Head-to-head · Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook CX15 vs ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.4 vs 4.6). The gap is mostly about students, knowledge workers, and home users who want a fast Chromebook without breaking $500 — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #3 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook CX15

4.4

$199

The CX15 is the budget pick. $199 for a 15.6" 1080p Chromebook makes sense for first-time buyers, students, and grandparents who do email and browsing. Outgrown faster than every other pick if your tab count exceeds 10.

Strengths

— 15.6" 1080p display — largest screen in this lineup
— Cheapest pick at $199 — best budget Chromebook for first-time buyers
— 10-hour battery

Watch-outs

— Intel Celeron N4500 is slow — fine for browsing, struggles with 10+ tabs
— 4GB RAM (not Plus tier) — multitasking hits a wall
— Plastic build feels lighter-duty than every other pick

$199 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Chromebooks Under $500

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

4.6

$449

The CX34 is the best-overall Chromebook under $500. Chromebook Plus tier means Google's higher hardware floor — i5 CPU, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD — which puts it ahead of bargain bin Celeron Chromebooks. Best for everyday productivity, browser-based work, and student use.

Strengths

— Intel Core i5 (12th gen) — most CPU horsepower at this price
— 14" 1080p IPS display with anti-glare coating
— Chromebook Plus tier — Google's premium spec floor (8GB RAM, 128GB SSD minimum)

Watch-outs

— Plastic chassis trails MacBook-grade ultrabooks on feel
— No backlit keyboard at the base SKU
— Speakers are functional, not impressive

$449 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

ASUS Chromebook CX15

Cheapest pick. Largest screen. Slowest CPU (Celeron vs i3/i5). Not Chromebook Plus tier.

ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34

Most powerful CPU in this lineup. Better battery than the ASUS Chromebook CX15. Higher RAM/SSD floor than the Acer Chromebook Spin 315.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	ASUS Chromebook CX15	ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500	Intel Core i5 12th gen
RAM	4GB	8GB
Storage	64GB eMMC	128GB
Display	15.6" 1080p	14" 1080p IPS
Battery	10 hours	—
Tier	—	Chromebook Plus

← See the full ranking of best chromebooks under $500