Latest from ITPro in Chrome

Move over Chromebook – Google teases Gemini-native Googlebook range, with new laptops coming later in the year

itpro@futurenet.com (Bobby Hellard) — Wed, 13 May 2026 07:23:35 +0000

Google has teased a new line-up of laptops coming later in the year called Googlebooks.

In what was a brief announcement at the Android Show, Googlebooks appear to be a confirmation of a long-running rumor: a new operating system based on a fusion of ChromeOS and Android, and essentially a Gemini-native successor to Chromebooks.

“We’re bringing together the best of Android, which comes with powerful apps on Google Play and a modern OS that’s designed for Intelligence, and ChromeOS, which comes with the world’s most popular browser,” Google’s senior director for laptops and tablets, Alex Kuscher, wrote in a blog post.

“The result is Googlebook: a new category of laptops built with Gemini’s helpfulness at its core, designed to work seamlessly with the devices in your life and powered by premium hardware. We’re sharing a sneak peek into the Googlebook experience today and will have a lot more to share later this year.”

What to expect with Googlebooks

Googlebooks will be the first laptops designed “from the ground up” for Gemini Intelligence, the company said in its announcement. The first Googlebooks are expected in the fall from the usual vendors such Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo.

Gemini and its AI capabilities will assist you the moment you open a Googlebook laptop, the company said. One of the first new features is the “Magic Pointer” which adds extra functions as you hover the cursor over various apps.

The cursor will also come alive with “just a wiggle”, according to Google. The wiggle brings up quick and contextual suggestions that depend on where it is on the screen.

Pointing at a date in Gmail, for example, will suggest setting up a meeting. Or selecting two images can create a visualization; the presentation showed a couch being placed in a living room.

Many of the features appeared to be more about everyday life, rather than business use cases. Though it isn’t hard to imagine where capabilities like custom widgets or remote mobile access can help at work.

The latter will allow you to access your mobile from the laptop.

The announcement does raise a few questions, particularly for the future of Chromebooks, but we expect more details to come over the summer.

Flaw in Chrome’s Gemini Live gave attackers access to user cameras and microphones

Emma Woollacott — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:55:13 +0000

A high-severity vulnerability in Google’s Gemini Live in-browser AI assistant created significant privacy and security risks for Chrome users.

Gemini Live runs in a side panel, summarizing web content in real time and handling tasks like automated actions, and requires deep, privileged access to the browsing environment, including media devices and files.

The flaw, tracked as CVE-2026-0628, allows malicious extensions with basic permissions to 'hijack' the new feature, giving attackers access to webcams, microphones, and private files.

Palo Alto Unit 42 researchers said this vulnerability could have allowed malicious browser extensions with only basic permissions to escalate privileges and access the victim's camera and microphone without consent.

Thereafter, a threat actor could take screenshots of any website and access local files and directories.

“Today’s agentic browsers can act on your behalf — researching, reasoning and taking action without direct user input. While this can deliver meaningful productivity gains, in the absence of enterprise-grade controls these tools can take autonomous actions beyond IT oversight," warned Anupam Upadhyaya, SVP, product management, Prisma SASE, Palo Alto Networks.

"By inheriting a user’s browser session and accessing screens, files, cameras and microphones, agentic browsers can expand the attack surface through prompt manipulation and weakened web isolation, creating security and accountability gaps enterprises haven’t faced before."

How the Gemini Live flaw works

Researchers found that an extension with access to a basic permission set through the declarativeNetRequests API could have enabled an attacker to inject JavaScript code into the new Gemini panel.

The API allows extensions to intercept and change properties of HTTPS web requests and responses – needed for legitimate purposes, such as allowing AdBlock to stop requests that could lead to privacy-undermining ads.

However, when loaded within the new side panel, rather than a standard tab, a flaw emerges in the ability to intercept and change properties of hxxps[:]//gemini.google[.]com/app.

As a result, attackers could run arbitrary code at hxxps[:]//gemini.google[.]com/app under the new Gemini browser panel. As a privileged component of the browser itself, code running within the Gemini panel could access capabilities unavailable to the extension that injected the code initially.

Attackers could start the camera and microphone of the browser without asking for user consent, reach local files and directories of the underlying operating system, take screenshots of tabs showing any website that serves over HTTPS, and hijack the panel into carrying out a phishing attack.

"Innovation can’t come at the expense of security," said Upadhyaya. "If organizations choose to deploy agentic browsers, they must treat them as high-risk infrastructure, with runtime visibility, enforced policy controls and hardened guardrails built in from day one. Anything less invites compromise.”

Unit 42 shared the issue with Google in October via coordinated vulnerability disclosure, with Google releasing a fix in early January.

Everything you need to know about Google and Apple’s emergency zero-day patches

Nicole Kobie — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:45:07 +0000

Apple, Google, and other browser makers have rolled out patches for zero-day bugs that are already being used by threat actors in "sophisticated" attacks.

Google noted that an exploit for one of the bugs exists in the wild already and was spotted by its Threat Analysis Group – that largely works on serious attacks led by state actors or similar – and was sorted via coordination with Apple engineers.

"For these Apple- and ANGLE-related issues, the quiet, coordinated disclosure strongly suggests the vendors viewed the bugs as high-risk and potentially already known to capable adversaries," Douglas McKee, director of vulnerability intelligence at Rapid7, told Dark Reading.

One of the bugs impacts other browser makers using Chromium, including Microsoft Edge and Vivaldi, which have also rolled out patches this week.

Patches for Apple

Alongside a set of other updates, Apple issued emergency patches for two issues in WebKit for devices running versions of its software before iOS 26. The flaws, CVE-2025-14174 and CVE-2025-43529, were credited, in full or in part, to Google Threat Analysis Group.

The first meant that accessing a webpage with "maliciously crafted" content could lead to arbitrary code execution. "A use-after-free issue was addressed with improved memory management," Apple said in a support document.

For the second, Apple said that malicious websites could lead to memory corruption, saying the issue was "addressed with improved validation."

"Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been exploited in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 26," the company said in a support document detailing both issues.

The patches for the zero-day flaws are available for devices going back to iPhone 11, iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd generation, iPad Pro 11-inch 1st generation, iPad Air 3rd generation, iPad 8th generation, and iPad mini 5th generation.

Apple gave little extra detail about the zero-day flaws, saying it "doesn't disclose, discuss or confirm security issues". However, the tech giant issued a patch for the bugs alongside a set of other security issues that included further fixes for WebKit, the ScreenTime tool and more.

Google patches flaws

Google revealed its flaw via an update to the Stable Channel for the desktop version of its Chrome browser, crediting the discovery of CVE-2025-14174 to the Google Threat Analysis Group as well as Apple Security Engineering and Architecture.

Google had initially patched the flaw last week without any details beyond a "high" rating, but has now filled in a few details.

That flaw, labelled as a high-risk vulnerability, was first spotted December 5 and is caused by out-of-bounds memory access in Chrome's Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine (ANGLE), which is also used by WebKit, hence the impact on Apple.

"Out of bounds memory access in ANGLE in Google Chrome on Mac prior to 143.0.7499.110 allowed a remote attacker to perform out of bounds memory access via a crafted HTML page," said the CVE.org support page for the flaw.

"Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2025-14174 exists in the wild," Google added in a blog post.

The company also patched two other medium-level flaws in the stable channel at the same time.

Possibly the best around – the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (Gen 10) is a stellar option for businesses looking to pilot Chromebooks

Stuart Andrews — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000

The new Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the laptop Google has chosen to spearhead the next wave of Chromebook devices, and it's really not hard to see why. It's beautifully engineered with a gorgeous OLED screen and an exciting new Mediatek chipset. It's the first Chromebook Plus with a high-performance NPU to handle local AI workloads, and the chipset's integrated graphics processor is a big step up from anything we've seen on previous Chromebooks.

Best of all, it's still surprisingly affordable, delivering the kind of experience you'd expect from a high-end laptop at a decidedly mid-range price. Some are already calling the Chromebook Plus 14 the new king of Chromebooks. They may have a point.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (Gen 10): Design

(Image credit: Future)

The physical design will seem fairly familiar if you've seen Lenovo's recent 14-inch laptops, but with some interesting touches that make the Chromebook Plus 14 distinct. The construction is mostly aluminium and, at 314.2 x 219.1mm, fairly compact. There's a slim matte grey plastic bezel around the screen and a bulge for the 1080p webcam at the top, with a solid-feeling one-piece hinge connecting the display to the base. At 15.79mm thick, it's not as impossibly slender as Samsung's 15.6-inch Galaxy Chromebook Plus, but it's still very slim and just as light. My sample – without a touchscreen – has the same 1.17kg weight as the Samsung, and it's more than portable enough for mobile workers as well as commuters and hot-deskers.

It's good-looking, too. The seashell finish is basically a metallic silver, but it has a subtle gold undertone which gets picked up in certain light and adds a little extra visual interest. What's more, the ridged surface of the base harks back to Google's much-loved, much-missed Pixelbook Go, while adding some extra passive cooling and stability when you're using the Chromebook Plus 14 on your lap. Did we mention that it's absolutely silent or that it puts out barely any heat?

Connectivity is basic but functional. You have two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C ports – one on either side – for peripherals or charging. You also have an additional USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port on the left. We'd like to see faster Type-C ports for storage, but that's not such an issue on Chrome OS devices where the files and resources you're working with usually reside on the cloud. A 5Gbit/sec USB SSD is still fast enough for 4K video editing as long as you're not working across multiple layers and sources, and we suspect more ambitious video editors aren't likely to reach for a Chromebook, anyway.

Arguably, wireless connectivity is more important, and here the Chromebook Plus 14 is effectively future-proof. Not only does it include Wi-Fi 7 as standard, but also Bluetooth v5.4.

Lenovo rarely fits a sub-par keyboard, and while the effort here isn't Thinkpad-class, it's very respectable. The action is light but crisp and speedy, with a comfortable amount of travel and a tight, consistent feel across the keyboard. Bar the undersized function keys there's nothing to complain about in the layout, which features both a Google key to open up the launcher and the Quick Insert key.

The latter is only becoming more useful with each Chrome OS update, providing context-sensitive options according to the app, mostly focused on new AI features. Tapping it now while in Google Docs, for instance, gives us quick links to recent websites, a selection of emojis, and access to Google's Help me write and image generation features. Like many recent ChromeOS UI tweaks, it brings AI tools closer to the surface.

Lenovo has also got the trackpad just right. At roughly 12 x 7.7cm it's neither too big nor too small, and a good match for the screen's 16:10 aspect ratio. It's plastic, rather than glass, but still smooth and very responsive, tracking pointer movements and multitouch gestures without any irritating foibles. All in all, the Chromebook Plus 14 hits the right balance between portability and all-day usability,

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (Gen 10): Display

(Image credit: Future)

Like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, the Chromebook Plus 14 defies expectations by packing in an OLED screen – a real rarity with laptops at this price point. Lenovo claims 400 nits brightness with SDR content and 500 nits with HDR, and in our tests, that's pretty accurate, with a max brightness of 389.5cd/m2 in the centre of the screen and the perfect blacks and infinite contrast we associate with OLED screens. We couldn't get the claimed 100% DCI-P3 coverage, with 76.9% coverage and a 77.2% gamut in our tests, but 99.9% sRGB coverage with a 109% gamut was well within our grasp. What's more, color accuracy is excellent, with an average Delta-E of just under 1 (0.99 to be exact).

This is a great screen for productivity workloads, a good one for creative work, and a superb one for entertainment, thanks to those deep blacks and vivid colors. Sure, in an ideal world, we might go higher than the 1920 x 1200 resolution, but a QHD screen is a little too much to hope for the money, and the resolution is arguably better here than on 15-inch or 16-inch rivals. You can still multi-task effectively, especially in split-screen views.

It's also hard not to be impressed by the audio. There's more depth at low-to-medium volumes than on your average 14in laptop, and even a surprisingly good attempt at immersive surround sound. Clarity suffers, and the tone can grow harsh at higher volumes, but at sensible listening levels it's very good.

There's more good news when it comes to video meetings and calls. While the built-in webcam delivers slightly subdued colours, it copes brilliantly with exposure in both natural and artificial lighting. Detail is also strong, while grain is kept to a minimum. The audio works well on this level, too. We didn't experience any problems being heard clearly by colleagues, or hearing them ourselves.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (Gen 10): Performance

The Chromebook Plus 14 finds Mediatek making the same transition that Qualcomm made last year, switching from a cost-conscious but slightly second-rate option to a serious contender. Here, the Kompanio Ultra 910 does for Chromebooks what Qualcomm's Snapdragon X processors did for Windows Copilot+ PCs, delivering an impressive combination of superb energy efficiency and excellent all-around performance. Note that we tested the base model with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 128GB of eUFS storage. The higher-end version with 16GB and 256GB should give you slightly increased speeds.

According to Geekbench 6, single-core performance is ahead of any Chromebook we've tested, including the Galaxy Chromebook Plus with its Intel Core 5 120U and the Asus ExpertBook CX54, with its Core Ultra 7 155U. These scored 2072 and 1797, respectively, against the Chromebook Plus 14's 2542. What's more, despite having eight cores running at up to 3.62GHz to the Core 5 120U's 10 cores and the Core Ultra 7 155U's 12 cores, the Kompanio still beats both on multi-threaded performance, scoring 7656 to 7608 and 7546. Only in the Basemark 3.0 benchmark did the Asus pull ahead, scoring 1446.65 to the Samsung's 1068.13 and the Lenovo's 1191.

Meanwhile, the Chromebook Plus 14 trashes both on GPU performance, scoring 4904 in the 3DMark WildLife Extreme benchmark, against 2420 from the Galaxy Chromebook Plus. All three laptops max out the standard WildLife benchmark, but set to Unlimited the Lenovo scores 16847 against 9873 from the Samsung and 10242 from the Asus. ChromeOS isn't big on 3D apps or even 3D games, but any Android apps that use a GPU will be glad of the extra horsepower.

(Image credit: Future)

Notably, neither rival has a decently powerful NPU. The Core 5 120U just doesn't have one, while the Core Ultra 7 155U's NPU is stuck at an underwhelming 11 TOPS. The Kompanio Ultra 910 offers up to 50 TOPS, putting it in the same league, if not slightly faster, than Qualcomm and AMD's best chips.

