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A new Chromebook, the ASUS-built Chromebook C223, appears to have leaked with images prior to launch featuring a slimmed down frame and an Apollo Lake-based Intel Celeron N3350 processor. Although the images appear to show an aluminum frame, that’s purely aesthetic according to information associated with the device. Instead, ASUS has opted to use plastics. That won’t necessarily bring down the hardiness of the device but should make it much more budget friendly. ASUS has also chosen to buck the recent trends associated with 360-degree hinges and tablet-like experiences for a traditional clamshell Chromebook. That’s said to house an 11.6-inch display and weigh in at 2.7 lbs. It’s not clear whether or not that will be touch-enabled or not and screen resolution is not among the details to have been leaked. There’s also no Google Play icon in the images showing Chrome OS’s navigation shelf so the upcoming ASUS may also be making a break with new trends on that front.
However, a few other suspected specifications have also been leaked alongside the images. That includes expectations that it will ship with 4GB RAM and 32GB of onboard storage. There also appear to be two USB Type-C plugs placed on either side of the frame, along with an additional standard USB port. A micro SD card slot and a 3.5mm jack for headphones and similar accessories. Of course, details about pricing and availability won’t likely appear until after an official launch but the entire package seems to be geared toward a value-heavy Chromebook on the budget end of the spectrum. That in turn, means it could launch at a price point well below most of the top Chrome OS laptops, for anything between sub-$200 price range to just above $300.
With regard to the associated images, the presumed press renders seem to put a lot of attention on how thin the device is. However, even without the included profile shot, that particular design feature is immediately apparent. Chromebooks have steadily moved toward a greater focus on portability over the past several months and budget-friendly laptop-likes are no exception. In this case, that has resulted in a flattened down appearance with a brushed aluminum coating and a well-proportioned display. If nothing else, this Chromebook should fit nicely in with buyers who don’t care about the inclusion of Android apps or metals but still want something stylish.
