Is it what players truly desire?

ASUS has a strong impact in the video gaming market. Its computer systems are liked by players, frequently providing terrific worth, efficiency, and beautiful styles. The business likewise provides lots of devices, PC elements, and other items accommodating the video gaming neighborhood. Now it’s attempting to control the nascent video gaming Chromebook market with items like the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip.

Does this brand-new gaming-focused Chromebook have what it requires to win the hearts of players? Let’s dissect the idea and analyze who this Chromebook is for in our ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip evaluation.

• ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip (Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage): $769.99
• ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip (Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage): $869.99

Gone For CES 2023, the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip is a Chrome OS laptop computer that deals with players. It has effective specifications (for a Chromebook) and a gamer-centric style planned to provide a total terrific experience for regional video gaming, while likewise being enhanced for cloud video gaming to run more requiring titles.

It costs $869.99 in the U.S.A. if purchased from ASUS straight, though a less expensive variation with less storage and RAM is offered from Amazon and B&H. The design I evaluated was the leading variation in the United States with a 12th gen Alder Lake Intel Core i5 processor with incorporated Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Other versions are offered in various markets. For instance, some featured an Intel Core i3 processor, and other higher-end designs consist of the Intel Core i7 chip. 128GB of storage is likewise a choice in other markets.

The ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip is just offered in Pearl White and features a consisted of stylus with its own garage.

Initially, let’s discuss the item itself. I’ll get more into the entire video gaming element and the really idea of a video gaming Chromebook in a different area, since that subject deserves its own focus. The ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip is, without a doubt, the best-designed Chromebook I have actually evaluated to date, and I have actually evaluated lots of.

The Ambiance CX34 Flip is constructed wonderfully. While made mainly of plastic, it does not feel low-cost at all, and it does not look low-cost either. It has a tidy white style with an easy logo design. You truthfully would not have the ability to inform it is a video gaming Chromebook if it wasn’t for the orange WASD buttons and other orange accents– this is far from the RGB headache of some video gaming laptop computers. Its sophisticated visual appeals guarantee it takes a look at house in any environment, even a workplace. It feels long lasting, too; and it is. The system is MIL-STD 810H certified, which suggests it ought to have the ability to hold up against a pounding with dignity.

Style aside, the computer system is super-powerful for a Chromebook. This design has a 12th gen Intel Core i5 processor– an upgrade over the 11th gen chip discovered in ASUS’ previous Ambiance device, the bigger Ambiance CX55 Flip– and 16GB of RAM. Integrate that with the simpleness and performance of Chrome OS, and this thing flies. I believed routine Chromebooks were currently quickly, however I was really amazed to see what more effective and more recent elements can do on this os. Apps and sites released near to immediately. And it has Wi-Fi 6E, which suggests it can benefit from much better web efficiency if you have a suitable router and a quickly adequate web connection. I have Wi-Fi 6 and a gigabit connection, and it worked astonishingly.

I even utilized it for RAW image modifying, and it provided me no missteps running Lightroom mobile. It really appeared to carry out much better than on my Windows laptop computer with really comparable specifications, even if just by a bit. Can it video game, though? Once again, we’ll talk more about that later on.

The 14-inch 16:10 LCD touchscreen is beautiful, even with a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution. Not to state that the WUXGA panel is bad, however lots of players choose something like QHD and even greater nowadays. Still, that’s a lot to ask from a Chromebook, and it looks really good personally. Plus, it has a 144Hz revitalize rate, so you have the ability to strike some quite high frame rates in some video games (albeit without variable refresh rate assistance), and basic navigation is fluid. It likewise gets fairly brilliant at 400 nits by means of LED backlights, however I still wasn’t able to see the laptop computer screen easily in direct sunshine. It’s most likely the majority of people will not be utilizing it in the sun quite, however it deserves keeping in mind if you really will.

ASUS has actually made a huge offer about its cooperation with Harman/Kardon for the speakers, and the outcomes are as great as we anticipated. The audio is complete and loud for a Chromebook, without any distortion to be heard, even when the volume is maxed out. The speakers still do not get loud adequate to be valued easily in a loud location, however they’ll work terrific in a fairly peaceful space. Naturally, you can do much better with great external speakers and there’s an earphone jack for loud and extreme video gaming sessions, however these will work completely in a pinch.

The ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip features a backlit chiclet keyboard. ASUS states it’s spill-resistant, however I didn’t attempt test that. As far as typing goes, the experience was enjoyable, total. It’s not an impressive keyboard by any ways, however it is much better than average. The spacing is comfy, it’s quite clicky, and the essential travel is quite good.

Ports are another location where the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip is quite exceptional. It includes a USB-A 3.2 gen 2 port, in addition to a number of USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 connections. You can utilize among these to broaden use with an excellent adapter. There is likewise a 3.5 mm headset jack and a microSD reader. As if those weren’t sufficient, you likewise get an HDMI 2.1 port, which supports 4K resolution displays, in addition to greater refresh rates. ASUS does not define max screen revitalize rates, and unfortunately, I have no 4K screen to test, however the HDMI 2.1 spec might in theory manage upwards of 120Hz at 4K, though the Ambiance CX34 Flip will not get near to having the ability to press that lots of frames at such a high resolution.

Ports are essential for video gaming, and this one exceeds and beyond when compared to a lot of conventional Chromebooks. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 has 2 USB-C ports, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5 mm headset jack. Truly, just other video gaming Chromebooks and higher-end alternatives like the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 can get near to it.

My very first problem is not truly a real problem, however more of an observation. As the name involves, the screen can be turned all the method to utilize in tablet mode, if chosen. You can likewise utilize camping tent mode and all the in-betweens. This would make you think the gadget is made with a particular level of movement in mind, however regardless of being smaller sized and lighter than the previous CX55 Flip, the Ambiance CX34 Flip is still quite big and heavy to utilize in tablet mode.

It weighs 1.81 kg (3.99 pounds), which is rather heavy when you compare it to more svelte, traditional rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2, which is 1.23 kg (2.71 pounds). And most other convertible Chromebooks weigh less than 3 pounds. The body is likewise 20.9 mm (0.82 inches) thick, while something like the previously mentioned Galaxy Chromebook 2 steps in at 15mm (0.55 inches) in density. The ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip is a huge, husky kid!

I was likewise not a substantial fan of the battery life. ASUS declares as much as 10 hours of battery life on a complete charge. In my experience, I was balancing more like 7 to 8. That stated, I was mainly video gaming, modifying RAW pictures, actively searching, or enjoying videos. A few of these are really resource-intensive jobs for a Chromebook, specifically one with such effective specifications and an actually good screen with high refresh rates.

Regardless, 7 to 8 hours, and even 10 hours, is still okay. It simply isn’t exceptional on the planet of Chromebooks. Numerous contemporary Chromebooks can manage 12 hours or more, though players understand they will frequently need to compromise battery life for efficiency.

Something that did truly irritate me was the battery life on the garaged stylus. The stylus works terrific, is responsive, is made from good-quality metal, and is housed easily in the laptop computer’s body. It’s a dream become a reality for a professional photographer like me. I was utilizing it to modify and liking it, however my pleasure never ever lasted that long. The stylus would constantly pass away on me after around 45 minutes of use. It was then rendered useless and needed to be returned in its slot for charging.

I comprehend I might be asking excessive due to my long modifying sessions, however I seem like this may trouble lots of other users, too. It’s absolutely worth remembering if you prepare to get this Chromebook and really appreciate the stylus.

Naturally, the 720p web cam is likewise quite bad. Thinking about the high rate for a Chromebook, a 1080p electronic camera would not have actually been excessive to request. A minimum of you get a cam personal privacy shutter, though! That’s quite cool for the security-conscious amongst you.

So then, the Ambiance CX34 Flip is a quite terrific Chromebook, however is it an excellent video gaming Chromebook? Well, it’s as great as it can be, however that does not conceal the reality that Chromebooks aren’t all that helpful for video gaming in the very first location.

Chromebooks altered the video game. They equalized the individual computing market, providing gadgets that carry out well, even at the lower end of the rates spectrum. It likewise assists that these makers are really easy to run and can effectively do what the majority of people do online. This made Chrome OS an ideal, economical option to a Windows or Apple laptop computer for things like social networks, basic web surfing, developing files, bearing in mind, and you can even utilize Android apps

This is why I was left scratching my head when I initially began finding out about video gaming Chromebooks. After investing a long time with the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip, I’m still scratching my head; I seem like Chrome OS is going through an id. Let me attempt and discuss why.

