If you are looking for a laptop in 2023, the question you need to ask is simple: Are Chromebooks worth it? Chromebooks are simple laptops that run ChromeOS as its operating system, which means a lot depends on what Google offers.

There are Chromebooks from several brands, so the decision comes down to one or two extra features. Well, it’s slightly more complicated and that’s something I realised while reviewing ASUS Chromebook CX1400.

The biggest attraction of a Chromebook is its pricing but that’s not all you should look at. A cheap Chromebook may not be suitable for you if your daily tasks demand something like a Windows laptop. Looking at it the other way around, your daily tasks may just be perfect for a Chromebook.

Allows you to focus

The keyboard has very little flex and is comfortable to type on

I made a checklist of things I wanted to do with a laptop. The first thing was to focus on my writing. Chromebooks offer mostly what you get on the Google Play store and you can always use Google Docs to get things done. For a few days, I decided to put my phone away during the patches when I wanted to write. When you have the phone around, the biggest problem is WhatsApp messages. A message arrives, I read it and answer, which takes hardly 20 seconds but then I start doomscrolling for 10 minutes. Now think of the amount of time you can waste this way.

Having a Chromebook allowed me to do everything I would have otherwise done but there is intention involved — writing. I could still watch a video but would I spend long hours watching my favourite streaming show on a 14-inch full-HD display? For a distraction-free setup, you can even turn off the net connection and just write.

Inexpensive but works

The screen is bright enough for most situations

From time to time, there are articles about how the Chromebook is losing its sheen. I think the device is still relevant. Say, you do consider getting a cheap Windows laptop. The problem is that such machines won’t see you through more than two years. In a few months, an inexpensive Windows laptop will play up and there will be issues like throttling.

If your budget is limited and you want to get a laptop for, say, your kids to help with school-related work and also help them with video calling tools, the CX1400 does it far better than most Windows laptops. Most schools have Google Classroom and use apps that are from Google. Further, the 720p HD camera is just about enough to get things done on the video call front.

For simple tasks

There are also people who simply want to go on the web, maybe to do some research, pay bills, watch some short videos and, of course, write notes. These are users who get most of the work done on the phone and a laptop is just a secondary device that’s used once in a while. For them, CX1400 works well. Having Intel Celeron N4500 processor means you should be able to complete most tasks comfortably. Don’t expect out-of-the-world photo-editing apps to work on this laptop but some simple apps load effortlessly. Further, the built-in stereo speakers are modestly loud. In case you watch cooking videos before visiting the kitchen, this machine is fine.

Should you buy it?

You can use the laptop in tent mode

There are a few things you need to remember. Storage is up to 128GB eMMC, which means you have to depend on the Cloud to store things. If you are the kind of person who is comfortable with using Cloud storage, this machine is for you. Most Chromebooks are light though they may not be very slim. Weighing around 1.5 kg (depends on the model you are getting), you can slip into a backpack.

Further, it can offer around 10 hours of usage time. There are models in this series that you can flip 360 degrees and keep the screen in tent mode. Helpful feature? Well, if a few family members gather around to watch a video, it helps but otherwise not too much. But the quality of the touchscreen on the machine is quite good. I am also happy with the port selection (two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 3.5mm combo audio jack and microSD card reader). At the same time, you need to remember that you don’t have as wide a selection of apps as on a Windows laptop.

It all comes down to your personal needs. If simplicity and ease of use are what matters to you then ASUS Chromebook CX1400 won’t let you down.

At a glance

Device: ASUS Chromebook CX1400

Price: Upwards of Rs 21,990

High notes

Ease of use

Good battery life

Allows you to focus on work

The touchscreen is responsive

Muffled note

App selection is restricted to what Google has to offer