Historically, Chromebooks haven't needed this much power, but with more AI features built-in and running locally, that's beginning to change. There's definitely scope here to run lightweight language models locally – something Google is pushing on its Android phones – and it gives the Chromebook Plus 14 some AI future-proofing that you're just not going to find on existing Chromebook Plus devices.

There are further wins on battery life, with the Chromebook Plus 14 lasting 14 hours and 37 minutes in our video playback test with the screen set to 170cd/m2. That puts it ahead of the Galaxy Chromebook Plus at just shy of 12 hours and the Asus at 10 hours and 39 minutes, and in the same ballpark as some Copilot+ PCs, though not the stamina leaders.

We've consistently got through a full working day on this device even with the brightness turned up to nearly full, and usually had some juice left in the tank for the next day. Charging isn't slow either, with the provided wall-wart charger getting us back to 46% in 30 minutes.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 (Gen 10): Is it worth it?

Is this the best Chromebook ever? Well, it might not have the impact of the first Google Pixelbook or the premium appeal of the Pixelbook Go, but there's no denying that it's sleek, powerful, and excellent value for money. True, there are areas where the Galaxy Chromebook Plus and ExpertBook CX54 come out on top – the former on design, the latter on screen resolution – but Lenovo's new flagship Chromebook has the edge overall while beating the Asus on price. Most of all, this feels like an exciting Chromebook; one built to showcase what Google is doing with its slick software, services, and Gemini AI. It's a stellar option for businesses looking to pilot Chromebooks or roll them out at scale.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus specifications

Display	14-inch 1,920 x 1,200 OLED, 60Hz refresh rate
Processor	Mediatek Kompanio Ultra 910
GPU	ARM Immortalis-G925
RAM	12GB LPDDR5x
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
Camera	1080p webcam
Storage	128GB eUFS
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth v5.4
Weight	1.17Kg – 1.26Kg
Dimensions	314.2 x 219.1 x 15.79mm
Battery Capacity	60Wh
Operating System	Chrome OS

Google breakup plans would ‘hurt America’s consumers, economy, and technological leadership’, senior exec claims

Nicole Kobie — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 07:58:41 +0000

Google has struck back against US regulators, claiming that plans to dismantle the company would "hurt the economy".

Last year, a court case brought by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) found Google had a monopoly in search. A trial that began this week seeks to decide the correct remedies, which could include breaking up aspects of Google, selling Chrome or spinning out Android.

The DOJ said in a filing that Google forces Americans to submit to "unbridled demands and shifting, ideological preferences" just to access a decent search tool.

Justice Department lawyer David Dahlquist said in court Monday: "This is the time for the court to tell Google and all other monopolists who are out there listening — and they are listening — that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws."

Last week, in a separate case, a US judge found that Google has an illegal monopoly in advertising technology, and it faces a class-action style suit in the UK on the same subject.

Google breakup plans would harm the economy

While Google will get a chance to have its say in court, the company shared a blog post over the weekend ahead of the beginning of the trial, arguing its case to the public, and reiterating that it disagreed with the court's decision last year.

The post pointed to its own proposal for remedies that would allow multiple search agreements, de-link Google's apps in Android, and stressed that Google would appeal the ruling once the remedy was decided.

Penned by Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs, the post said the case was "backwards looking" given the current level of intense competition in online search sparked by the rise of AI, pointing to ChatGPT and DeepSeek.

"At trial we will show how DOJ’s unprecedented proposals go miles beyond the Court’s decision, and would hurt America’s consumers, economy, and technological leadership," she wrote.

The post further argued the DOJ proposal would make it harder to access online services.

"People use Google because they want to, not because they have to," Mulholland wrote. "DOJ's proposal would force browsers and phones to default to search services like Microsoft’s Bing, making it harder for you to access Google."

She added that the proposal would prevent competition in search, raise prices and slow innovation, adding that it would damage Mozilla Firefox which relies on Google payments from search distribution.

Similarly, the move would force Google to share sensitive and private search data with "companies you may never have heard of".

On the topic of Android potentially being spun out, Google argued it would impact security, raise prices and hurt businesses.

"DOJ’s proposal to split off Chrome and Android — which we built at great cost over many years and make available for free — would break those platforms, hurt businesses built on them, and undermine security," she wrote.

AI a new front for case?

Google argued that the DOJ proposal would "hamstring how we develop AI" by requiring a government committee to regulate the design of its related products.

Mulholland suggested this would “hold back American innovation at a critical juncture” as the firm and its counterparts contend with rising competition from overseas developers.

At the trial, Dahlquist argued that the court's remedy should actively consider AI, saying Perplexity AI and OpenAI will both testify about the impact of Google's industry dominance on their own businesses.

"This court's remedy should be forward-looking and not ignore what is on the horizon," Dahlquist said.

Chromebook Plus devices are getting an AI boost with Gemini — and we’ve had an early preview

Stuart Andrews — Tue, 28 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000

Google is revamping its Chromebook Plus portfolio by making its latest AI model, Gemini 1.5, an integral part of an enhanced version of Chrome OS.

From today, Gemini will power a range of new OS-level features designed to make AI part of the everyday user experience, using a mix of on-device processing power and cloud-based AI services.

While Microsoft is reserving its strongest Windows Copilot features for a new class of Windows Copilot+ PCs, Google said it will roll out its Chromebook Plus with Gemini features to existing Chromebook Plus laptops, along with a new line of Chromebook Plus devices starting at £379.

The new features begin rolling out today, but we’ve had a sneak peak with a preview-loaded Acer Chromebook Plus to see the AI enhancements in action.

Some of the new features are clearly more consumer focused than targeting business users. This includes AI-generated wallpapers that can now be created from the standard Wallpaper and Style settings panel from a series of customizable prompts.

If you want a backdrop of a lake, painted in an impressionist style or a landscape with a fluffy fur pagoda, you’re in luck, though there’s no way to enter your own text prompts to create your own wallpapers from scratch.

You can select from eight low-resolution drafts to make your final choice, and the results can be striking, albeit with a strong AI-generated look.

The same system can also generate background images for Web meetings and chats. The images load automatically not just in Google Meet, but in any browser-based meetings app that uses the webcam, much like the AI-powered audio and background filters introduced with the launch of Chromebook Plus.

New Chromebook Plus AI features will let users auto-generate wallpaper templates (Image credit: ITPro/Stuart Andrews)

Google’s AI-powered Magic Editor tool also makes its Chromebook debut, appearing on the Chromebook Plus-enhanced version of the Google Photos app. Draw an outline around or paint over an object or person in a photo, and you can move it, resize it and/or delete it, with the AI covering any flaws and filling in any blank space.

Look closely and you may spot some imperfections, but as a quick and dirty fix it’s impressive.

Google’s new Chromebook Plus AI features will help you read and write

The key features for business users will lie more around Gemini’s text generation capabilities. Gemini’s Help me write feature now comes baked in as a right-click option, working across a range of social media and document-editing apps to help you auto-generate posts or comments from a simple prompt.

In tests, it produced useful - if predictably generic - responses across Facebook, Reddit, and LinkedIn, though it can also produce longer posts for social media or business blogs.

The 'help me write' feature takes a matter of seconds to generate a LinkedIn post (Image credit: ITPro/Stuart Andrews)

What’s more, ChromeOS now features a dedicated dashboard for Gemini and Gemini Advanced, ready to handle more sophisticated AI queries or generate more complex text-based content.

It’s effective at providing simple summaries of arguments and explanations, though - as ever - you need to keep an eye on bias, accuracy and hallucination. Google even has a note at the bottom of the window to warn you that ‘Gemini may display inaccurate information’, suggesting you ‘double-check its responses.’

For Gemini Advanced subscribers, the same Help me write technology already comes baked into Google Docs, while Google Sheets, and Google Slides have their own AI enhancements for auto-generating simple organisational spreadsheets and more attractive slides.

Meanwhile, Google has demonstrated a future Help me read feature, capable of summarizing website content, documents and PDFs at a right-click, with the chance to ask follow-up questions on the same topic or drill down to gather facts. Google compares the approach to a good teacher taking time to walk you through the topic at hand.

Beyond AI, Google has added a handful of features that will be rolling out across all Chromebooks. Google Tasks will now be integrated with the taskbar’s calendar and available at a click, while the ChromeOS screen capture tool gains GIF screen recording.

Finally, a new Game Dashboard adds options to remap game controls and record and share gameplay with voice overs. More enhancements have been promised for the near future, with a Focus mode for polishing off urgent tasks, and a new overview screen that will open up at startup to show your last open windows, browser tabs and apps.

It can even carry content over that you’ve been reading on your Android phone; a good example of how Google is working to create a more coherent experience across Android and Chrome OS devices.

New Chromebook Plus devices

For those without a Chromebook Plus, Google and its OEM partners have announced four new models.

First up comes refreshes of the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and Chromebook Spin 714, the former swapping its AMD Ryzen 3 CPU for an Intel Core i3, the latter upgrading from 13th-gen Intel Core to the new Core Ultra CPUs.

Meanwhile, HP is launching two new models: a Chromebook Plus x360 with a 14in 1080p screen and Intel Core i3 inside a 2-in-1 convertible chassis, and the HP Chromebook Plus 14, with similar specs inside a more straightforward clamshell.

Finally, Asus is launching a revamp of its popular Chromebook Plus CX34 with a 13th-gen Intel Core i5.

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Prices have yet to be confirmed, but will fall within Google’s stated £379 to £799 scope. What’s more, all new Chromebook Plus laptops will be bundled with 12 months free subscription to the £18.99 per month Google One AI Premium plan, with 2TB of storage and Gemini Advanced,

Google’s strategy is a contrast to Microsoft’s. Whereas the latter is promoting AI as a killer app for new laptops costing over £1,000, Google instead is promising AI for everyone, with pricing to match.

Of course, there’s no dedicated neural processing hardware onboard, as you’ll find in the Snapdragon X processors on Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs, and the subscription for Gemini Advanced may become a barrier for businesses once the free subscription term expires.

With Chromebook sales growing slowly – and Gemini seen to be lagging behind Microsoft’s ChatGPT-based services – this could be the shot in the arm Google’s AI future needs.

Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 review: A big-screen Chromebook built for business

Stuart Andrews — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 12:47:46 +0000

Recent high-spec, big-screen Chromebooks have all had one thing in common: they were all designed primarily for gamers. Sure, the (now end-of-life) Acer Chromebook 516GE and Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Gaming Chromebook Plus were fantastic Chromebooks that could work well in a business setting, but what if you weren't bothered with RGB lighting and a screen with a 120Hz refresh rate? What if you just wanted a Chromebook with a screen big enough for serious multi-tasking and a keyboard you could work all day on? And would it hurt if it looked a little more professional?

Well, if the gamer bling of those Chromebooks put you off, the Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 could be just what you're looking for. It has a 16-inch screen in a 16:10 aspect ratio with a 1920 x 1200 resolution. It comes packing an Intel Core i5-1235 CPU, alongside 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It also has a fantastic keyboard and battery life to spare, yet its 2-in-1 convertible design is flexible, stylish, and office-friendly. While it's on the pricey side by Chromebook standards, it feels like a premium device. If you value comfort and features over lightweight portability, the Enterprise Flip CB5 is well worth paying a little extra for.

Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5: Design

The basic design of the Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 might be familiar if you've seen Asus's old CX5500 Flip Chromebook or the more recent Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip. Like them, it's a 2-in-1 convertible laptop that's perfectly usable in the regular clamshell format, but where you can fold the lid flat against the base to create a kind of massive, chunky tablet. Alternatively, you can fold it back to around 270 degrees and use it with the screen upside down and facing outwards in a tent configuration, or with the base working as a stand to hold the screen facing front and upwards. The latter two options are particularly useful for touchscreen applications or ad-hoc presentations, though the sheer size of the 16-inch screen makes using the tablet format slightly weird, especially with no stylus bundled in.

And like the CX55500 Flip and Vibe CX34 Flip, the Enterprise Flip CB5 has a robust, powder-coated aluminum body, here in a slick matt dark grey. It's relatively thin and light for a 16-inch laptop, with a 358 x 262mm desktop footprint and a maximum thickness of just under 20mm, and when you combine that with the slim bezels around the 16:10 screen you get a rather elegant machine. It's robust too, meeting MIL-STD-810H requirements for dust and shock resistance.

The ErgoLift hinge raises the keyboard as you push the screen back so that it sits at a comfortable typing angle, and there's still ample room for a good range of connections, including two 10Gbits/sec USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port and an HDMI 2.0 video output. Throw Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity into the mix, and you've got everything you need for a full desktop setup onboard. It's only if you want dual displays, wired networking, or the convenience of a single cable that you'd need to invest in a separate dock.

(Image credit: Future)

Crucially, the larger size makes this a laptop you can work on all day long. The keyboard suffers from a tiny left shift key, cramped cursor keys, and an undersized numeric keypad, but the feel is excellent, with 1.4mm of travel and speedy but still clicky action. The 128 x 72mm touchpad is also larger than the norm, and while it hasn't got the glassy feel of a touchpad on a high-end laptop, it's still reliable in its tracking and smooth to the touch. Here a mouse is a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.

Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5: Display

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If there's one area where Asus should have gone further, it's the screen. It's big and the 1920 x 1200 resolution is perfectly adequate, but if you've been spoilt by the 2560 x 1600 resolution of the IdeaPad 5i Gaming Chromebook Plus and Chromebook 615GE, you'll notice that this one isn't quite as crisp or clear. What's more, the colors aren't as deep or vibrant; in tests, the Enterprise Flip CB5 covers just 59% of the sRGB color gamut and 43% of the DCI-P3 gamut, which is more what we'd expect from a budget Chromebook than a premium model.

In isolation, though, the image quality is pretty good. The screen goes bright, reaching 343cd/m2, making it usable in most lighting conditions bar direct sunlight, text looks sharp and there's plenty of contrast. What's more, the 16-inch screen size is easier on the eyes when you're working across multiple windows than the 14-inch screens on many rival Chromebooks.

Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5: Performance

The Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 combines a ten-core Intel Core i5-1235U processor with 8GB of RAM, and what would be a mid-range spec on a Windows laptop works as a high-end spec on Chrome OS. Benchmark results are similar to those of other high-end models like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34, though the Flip CB5 lagged behind slightly in Geekbench 6's multithreaded tests, with 5615 to the Spin 714's 6568 and the Vibe CX34's 6292. It was closer in Basemark 3.0, at 1238 to 1245 from the Acer and 1360.24 from the Vibe CX34, and closer still in the Jetstream multitasking benchmark, where it scored 257.95 to 246.92 and 260.65.

(Image credit: Future)

In actual use, there's enough processing power here to handle a wide range of applications. You can have well over a dozen Chrome tabs open without a hint of any slowdown, while Android apps and even Linux applications shouldn't give you any problems with performance.

As for battery life, the Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 confounded expectations by holding up for eleven hours and 49 minutes of 1080p video playback before conking out. That puts it ahead of the smaller Vibe CX34 Flip if not quite matching the Spin 714 with its epic 13-hour plus longevity. Even with the brightness turned up, you should be able to get through most working days without a recharge, which is impressive when you consider that you're working with a bigger screen.

Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5: Is it worth it?

At £879 it's more expensive than the Chromebook Spin 714, but it's still not hugely pricey in comparison to other business-ready Chromebooks. It also looks and feels distinctly more premium than the recent clutch of Chromebook Plus models, with a thoroughly usable keyboard and impressive performance and battery life to boot. The Spin 714 has the edge when it comes to the quality of its display and is slightly better value for money, but if you're looking for a big-screen alternative, the Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 is as good as they come.

Asus Chromebook Enterprise Flip CB5 specifications

Processor	Intel Core i5-1235U
Display	1920 x1200 16in 16:10 IPS
RAM	8GB
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A, HDMI 2.0, micro SD card, 3.5m audio
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions	258 x 262 x 19mm
Weight	2.15Kg

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review: You can't beat this Chromebook Plus for value

Stuart Andrews — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 06:21:42 +0000

Original review: The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i used to be seen as the go-to Chromebook before Chromebook Plus and AI PCs came along. It hit a sweet spot between price and performance inside a versatile 2-in-1 form factor but with a solid body and decent screen. Think Acer's Chromebook Spin 713, but with less wow-factor, and a much more palatable price.

The most recent version (which we have reviewed) is not a whole lot different from its previous iterations, but it was one of two Lenovo Chromebooks to be awarded the Chromebook Plus title. What that means is it is a Chromebook that meets a specific set of criteria for specs and performance. One that should temp small businesses with value for money.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: Design

Like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip, the IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a 2-in-1 convertible with a 14in screen in a squarer 16:10 aspect ratio, giving you a little more vertical space to play with at the cost of some horizontal space. Don't get too excited by the aluminum lid – it's the only part of the shell that's actual metal, rather than a metallic finish plastic – but the build feels good and sturdy and there's barely any flex in the base or in the lid.

In fact, the Flex in the name refers to the flexibility of the design. This enables you to use this Chromebook not just in the standard clamshell laptop mode, but with the lid folded back against the bottom of the keyboard as a kind of oversized tablet, or with the lid acting as a prop for the screen in a tent mode which works well for ad-hoc presentations or simply watching rather than doing.

With a desktop footprint of just 316 x 229mmm, it's an easy laptop to cram into a case or bag, and the 1.58kg weight won't be much of a burden if you're on the go all day. And where its stablemate, the IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook, struggled with a lack of connectivity, the IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has the basics covered. You get two USB 3.2 Type-C ports, with one supporting the 10Gbits/sec USB 3.2 Gen 2x2. You also get a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, plus a micro SD card reader. The only serious omission is an HDMI output – you'll need to rely on DisplayPort over USB-C if you want to hook up an external screen. You'll also need an external dock for any kind of Ethernet support, though the built-in Wi-Fi 6E should cover most people's networking needs.

(Image credit: Future)

There's a 1080p webcam at the top of the screen, with a miniscule privacy slider, and it's capable of capturing natural-looking, detailed images with good exposure in most lighting conditions. Audio is also above the Chromebook norm, with better clarity, more body, and some clever positioning of stereo effects if you stop to watch video or have some music playing in the background. You won't have any problems understanding or being understood in video meetings, at least none caused by the hardware here. What's more, the audio and video enhancements that come in play with Chromebook Plus can be used to improve quality, giving you clearer sound and better-exposed images.

Keyboards tend to be a Lenovo strength, and the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has one of the best you'll find on an affordable Chromebook, with a speedy, lightweight action and a layout that puts everything where you'd normally expect it, at least by Chromebook standards. The touchpad doesn't let the side down either. At 12 x 7.5cm it's larger than the average for a 14in laptop, and as smooth and responsive as you're going to find outside of much more expensive, high-end models.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: Display

The screen is arguably the one area where the cheaper IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook pulls ahead. Most of us would rather have the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus's higher 1920 x 1200 resolution and squarer aspect ratio; it makes the screen look bigger than it is and a little crisper. However, the Slim 3i's screen goes brighter, reaching nearly 330 nits whereas the Flex 5i can only hit just under 300 nits. What's more, its colors are ever so slightly richer. Where the Flex 5i covers 57.7% of the sRGB color gamut, the Slim 3i can cover 61%.

(Image credit: Future)

These are fairly modest results, and contrast levels and color accuracy are similarly underwhelming. Yet in practice, streaming video through YouTube and Netflix or spending the day running productivity apps, the screen looks good. Text is crisp, there's a decent level of contrast and image quality is more than watchable. It's perfectly usable as long as you're not involved in color-critical design work or something of that ilk. Word processing? Spreadsheets? Business collaboration apps and email? You'll be fine.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: Performance

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Where the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 we tested packed in a 13th-generation Core i5-1335U CPU and the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip had the Core i5-1235U, the IdeaPad Flex 5i has to make do with a 12th-generation Core i3-1215U. It's partnered with the Chromebook Plus standard 8GB of RAM plus a 256GB SSD. In theory, the Core i3 CPU should make it significantly slower than the Acer and Asus competition. After all, it just has 2 performance cores and 4 efficient cores running at a maximum 4.4GHz and 3.3GHz respectively, whereas the i5-1335U has two P cores, eight E cores, and higher max clock speeds of 3.4GHz and 4.6GHz.

Yet the difference isn't as massive as you might expect. The Flex 5i scores 1809 in the Geekbench single-core benchmark and 5020 in the multi-core, which puts it behind the 1882 and 6568 of the Acer and the 1815 and 6292 of the Asus, but in the Basemark 3.0 Web applications benchmark it's pretty close, with 1237.88 to the Acer's 1244.59 and the Asus's 1360.24. The difference is more pronounced in the 3DMark Wild Life benchmark, with 7041 to 8826 and 7889, but that's not a massive deal on Chrome OS. In actual everyday use, the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus feels responsive and snappy, even when you've got a dozen Chrome browser tabs open or you're running Android apps. It's no speed champion, but it's fast enough.

(Image credit: Future)

As for battery life, the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus managed just under ten hours in our video playback rundown test; over three hours less than the Spin 713 and nearly an hour less than the Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip, but still not a bad result. You can get through a working day without a recharge unless you have the screen brightness turned up to the maximum, and that's going to be enough for most users.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus: Is it worth it?

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a few short comings; the screen lacks brightness, punchy colors, and its overall feel is not as premium as it could be and the performance and battery life don't match up. There is a more expensive version with a Core i5 1235U chip and a much larger storage spec (512GB SSD).

However, the real interest will be the price. The IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook is currently worth around $349, almost have the price of the Acer Chromebook Spin 714. Chromebooks are still the affordable option for businesses, even with the 'Plus' designation, and the IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is bargain within the bugest market.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus specifications

Processor	Intel Core i3 1215U or Intel Core i5 1235U
Display	FHD 14in, 16:10 IPS
RAM	8GB
Ports	1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, micro SD card
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Dimensions	316 x 229 x 19.8
Weight	1.58Kg

The business guide to Chromebook Plus

Stuart Andrews — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 12:00:10 +0000

Chromebook Plus is more than just a fancy new label. Historically, the Chromebook has had an image problem. There are buyers out there – including business buyers – who may be looking for efficient, low-cost laptops designed to run Cloud-based applications with a high level of security built-in. However, too many of them either don't understand what Chromebooks are or what they can do; there is a dated misconception of Chromebooks as low-performance devices that can do little more than run a browser – the kind of thing that your kids might use at school.

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a Chromebook for business

Google has spent years fighting such misconceptions and building a robust enterprise ecosystem around Chromebooks. Chromebooks can now run a wide range of Android and Linux apps and have Web apps that don't fall apart or lose your data as soon as your Internet connection drops. Google's partners have even produced mid-range and premium devices with the processing power needed to work in more challenging scenarios and run more demanding software. Yet not everyone knows how to differentiate these advanced Chromebooks from basic, budget models – or even that these higher-end Chromebooks exist.

Chromebook Plus is Google's answer to this problem. It's an initiative designed to make it clearer when a Chromebook offers a stronger feature set and a higher level of performance, and give buyers and software developers more confidence that Chrome OS devices will handle more demanding software. Chromebook Plus Chromebooks have to meet a minimum set of requirements and come with a selection of exclusive features and perks. If you're buying a Chromebook for business, it's well worth going for a Chromebook Plus model.

What makes a Chromebook Plus?

The Chromebook Plus initiative covers consumer Chromebooks as well as business models, but to make the grade the Chromebook in question has to meet specific criteria. The core requirements start with an Intel Core i3 or faster CPU, or a Ryzen 3 5000 CPU on the AMD side. Chromebook Plus devices also need to have at least 8GB of RAM, plus 128GB of storage, The display needs a 1080p resolution and to use IPS (or better) technology. Finally, the Chromebook Plus needs a 1080p resolution Webcam that supports Temporal Noise Reduction.

The first wave of Google Plus Chromebooks meet and usually exceed all these criteria, and may carry Chromebook Plus branding and launch straight into Google's new Chromebook Plus-specific setup experience. Yet they aren't the only Chromebooks to match Google's spec. In fact, a range of popular Chromebooks released over the last year also meet the CPU, RAM, storage, and webcam requirements. These include some brilliant business-ready Chromebooks like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 and Chromebook 516GE, the Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip, the HP Dragonfly Pro, and the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook. You can find a full list here.

What benefits do you get with Chromebook Plus?

The biggest benefit is arguably knowing that you're getting a Chromebook with the performance and features to make the best of a wide range of Cloud-based and local Android or Linux apps. Software developers can also build and optimize software to run on that minimum spec and feel confident that any Chromebook Plus model will be able to run it at a decent lick.

However, Google has developed some additional Chromebook Plus features and integrated them into Chrome OS. These start with the Chromebook Plus-specific new user setup experience and continue into Chromebook Plus-exclusive wallpapers and screensavers with their own built-in, AI-powered effects. These aren't game changers for business users, but they're nice to have all the same.

(Image credit: Future)

Chromebook Plus models also come with some Chromebook Plus exclusive offers, designed to showcase the additional performance and screen capabilities you can expect from these more advanced devices. These include a free three-month subscription to a cloud-based version of Photoshop along with Adobe Express Premium, and a discount on purchases of the LumaFusion Pro video editor.

What's more interesting for business users, though, is that Chromebook Plus adds additional AI-powered features to Chrome OS and apps. For instance, the Google Photos app now incorporates a version of the Magic Eraser tool you might have seen in the Camera app on Pixel phones. We also get new automatic lighting and background blur enhancements for video calls and meetings, along with AI-powered noise reduction for your mic. These work across Microsoft Teams, Skype, and Zoom as well as Google Meet. Google also promises that these are just the first of a series of AI enhancements to Chromebook Plus devices, including AI-assisted writing tools and the ability to generate custom wallpapers from text prompts.

The final feature for now isn't specific to Chromebook Plus models, but it's a real boost for productivity. Chrome OS's File Sync features maintain a local copy of key files and documents in your Chromebook's storage, syncing them with a version stored on Google Drive so that you always have what you're working on close to hand. With this in place, going offline doesn't have to destroy your productivity, and you don't need to mess around with workarounds just to keep an up-to-date local copy of a file.

Buying Chromebook Plus

If you have a mid-range of high-end Chromebook that delivers the performance you need, there's no need to upgrade right now to a new Chromebook Plus model. However, if you're buying a new Chromebook, then it just makes sense to buy a Chromebook Plus or a Chromebook that's eligible for the upgrade.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34

(Image credit: Future)

Asus's 14-inch Chromebook Plus is a great budget ultraportable. The slightly cheap-feeling plastic chassis means it looks more expensive than it feels, but it's still robust enough for business use, and the keyboard and trackpad are surprisingly good. On a more expensive device, we'd have more to say about the slightly dull 1080p screen and 7hr and 12min battery life, but both are forgivable when you see how much the Chromebook Plus CX34 costs. What's more, it's impressively speedy for a sub-£400 Chromebook, thanks to its Core i3-1215U processor and the mandatory 8GB of RAM.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714

(Image credit: Future)

While it was launched before the Chromebook Plus initiative, the 2023 version of the Chromebook Spin 714 is one of the first existing Chromebooks to be eligible for the Chromebook Plus update. It's still one of the best business Chromebooks – if not the best – with a sleeker all-metal build than any of the new breed of Chromebooks, excellent connectivity, a garaged stylus, and good all-round ergonomics, plus a brighter, richer 14-inch, 16:10 screen. Throw in a choice of Intel's 13th-generation Core i5 and Core i3 CPUs and it's hard to go wrong.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review: A brilliant big-screen workhorse for tight budgets

Stuart Andrews — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 12:00:11 +0000

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a Chromebook for business

The majority of the new Chromebook Plus models emerging from Google's Chromebook partners are thin-and-light laptops designed to prove that Chromebooks can do more than browse the Web and tackle homework; they can handle the kinds of office and creative workloads that you'd normally associate with a conventional Windows laptop. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 offers a more heavyweight spin on the same idea.

This is a more powerful, big-screen Chromebook with the kind of ergonomics you might want in an all-day productivity device. And while it doesn't have the performance, screen, or specs of 'gaming' Chromebooks like the Acer Chromebook 516GE, it comes in without the bling, and at the sort of price point many SMBs are looking for.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Design

By dint of its 15.6-inch screen, the Chromebook Plus 515 is a fairly chunky laptop, with a desktop footprint of 360.6 x 248.4mm and standing nearly 2cm tall at its thickest point towards the rear when closed. It's crafted from dark grey plastics with a metallic finish rather than aluminum, but it looks and feels more expensive than you might expect, with an eye-catching faux brushed aluminum texture to spice up the lid.