So, these video gaming Chromebooks aren’t precisely fantastic for regional video gaming, a minimum of today. The specifications are remarkable for Chrome OS, however not effective enough for high-end video gaming on a laptop computer. There is no discrete GPU, for beginners. Not to point out there is no choice of real PC video games offered for Chromebooks. Steam is dealing with this, and the popular platform has a Chrome OS app in beta. I evaluated it and rapidly recognized that playing these video games, even utilizing this subdued Chromebook, was almost difficult. Last Dream VII Remake released, however it just performed at 10fps, lagged all the time, and crashed continuously, even on the most affordable settings. It likewise took about 5 minutes to really introduce the video game.

That stated, Steam has a large choice of terrific video games and less resource-intensive ones will work much better if you call down the settings.

Cloud video gaming worked wonderfully, though. I had the ability to run any video game utilizing NVIDIA GeForce Now, Xbox Video Game Pass, Amazon Luna, and Boosteroid. Naturally, you’ll require a steady and quick web connection, however I played really easily for hours on end. Furthermore, Android video games by means of the Google Play Shop ran completely– even the more extensive ones like Asphalt 9: Legends. So that takes us back to the entire point. These brand-new video gaming Chromebooks aren’t developed with running video games in your area in mind. They’re produced cloud video gaming, and so take place to be effective adequate to run Android video games, similar to how Chromebooks in basic are constructed with cloud computing in mind, not regional apps and storage.

However this is a Chromebook that costs simply shy of $900 on top specification. And its primary lure, cloud video gaming, can truly be provided by any gadget, and undoubtedly any Chromebook NVIDIA GeForce Now’s only genuine Chrome OS requirement is that the gadget has at least 4GB of RAM. Furthermore, you can run it on macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Android television, and even an internet browser, to name a few platforms. So if you desire a gadget for cloud video gaming, it can more than likely be the one you’re really reading this evaluation on, or nearly any other.

Now, let’s state you do appreciate regional video gaming, and Chromebooks begin releasing with devoted GPUs, and they can run major titles. This one is currently $869.99. Tossing a devoted GPU at it will just pump up the rate even more. At that point, video gaming Chromebook producers will carefully take on really major laptop computers running a real desktop OS in all its magnificence. There are a wide array of effective Windows laptop computers at the very same rate or less, which can do both regional and cloud video gaming. And if you take place to choose Apple, we have actually seen the MacBook Air M1 choose as low as $799 when offers turn up. Minimal video game assistance on macOS aside (albeit more than Chrome OS), it provides blisteringly quick efficiency, is a trustworthy daily tool, and it can quickly run video games in the cloud.

Also, while video gaming Chromebooks like the Ambiance CX34 Flip and the Acer Chromebook 516 GE are attractive, feature-rich, performant, and use a total premium experience, so do lots of others. Effective, quality Chromebooks currently exist. The only distinction is that they might not have that video gaming visual. And, obviously, that’s a legitimate argument. We frequently get things based upon how they look, however feel in one’s bones that it might be the only genuine differentiator in between something like the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip and among the lots of other premium Chromebooks you can purchase.

So, after some hard love about the state of video gaming Chromebooks as an idea, where do I stand with the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip? You may believe I would not suggest it, however I really enjoy the gadget! It has a fantastic screen, great audio, blazing efficiency, ports galore, a convenient stylus, and an impressive style. I would like how it looks even if I wasn’t a player, and its powerful specifications indicate it’s completely efficient in dealing with efficiency work that run out grab some routine Chromebooks.

My grievances were really couple of, and they were mainly concerning things I ‘d think about typical or fundamental instead of bad. It’s definitely not the most portable Chromebook you can get, battery life is simply okay, and its primary selling point– cloud video gaming– is offered on far less expensive gadgets that do not require top-end specifications to stream AAA video games. If you do not require all this power or require something a bit more portable, there are a lot of other terrific Chromebooks to think about

General though, the ASUS Chromebook Ambiance CX34 Flip is an impressive Chrome OS laptop computer. If you like Chrome OS, and worth a top quality computer system, then this Chromebook is absolutely one you’ll delight in. You’ll simply require to set your expectations and understand what you’re getting is a capable video gaming Chromebook, not a fantastic video gaming laptop computer.