The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (2021) is a 2-in-1 convertible Chrome OS laptop. It's available with Intel 11th Gen CPUs, up to 16GB of memory, and up to 512GB of storage. It has a 1080p IPS display, a 720p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6 wireless connectivity. Ports include one USB-A, two USB-C/Thunderbolt 4s, a MicroSD card reader, and a headphone jack. It supports pen input and comes with a USI 1.0 stylus, which you can dock into its charging slot for transport. You can see our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section below.
Our Verdict
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is decent for school use. It has a sturdy build and is easy to carry around, thanks to its thin and light design. The display looks sharp, and since it's a 2-in-1, it supports touch input. It also supports pen input and comes with a stylus if you like taking handwritten notes. The keyboard feels spacious but a little mushy, and the touchpad is decently responsive. Its Intel 11th Gen CPU has no problem handling nearly anything you can do on Chrome OS; just know that you can only use web apps and Android apps from the Google Play Store, so it isn't ideal for students in fields like 3D graphics that need specialized x86 Windows applications. The battery doesn't last a full day, but it's pretty close, so you only need to plug it in for a short time.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Display gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings.
- Decent keyboard and touchpad.
- Thunderbolt 4.
- Battery lasts less than eight hours of light use.
- Mediocre webcam.
- CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding tasks.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is bad for gaming. Its CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding games, and it has a 60Hz display with a slow response time. You can't install DirectX games on Chrome OS, so you can only play Android-based games from the Google Play Store. On the upside, it doesn't get hot or loud under load.
- Decent keyboard and touchpad.
- Fanless design.
- CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding tasks.
- 60Hz display with slow response time.
- Doesn't support x86 Windows games.
- Slow SSD.
- Soldered RAM.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is good for media consumption. It's very portable, and its battery lasts over seven hours of video playback, giving you plenty of time to get through multiple movies. Its 1080p display looks sharp, and since it's a 2-in-1, you can set up the laptop in tent mode when viewing content and navigate using touch input. The downside is that it's an IPS panel with a relatively low contrast ratio, so blacks look grayish in dim settings. The speakers get very loud, but like most laptops, they have very little bass.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Display gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings.
- Loud speakers.
- Battery lasts seven hours of video playback.
- Blacks look gray in dim settings.
- Speakers sound unnatural with no bass.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 isn't suitable for use as a mobile workstation. Its Intel 11th Gen. CPU and integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks, and you can only get up to 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Also, it runs Chrome OS, so you're limited to web-based apps and Android apps from the Google Play Store. On the bright side, it has Thunderbolt 4 ports, allowing you to quickly transfer files and connect up to two 4k displays with a single cable, and it doesn't get hot or loud under load.
- Decent keyboard and touchpad.
- Thunderbolt 4.
- Fanless design.
- CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding tasks.
- Slow SSD.
- Soldered RAM.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 is decent for business use. It's a well-built laptop that's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious but slightly mushy keyboard, and a decently responsive touchpad. Its Intel 11th Gen CPU can easily handle general productivity tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations; however, remember that Chrome OS doesn't support Windows applications, so it might not be suitable if your work requires specialized programs that only run on Windows. The battery lasts just a little less than eight hours of light use, so you'll likely need to plug it in for a quick charge to get through the day. Unfortunately, the webcam is mediocre; the image looks soft with a fair amount of noise.
- Compact and lightweight.
- Display gets bright enough for use in most indoor settings.
- Decent keyboard and touchpad.
- Thunderbolt 4.
- Battery lasts less than eight hours of light use.
- Mediocre webcam.
- CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding tasks.
Changelog
- Updated Jul 10, 2024: Added mention of the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2023) as an alternative with longer battery life in the Battery section.
- Updated Jan 04, 2024: Added mention of the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (2023) as an alternative with a better webcam in the Webcam and Microphone section.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
- Updated Nov 16, 2023: Added mention of the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 (2023) as a Windows alternative in the Software section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (model CX5400FMA) with an Intel Core i5-1130G7 CPU, 16GB of memory, and 256GB of storage. The CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; the available options are in the table below.
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You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5400 is a decent laptop overall. It has a sturdy build and provides a relatively good user experience. However, its battery life is on the shorter side for a Chromebook, which might be a dealbreaker for some. Also, there are better options that cost less.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best Chromebooks, the best budget and cheap laptops, and the best travel laptops.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) and the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (2021) are both 14-inch laptops that provide a good user experience overall. The Lenovo has a brighter display, a better webcam, and a longer battery life; however, the ASUS has a sturdier build and a more responsive touchpad. You can get the Lenovo with a touch-sensitive display, but unlike the ASUS, it isn't a 2-in-1 convertible.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (2021) and the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) are both 2-in-1 convertibles. The ASUS has a nicer display, better performance, and Thunderbolt 4 support. It also supports pen input and comes with a stylus in the box. However, the Lenovo has significantly longer battery life, and its keyboard provides a better typing experience.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (2021) is much better than the HP Chromebook x360 14 (2021) for most uses. The ASUS has a sturdier build, a sharper, brighter display, and better performance. It has the same number of ports as the HP, but unlike the HP, its USB-C support Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to connect up to two 4k displays with a single cable. The HP has longer battery life, but only slightly.
Although the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (2021) and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 (2021) are both 2-in-1s, the ASUS is a convertible with a 360-degree hinge, while the Lenovo is a tablet with a detachable kickstand. If you mainly need the laptop for work or school, the ASUS is a better option because it has a much better keyboard and touchpad, a wider port selection, and better performance overall. However, the Lenovo is a better option if you only need the laptop for media consumption, as its OLED display provides a much better viewing experience, especially in dim settings.
Test Results
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