Asus has released its latest Ryzen-powered Chromebook, the Chromebook Flip CM5. The CM5 has a 15.6-inch screen, and Asus is pushing it as a device for cloud-based gaming. It’s available now at Abt and Newegg starting at $499.99.
The most exciting thing is that the CM5 supports both Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now. Of course, it only has a 60Hz screen and Radeon integrated graphics, so it’s far from a “gaming laptop” of any sort. Still, Asus has made a few design tweaks to better evoke the aesthetic. Namely, the WASD keys are outlined in orange, which Asus says “lets users stand out while enjoying quick, intuitive gameplay in cloud-based games.” Some Windows laptops have done bold things with their WASD keys, but this is the first Chromebook we’ve seen with that feature.
Asus also emphasized the Harmon Kardon-certified audio system and Wi-Fi stabilizer technology, which should likely help create a more immersive gaming experience.
They include AMD Radeon graphics, powering the 15.6-inch 1920 x 10800 Full HD touchscreen. It’s a 60Hz IPS panel, with an anti-glare coating, and 6.19mm side bezels. There’s 45-percent NTSC color coverage, ASUS says, and a 360-degree hinge which not only supports tablet and tent orientations, but elevates the keyboard in more traditional positions for better workflow and more comfortable typing.
Inside, there’s up to 8GB of 3200MHz DDR4x memory and up to either 64GB of eMMC storage or up to 128GB of PCIe M.2 NVMe SSD storage. WiFi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.0 are standard, as are Harman Kardon-certified dual speakers and an array microphone. An HD webcam is above the screen, and Google’s Titan C security chip is included too.
For wired connectivity, there’s a pair of USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports and a UDB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A. ASUS also found room for a full-sized HDMI 1.4, a microSD card reader, and a combo audio jack.
As for battery life, ASUS says you should see up to 10 hours from the 57 Wh polymer battery. The whole thing measures in at 357.6 x 240.8 x 18.5 mm, and weighs 4.17 pounds. It’s also MIL-STD 810H rated for resilience.
What stands out the most, though, is the splash of color on select keys. The orange highlights for the WASD cluster is designed to make gamers feel more at home, though of course you can also pair a wireless gamepad to use with Stadia or NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip CM5 is available to order now, priced from $499.99 with the Ryzen 3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.