Crucially, it feels very solid, especially in comparison to many budget Chromebooks. Nothing about the construction creaks, the deck doesn't bounce when you're pounding away at the keyboard, and there's not too much flex if you apply some torsion to the corners of the lid. At 1.68Kg it's just about portable, and it shouldn't have any problems surviving a regular commute. Acer claims it's passed MIL-STD 810H certification for shock, vibration, and temperature resistance.

(Image credit: Future)

The temptation with a 15.6-inch or larger laptop is often to cram in a numeric pad, and while that makes sense for spreadsheet warriors, it often has a negative impact on the layout for everyone else. Asus has resisted the temptation with the Chromebook Plus 515, opting instead for a spacious layout where all the Ctrl, Shift, Alt, and Return keys are the size you would expect, where the Chrome OS function keys are also full-width keys, and even the cursors get a little separation. It's backlit too, with five levels of brightness.

As for the feel, it's a little softer and less snappy than the absolute best Chromebook keyboards, but the travel, size, and weight of the keys make it very comfortable and relatively fast. The larger-than-usual palm rests and the way the screen raises the typing angle also help. Having spent a few days working on the Chromebook Plus 515, I'd be perfectly happy to come back for more.

Acer gets some ergonomics bonus points thanks to the excellent touchpad. Formed from recycled plastics into a surface dubbed Oceanglass, it doesn't have the cold feel of the real deal, but it's impressively smooth and hard to fault on accuracy or response. What's more, it's massive, measuring 12.5 x 8.2cm, making it usable even when you need to make precise selections or navigate documents at speed.

Connectivity is relatively basic, but you have all the essentials, with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C ports, an HDMI 1.4 output, and a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A. You also don't get Wi-Fi 6E networking, just the regular Wi-Fi 6.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Display

While Google's Chromebook Plus requirements have a mandatory minimum resolution of 1920 x 1080, the actual image quality on the first wave of Chromebook Plus models has been a bit of a mixed bag. The Chromebook Plus 515 is one of the better examples. It's still a little dimmer than we'd like, with a maximum brightness of 283cdm2, while sRGB coverage is fairly low, at 65.9%. If you're hoping to work outside or near a window in bright sunlight, you're still going to struggle with visibility. Yet in most conditions, the image looks richer and more punchy than the numbers might suggest, and viewing angles and contrast aren't bad at all. For serious image-editing or design work, you'll need something with more color depth and color accuracy, but for everyday productivity tasks, it's going to be more than fine.

(Image credit: Future)

The audio is even better, thanks to a DTS-branded speaker system that dishes out not just volume but some actual body, along with surprisingly immersive stereo sound. In video chats and meetings, you can hear the other participants clearly, and the built-in mic does a solid job of picking out your voice from the background noise as well, especially if you use the new AI Noise Cancellation feature that's exclusive to Chromebook Plus. The 1080p webcam also delivers decent image quality, where Google's AI-enhanced lighting can also help. However, the picture still grows noticeably grainy in gloomy or artificial lighting, so don't expect top-notch quality in every situation.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Performance

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The Chromebook Plus 515 comes in two guises, differing only in their choice of CPU. The lower-cost version has a Core i3-1215U with 2 performance cores and 4 efficient cores running 8 threads at up to 4.4GHz, while the more expensive version reviewed here has a Core i5-1235U with two P-cores and eight E-cores.

While this should give the Core i5 Chromebook Plus 515 a real advantage in multi-threaded tests against the Core-i3-powered Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, it's not as large as you might expect. The Acer scores 1802 in Geekbench 6 single-core against 1791 from the Asus, and 6019 in Geekbench 6 multi-core against 5172. Its results are in the same ballpark as the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip, which uses the same CPU. Both lag behind the Acer Chromebook Spin 714, which uses a newer, faster Core i3-1335U.

This is a very decent performance because this spec allows the Chromebook Plus 515 to go toe-to-toe with some Chromebooks costing significantly more. More importantly, it feels slick and snappy in everyday use, whether you're just working with the Docs and Sheets apps open and a mass of browser tabs in another window, or exploring the creative potential of more demanding Android and Linux apps.

(Image credit: Future)

You have to be realistic about your battery life expectations, given the size of the screen, but the Chromebook Plus 515 can scrape through over nine hours of 1080p video playback from a single charge. In practice, we've never had any difficulties getting from 9 am to 5 pm without a pitstop, especially if you don't keep the brightness levels maxed out all the time.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Is it worth it?

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a superb business-ready Chromebook if you're on a budget, competing with Chromebooks in the class above on performance while providing solid ergonomics and a decent screen. If you need mobility or higher-speed connectivity, then you'll either need to increase your budget or make different compromises elsewhere, but if you spend most of your time in one location and you're looking for a Chrome OS workhorse, they don't get much stronger or more reliable than the Chromebook Plus 515.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515 specifications

Processor	Intel Core i5-1235U
Display	15-in, 16:9, 1920 x 1080
RAM	8GB
Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, 1 x HDMI output, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, 3.5mm audio
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions	19.95x360.6x238.4mm
Weight	1.68Kg

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: A better class of budget Chromebook for business use

Stuart Andrews — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 13:51:51 +0000

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a Chromebook for business

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is arguably the best Chromebook most of us should buy right now, thanks to its slimline body, practical 2-in-1 design, high-performance spec, and excellent 16:10 screen. But what if your Chromebook budget doesn't stretch to the £699 required per device? Enter the Acer Chromebook Plus 514.

One of the first wave of premium Chromebooks bearing Google's new Plus designation, it gives you a screen of the same size with the same resolution, good working ergonomics, and a capable spec based on AMD's new Ryzen 3 7320C CPU, all for less than two-thirds of what you'd need to spend for the Spin 714. You'll have to abandon any hope of a sleek metallic chassis and a super-bright display, but if you're trying to cut your IT costs, you need to make some sacrifices somewhere. With the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, you're making them in mostly the right places.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Design

While it might look like a gunmetal alloy from a distance, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is all plastic. It's also larger, thicker, and heavier than the Chromebook Spin, measuring 19.9x319x227mm to the high-end Acer's 18x322x224mm and, at 1.45 kg, weighing 8g more. All of this is to be expected, and while the Chromebook Plus 514 isn't exactly the world's most dynamic-looking laptop, the faux-metallic finish looks reasonably good, with a two-tone texture pattern to decorate the lid. More importantly, the construction feels rock solid. The chassis passes MIL-STD-810H certification for durability, and there's barely any undue flex in the body and only a minimal amount in the lid.

Connectivity is more adequate than amazing, but you get two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C ports, with one on either side, along with a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A port and an HDMI 1.4 video output. That should cover most peripherals and output to a 1080p or 1440p display at 60Hz, but you also have Bluetooth 5.2 for keyboards, mice, and headsets, plus Wi-Fi 6 for hooking up to the home or office network.

The keyboard's backlit, with five levels of adjustment, and gives you a good, fairly standard Chromebook layout with Ctrl, Alt, Space, and Enter keys that are big enough to find by feeling alone. Some might get tripped up by the On/Off key and Launcher key, which sit where the Delete and Capslock keys usually sit, but that's par for the course with Chromebooks and something users soon adjust to. The same goes for the slightly soft action. Sure, it would be nice to have a little more click, but there's just enough travel and it only takes an hour or so to get up to your usual typing speed.

(Image credit: Future)

The trackpad uses Acer's OceanGlass material: a smooth surface fashioned from recycled ocean plastics that feels more like glass than many plastic touchpads and proves very accurate and responsive while in use. That's lucky, as there's no touchscreen support or USI stylus on this Chromebook, so you need to be able to rely on the touchpad just to get around.

At the top of the display sits a 1080p webcam, producing crisp, well-exposed video for online meetings and video chats. These also benefit from the AI-enhanced video meeting features built into Google Plus, with background blur and automatic lighting enhancements available at the click of the buttons that appear at the bottom of the screen. This is arguably the least appreciated killer feature of Chromebook Plus, bar the built-in file sync capabilities, which ensure that up-to-date offline copies of your most-used documents and files remain available, even when you don't have an Internet connection to hand. Plus, when you do connect, your local files will sync right up.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Display

The Chromebook Plus 514's screen has its good points. The combination of the 14-inch size, 16:10 aspect ratio, and 1920 x 1200 resolution gives you a clean, crisp image that seems weirdly larger than a regular 16:9 14-inch screen, really helping if you work across multiple documents or apps. Meanwhile, blacks and grey tones look relatively dark by LCD standards, though nowhere near as deep and inky as on an OLED screen.

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However, this screen isn't bright enough for use in all conditions. We measured the maximum luminance at 258.2 nits, and it can look washed out if used close to a window or in bright artificial light. It only covers 64% of the sRGB color gamut, and colors aren't anywhere near as vivid or as varied in their hues as on the Chromebook Spin 713 or the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip. That's bad news if you need to edit images and video or want the best possible image for your post-work Netflix binge, but it's mostly fine for productivity work in the office or home office. The screen is the single biggest issue with this laptop, and even then it's still far from a deal breaker.

Admittedly, the audio doesn't help this Chromebook's case; it's thin even at low volumes and close to unlistenable with the volume whacked right up. Still, it's usable for video calls and meetings, the microphones should capture your voice clearly – and you can always plug some headphones in.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Performance

The Chromebook Plus 514 is one of only two current Chromebook Plus devices based on AMD rather than Intel technology, with a Ryzen 3 7320C APU and 8GB of RAM. We're talking Core i3 rather than Core i5 performance levels. Still, with Chrome OS that's often fast enough, and you can comfortably run multiple Web apps and have a dozen browser tabs open in the background without seeing any sign of slowdown. More demanding Android apps run perfectly well, and there's barely any pausing or grinding away as you flick between desktop views or launch a new app. For everyday email, browsing, and productivity work, this is all the Chromebook you will need, for the next few years at least.

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to talk numbers, the Geekbench 6 scores of 1169 (single-core) and 3571 (multi-core) leave the Chromebook Plus 514 lagging behind the Asus Chromebook Vive CX34 Flip and Acer Chromebook Spin 714, with 1815/6292 and 1882/6568 respectively. In the multi-threaded Jetstream benchmark, the Chromebook Spin 514 scores 186.485 the Vibe CX34 Flip's 260.655, and the Spin 714's 246.922. Yet these differences don't have as much impact in real-world use as they might on a Windows laptop, and the Chromebook Plus 514 costs significantly less.

Playing back 1080p video on a loop with the brightness level set to 170cdm2, the Chromebook Plus 514 made it through just under 9 hours before giving up the ghost. That's a little disappointing when the Chromebook Plus 714 keeps going for over 13 hours, but it should be enough to see you through the average working day, especially if you can top up midway through. Again, you can't expect the premium experience when paying under £400.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Is it worth it?

Acer's first Chromebook Plus makes a good-budget business laptop. It's fast enough for most purposes, and Acer has the basics of the design, connectivity, and keyboard right. It's small and light enough to handle a little mobile use, but large and comfortable enough to work on through the average day. While the screen isn't as bright or vibrant as a premium Chromebook's screen, it's good enough for everyday productivity use cases, and the webcam and useful Chromebook Plus enhancements count for a lot.

If you want more luxurious materials and a sleek design, you'll still need to splash out on a high-end Chromebook like the Spin 713, but as an affordable, everyday laptop for employees with fairly basic needs, the Chromebook Plus 514 takes some beating.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 specifications

Processor	AMD Ryzen 3 7320C
Display	14-in, 16:10, 1920 x 1200
RAM	8GB
Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, 1 x HDMI output, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, 3.5mm audio
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions	19.9x319x227mm
Weight	1.45kg

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 review: i3-powered goodness for students and small businesses

itpro@futurenet.com (Bobby Hellard) — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 16:28:06 +0000

The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is one of the first of a new tier for ChromeOS that showcases a new set of requirements Google would like all Chromebooks to adopt. To get the 'Chromebook Plus' label machines will need at least an Intel Core i3 or an AMD Ryzen 700 CPUs, an IPS panel with at least 1080p, a matching webcam, and 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a Chromebook for business

By meeting this criteria, Chromebook Plus laptops will have access to an array of AI-powered features, such as the Magic Eraser tool. There will also be a spate of tools and capabilities coming down the line, such as an AI-based text reader that highlights points of interest – great for meetings where you have little time to read lots of reports or volumes of data.

Of all the areas of technology to thrive under the pandemic, Chromebooks were arguably the least surprising. They're budget laptops that appeal to students and small businesses with a simplistic operating system and a fair amount of reliability. But what is coming with Chromebook Plus feels far more premium and this is the case with the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Design

The design of the CX34 is better seen than it is felt, in that the plastic chassis feels very low quality. However, it has an attractive design with minimal bezels and a striking finish. There is an all-white option, which looks very chic, but our review unit is a light charcoal that elegantly contrasts with the black keys. To the eye, it almost appears to be a more premium laptop but touch it and you will know it is not. It is, however, a great example of doing more with less.

It is a little heavier than one would expect at 1.44kg (3.17 lbs) but easy enough to carry on the road or to and from meeting rooms. We haven't dropped it yet, but it doesn't feel all that durable. There is a slight flex to the display portion, but nothing really to be concerned over.

(Image credit: Future)

If you are a security-conscious person, the machine has a neat little webcam slider at the top of the display. Admittedly, this can be tough to get a grip on due to its thinness, but it is a great feature for those who want that little bit of reassurance of privacy. This should also appeal to small businesses that want to give their workforce more agency over their security.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Display, keyboard and trackpad

There is a 14in FHD anti-glare display on the CX34, with a 1920 x 1080 resolution. Some will see this as a dull screen and, admittedly, we haven't been massively impressed with its color replication. In our tests, the CX34 showcased 60% for sRGB gamut color volume, which is lower than pretty much most modern laptops – anything above 90% is the standard.

However, it is worth judging this as a low-budget Chromebook, one which its users aren't likely to use for intensive photo editing of color work. The dull screen was nice to work on – the anti-glare coating stopped rogue lights and prominent sunshine from disrupting our tasks. A touchscreen element would have been nice, but again, not having that capability is probably why the price is so low.

