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ASUS has now officially revealed the existence of its Chromebook C223 via a new page for the device uploaded to its website without fanfare bearing a ‘Chromebook 12’ designation. The 11.6-inch Chromebook 12 had been leaked back in June but not many specifications were given at that time. Now that it’s official, the full details of the new Chrome OS laptop can be examined in more detail. Although it was initially reported to weigh in at around 1224.7 grams, the ASUS Chromebook 12 is now confirmed to tip the scales at just 999g with its 38-watt-hour two cell battery accounted for. That battery does drive Intel’s Celeron Dual-Core N3350 Processor, clocked at 1.1GHz with 2Mb cache and boosting up to 2.4GHz, backed by 4GB of dual-channel RAM and 32GB of eMMC flash storage. In addition to its memory and storage, the inclusion of 2 USB Type-C ports, a standard USB jack, 3.5mm headphone plug, and micro SD card slot has been confirmed by the new listing.
There is also plenty of new information to be taken from the newly posted hardware as well. The above-mentioned USB ports are each listed as being USB 3.1, generation one. Both of the Type-C ports support both power delivery and display out functionality. The built-in battery is touted as allowing for up to 10 hours of browsing on a single charge. Meanwhile, the Chromebook 12’s not quite 12-inch anti-glare display is set at a display ratio of 16:9 with a resolution of 1366 x 768 and a refresh rate listed at 60Hz. That’s packed into a frame measuring 286mm x 199mm x 17.25mm, which should allow for easy portability throughout the day for buyers.
As expected, ASUS has forgone the inclusion of either a touchscreen or 360-degree hinge. So there’s no tablet mode and no touch interaction with Android apps. That’s not unsurprising but may be disappointing for those hoping for a budget convertible from the company. No details have been provided for the camera embedded just above that display but it is noted to feature an ‘HD’ sensor. The chassis of the Chromebook 12 also appears to be comprised of plastics with a clean grey metallic look, although the materials haven’t been confirmed at this point. That may not be a negative point, however, since it trades off some durability but makes the device both lighter and more affordable. At the same time, ASUS’s latest Chromebook isn’t at all cheap. The build is designed to withstand spills up to 66cc of liquid – just over 2 ounces – and its full-size “Chiclet” keyboard is designed to feel premium with just 1.5mm key travel.
For connectivity, ASUS doesn’t indicate whether or not a Bluetooth module is part of the package and no ethernet port or SIM slot is provided. The latter exclusions are not at all uncommon in hardware running Google’s Chrome OS. The included Wi-Fi capabilities, enabled by Integrated 802.11a/b/g/n/ac radio with 2×2 MIMO, are more in line with what’s expected from any Chromebook. That should equate to solid connection anywhere wireless connectivity is available. One other area where the company has not cut any corners at all, in the meantime, is the Chromebook 12’s speakers. Both of the included speakers are rated at 2-watts and feature enhanced resonance chambers that ASUS says will generate 82dB of audio. Moreover, that audio as listed as Hi-Fi so the quality of sound pumped out at that volume most likely won’t disappoint.
Aside from other details that still haven’t been clarified by the company, ASUS has not provided any information about how much its Chromebook 12 will cost or where it will be made available. Beyond that, there are no details about when it will become available for purchase either. The most recent estimates based on the hardware have ranged from below $200 to just past the $300 mark. Bearing that in mind, certifications have been provided and that could give at least a few clues as to where consumers can expect the new Chrome OS laptop-like to appear. Some of those are more general but that isn’t the case for all. FCC compliance seems to suggest that North America will be included in the sales regions while BSMI points to sales in Taiwan. Australia and New Zealand sales also seem to be indicated in the list of certifications and both CB and EU Flower would appear to implicate Europe as a region where the Chromebook 12 will be sold.
ASUS Chromebook 12
