ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Review: Solid Build, Durable Battery
Do you need a premium and versatile Chromebook for your lightweight computing activities? Look no further as this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 review contains all the details you need about the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434.
By Okedigba Dorcas | Updated February 25, 2023 | 14 minutes read
Itechguides’ Take on ASUS Chromebook Flip C434
Summary
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a premium and elegant convertible device. The 1080p resolution touchscreen is vivid and impressively surrounded by thin bezels. Additionally, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 has long battery life.
Overall
4
Pros
- Premium elegant design
- Thin display bezels
- Long battery life
Cons
- A tad pricey
- Not the best performance
- Fails Chromebooks drop test
This review will focus on all you need to know about the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 – ranging from its physical features to its specs. I will discuss its performance in areas like processor, memory, storage, graphics, and battery.
Finally, I will include results from benchmark tests and comparisons with similar devices. I will also add performance ratings after each section.
You don’t want to miss out on the useful information this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 review packs. Therefore, read this review to the end so you can eventually make an informed buying decision.
My Initial Thoughts
As an improvement of the already good convertible Chromebook Flip C302, ASUS has released the Chromebook Flip C434. The good-looking convertible Chromebook Flip C434 has successfully ranked among the best Chromebooks around today.
The Chromebook Flip C434 is a bit pricey for a Chromebook especially if you opt for the higher configuration. However, you are guaranteed to get good value for your money.
Speaking of its price, the base configuration goes for $439.49. This price was accurate in September 2021 when we published this article.
Having talked about its predecessor and price, let’s move ahead with the features and specifications of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Design, Dimension & Weight Review
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 sure looks premium in its elegant all-aluminum chassis. It is made of a matte-silver finish and an ASUS logo by the center of its lid.
As expected, there is also a Chrome logo and lettering by the top left corner of the lid. The metal lid does not flex, thanks to the solid build of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434.
However, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is not resilient enough and does not pass the Chromebook drop test. Unlike some Chromebooks targeted at younger users, you might want to keep the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 away from children.
When you lift the lid of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434, you will notice the display surrounded by thin bezels. Despite the thin bezels, ASUS has managed to fit a 720p resolution camera on the top bezel.
The 14-inch display of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is supported by two hinges that can rotate up to 360 degrees. This implies that in addition to the laptop mode, the Chromebook’s screen can be flipped into a tablet mode, a stand-alone mode, or a tent mode.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a touchscreen device. The touch display is responsive to swipes – making it easy to navigate through browser tabs.
Moving down to the Chromebook’s deck, the silver-chrome scheme is still maintained. Hence, the edges of the silver deck are outlined with chrome.
The Chrome outline is also extended to the hinges, power button, volume button, and touchpad. In addition to the power button, you will also find the keyboard on the deck.
The keyboard is made of silver chiclet-styled keys that are decently sized and evenly spaced. With a travel distance of 1.3 mm and an actuation force of 71g, the keys have a tactile feel.
The keyboard key travel is the distance you need to press to register an input. On the other hand, the actuation force is the amount of pressure you need to apply to register an input.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 keys are backlit with 5 levels of brightness to choose from. The keyboard backlights are neat and do not bleed from the bottom of the keys.
Below the keyboard, there is the touchpad and as I mentioned earlier, it is outlined with chrome. Also, the touchpad dedicated buttons are snappy to clicks.
Moreover, the touchpad is smooth and responsive to swipes. Particularly, the touchpad responds smoothly to Chrome OS gestures.
Speaking of Chrome OS gestures, this includes gestures such as pinch to zoom and multi-finger swipes.
Moving on to the availability of the port on the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434, there’s a fair selection for a device this slim. Most of the essential ports are located on the left where you have a USB Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, and a headphone jack.
Meanwhile, the right side of the chassis only contains few ports leaving enough room for using the mouse. Specifically, the right houses a second USB Type-C port and a microSD card slot.
The USB Type-C ports on both sides of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 have Displayport support. Also, you can use the Type-C ports to charge the device.
When it comes to the size and weight of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434, it measures 321 x 202 x 15.7 mm. Also, the Chromebook weighs 1,450 g.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is fairly compact and lightweight for a 14-inch device. Moreover, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is lighter than the 14-inch competitors I pitched it against.
Specifically, the 14-inch Dell Inspiron 7486 2-in-1 Chromebook measures 329 x 230 x 18 mm and weighs 1,800 g. Meanwhile, the HP Chromebook x360 14 G1 measures 326 x 227 x 16 and weighs 1,600g.