Look down from the screen and you may see where this laptop makes up for it; the beautiful backlit chiclet keyboard has 1.4mm travel and a nice clack to accompany your typing. It feels spongy, in the nicest way possible, and very responsive.

(Image credit: Future)

The trackpad, however, feels very stiff and its operation could be more convenient when highlighting text or copying and pasting. The reach is fine, and there are comfortable spaces on either side for resting palms, but that click action is tougher than it needs to be.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Specs and performance

The minimum requirement for the Chromebook Plus brand is an Intel Core i3 chip, which the CX34 has – i3-1215U, to be specific, with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. This is a win for a sub-$400 as it gives you 6 cores of great performance.

In Geekbench 6, the Chromebook CX34 offered up impressive results with 1,791 for single-core workloads and 5,172 for multi-core. We noted that very little of that test strained the machine into making much noise. Indeed, in our time using it, no amount of downloads, new windows, or applications hamper the performance or cause any significant heat out of the chassis. It is a little bit of a workhorse.

That is until we get to battery life which wasn't especially great; under our looped video test, the CX34 lasted 7hrs and 12min. That's less than the average work day. Admittedly, our tests our intentionally intensive, and for real-world use, the CX34 had more than enough staying power for our day-to-day workload. Only after multiple meetings did we notice the battery running out especially quickly.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Features

When it comes to features, the CX34 – and probably most of the laptops in this tier – are works in progress as there are still features to come which we mentioned earlier. However, the CX34 comes with a crowd-pleasing selection of ports with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C for support display/power delivery, a HDMI 1.4, and a 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack – which is always welcome. There is also Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.

(Image credit: Future)

The 1080p webcam is crisp and clean, and the ChromeOS supports it with some AI features that improve parts of your video call experience. There are buttons to 'improve lighting' and 'Cancel background noise' and they work well. What's more, they're built into the platform level, so it works whether on Zoom or Meet, but it just makes mid-call adjustments easy.

Another simple, but great, feature is the Offline File Sync, which automatically downloads straight from Google Drive. It was a little complicated to turn on, you'll need to go into the advanced settings, but once it's on you can transfer files in the background and you'll see a little checkmark that notifies you they're now available offline.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34: Is it worth it?

For less than $400 the CX34 is a real solid work or study machine. This should appeal to businesses that want uniformed Chromebooks that won't push them over the budget – work gets done on this machine and it looks cool. Comfortable keyboard, snappy processor, clever controls, and more AI features coming, what is not to like? Well, for starters, there is the less-than-fantastic display and the cheap overall feel, plus also that stodgy trackpad. The CX34 is not without fault.

However, this is the most affordable of the first cohort of Chromebook Plus laptops, and at just $399 we do mean budget. The other models from Acer, Lenovo, and HP are all above $400 and we can safely assume more expensive devices will come out over the next few months or years. So the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is the runt of the litter, but only in price.

Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Specifications

Processor	Intel Core i3-1215U Processor 1.2 GHz, 10M Cache, up to 4.4 GHz, 6 cores
Display	14-in, FHD, anti-glare display
Resolution	1920 x 1080, 16:9, wide view
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics
Memory	8GB LPDDR5 on board
Storage	256GB
Ports	2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C support display/power delivery, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Webcam	1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
Battery	50Wh 3S1P, 3-cell Li-ion
Weight	1.44kg (3.17lbs)
Dimensions	(WDH) 32,64 x 21.43 x 1.87
Operating systems	ChromeOS (Chromebook Plus)

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: The best business Chromebook gets a refresh

Stuart Andrews — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is Acer's successor to the Spin 713; for years Acer's flagship Chromebook and one of the best-loved Chromebooks. While still a compact, convertible Chromebook, the Spin 714 does things a little differently, ditching the square design and screen of the Spin 713 for a more conventional form factor with a widescreen 16:10 display.

But if you're worried that this spoils this Chromebook's usability, don't. Like its illustrious predecessor, the Spin 714 is one of the best business Chromebooks out there, giving you everything you need to be productive in a lightweight, flexible, and surprisingly affordable package.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Design

At 322 x 224 x 18mm, the Spin 714 is a little bigger than the old Spin 713, which measured 300 x 235 x 17mm. However, it's also slightly lighter, at a very manageable 1.37Kg. It retains the old all-metal build and 360-degree hinge, enabling it to work in a choice of clamshell, tablet, tent, and stand modes, and the MIL-STD 810H construction is as solid and robust as the old model's. If you're looking for a Chromebook that can survive life on the move, the Spin 714 won't let you down.

Connectivity is up to scratch as well, with two Thunderbolt 4/USB Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 output, and a single USB 3.1 Type A. One of the Thunderbolt 4 ports will be out of action while the device is charging, but you always have the option of a USB Type-C or Thunderbolt 4 dock to charge it up and connect your keyboard, mouse, and screen while you're sitting at your desk. You're well covered for wireless connectivity, too, with Wi-Fi 6E to connect to the fastest mainstream WiFi networks and Bluetooth 5.1 for headsets, mice, and keyboards.

(Image credit: Future)

The convertible form factor makes this a versatile device, and Acer has included a garaged USI stylus, which slots away neatly in a garage while not in use. It's very capable by Chromebook stylus standards, with 4,096 pressure levels plus tilt sensitivity. It's great for making notes, sketches, and annotations during meetings or presentations.

Like the Spin 713, the Spin 714 has solid ergonomics, with a spacious, well-laid-out chiclet keyboard with large, flat-topped keys and a good-sized trackpad. There's plenty of travel and a nice, light action, though the bounce back after actuation could be slightly snappier. As for the trackpad, it's accurate and responsive whether navigating Chrome OS and cloud-based apps or browsing the Web. You may want a mouse for precision work, but this is a comfortable machine for working all day long.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Display

That's helped by the 14-inch display, which gives you just enough screen space for a good working environment in what's still a very portable Chromebook. While fans of the Spin 713 might miss the old 3:2 aspect ratio and 2256 x 1504 resolution – it always made the screen seem bigger than it was – the Spin 714 still has a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 1920 x 1200 resolution. Text and images look clean without obvious pixelation, and a high brightness level (up to 387cdm2) helps boost clarity and contrast.

Add the fact that the screen supports 93.6% of the SRGB color gamut and 71% of DCI-P3, and you've got a fine screen for office work, light image editing, or streaming video. With an average Delta E of 1.8, color accuracy is also very good.

(Image credit: Future)

The sound is another plus point, with more volume and better clarity than on cheaper Chromebooks as long as you don't whack the volume up too high. The built-in dual microphone array also does a fine job of handling chats and conference calls, while the 1080p webcam gives you well-exposed and detailed videos for Google Meet meetings and Zoom calls.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Performance

The Spin 714 is one of the first Chromebooks out there with Intel's 13th generation Core CPUs, and even though our test model came with a Core i5-1335U rather than a high-end Core i7, it's still a very speedy device. With a single-core score of 1387 in Geekbench 5 it's slightly slower than the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip, but it makes up for it in the multi-core benchmark with 5704 to 5243.

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a Chromebook for business

In Geekbench 6 its scores of 1882 (single-core) and 6568 (multi-core) both put it ahead of the Asus, with 1815 and 6292. In the complex. Multi-tasking Jetstream benchmark, it's the Asus that pulls ahead at 260.655 to 246.922, but given that the Vibe CX34 Flex is the fastest Chromebook that we've tested, that's no disaster. Whether you're planning to stick to Cloud-based apps or explore Android or Linux software, the Spin 714 should handle it all with ease. In everyday use, it's flawlessly fluid and snappy.

If you can't quite stretch to the Core i5 version, there is a Core i3-1315U version available for roughly £100 less. Based on previous experience with Core i3 Chromebooks, this shouldn't feel in any way slow, and you may not notice any difference if you don't keep a few dozen browser tabs open or multitask with Linux apps.

(Image credit: Future)

This Chromebook's battery life is absolutely stellar. Left to run with a 1080p video file, it kept going for 13hrs and 16mins before running out of power. Given the high levels of performance and 14-inch screen size, that's impressive, and during testing, we had no issues getting through a full working day of use.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Is it worth it?

There are areas in which you could argue the Spin 714 falls behind its predecessor, particularly the lower-resolution screen. Yet overall it still succeeds as a powerful, well-designed Chromebook that can handle hard work, chats and meetings, collaboration, and a little entertainment after hours. It's slightly more expensive than your average Chromebook, but the great build and quality screen are both worth paying the extra for. This is the new champ of reasonably-priced business Chromebooks, and very easy to recommend for enterprises of all sizes.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714 specifications

Processor	Intel Core i3 or Core i5 CPU
Display	FHD 14-in, 16:10
RAM	8GB
Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, 1 x HDMI output, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, and 1 x micro SD card slot
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions	18x322x224mm
Weight	1.37Kg

Asus Chromebox 5 Mini PC review: A modern Chromebox with a wireless charger

Alun Taylor — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 11:00:00 +0000

The Asus Chromebox 5 is the company's fifth iteration of its desktop ChromeOS solution, and it's reasonable to say that it marks the point at which it has entered the world of contemporary computing technology rather than being offered with the sort of components you'd have seen in a desktop or laptop three or four or more years ago.

(Image credit: Future)

Asus Chromebox 4 review: Capable, versatile, but not fast

The Asus Chromebox 4 could be purchased with either a 10th generation i3, i5, or i7 CPU or at 5205U Celeron. Asus has moved with the times for the new model and now offers a selection of 12th-generation Alder Lake chips (i3-1220P, i5-1240P, i7-1260P) or a quint-core Celeron 7305. Granted, that's still not the latest silicon, but it's more up-to-date than is generally offered in desktop ChromeOS systems.

Which model you go for largely depends on what you plan on using it for. Even the Celeron model with its single-performance core should easily handle basic web browsing, something even a trusty old Celeron N4020-powered HP Chromebook can manage. But if you plan on heavier use, especially using Linux apps, then the i5 or i7 models are the ones you want.

Asus Chromebox 5 Mini PC: Design

The Chromebox 5 is a pretty anonymous black plastic box measuring 166.5 x 165.8 x 45.9 mm and weighing 800g. The various ports are divided between the front and back; the only exhaust grill is at the back. It has Asus and Chromebox badges on the top, and the matte plastic top doesn't show fingerprints. That's really all there is to say about it. The most interesting design feature is completely invisible: the 15W Qi wireless charger at the top. Building a wireless charger into a small desktop is a great idea.

The Chromebox 5 quickly became our default home for our smartphone, each morning we started by dropping a Motorola on top of the Asus Chromebox to charge. We'll miss the wireless charger part of the deal when it returns to the Asus press office.

(Image credit: Future)

Asus includes a VESA mount in the box with the Chromebox 5, but given that mounting it vertically makes the charging pad useless, I can't see it getting a lot of use.

The Chromebox 5 has a good array of ports. On the front, you will find 2 USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gpbs) ports, a MicroSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. At the back are another two USB-A ports, again 10Gpbs, a brace of HDMI 2.1 ports, DisplayPort 1.4 and Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a 2.5G RJ-45 LAN port.

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The power button is on the front, while the DC-in for the 150W power supply is at the back. There's a Kensington security lock on the right-hand side, and just in case things really go pear-shaped, there is a small reset hole in the back panel. Wireless connectivity is as up-to-date as wired, with 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support.

There are no exposed screw heads on the Chromebox 5, so opening it up is impossible. That's a bit of a shame, as we'd have liked to see if there was the opportunity to swap out the 256GB SSD or add a second, though we realize this is getting a bit beyond the Chromebox comfort zone.

The SSD in our review machine was certainly no speed demon, recording average sequential read and write speeds of just 1,939MB/s and 378MB/s, respectively. Incidentally, the 256GB SSD in the Chromebox 5 is PCIe 4.0 standard, while the 128GB model is PCIe 3 and so likely to be even slower.

Asus Chromebox 5 Mini PC: Performance

The Intel Core i7-1260P chip is a 12-core affair, 8 being what Intel calls efficiency cores and 4 performance cores. It can run at a maximum boost speed of 4.7GHz. That's more than ample power for ChromeOS, no matter how many browser tabs you have open.

Running the GeekBench 5 test in the Linux environment, the Chromebox scored 1645 in the single-core test and 7308 in the multi-core test, which is a solid result and comparable to the scores you'd get from the likes of an M1 Apple MacBook Air.

Given how little processor grunt is needed to run ChromeOS or most Android apps, the extra power the Core i7 CPU brings to the party only becomes useful when running Linux programs like Gimp or Handbrake. A couple of hours working with both showed that the Core i7 Chromebox 5 has enough performance to get through even quite demanding tasks without bogging down.

(Image credit: Future)

The same is true of running multiple high-definition monitors, a feat many Chromeboxes are technically capable of but struggle with in the real world. Luckily, I had several such monitors in the office, and the Chromebox 5 easily ran two 4K and two QHD panels without any dropped frames.

With graphics managed by Intel's Iris XE integrated GPU, you won't be doing any 3D modeling or running games like Returnal on the Chromebox 5, but less demanding titles like Tombraider and the 2016 Doom reboot can be coaxed to play at around 50fps at 1,280 x 720, the former under Steam for Linux the latter under the beta Steam for Chrome Proton emulation.

Using the 3DMark app to stress test the Chromebox 5, I could hear the cooling fan run but only with my head right up alongside it. In anything other than a perfectly tranquil environment, the Chromebox 5 is effectively silent.

Asus Chromebox 5 Mini PC: Is it worth it?

The basic Celeron 7305 model of the Chromebox 5 will set you back £290 ($400) ex VAT, but for that low price, you must make do with just 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The Core i3 model comes in at £375 ex VAT, while the Core i5 machine is priced at £582, with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The i7 model is rather more generously specified with a 256GB SSD, 16GB of RAM, and the Iris XE iGPU and will set you back £640 ex VAT.

(Image credit: Future)

Regarding competition, there isn't much to mention, as neither HP, Acer, nor Lenovo currently list any of the Chromeboxes they sell in the USA on their UK websites. Acer's CX 15 Chromebox can be found in retail channels for £457 ex VAT for a model with a Core i5-1235U processor and 8GB of RAM, which makes it broadly comparable with the new Asus lineup but it doesn't have a wireless charge pad.

