Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA Review - Budget Laptop with Chrome OS and Android

Chromebook design

The Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA combines elements of traditional Chromebooks and smartphones—Chrome OS web apps with local Android apps. All this fits into an ultra-compact case with a thickness of 1.5 cm.

Thanks to hinges that rotate 360 ​​degrees, the Asus gadget can be used in 4 modes: Laptop, Tent, Stand and Tablet.

The metal body has a silver finish and all edges are rounded. The black keys look interesting against the silver background, and there is a thin metal strip running along the edges.

The Chromebook Flip C101PA's 10.1-inch display features wide black bezels. The only thing that disappoints about the design of the Flip C101PA is the empty space between the screen and the keyboard panel.

Design

The aluminum body with its curved edges makes the Chromebook Flip C101PA look like an attractive little thing. Its all-metal build is complemented by a black bezel around the screen and black keyboard keys for a premium MacBook Pro-style look.

Weighing in at 0.8kg and just 1.5cm thick, the Chromebook Flip C101PA is also one of the smallest and lightest Chromebooks around, and frankly, it's amazing. Its small size makes the device very child-friendly. Kids can easily throw it in their backpack and use it all day long. While it's not designed to withstand drops like the Lenovo Flex 11 Chromebook, its aluminum build feels durable and strong, and it looks like it'll handle the rigors of school work just fine.

The Chromebook Flip C101PA is a complete 2-in-1 device with a durable 360-degree hinge that allows you to use the gadget in four modes. So you can use the Chromebook Flip C101PA like a traditional laptop, flip its display over to use it like a tablet, or transform it into a standing mode that's perfect for watching movies. Finally, the Flip C101PA can be used in tent mode, which is great for video chats. The device's hinge is strong yet flexible, making all of these modes easy to change.

Connections and ports

This Asus laptop has quite a few ports. On the left side there is only the volume key and the power button. On the right, you will see two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, one of which supports charging function.

The Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA has a USB 2.0 Type-A port, a combo audio jack, and a MicroSD card slot. Only two USB-C connectors (HDMI, DisplayPort) are available for video output, so you will have to connect an appropriate adapter or Google Chromecast.

There is no Ethernet port, but there is Bluetooth 4.0 and Wireless AC. In the latter case, a 2x2 configuration is supported, i.e., the use of two sending and two receiving antennas.

Design, materials

Note that the older 13.3-inch model ASUS Chromebook C300 is available in four design options - black, blue, yellow and red, while in the first case the working panel is also made black, while the youth “colorful” versions have a light main panel .

The more compact 11.6-inch version is less fortunate in this regard, as it is offered in a single black and silver version.

The lid of the ASUS Chromebook C200 is finished in matte black plastic. The material leaves a pleasant tactile sensation, but too quickly becomes covered with traces of touch. In the center of the lid there is a mirrored company logo, in the upper left corner you can find the usual mark of all Chromebooks - a branded four-color ball and the inscription Chrome.

The base of the body is made of less pretentious rough black plastic. Here you can see rubber feet, fastening screws, service information and a pair of vertical false acoustic grilles.

The working panel and almost all edges are made in the form of a single piece made of silver plastic with a metal look. The shelf hinge is also made the same silver, as a result, when closed, the ASUS Chromebook C200 case looks “three-layered”.

The front and back edges are free; on the right you can only find a hole for a Kensington lock, a USB 2.0 port and an optional slot for a Micro-SIM card. On the left side there is a combined audio port, a full-size SD card reader, a USB 3.0 port, an HDMI video output and a power supply socket with an activity LED.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard of the Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA occupies the entire panel from left to right. There is no digital keyboard (Numpad), but there is room for other keys.

Each button feels pleasantly springy when pressed. As with other Chromebooks, instead of function keys, you'll find keys for navigating web pages, adjusting brightness, and controlling volume. If you rotate the screen to tablet mode, the keyboard is disabled. There is no backlight here.