In summary, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is an elegant and compact laptop. It has a limited array of ports but it does not lack the essential I/O ports.
Additionally, its versatile mode of usage in either tent-mode or tablet mode is good to see. Finally, the keyboard and touchpad deliver a nice typing and navigating experience.
Considering these factors, I will rate the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 a nine in this design and dimension review.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Processor (CPU) Performance Review
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 has three 8th Gen processor configurations. The base processor configuration is the dual-core Intel Core m3-8100Y processor.
The Core m3 processor runs at a base frequency of 1.10 GHz and a maximum frequency of 3.40 GHz. Additionally, it has a 4 MB cache memory.
Meanwhile, the mid-range processor configuration is the dual-core Intel Core i5-8200Y processor with a 4 MB cache memory as well. The Core i5 processor runs at a base frequency of 1.30 GHz and a maximum frequency of 3.90 GHz.
Lastly, the top-end configuration is the dual-core Intel Core i7-8500Y processor; also with a 4 MB cache. The Core i7 processor runs at a base frequency of 1.50 GHz and a maximum frequency of 4.20 GHz.
The model I reviewed was fitted with the Core m3 processor and it coped diligently at all the activities I threw at It. To evaluate the processor performance, I carried out the Geekbench 5 benchmark.
Geekbench 5 Is a cross-platform benchmark suite for evaluating a system’s performance. Based on the Geekbench 5 multi-core test result, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 scored 1,279 points.
The performance is below the 4,504 points category average score. Also, it is below the performance of the Lenovo Ideapad C340 14 which scored 3,076 points.
The Lenovo Ideapad C340 14 runs an AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor.
Finally, the processor performance of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is respectable in performing everyday tasks such as checking emails, surfing the web, streaming videos, etc. However, it falls below the category average score and the competitor I checked it against in the benchmark test.
Hence, I will rate the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 a seven in this processor review section.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Memory (RAM) Performance Review
On the memory front, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 has an onboard 1867 MHz LPDDR3 memory slot. The slot takes a standard memory size of either 4 GB or 8 GB.
The memory is soldered to the motherboard and not upgradable. Therefore, ensure to buy the memory configuration that suits your needs.
The model I tested shipped with a 4 GB memory capacity.
Considering that Chromebooks are not heavy on memory usage, 4 GB memory was sufficient for a fair amount of multitasks. Practically, I streamed three HD resolution Youtube videos in the background and opened eight browser tabs.
Consequently, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 ran smoothly. Then, I decided to push the Chromebook a bit further by increasing the browser tabs to eighteen.
At this point, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 started to show a minor strain, switching between the tabs was a tad slow. However, the Chromebook managed to pull through.
If you’re a heavy multitasker, you can opt for the 8 GB memory configuration instead.
As a basis for benchmarking the memory performance, I carried out the PCMark for Android benchmark. PCMark for Android is a performance measuring benchmark suite for tablets and smartphones.
Consequently, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 scored 13,598 points. The performance of my test model falls below that of the HP Chromebook x360 14 G1 which scored 19,602 points.
In conclusion, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 loads the Chrome OS briskly and applications launch quickly. A fair amount of multitasking is also possible even with the base configuration of 4 MB memory.
However, the memory performance of the Chromebook falls below the competitor in the benchmark test.
Finally, I will rate the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 a seven in this RAM performance review section.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Storage Options & Performance Review
The storage of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is handled by an eMMC storage from 64 GB to 128 GB, depending on the model you purchase. The unit I reviewed shipped with 64 GB storage and this is sufficient because Chromebooks primarily use cloud-based storage.
Cloud-based storage is an efficient and reliable storage option. There is no risk of losing data even when using other devices, you can quickly access your stored data anytime.
Specifically, Chromebook users have access to 100 GB of storage space on Google Drive to store all their files. Alternatively, there is a microSD card for storing photos and videos locally.
In conclusion, I was unable to perform a storage benchmark test because the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 primary storage option is Google drive.
However, based on its storage options, I will rate the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 an eight in this storage performance review section.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Graphics Card Performance Review
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 uses the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615 GPU. The UHD Graphics 615 has a base frequency of 300 MHz.
Moreover, the GPU frequency can clock up to 1050 MHz via Intel Turbo Boost.