That leaves the new Asus as the pick of the bunch by default, but don't let that worry you. Even if the competition were readily available around the world, we'd still say the Chromebox 5 was the pick of the crop.

Asus Chromebox 5 Specifications

Processor	Intel Core i7-1360P 10-core, 5GHz
GPU	Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics
RAM	16GB DDR4
Ports	HDMI 2.1 x 2, DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, Thunderbolt 4 x 1, USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 x 4, RJ45 x 1, MicroSD card slot x 1
3.5mm audio jack	Yes
Storage	256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD
Wi-Fi	6GHz Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax)
Bluetooth	v5.3
Weight	800g
Dimensions	166.5 x 165.8 x 45.9mm
Operating System	ChromeOS / Linux

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review: This gaming Chromebook makes a seriously impressive Business tool

Stuart Andrews — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 11:00:00 +0000

Last year Google – with exquisite timing – launched a range of gaming Chromebooks within a few weeks of shuttering its own game streaming service, Stadia. Luckily, something really good came out of this mess: a selection of Chromebooks from Acer, Asus, and Lenovo that mixed high-end specs with decent screens and solid ergonomics, and that happened to be good at just about everything, not just streaming games.

The Asus Chromebook Vibe is the latest and smallest of this mini-wave of gaming Chromebooks, arriving in the UK months after rivals like the Lenovo IdeaPad 16 Gaming and the Acer Chromebook 516GE. Don't dismiss it for its distinctive looks or gaming focus. It's a brilliant Chromebook for business.

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review: Design

For a start, it's versatile, with a 14-in, 16:10 screen inside a 2-in-1 convertible body, with a compact 319 x 235mm desktop footprint and a weight of 1.7 kg. At 21mm thick, it's not the thinnest or lightest 2-in-1, but it's manageable for commuters or mobile workers, while still providing the big screen, trackpad, and keyboard you need for a full day's work. You can use it in the standard clamshell or tablet formats, with the touch-sensitive screen folded flat behind the keyboard, but it's also quite effective in a tent mode for watching video on the move.

The looks are distinctive, with a white powder-coated aluminum body, a light grey keyboard and bright orange WASD keys and accents on the palm rests, but they don't scream 'gamer' at you and, when closed, the Vibe CX34 Flip looks perfectly professional.

There's no numeric pad, which means there's plenty of room for a spacious layout and large, square flat-topped keys, complete with Shift and Alt keys you can find by touch alone and a separated cursor pad. The light action, quick response, and firm deck underneath make it very fast and comfortable to type on. You might not be so keen on the orange WASD keys or RGB backlighting in a business setting, but you're free to limit the palette for working hours and, you can always let your hair down once you're back at home.

(Image credit: Future)

The touchpad is also wider than usual, measuring 13 by 6.6cm, which helps when you're navigating Google Sheets worksheets or browser-based collaboration apps. What's more, Asus bundles in a xxx stylus, which slots into the left-hand edge. It lacks the angle and pressure sensitivity you need for serious art or design, but it's fantastic for doodles, notes, and annotations, particularly paired with Google's Cursive app.

The Vibe CX34's larger size means there's also more scope for connectivity, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, an HDMI output, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and a micro SD card slot. There's also Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5 connectivity, while users of wired headsets will be grateful for a good, old-fashioned 3.5mm headphone socket.

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review: Display

The screen is full HD rather than the QHD found on some high-end Chromebooks, but don't hold that against it. It has a 1920 x 1200 resolution to cover the 16:10 aspect ratio, and there's barely a sign of pixelation at this screen size. The 144Hz refresh rate only comes into its own when streaming games rather than in normal operations, but it's a plus if you're happy to subscribe to GeForce Now's most expensive Ultimate tier for some after-work gaming.

(Image credit: Future)

How to buy a Chromebook for business

With a maximum brightness level of 425cdm2 and low black levels, contrast and clarity are excellent, and it covers 95% of the sRGB color gamut and 72% of DCI-P3. Whether you're working in Google's Workspace apps or watching downloaded Netflix shows on the commute home, it looks good, and the built-in audio is fine for casual viewing, not to mention web chats, meetings, and calls.

Disappointingly, the webcam is limited to 720p resolutions, so the image is a little grainy, though exposure holds up well In low-light conditions. The mic captures voices well, and overall audio is richer and more rounded than on the majority of Chromebooks, easily good enough for chats and conference calls or watching Netflix downloads on the way home from a meeting.

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review: Performance

One thing these gaming Chromebooks consistently bring to the table is good-to-great performance; with their lightweight operating system and reliance on web-based apps, even relatively low-spec Chromebooks tend to feel speedy, but with a Core i5 or Core i7 CPU they really fly. Our test model's Core i5-1235U and 8GB of RAM saw it post scores of 1435 (single-core) and 5243 (multi) In Geekbench 5, and 1815 (single-core) and 6292 (multi) in Geekbench 6. In the demanding, multi-tasking JetStream 2 benchmark it scores a very credible 260.655, putting it ahead of high-end Chromebooks like the Asus Chromebook CX9, let alone mid-range devices with Core i3 or ARM CPUs, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 or the Acer Chromebook Spin 514.

Battery life won't be a problem, either. The Vibe CX34 Flip lasted 10hrs and 47mins streaming 1080p video in our rundown test, and on our own experience will happily cruise through an eight-hour working day without a recharge, with 10 to 20% left in the tank.

If you're not a fan of the style, Asus also produces a more sedate, grey version, the Chromebook CX34 Flip, with a slightly lower Core i3 spec, plus an AMD variant, the CM34 Flip, with a Ryzen 3 CPU. But if you're happy to pay a little extra for performance, the Vibe CX34 Flip is an absolute bargain. It's ideal for for more demanding SMB users, and one of the most effective working Chromebooks you can buy.

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip specifications

Processor	Intel Core i5 or Core i7 CPU
Display	FHD 14-in, 16:10
RAM	8GB
Ports	2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, 1 x HDMI output, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and 1 x micro SD card slot
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.0
Dimensions	21x319x235mm
Weight	1.7Kg

How to buy a Chromebook for business

Stuart Andrews — Tue, 12 Sep 2023 12:07:48 +0000

While you might associate Chromebooks with schools and budget student laptops they're actually a solid choice for business, as Chrome OS and Google's ecosystem have made real inroads into the office over the last decade.

(Image credit: Future)

Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip review: This gaming Chromebook makes a seriously impressive Business tool

In a way, Chromebooks are perfect for the ways many enterprises work today; more and more of us are spending most of our working hours using cloud services and web-based apps, while Google Workspace has become a credible alternative to Microsoft's Office 365 ecosystem. Chromebooks can help the associated management infrastructure scale up well for everything from SMBs to multinationals, and you're not tied into Google Workspace. Chrome OS laptops will run Linux apps, containerized apps, or even Office 365's web-based apps without a problem.

Crucially, Chromebooks are still very affordable, with mid-range business-grade Chromebooks available from $500 to $700, and even high-end Chromebooks coming in at $900 to $1300. We've been using and testing Chromebooks and Chrome OS devices since 2015, including key models from Acer, Asus, HP, Samsung, and Lenovo, not to mention Google's own Pixel and Pixelbook laptops. In this guide, we'll look at what you should look for in a business-ready Chromebook and recommend some of the best Chromebooks available today.

How to choose a Chromebook for business

Long gone are the days when all Chromebooks were cheap and chunky silver plastic clones of more expensive laptops. They now come in a wide range of form factors, from 10in tablets with clip-on keyboards to luxury ultraportables and 17in desktop replacements. As with any laptop, there are always trade-offs between size, weight, and portability on the one hand, and ergonomics and performance on the other. If you or your team are working mostly from the home or office, go for a 14in to 16in Chromebook for comfortable all-day working. If you're on the road, take a look at smaller 13in to 14in laptops and convertibles.

It's not hard to find a Chromebook for business with 2-in-1 convertible designs and touchscreens, and many are now bundling in a stylus. However, while Google is working to make Chrome OS a more touch and tablet-friendly operating system, the user interface and most Web-based apps are still built around standard desktop ways of working. Consider these features a plus rather than a must-have.

Chromebook for business core specs and displays

Processing power isn't as crucial on a Chromebook as on a MacOS or Windows laptop. That's partly because the OS itself is extremely lightweight, and partly because the Web-based apps you'll spend most of your time working with do much of the heavy lifting at the server end. For this reason, you can get away with budget Pentium or Core i3 processors and just 4GB of RAM, or even ARM-based Mediatek Dimensity and Qualcomm Snapdragon CPUs. However, moving up to a Core i5, Core i7 or Ryzen 3 CPU will give you snappier performance when you're working between multiple apps, and give you more scope to run Android or Linux apps (more on this later). Having 8GB of RAM will also give you more headroom when you have a dozen or more browser tabs open in Chrome.

(Image credit: Future)

Some of the cheapest Chromebooks still feature low-resolution 1366 x 768 screens, but it's not hard to find full HD displays on budget and mid-range models, or QHD screens on the more premium, business-grade options. Just be aware that some screens on budget Chromebooks suffer from low brightness levels and poor color performance; spending more will usually get you more vibrant and accurate colors and an overall brighter display.

Chromebook for business connectivity and battery life

Don't forget the practicalities. Most Chromebooks have now standardized on USB-C for connectivity and charging, and Thunderbolt 4 support is becoming more common. You can expect Wi-Fi 6 on all bar the cheapest Chromebooks, along with Bluetooth 5.0 and upwards. Budget Chromebooks still have a nasty tendency to use slow, cheap MMC storage, but 128GB to 512GB SSDs are now standard on mid-range and premium options. With most files and documents stored online rather than locally, you don't need as much storage space as on a Windows laptop.

As a rule, Chromebooks tend to excel when it comes to battery life, thanks to the focus on energy-efficient processors and the lightweight nature of the OS itself. With the screen brightness turned down from maximum you should expect ten to twelve hours from most Intel and AMD-powered Chromebooks, and often significantly more from their ARM-based brethren.

Chromebook for business software and services

Needless to say, Chromebooks are a natural fit for businesses adopting Google Workspace. Single Chromebooks practically take care of themselves, updating quietly and quickly in the background, while Google provides simple but effective management tools for larger fleets. Google also takes care of security, meaning there's no reason to install dedicated anti-virus software or do anything beyond your existing network infrastructure.

However, you're not limited to Workspace. The Office 365 Web apps offer a bridge between Chrome OS and any existing Office setups in the business, while you're free to work and collaborate using the likes of Slack, Trello, and Monday, either through the browser or through Android apps. Improved Linux compatibility also opens up other options there, including LibreOffice, GIMP, and more, though there are a few hoops to jump through to get everything up and running. Chrome OS can also integrate with key cloud storage services, including Box and Dropbox, so you're not restricted to holding everything on Google Drive.

What is the best Chromebook for business?

Acer Chromebook Vero 514

Acer's Chromebook Vero 514 is partly sold on its eco credentials. The rugged plastic build is 30% post-consumer recycled plastics, while the smooth OceanGlass touchpad uses recycled ocean-bound plastics. Even the packaging is made from recycled pulp. Yet beyond that, this is a superb workhorse laptop for SMBs, with a great 1080p screen, an excellent keyboard and comfortable ergonomics. Steer clear of the Core i3 version, which uses a slightly dimmer display, and you can expect good performance from the Core i5 and Core i7 variants, using Intel's 12th generation CPUs. Battery life is impressive, often exceeding the stated 10 hours, and you also get some unexpected mod cons like Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and an HDMI 2.0 port. Higher-end Chromebooks feel a little more luxurious, but this is a lightweight, capable all-rounder that's both affordable and built to last.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook

The IdeaPad Duet line has developed into the Chrome OS answer to Microsoft's Surface convertibles, giving you a tablet that converts into a laptop in seconds though a magnetic, click-on keyboard cover. The mechanism isn't quite as brilliant as Microsoft's; with no built-in kickstand, you're reliant on a magnetic back cover that folds outwards to support the tablet. Yet it's simple, effective and reliable, even if it doesn't make for the most comfortable experience on your lap. Of the two current Duet models, the Duet 5 is our pick for business use, thanks to its larger OLED screen, which gives you beautiful rich colours and near-perfect contrast. The Snapdragon 7C gen 2 CPU doesn't have the horsepower of comparable Intel processors, but it's energy-efficient, giving you 12 to 15 hours of useful battery life. It's also more than fast enough for everyday collaboration and productivity tasks.

Acer Chromebook 516GE

Strictly speaking, this is one of Google's gaming Chromebooks, but it's also got a lot to offer anyone looking for a powerful, big-screen laptop. That screen has a 16in diagonal with a squarer 16:10 aspect ratio and a 2560 x 1600 QHD+ resolution, and it's a beauty, with vibrant colours and plenty of space for running multiple apps. Meanwhile, the 516GE comes in a choice of Core i5 and Core i7 flavours, both using the more powerful 12th generation P-series processors. As a result, it flies when running just about anything, including Android and Linux apps, and with a large and responsive keyboard and trackpad, it's ideal for getting serious work done. As a business user you'll have less use for the 144Hz screen and RGB backlighting, but maybe your office could do with a little extra bling? What's more with Wi-Fi 6E and 2.5GbE Ethernet LAN connectivity, it's more future-proof than other Chromebooks too.

Asus Chromebook Flip CX3401

The Chromebook Flip CX3401 hits a sweet spot between portability and ergonomics. With a 1.8Kg weight and convertible form factor it's a versatile Chromebook for both mobile and office use, but the 14in 1920 x 1200 screen and spacious keyboard give you a comfortable working experience. The display is arguably the highlight, with good colours and contrast and a 16:10 aspect ratio that's perfect for Google Workspace. Yet the Core i3 and 8GB of RAM gives you enough performance for heavyweight business use. Battery life isn't exceptional, maxing out at around 10 hours, but it should get you through a working day without a recharge. Plus, on top of the comfortable keyboard and lag-free touchpad, Asus bundles in a stylus to make use of Chrome OS's handwriting recognition and sketching capabilities. For the money, the Flip CX3401 is an absolute steal.

How we test

The laptop on this list will have been put through a series of performance tests and the results of those are then used to measure comparable performance for the display, the CPU, and the battery. To test the display, IT Pro uses a calibrator and the Display Cal software to measure both brightness and sRGB color coverage. For the latter, we look for a strong representation of the sRGB color spectrum, with a score above 94% generally seen as good.

