. Each of the Kind-C ports are additionally designated as Thunderbolt 4.
Numerous storage capacities are anticipated and all of them use an M.2 2280 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. I’m a bit shocked the PCIe 4.0 commonplace isn’t used right here because the Meteor Lake chipsets are able to utilizing it. Maybe that is accomplished to maintain the fee down.
Since that is a Chromebook Plus laptop computer, you understand the webcam needs to be above common. Asus is utilizing an 8-megapixel sensor, together with a privateness display screen. The twin audio system are tuned by Harmon/Kardon though I couldn’t discover the facility utilization of the audio system. Connectivity is supplied with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth.
The three-cell battery has an influence capability of 64 WHrs. The included energy adapter can solely present 45 W of energy although, so it might take a bit longer than anticipated to totally cost this Chromebook. Even with a metallic chassis, the burden is simply 2.84 lbs (1.29 kg).
Intel Meteor Lake inside a Chromebook Plus
When it comes to efficiency, the brand new Intel Meteor Lake chipset seems good on paper. Based on Asus the Chromebook Plus CX54 is obtainable “with as much as Intel® Core Extremely 7 processor and 16 GB of quick, environment friendly LPDDR5x 6400 MHz reminiscence.”
Observe that the previous Core-i3, -i5, and -i7 naming is gone after years of use. Intel Meteor Lake chipsets now use Intel Core Extremely branding. Listed below are all the new Meteor Lake chips and their total specs:
Almost about the Asus Chromebook Plus CX54, the 4 U-series choices within the above chart shall be obtainable. All are primarily based on 12 core chips able to 14 processing threads. Every is comprised of a pair of P-cores for prime efficiency with eight E-cores for much less intensive duties. Intel says that Meteor Lake chipsets use roughly 20 p.c much less energy than earlier chips.
Should you take a look at the chart above, you’ll word that the Intel Core Extremely U-Collection chips all use commonplace Intel graphics. That’s unlucky because the new Intel Arc GPU is promising twice the efficiency of the present one. I understand that the Asus Chromebook Plus CX54 is an enterprise mannequin so gaming efficiency isn’t excessive on the listing of desires. Nonetheless, it will be good to have a greater GPU in a Chromebook. Maybe a shopper model will provide it.
Pricing and availability are unknown at this level, so I anticipate that info in just a few weeks on the Client Electronics Present.