The Intel UHD Graphics 615 GPU can handle light graphical activities like playing videos. You can also edit photos and videos using compatible android apps such as Photopea for photos and WeVideo for videos.
In terms of playing games, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is not built for gaming because it lacks a dedicated GPU. The Chromebook can, however, play less intensive android games like PUBG mobile, Asphalt 9, etc.
As a basis of graphics evaluation, I carried out the 3DMark benchmark. A 3DMark benchmark is a tool for evaluating the 3D rendering abilities of graphics cards.
From the test result, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 scored 52,521 points. This performance is below that of the HP Chromebook x360 14 G1 which scored 74,389 points.
However, the HP Chromebook x360 14 G1 runs a more powerful integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU.
In conclusion, the graphics performance of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is in line with light graphical tasks. Although, it sits below the competitor in the benchmark performance chart that’s only fair since the competitor runs a more powerful GPU.
Therefore, I will rate the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 an eight in this graphics performance review section.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Battery Life & Performance Review
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is powered by a 3-cell, 48 WHr Li-ion battery. ASUS has advertised the battery to deliver up to 10 hours of battery life under light usage.
Putting my test model to a battery test, lasted a respectable 9 hours 58 minutes. The battery test involved surfing multiple websites over WiFi with the screen brightness set to 150 nits.
With 10 hours of battery life confirmed from the battery test, you have almost all-day battery power to get you through most of your activities without the need to charge.
Moreover, the battery performance of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 surpasses the category average battery life of 9 hours 2 minutes. However, it falls below that of the HP Chromebook x360 and the Dell Inspiron 7486 Chromebook.
The HP Chromebook x360 and the Dell Inspiron 7486 Chromebook runs on 60.9 Whr and 56 Whr batteries respectively. Consequently, the HP Chromebook x360 lasted a lofty 12 hours 18 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 7486 Chromebook lasted 10 hours 19 minutes in the same test.
In summary, the battery performance of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is notable. It only performed below the competitors in the battery test because they have higher battery capacities.
Hence, I will rate the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 a nine in this battery performance review section.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can You Run Games On The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434?
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is not a gaming computer because it lacks a dedicated graphics card. However, you can play less graphical intensive android games like PUBG mobile.
2. Is The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Good?
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is good enough for performing light computing tasks like surfing the web, writing articles, playing videos and music, checking emails, editing light photos and videos using compatible android apps.
4. What Is A Chromebook Vs Laptop?
The major difference between a Chromebook vs laptop is that Chromebooks run Chrome OS while laptops run either Windows OS or macOS. Also, Chromebooks are less expensive than laptops.
5. How Much Is The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434?
When we published the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 review in September 2021, the base configuration costs $439.49. The higher-end configurations cost more.
7. Is 4 GB Of RAM Enough For Chromebooks?
Chromebooks use Chrome OS that’s not as memory-hungry as Windows or macOS. Hence, 4 GB RAM is suitable for most users. Users with heavy needs for multitasking can opt for an 8 GB RAM model.
6. What Are The Advantages Of A Chromebook Over A Laptop?
Chromebooks run Chrome OS built on Linux kernel, making them less susceptible to malware. Also, Chromebooks make use of online cloud storage which means that your data can be accessed anytime anywhere.
Finally, Chromebooks are cheaper than mainstream laptops.
8. Is The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Touchscreen?
Yes, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is touchscreen and is responsive to touch and swipes.
9. How Is Chrome OS Different From Windows?
The Chrome OS is a lightweight operating system that centers around the Chrome browser and web-based applications. The Chrome OS does not support third-party apps, you can only install apps available on the Web Store.
10. When Was The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 Released?
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 was released in 2019 as an update of the 2017 ASUS Chromebook Flip C302.
My Final Thoughts
For lovers of convertible devices, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 is a tough one to overlook. It has an elegant metallic chassis and a vivid display.
The keyboard delivers a smooth typing experience. Moreover, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 has a long-lasting battery performance.
However, we recommend the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 for performing only light computing tasks.
Finally, considering that the price is a bit high, buy the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 if it is within your budget and you need is a light performer.
I hope you found this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 review helpful. If you found the review helpful, share your thoughts with our community platform at Itechguides Community.
You may also ask questions or make comments regarding this review at Itechguides Community. Our team and other community members will respond to your questions or comments as soon as possible.
Finally, for more Chromebook reviews, visit our Chromebook Reviews page. You may also find our Laptop Specs page very helpful.
References and Further Reading