To measure CPU performance on Chrome OS we run GeekBench performance tests – this is the case with all Qualcomm-based laptops.

When it comes to battery life we put each laptop through a looped video test. This is done with a video file that repeats until the battery runs out. The machine itself is set to flight mode, so it can't be interrupted, and the display brightness is fixed at 170cd/m2. Generally, a laptop that lasts around 10hrs is seen as good, though high-priced laptops are expected to offer over 12hrs.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook review: A confident convertible

dale.walker@futurenet.com (ITPro) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 12:45:29 +0000

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook has a lot to live up to. The company’s IdeaPad Flex 5 was one of our favourite Chromebooks of last year, thanks to its fantastic value and superb display. The original IdeaPad Duet - which this convertible follows on from - was similarly appealing, and the Duet 5 Chromebook improves on last year’s offering in several important ways.

Let’s start with the obvious change: it’s bigger. The original Duet Chromebook featured a 10.1in display, which inevitably meant that its detachable keyboard also measured around 10in diagonally. This rules it out for people who don’t have much dexterity in their hands or don’t want to type with hunched-up claws.

With a 13.3in screen to press up against, the Duet 5 Chromebook’s keyboard is much more like those found on ultraportables. The flipside? At this size, and with a 16:9 screen ratio, the Duet 5 is unwieldy as a tablet. That’s in part due to its 700g weight (1kg with the keyboard), which is 250g more than the Duet. Both are equally slim, measuring just over 7mm thick, but this means that things have flipped: the Duet was better as a tablet, the Duet 5 is better as a laptop.

As ever with this form of design, you shouldn’t expect a perfect on-the-knees typing experience. It’s far better on a flat surface, where you don’t notice the flimsiness of the design. Nor does it compare well to laptops for the feel of the keys, with a flat action that lacks travel. Finally, note that the keys on the Duet 5 Chromebook keyboard aren’t backlit. It’s size alone that gives this keyboard appeal.

The trackpad could also be better. Our fingers encountered enough friction to make swiping and gesturing uneven; you’ll get used to it after a while, as you learn to adjust the amount of pressure you’re applying, but there shouldn’t be any need to go through such a learning curve.

Another criticism laid at the door of last year’s Duet Chromebook – that the magnetic kickstand could be a pain to extend at times – still remains. A pullable tab or lanyard could easily fix this deficiency, or you can pick up Microsoft’s Surface Adaptive Kit as this will work with any device, not just the Surface Pro 8.

The magnetised backplate on the Duet 5 includes a small cutaway for a Lenovo Active Pen stylus to clip to the back, but note that the stylus doesn’t come with the £500 model, which includes 4GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage. However, it is bundled with the £550 version, and that has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of eMMC storage. At those prices, there’s little reason to choose the cheaper option.

When last year’s Duet cost £300, however, you may wonder where all your money is going – and the obvious answer is the display. The previous 10.1in IPS panel was a great choice for the price, but here you’re buying an OLED panel, and it’s gorgeous. For example, while both Duets promise a peak brightness of 400cd/m2, the difference in punch and perceived brightness with this OLED display is incredible. Lenovo has reduced the resolution to 1,920 x 1,080 from 1,920 x 1,200, but the end result is still admirably sharp.

The display isn’t the only thing that’s been upgraded, with the Duet 5 stepping up to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 processor - as seen in Acer’s Chromebook Spin 513 - from the MediaTek P60T chip in last year’s Duet. Both are high-efficiency ARM-based chips, so neither is going to pack the same kind of raw performance as an Intel Core i3 processor, which some of the beefier Chromebooks feature.

For context, the Duet 5’s JetStream 2 score of 83 puts it ahead of the Celeron N4500-powered Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go, but is half the speed of the Asus Chromebook CX9 with its Core i7 chip. It’s a similar story in the Octane 2 JavaScript test, where the Lenovo returned 23,798. Mid-table respectability, in other words.

Windows would be better running Chrome OS Chrome OS Flex turns old PCs and Macs into Chromebooks Microsoft takes aim at Chrome OS with launch of Windows 11 SE

But, crucially, the Duet 5 is twice as fast as the sometimes-sluggish Duet. It finished the Kraken JavaScript benchmark in 1,845ms, compared to the original Duet’s time of 3,940ms. And more important than such results is that this Chromebook feels reasonably snappy in daily use.

So, while not the most powerful Chromebook, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 packs enough of a punch to compete with the Chromebook pack. Along with outstanding battery life of 16hrs 20mins in our video-rundown test, a gorgeous display and a new form factor that improves on last year’s model, this machine is almost everything you could ask for in a budget Chrome OS convertible.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 specifications

Processor	8-core 2.55GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
RAM	4GB/8GB LPDDR4 RAM
Graphics adapter	Adreno 618 graphics
Storage	128GB/256GB eMMC Flash storage
Screen size (in)	13.3in
Screen resolution	1,920 x 1,080
Screen type	OLED
Touchscreen	Yes
Memory card slot	N/A
3.5mm audio jack	Yes
Graphics outputs	2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
Other ports	Pogo pin connector
Web Cam	5MP front camera, 8MP rear camera
Speakers	4 x 1W Stereo Speakers
Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.1
NFC	N/A
Dimensions, mm (WDH)	306 x 7.2 x 187mm (tablet only)
Weight (kg) - with keyboard where applicable	1kg
Battery size (Wh)	42Wh
Operating system	Chrome OS

How to take a Chrome screenshot

itpro@futurenet.com (Rene Millman) — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 19:52:25 +0000

Taking screenshots in Chrome can be crucial for quickly capturing web page content, yet it can be more challenging than expected. When using a browser like Chrome, understanding the various methods to take screenshots can greatly enhance your efficiency.

Many devices allow users to take a screenshot by pressing a specific combination of buttons or keys. This combination differs depending on the operating system and the device.

Google Chrome has built-in screenshot tools for desktops, but they can be tricky to access. Once you find them, however, they are incredibly user-friendly.

Once you learn how to access them, the tools are easy to use. They work like the methods for taking a screenshot on a PC, or taking a screenshot on macOS.

How to take a Google Chrome screenshot

How to take a Chrome screenshot without an extension

Chrome’s screenshot options are fairly intuitive to use but finding them takes some doing. To access them, follow these steps:

First, right-click on any empty space within the Chrome window and select 'Inspect' from the context menu (alternatively, you can use the shortcut Control+Shift+I on Windows and Linux, or Command+Option+I on Mac). This will open the Chrome Developer Tools panel.

Next, you need to open the command menu by pressing Control+Shift+P on Windows and Linux, or Command+Shift+P on Mac. This command menu allows you to execute various developer commands without navigating through the interface manually.

In the command box that appears, start typing the word 'screenshot.' This action will bring up a list of different screenshot types that you can choose from. Each option is designed for a specific type of screenshot, so select the one that best fits your needs, as detailed in the next section.

Click on the screenshot option that corresponds to your requirement. Whether you need to capture the entire page, just the visible area, a specific section, or an individual HTML element, Chrome’s built-in tools can handle it efficiently.

What type of screenshot can I take in Chrome?

There are four kinds of screenshots you can take in Chrome natively, depending on your need:

'Capture screenshot' takes a screenshot of the entire visible Chrome window, including only the content visible in the user window and discounting tabs, the bookmark bar, or any other on-screen content outside of Chrome.
'Capture full-size screenshot' is the same as ‘Capture screenshot’ but it captures an entire webpage from top to bottom - this is helpful for long pages that get cropped in traditional screenshots.
'Capture area screenshot' changes the cursor to a cross, allowing you to draw a selection box over the specific section of the browser window you wish to capture.
'Capture node screenshot' captures specific HTML/DOM elements on the page, which can be selected using the element inspection tool.

(Image credit: Future)

Once you select an option from the list, the screenshot should be downloaded automatically as a PNG image. The only exception to this is with the 'Capture area screenshot' feature, which will first prompt you to outline an area on the screen to capture. It's important to note that 'Capture area screenshot' only works within the Chrome window you have selected.

While these steps become familiar over time, there are more efficient ways to quickly take a screenshot without navigating through the developer console. Google Chrome offers several extensions that provide easy access to screenshot functionality along with other powerful features. These extensions can simplify capturing and editing screenshots, offering support for multiple image and video file types, including GIFs and screen recordings.

Most extensions are designed to be very user-friendly, allowing you to take screenshots with a simple click of a button. They often include robust editing tools, enabling you to annotate, crop, or enhance your images directly within the browser. Additionally, many of these extensions support various file formats, ensuring that your screenshots can be saved in the format that best suits your needs, whether it's JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

However, it's essential to consider your organization's security policies before installing any extension. Ensure that the tools you use comply with these guidelines to avoid any potential security risks. By leveraging these extensions, you can streamline your workflow, making the process of capturing and managing screenshots more efficient and less time-consuming.

Extensions for taking a screenshot in Chrome

A browser extension is a piece of software you add to your browser to change how it operates or add new functionality to it. There are thousands of extensions available through the Chrome browser, many of which offer screenshot functionality with just a click of a button.

These extensions are particularly useful as they support multiple image and video file types, such as GIFs and screen recordings. Additionally, they often come with powerful editing tools to annotate, crop, or enhance images directly within the browser. This versatility ensures that users can save their screenshots in formats that best suit their needs, whether it be JPEG, PNG, or PDF.

However, before installing any extension, it's essential to consider your organization's security policies to avoid any potential risks. By using these browser extensions, you can streamline your workflow, making the process of capturing and managing screenshots more efficient and less time-consuming.

We've highlighted five such extensions below, each designed to make taking screenshots in Chrome easier:

GoFullPage

(Image credit: gofullpage.com)

This easy-to-use extension lets you capture the entire webpage you’re on with just one click.

Simply click on the icon for the extension at the top right of the browser window, and it will capture the page in a scrolling screenshot. This extension can handle complex pages, including inner scrollable elements as well as embedded iframes.

Once finished, the extension will open a new tab containing the finished screenshot ready to be saved in your desired file format. These include JPEG, PNG, or PDF. If you want a PDF, you can also adjust the PDF page size.

Install GoFullPage here.

Awesome Screen Recorder & Screenshot

(Image credit: awesomescreenshot.com)

This highly-rated extension is free and has lots of useful features, including:

Capturing an entire webpage or just part of it
Support for PNG images
Adding comments or annotations to your screenshots
Blurring out any sensitive information you want to hide
Making MP4 video recordings of your computer screen with your narration

Once you complete your screenshot or recording, you can upload it directly to various project management tools, like Jira or Trello. You can also upload your screenshot directly to Google Drive through the extension.

Install Awesome Screenshot here.

Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder

(Image credit: nimbusweb.me)

This is a sophisticated browser extension with a number of advanced tools, and its basic version is absolutely free.

Its key free features include:

Capturing an entire web page or part of it
Performing a “select and scroll” capture where you select a part of the page and scroll down to capture more of it
Capturing delayed screenshots
Capturing a screen in a mobile layout

The premium version starts at $5 (£4) per month and adds a few extra useful features, including:

Converting your screen recording to a GIF
Image editing
Adding a watermark to your screenshots
Cropping and trimming your video
Uploading videos to Google Drive or Dropbox

It can also operate with no internet access.

Install Nimbus Screenshot & Screen Video Recorder here.

Fireshot

(Image credit: getfireshot.com)

This is a partly free extension that also has a premium paid version.

As with most of these other extensions, you can capture the entire webpage or just the visible part of it. Or, by using your cursor, you can select a part of the webpage to capture.

You can save your screenshot as a JPEG, PDF, PNG, GIF or BMP. The files can be saved to your computer or sent via email.

Fireshot’s biggest selling point is its built-in image editor. You can easily and immediately crop, edit or annotate your screenshots in the editor.

The basic version of Fireshot is free, but the pro version with all the upgrades comes with a one-time price of $75 (£59). Besides giving you access to the image editor, the pro version also allows you to upload your screenshots to places like social media, Flickr, OneNote, or Picasa.

Install Fireshot here.

Lightshot

(Image credit: Future)

This is a free extension that excels in capturing selected areas quickly. It’s lightweight and offers basic online editing capabilities. You can upload your screenshots to the cloud for instant sharing and create quick sharing links. An additional feature allows you to search for similar images online.

Lightshot is particularly useful for users who need a fast and efficient tool for capturing and sharing screenshots without the need for extensive editing. Its simplicity and ease of use make it a popular choice among both casual and professional users. Whether you need to share a snippet of a webpage with a colleague or save an image for future reference, Lightshot provides a reliable and user-friendly solution.

Install Lightshot here.

Other extension options for taking screenshots in Chrome

Needless to say, there are many other screenshot extensions for Chrome. Honourable mentions include:

Blipshot automatically notes the page name, date, and time each time you take a screenshot. This makes it easier to find the screenshot later.

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Marker is a paid professional tool used by tech workers who collaborate with teams of web developers. It allows you to “mark up” a screenshot with annotations and send it to teammates via project management tools like Trello, Jira, Asana, Slack, etc. All the reports Marker generates automatically include metadata about the web pages it captures. Marker plans start at $49 (£39) a month.

When it comes to taking screenshots in Chrome, users have a plethora of excellent and free options to choose from. Each extension offers unique features, thus it's essential to select the one that best meets your specific requirements. Whether you need a straightforward tool for quick captures and sharing or a more advanced solution for professional collaboration, there's certainly an extension that will cater to your needs.

Lightshot, for instance, is ideal for users who prioritize speed and simplicity. On the other hand, Blipshot offers the convenience of automatic timestamping for easy retrieval, and Marker provides professional-grade annotation and integration with team collaboration tools.

Ultimately, finding the right screenshot extension can significantly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow, making it easier to capture, share, and manage visual information with efficiency.

Taking screenshots on Chrome mobile (Android & iOS)

While the methods above cover taking screenshots in Chrome on a desktop or laptop, what about your phone or tablet?

Unlike its desktop counterpart, Google Chrome on mobile devices (Android and iOS) does not have its own built-in screenshot function like the one hidden in the Developer Tools. Instead, you rely entirely on your device's native operating system screenshot capabilities.

