Asus Chromebook Flip C436 review - Elegance, electrified - Android

The Asus Flip C434 was one of the best Chromebooks we reviewed last year. Asus refreshed its flagship convertible at CES 2020 in January and cranked things up a notch. The company says the Chromebook Flip C436 is a clear improvement over its predecessor, and in fact shouldn’t even be compared to the older model. The C436 jumps to the premiere segment for Chromebooks in the $800 range. The result? An attractive, powerful machine that might give Google and Samsung a run for their money.

In the Android Authority Asus Chromebook Flip C436 review we determine if this new machine is worth the higher price of entry.

Asus Chromebook Flip C436 review: Who is it for?

The Asus Flip C436 is for people who want more from a Chromebook. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of ho-hum Chromebooks in the $300 to $500 space that do little to tempt the heart. The Asus joins the ranks of high-end Chromebooks, which include the Google Pixelbook Go and Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. These machines all blend form and function — and have the price tags to prove it.

In other words, you’re here for the looks as much as you are the C436’s capabilities. You’re a rockstar, why shouldn’t your Chromebook be one, too?

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What is it like to use the Flip C436?

Asus designed a Chromebook for 2020 and beyond. The Flip C436 has sharp, clean lines, a slim profile, and a strong build. The satin white model (Aerogel White), in particular, is sophisticated and pure. It also comes in Transparent Silver. The bottom half of the Chromebook is a bare magnesium alloy no matter which colorway you choose. Chrome accents complete the look. It’s slim at 13.7mm thick and light at 2.42lbs.

This Flip is a convertible, meaning it functions as a regular laptop, and can also stand in a tent posture or be held as a slate for tablet-style input. The hinge is strong and holds the lid at any angle. I particularly like that you can open the C436 with one hand. The laptop sits solidly on your table or desk thanks to rubber-coated rails on the bottom.

The keyboard is acceptable. You’ll notice when you open the C436, the lid tilts the deck just a bit. Asus says this slight angle helps some with typing. As much as I appreciate that, the keys are hardly improved over last year’s model. The keys have too much travel and come across as slightly mushy. Moreover, the tint of the backlighting nearly matches the metal color of the keys themselves. The result is key markings that almost disappear. If you’re typing in a well-lit spot, I strongly advise you to turn the backlighting off entirely. The backlighting does the trick, though, when you’re typing in the dark.

The Asus Flip C436 is one of the first Chromebooks to add a fingerprint reader to the keyboard. Bonus: It works really well.

Asus claims the C436 is one of the first Chromebooks to have a fingerprint reader integrated into the keyboard. The reader, positioned in the upper right corner, worked flawlessly while I evaluated the Flip. The oversized, glass trackpad was slightly inconsistent. I found the cursor was prone to jumping around the screen, despite the palm rejection tech built into the pad.

Last, Asus included a fairly standard set of ports. You’ve got two USB-C ports, one on either side, as well as a headphone jack on the left and a microSD card slot on the right. I would have like to see at least one USB-A port. The hardware power button and volume toggle are on the left edge, while stereo speakers are visible as mesh strips in the lower deck edge.

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How’s the screen?

The 14-inch LED display is excellent. It boasts Full HD resolution at a 16:9 aspect ratio. Asus shrunk the bezels to 6.5mm across the top and 4.9mm along the sides, giving the C436 a screen-to-body ratio of 85%.

Asus hasn’t published brightness figures for the C436. I found it to be good enough for working indoors at home and even in the shade outside, but direct sunlight washed it right out. The Pixelbook Go’s display is noticeably brighter.

Colors looked mostly accurate, with only the slightest bit of warmth when viewing pure white. The Full HD resolution is just good enough for a screen this size. Were the