The Chromebook Flip C101PA's touchpad is small, which is to be expected given the laptop's compact size. There are also no built-in buttons; the entire touchpad area is a solid touchpad. Various gestures are supported, including swiping left and right, scrolling and swiping. Sometimes, when moving the cursor across the screen, jerks are noticeable, although in general the touchpad is comfortable.

Laptop screen

The pixel density on the 10.1-inch screen of the Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA is 150 pixels per inch, the aspect ratio is 16:10, and the default resolution is 1280×800.

In the settings you can set the resolution to 1440x900, but this will only change the size of the interface elements - the actual resolution does not change.

The Chromebook Flip C101PA's display displays 50% of the NTSC color space, and colors aren't as rich or deep as high-resolution panels. However, if you don't place the Flip C101PA next to an iPad, the mediocre image quality won't be noticeable. The display remains quite bright even in direct sunlight.

Speaker sound

At the bottom of the keyboard panel of the Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA there are two speakers that produce fairly high-quality sound. In order to listen to music, the Tent mode is best suited - the sound will be directed directly to the ears.

The quality and volume are higher than other Flip laptops, but most users will prefer to use headphones or external speakers.

Processor and its performance in tests

The six-core Rockchip RK3399 processor is optimized specifically for Chromebooks. It is built on an ARM architecture called big.LITTLE. Four cores have a clock frequency of 1.51 GHz and are suitable for moderate workloads, the remaining two with a frequency of 2.02 GHz are turned on only in complex tasks.

The Rockchip RK3399 scored just 1,333 points in the Geekbench 4 single-core test, putting it between the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset and the Exynos 7420. Even the Acer Switch 3 with the Intel Pentium N4200 processor scored 1,385 points. In multi-core mode, the Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA scored 3200 points, behind the Samsung Exynos 5433 and Switch 3 which received 4502 points.

The Flip C101PA's performance is only sufficient for watching movies, working with text documents, doing homework, and playing low-demand games.

Autonomy

The non-removable 48 Wh battery was enough to play HD video for 10.5 hours at 50% brightness, which is a good result. In office use mode - editing documents, instant messengers and mail, the laptop lasts about 6.5 hours.

4.5

ITC.UA rating

Pros: dimensions, design, materials, keyboard, display, good battery life

Cons: not the most convenient touchpad, display unit hinges

Conclusion: With the Chromebook Flip C434T, ASUS has significantly raised the bar for Chromebooks, previously considered “typewriters” and the cheapest devices in the laptop form factor. The Flip C434T is well built, has a high-quality screen, and its performance, even in its basic configuration, is sufficient for the tasks for which it is designed. There are no obvious shortcomings in it; rather, there are nuances that may well be features of the test sample (I’m talking about hinges and speakers). Well, I would like a slightly more sensitive and comfortable touchpad. As it is, this is quite an interesting option for those who need a computer for basic tasks that can be performed in the Chrome browser, as well as through applications for the Android OS. Well, don’t forget about the possibility of installing Linux, and in the future Windows

Specifications

Solid State SSD

Of the 16 GB of internal memory, Chrome OS and Android take up 6 GB. Cloud applications allow you to save space on the SSD, but 10 GB is still not enough.

You will have to use memory cards. The existing MicroSD slot with the SDXC standard supports cards up to 2 TB, although there are currently no MicroSD cards larger than 400 GB.

Equipment and configurations

We tested the younger version of the Chromebook Flip C434T, equipped with an Intel Core m3-8100y, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of eMMC storage. In older versions, the laptop is equipped with Core i5-8200y or Core i7-8500y processors, 4 or 8 GB of LPDDR3 RAM and 32, 64 or 128 GB of eMMC. In all cases, the graphics accelerator is the same - Inte HD Graphics 615. Core m3-8100y is a dual-core processor with a base frequency of 1.1 GHz and a short-term increase in frequency to 3.4 GHz. The laptop also has Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi with support for 802.11ac. I had no complaints about the speed and stability of Wi-Fi.

