Here in the U.S., you still can’t buy an Asus Chromebook Flip C536 (aka CX5) directly from Asus. However, Best Buy does sell this 15.6-inch Chromebook, which is normally priced at $569. That’s reasonable for what you get but this $100 sale makes the deal even sweeter for an 11th-gen Core i3 convertible Chromebook at $469.
This actually might be the best value on the market, at least while the sale is in effect. Aside from the 1080p resolution 15.6-inch touchscreen, you’re getting that 11th-gen Core i3 paired with 8 GB of memory and 128 GB of speedy SSD storage.
I’ve seen some recent entry-level Chromebooks with half the RAM and storage approaching $400, for example. Oh and those typically have either a Celeron or Pentium processor, which would be a few steps behind in the performance department.
Obviously, you have to want a large display over a smaller, more portable laptop. The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 weighs a tad over 4 pounds. But of course, a device with that size and weight allows for a roomier chassis to fit a full backlit keyboard and numeric keypad, a relatively massive glass trackpad measuring 5.68-inches diagonally, and plenty of ports.
Unfortunately, Asus didn’t include as many ports as I think it could have.
You’ll have to make do with a pair of USB Type-C and one Type-A, plus an HDMI output and microphone/headphone combo jack. That’s actually not too bad, but another Type-A would have been sweet! WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 round out the connectivity options and you also get a webcam for video calls.
Overall, Asus is delivering a relatively nice design, a solid large touchscreen display with slim bezels and performance capabilities for most of the market with its Asus Chromebook Flip C536.
If you want a larger device with those features, I’m not sure you can get a better one for under $500 during this sale.
Update: This deal was originally available and posted on July 13. It’s currently back as of today.
I ordered my CX5 (C536E) from Best Buy at $469 almost the day that price was announced. It shipped to the store, and I had to drive in and pick it up. A short time ago, it was at Best Buy on even deeper discount at $439. Now it is back up to $469. Even at that price, this is a “go for it” before they take it back to $569! This is far and away the best Chromebook I have ever had.
I lucked out, want the CX5, kept watching the web; the day before Best Buy had it on sale for $469.00, I snatched it for $439.00!
Lady Jane
Does anyone know where I may be able to get a cover for this model? I am afraid the white color may not have been the best choice for my son…But the $419 price at Best Buys was way too hard to pass.
Is there a case or cover available for the C536e Chromebook?
Not one from Asus but I’m sure you can find third-party options that will fit this. Just compare the Chromebook measurements to any case/sleeve. Covers with an exact fit are unlikely though.