Here's how it generally works:

Best web browsers 2023: Firefox vs Google Chrome vs Microsoft Edge

Darien Graham-Smith — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 06:00:00 +0000

Like anything else you do on your computer, be it editing documents or productivity tracking, browsing the web should be done with the best tools available. Every computer is shipped with a default browser and each operating system (OS) is preloaded with a proprietary browser, but these may not be the best for each individual’s specific needs. Different browsers will prioritize different features, and some features will be exclusive to each browser itself.

Trying to weigh up Firefox vs Chrome vs Edge can be a daunting challenge, and every major browser will usually offer features that will satisfy the needs of most internet users. Nonetheless, the competition would not be so heavy if slight differences did not matter to users. Choosing the right browser for you is a difficult decision and migrating browsers can be a long and tedious process. As such we recommend carefully considering your decision before committing to any in order to ensure your initial time investment is worth it.

What to look for in a browser

Before you make your choice, we recommend you research the core features of each browser to determine what you are looking for. Many features will be shared across Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, including password managers and private browsing. But other features may be exclusive to the specific browsers and these features require the closest consideration.

Take, for example, Firefox, which uses less RAM than its competitors and is therefore less computationally demanding to run. This might mean it is the better choice for people with hardware with low RAM, or who require RAM for other tasks and do not want their internet browsing to drain this resource.

Microsoft Edge features Copilot integration, one component to Microsoft’s wider push to bring generative AI to all of its major products in order to bring richer, smarter, and quicker user experiences.

Google Chrome is easily the most popular browser on the market and includes a number of helpful features such as offline document editing if you use the Google Workspace on a daily basis.

A number of organizations have their own in-house extensions and web apps that staff rely on to complete their work. Sometimes, these are only compatible with specific browsers, meaning the number of options you can pick from may be restricted to those that support the extension.

The nature of your work is also a factor that will influence your decision. Developers who work with metaverse experiences, for example, may choose the Firefox Reality browser in order to navigate the web using a VR headset.

Finally, regardless of the bold claims made by each browser about their security and privacy credentials, you will want to confirm that your choice is compliant with your employer’s IT policies. When working remotely, you might need to speak with your administrator to ensure your browser is able to join the network. We would be very surprised if any of our choices cause any consternation, but forewarned is forearmed.

Understanding Chrome vs Chromium vs ChromeOS

You’ll see “Chrome” and “Chromium” used a lot in this roundup. It’s not a misprint - they’re two separate browsers... except they’re not. Let us explain.

Released alongside the flagship browser in 2008, Chromium is a totally open-source, white-lable version of Chrome. Most of the codebase is the same, and although Google curates the project, it is separate from parent company Alphabet LLC. Chromium’s logo is identical to that of Chrome, just with a blue and grey colour scheme, instead of Google’s traditional colors. The UI is completely identical, but Chromium does lack some codecs and syncing technology which is standard in the proprietary version of Chrome.

Chromium is an important browser to be aware of because of its role as the basis for many of the other browsers on the market, including Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Vivaldi. Thanks to the open source community, Chromium is available for more unusual machines such as the Raspberry Pi; and creators of browsers based on a ‘forked’ build of Chromium are expected to add their code to the Chromium codebase for the benefit of all. Stock browsers for Android forks such as Samsung (Samsung Internet) and Amazon (Silk) are usually based on chromium.

Chrome is Google’s official build of Chromium and the most popular browser in the world. It has tighter integration with Google accounts and a number of additions “under the hood”. It has three ‘channels’ - Stable, Beta, and Canary - with each updated to a new official build on a four-week cycle.

ChromeOS, meanwhile, is another separate yet related entity. It's an operating system built on the Chrome browser and used in Chromebooks and other Google desktop products; almost identical to the Chrome browser, but with a desktop, settings, and driver support. As of February 2022, you can also install it on PCs and Macs, via ChromeOS Flex.

All three products share the same codebase and are completely compatible with Chrome’s wide range of extensions. Updates to ChromeOS also run on a four-week cycle, but often arrive several days later than the standalone Chrome browser.

Best browsers 2023: Edge vs Chrome vs Firefox

Google Chrome

The growth in market share for Google’s browser since launch has been phenomenal. During 2021, Statcounter reports that 63.84% of devices around the world were running it, and at one point that figure was over 70%. There’s a lot to love about Chrome - most notably its tight integration with Google services making it extremely easy to switch between devices, as well as a huge ‘Chrome Store’ full of extensions, apps and customizations. As the world’s most popular browser, it has almost complete compatibility with any webpage you can throw at it and renders them at speeds unimaginable even a decade ago.

All that speed comes at a cost, though. Chrome is a notorious resource hog, using over a gigabyte of RAM during runtime. Add a few extensions and you could find it monopolizes the bulk of your machine’s memory. Google has worked hard to bring down Chrome’s memory footprint, but it’s still a lot more resource-hungry than any other browser on this list.

Despite this, Chrome is still the people’s choice by a factor of three and if there’s a feature not available natively, the chances are someone has written an extension to add it. Just remember that more extensions equals more RAM usage, so if you’re running a 2GB netbook, you might want to rethink how many you add.

Chrome is available on Windows, macOS, most Linux distros, Android, iOS, and Chromebooks (as part of ChromeOS).

Microsoft Edge

Technically, the current product calling itself Microsoft Edge should be called Edge 2. When it launched back in 2016 it looked very different and owed much of its layout to its predecessor, Internet Explorer. It failed to capture the public’s imagination, so it was completely rebuilt from the ground up using the Chromium codebase, and from April 2021 that became the only version of Edge, pre-installed alongside Windows 10 or 11.

It differs from Google’s Chrome in a number of ways, not least of all that it’s slightly less of a memory hog. It’s compatible with a limited number of extensions originally designed for Chrome, but Microsoft controls which ones. This is supposedly due to security concerns, but ironically it’s the browser that collects the most user telemetry, leading some experts to question its own security. Users still report compatibility issues with extensions, which is a good point to remind ourselves that Edge, in its current form, is only two years old and occasionally shows its relative lack of bug-squashing.

Where Chrome links up nicely with Google products, as you’d expect, Edge syncs with your Microsoft account. Being a Microsoft product, it’s very keen to enforce Bing on you, which takes a certain amount of tweaking to change and in some cases (such as translation) can’t be switched to another provider.

There’s no question that Chromium Edge is a great deal better than the legacy version and yes, for basic tasks, it’s a little less power-hungry than Chrome, but the fact that it uses Bing so liberally whilst having relatively poor extension support means there’s still no reason not to download Chrome at the first opportunity. The fact that in 2021, it only garnered 3.99% of the market, despite being preinstalled on Microsoft products, speaks volumes. It’s a good browser, but it’s young, and it’s not quite there yet.

Mozilla Firefox

An open-source project, originally designed for use by Mozilla’s development team, Firefox is the oldest of the ‘big three’ browsers - in fact in 2022, it’s celebrating its 20th birthday. Before Chrome arrived, it was gaining significant market share. After several years in the relative doldrums, it was retooled in 2017 under a project called ‘Quantum’ which allowed its proprietary Gecko engine to perform at speeds more akin to Chrome.

Firefox was the first browser to offer extensions, which it refers to as 'Add-ons', and as a result, it had a wealth of them to download, but since Quantum it has relaunched the feature and this treasury has been replaced by a new library which is still growing. The new add-ons use the same API as Chromium and as a result, there is now some cross-compatibility.

In recent years, Firefox has focused on its security credentials and in 2021 became the first browser to offer the ability to block cross-site tracking. It also offers DNS over HTTPS (DoH), a feature that makes it almost impossible for hackers to monitor your web traffic, and a feature that blocks any scripts that attempt to mine cryptocurrency from your machine.

Firefox is still a great browser, but with Chromium-based browsers so much the norm now, it has seen its popularity plummet from nearly 30% at one time, down to 3.91% in 2021, putting it almost exactly on par with Edge. Whilst it still has a lot to recommend it both in terms of security and performance, Mozilla has consistently been last to basic features (it only began sandboxing processes in 2018) that are standard in other browsers. However, if you’re looking for a corporate deployment to your whole team, there is a long-term support edition available alongside tools to push itself to multiple machines on a domain, making it a smart choice for business.

Apple Safari

(Image credit: Future)

Although we’re focusing on Windows browsers for this round-up, we can’t ignore Apple’s stock Safari browser, which has 19.56% of the market, almost entirely made up of Mac and iPhone/Pad users after Apple ceased updating the Windows version a decade ago. For macOS and iOS users, it offers a more familiar layout and continuity features that let you carry on your surfing from exactly where you left off on another Safari instance, as well as a handful of unique software features built on integrations with the rest of the macOS platform.

Mac and iOS users should be aware, however, that all the browsers on this list are rendered using Apple Webkit rather than the standard renderer (usually Blink) in order to comply with Apple’s policies. As such, you’ll find that performance between browsers is much of a muchness, and any desire to switch to something other than Safari should be based on features, rather than any hope of a performance boost.

Best browsers 2023: Head-to-head performance

Just because the majority of the options above share the same Chromium codebase, it doesn’t mean they’ll have identical performance. In our benchmarking tests, we used three tools - Jetstream 2.0 which measures Javascript and WebAssembly performance using advanced web apps, Speedometer, which shows web app responsiveness, and Kraken, which calculates Javascript, but based on what Mozilla calls “more realistic workloads”.

The results were surprising. You may remember a few years ago, all the major browsers claimed that it was theirs that offered the fastest performance. Our results explain why - there simply is no clear winner. While Chrome offered a blistering 62.619 in the Jetstream tests, compared with a pitiful 35.182 for Firefox, Speedometer results were so poor at 19.5 that we reran the test several times to make sure it really was that bad. Compare that to Microsoft Edge at 69.1, with Opera a valiant second at 66.2. Kraken, a tool created by Firefox maker Mozilla, actually proved a problem for its own browser - it gave the slowest result of 3967.1ms. The winner was Vivaldi, which scored 1618.6, more than twice as fast as Firefox - yet scored mid-table on our other benchmarks.

By aggregating the results, we’re declaring that Opera is the best-performing browser by some margin, coming a consistent runner-up in all our benchmarks. Microsoft Edge is next, followed by Vivaldi, Brave and bringing up the rear, Chrome in fifth place, thanks to its perplexingly poor Speedometer performance, and Firefox bringing up the rear.

It’s worth remembering though, that none of these scores indicate a problematic or unusable level of performance, and we found that all our browsers (with the exception of Opera) were better at some tasks than others - so it may be that for your workload, another browser could be the right one for you.

Edge vs Chrome vs Firefox: Which is best?

In the internet’s early days, there was a clear benefit to staying with the default browser on the operating system. These days, however, the essential task of a web browser – to browse the web – is a mostly universal experience regardless of which you choose. As such, before choosing the right browser for you you should pay attention to the feature set of each – whether that be compatibility with other products, a lightweight footprint, or one of the unique features of the smaller browsers.

In the majority of instances, add-ons or extensions will let you gain any features that aren’t natively supported. We can’t say any one browser is the perfect fit for everyone (but if you push us, Chrome is the best of most worlds) so we would recommend trying a few options and creating your ideal surfing environment.

Best browsers 2023: Google Chrome alternatives

If you enjoy Chrome’s user experience, but don’t particularly want to fuel Google’s data-hungry business model, there are various alternatives to the major players of internet browsing that provide some intriguing comparisons.

Opera

Of all the Chromium browsers, Opera is the one that looks most visually distinct from Chrome. As one of the first browsers to switch to Chromium from its own engine, back in 2013, it has had ample time to carve a distinctive path, and has done so in spades. With a free VPN and Ad-Blocker built-in, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’d done enough, but with “Speed Dial” access to your favorite sites from a mosaic of thumbnails, a built-in crypto wallet, a sidebar for social media, and a variety of instant messaging platforms, and a one-click eraser for all your cookies and browsing history, Opera is an absolute powerhouse.

Unfortunately, its add-ons aren’t directly compatible with Chrome extensions, but there is an unofficial way to add them. The big turn-off for Google users is that it syncs with other instances of Opera, but not with Google (or Microsoft) accounts. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you’ll notice the lack of this feature if you’re used to it. It’s a shame because in most other ways, Opera is very, very special.

Vivaldi

A relative newcomer, Vivaldi is the product of John Van Teschiner, one of the architects of the original (pre-Chromium) Opera. Originally designed to replace some features retired from his old browser, Vivaldi has blossomed into a distinct product in its own right, offering stackable tabs groups, tracking protection through DuckDuckGo, a pop-out video player, native mail and calendar clients and Chromecasting support, to name but a few. Vivaldi has become more like a dashboard for everything you’re doing, meaning you could, in theory, never leave it for another app all day. It’s also very privacy and safety-minded, with granular controls over blocking of ads and cookies by type, content, or source.

Brave

Brave is a privacy-first browser with a twist - by default it will block ads, but if you switch them on, you can earn cryptocurrency for each one you watch. It has repeatedly come top in “most private browser” testing, but it also has some unique features - for example if you try and surf to a page that doesn’t exist, it will automatically search for a cache from Wayback Machine. If you need further privacy, you can route traffic through the TOR network and it also has its own in-built news aggregator. You can use cryptocurrency earned to offer micropayments to bloggers on certain sites, a reflection of Brave’s attempts to try and find new ways to finance the internet. There’s a lot to love (perhaps too much) and from a business point of view, you might find it a bit “busy”, but as a product in its own right, it’s a promising new alternative.

What about Internet Explorer?

Due to being included with every version of Windows since Windows 95, Internet Explorer is familiar to most computer users. Despite ceasing active development of Internet Explorer in 2016 to focus on its Edge browser, it continued to bundle the final edition IE11 with Windows to allow compatibility with legacy sites.

This all changed in 2022, when on June 15th, Internet Explorer was put out to pasture, once and for all. Going forward, Microsoft recommends using Edge (of course), which offers an Internet Explorer emulator mode that can be opened in a new tab. This should only be used for web pages that are business-critical, and only as a stopgap until your organization upgrades the page or package in question to be compliant with more modern alternatives.

Some products which already bundle Internet Explorer, such as Windows Server, won’t reach EOL until 2029, so Microsoft will continue to offer IE security updates until that time - but it bears repeating that in 2022, the use of IE really should be a last resort. There’s a joke in the tech industry that 'Internet Explorer is the browser you use to download Chrome'. It’s funny because it’s true.

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