There is no fingerprint scanner in the laptop; for data security, your Google account password or PIN code is used. Multimedia capabilities are represented by two speakers, they are loud and sound clear, but in our copy one of them sounded with a metallic ringing. There is also an HD camera, its quality is average.

There are definitely no complaints about the speed of operation of the Chromebook Flip C434T. The computer instantly wakes up, also quickly opens the browser and, in general, using it is very comfortable. 4 GB of memory is more than enough to run Chrome OS and basic tasks, as well as to run even resource-intensive Android games like PUBG. The cooling system in the laptop is passive, even in games the case becomes barely warm.

Built-in video card, not for gaming

The Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA does not have a separate graphics card; instead, it has built-in Mali-T860 MP4 graphics, which operates at 600 MHz. This is not enough for Full HD gaming.

The Chromebook Flip C101PA achieved 60 fps in the old benchmark Epic Citadel test at very high settings, which is an acceptable result for a 2020 laptop. The same frame rate was with resolutions 1280x752 and 1440x856.

In 3DMark Ice Storm, the frame rate in the first test was 60 fps, in the second - 50.3 fps. Again a good result, but Ice Storm only shows frame rates at 1280x720.

The reviewed Chromebook Flip C101PA demonstrated 6.9 fps in the first part of the Sling Shot test with a resolution of 1920×1080 and 3.1 fps in the second.

The new Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA can handle only the simplest games. However, given the affordable price, poor performance in games is forgivable.

Portable and compact

The thickness of the Asus Flip C101PA is 1.5 cm, weight - 0.9 kg. The rounded edges and metal body make it even more compact and easy to carry. For comparison, the thickness of the Acer Switch 3 without a removable keyboard is 1 cm, weight is 0.9 kg. If you attach a keyboard and use the Acer gadget as a laptop, the thickness increases to 1.6 cm and the weight increases to 1.25 kg. The Switch 3 has a large 12.2-inch screen, so it's not as compact as the Chromebook Flip C101PA.

The Flip C101PA lasted 324 minutes in the Basemark test. When continuously loading sites in iMacro Chrome, the battery drained in 484 minutes - this is an hour longer than the result of the Flip C302CA. The laptop I tested turned off after 536 minutes of playing a looped video. In the same test, the Flip C302CA lasted 485 minutes, while the Acer Switch 3 lasted only 290 minutes.

It takes 1.5 hours to fully charge the battery.

Asus Chromebook

ASUS Chromebook 12-Inch for $180

An inexpensive and simple Asus Chromebook model with an 11.6-inch screen with an improved TFT matrix and hardware powerful enough for everyday tasks. If this screen seems too small for you, you can find a C300 model with a screen that is already 13.3 inches. The screen, by the way, is matte, not glossy, which is even better. Forget about screen glare.

Available in several vibrant body colors: yellow, red, blue and classic grey. There is an ASUS and Chrome logo on the lid. Overall, the Chromebook is very compact and portable. The thickness is less than two centimeters and is generally pleasing to the eye. And the weight of 1.15 kg is simply not felt. 5 points for ergonomics!

All other technical specifications will not surprise you. A standard screen with a slightly larger HD resolution, 2 or 4 GB of RAM, a simple 32 or 64 GB eMMC card, Intel Celeron N2830 or Intel Celeron N2930 with integrated Intel HD Graphics. The clock frequency is a little more than 2 GHz, but you don’t even have to think about it.

There is a version of the laptop with 3G, which is absolutely natural for Chromebooks and unnatural for Windows laptops.

The battery is also good: 11 hours of battery life in typewriter mode. At the level of Macbooks, which, by the way, cost from $800 to $2000, which is many times more than the price of an ASUS Chromebook.

There is one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports and HDMI.

