(Update: This deal is back on. The original model is back up to its full price.)
I admit I was a little put off by the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 when it launched in January. It’s less a successor to the original model and more of a cut-down, sort of budget-friendly version. Now, a current $100 discount on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 makes it a better value.
That discount is good on either configuration of Samsung’s 2021 convertible Chromebook. So you can buy the Intel Celeron model for $450 or the 10th-generation Intel Core i3 configuration for $599.
Personally, either is still priced a little high for my tastes as my usage requires more horsepower. If I’m going to spend $599, for example, I’d take the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 for $629, or even less when it’s on sale.
Still, I know many folks can appreciate what Samsung does bring to the table here.
There’s the 13.3-inch 1080p QLED display that supports 100% DCI-P3 color, for example, which is great for watching supported online content. Samsung has also addressed the heat and battery issues from the original Samsung Galaxy Chromebook with this model: A fan plus a solid run time help mitigate those shortcomings from the Galaxy Chromebook 2’s predecessor.
And of course, there’s that great build quality with a colored aluminum chassis in your choice of bold Fiesta Red or a muted Mercury Gray.
Keep in mind if you go for the lower-priced model, you’re not just dropping down to an Intel Celeron processor. You’ll also get half the local storage and memory with capacities of 64 GB and 4 GB respectively. If you want 128 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM, you’ll have to choose the higher-priced, Intel Core i3 configuration.
Here’s a rundown of the specs to help you decide if this discounted deal is worth it for you:
| CPU | 10th-gen Intel Celeron and Core i3 processors |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Display | 13.3-inch QLED 1080p touchscreen, 16:9 aspect ratio, with optional USI stylus support |
| Memory | 4 or 8 GB |
| Storage | 64 or 128 GB, microSD slot for expansion |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 (Gig+), 802.11 ax 2×2, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Input | Backlit keyboard, multitouch trackpad, 720p camera |
| Ports | Two USB Type-C, combination microphone/headphone jack |
| Battery | 45.5 Whr |
| Weight | 2.71 pounds |
| Software | Chrome OS automatic update expiration date: June 2028 |
Update: This post was originally published on April 6, 2021 and has been updated to reflect that the expired deal is back on the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2.