Software

The main advantage of Chrome OS is that users do not have to deal with a lot of unnecessary programs. On this Chromebook you will find only Google web applications, including Gmail, Chrome browser, YouTube, Google Docs and others. Games from Spacetime Studios, Tweetdeck and Facebook are also available here.

Apps from Google Play run in windowed mode by default, just like on a smartphone screen. Some applications can be expanded to full screen after a restart, while others will remain in the form of a small window - like Titan Quest.

While testing the Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA software, I wanted to see the screen brightness settings, but the corresponding section did not open. This happened quite often with other functions as well. Performance issues can occur due to Chrome OS bugs, a weak processor, or a combination of several reasons.

Software and Warranty

In addition to the Chrome Web Store, the Chromebook Flip C101PA provides access to apps from the Google Play Store (in beta), making your Chromebook much more versatile.

This means you can use Android apps like Instagram and Snapchat on your Chromebook that would otherwise only be accessible from your smartphone. The system also comes with 100GB of Google Drive storage for two years, which is a welcome freebie. A one-year warranty is also included.

Bottom line

The Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA is more of a tablet hybrid than a laptop. It competes not only with Chromebooks like the Samsung Chromebook Pro and Acer Chromebook R 11, but also with similar Windows-based devices.

Durable, lightweight and fast, the Flip C101PA will be a good replacement for a tablet with a detachable keyboard for a student. It fully justifies its low price, offering a lot of features without any major drawbacks.

Smartphones and tablets become outdated within a few months of purchase—Chromebooks have the same problem. High build quality and regular Google updates won't help when a smaller, more affordable, and more powerful hybrid laptop comes along.

Is there an alternative?

Asus' Chromebook Flip C302CA has the same hybrid design, but has a higher resolution and an Intel Core processor.

For $400 (23,500 rubles) the Acer Chromebook R 13 is available - a tablet laptop with a 13.3-inch FHD screen (1920x1080) and twice the amount of built-in memory.

The Acer Switch 3 costs $150 more, but offers a better processor, a wider screen, higher resolution, additional memory, a removable keyboard and Windows 10.

Advantages of Asus Chromebook Flip C101PA

• Portable and compact.
• Long lasting battery.
• Support for Android applications.
• High strength.

Asus Chromebook C301SA - Chrome OS laptop with 64 GB of memory worth $300

The vast majority of Chromebooks come with 32GB or less memory. This is done on the basis that users will not need a lot of space to store application data, since the Chrome OS operating system works with Internet applications. By releasing models with 16 and 32 GB of solid-state memory, manufacturers can offer fairly cheap laptops with very fast memory.

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However, Google is now adding support for Android apps and games to the Chrome OS operating system, which will require more internal memory, which until now only the expensive Google Chromebook Pixel could offer.

But thanks to Asus, a cheaper option will appear on the market, our colleagues from the Liliputing website report. Asus releases the Chromebook C301SA with 64GB of solid-state memory, which is priced at $300. Of course, this amount of memory does not compare to that found in Windows or Mac OS laptops, but it is still much more than most Chromebooks... and Android smartphones and tablets under $300.

The Asus Chromebook C301SA is equipped with a 13.3-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and the new product is based on a 4-core Intel Celeron N3160 processor operating at a frequency of 1.6 - 2.24 GHz, which is complemented by 4 GB of RAM. The new product also has 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 modules, USB 3.0 and HDMI connectors, as well as a slot for SD memory cards, in case the user needs additional space to store files, music and movies.

It should be noted that despite the Asus Chromebook C301SA having sufficient memory for Android applications, the laptop’s display is not touch-sensitive, which is why some applications and games will not be very convenient to use on this laptop, and some are completely impossible.

At the moment, Asus produces only one laptop model that officially supports Android applications and games. This Asus Chromebook Flip is based on an ARM processor, and is equipped with a 10-inch touch display that can open 360 degrees, allowing you to use the laptop as a tablet.