Pros
- 2-in-1 and lightweight design
- Vibrant Touchscreen IPS FHD display
- Backlit full-size keyboard
- All-day battery life
Cons
- eMMC instead of SSD storage
- The digital pen is not included
If you're looking for a versatile, well-built, and budget-friendly laptop for your everyday tasks, ASUS's' Chromebook Flip models are an excellent choice as they perform very well on productivity tasks and streaming videos, aiming primarily at both regular users and students.
That said, in this review of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T, we're going to uncover all the features of a highly regarded 14-inch convertible whose unbeatable price point is just one of its best attributes.
Moreover, the C434TA-DS384T boasts a low-consumption Intel Core processor, an intuitive touchscreen display, a comfy backlit keyboard, a superb battery life, and other features you shouldn't miss. However, it's not without its faults, and today we're going to tackle those as well to help you make the best possible decision.
Table of contents
Tech Specs of ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T
Tech Specs | |
Brand/Model | ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T |
Dimensions | 12.64 x 7.95 x 0.62 inches |
Weight | 3.19 pounds |
Display | IPS | 14'' | 100% of the sRGB spectrum |
Resolution | Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) |
Processor | Dual-Core Intel Core m3-8100Y |
RAM | 8 GB (LPDDR3) |
Integrated GPU | Intel UHD Graphics 615 |
Storage | 64 GB (eMMC) |
Battery Life | 48 Wh | 3-cell | LiPo | Up to 10 hours |
Operating System | Chrome OS |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5 Bluetooth 4.0 1x USB-A 3.2 2x USB-C 3.2 | DisplayPort 1x 3.5 mm combo audio jack 1x Micro SD card reader HD webcam |
Design, Display, and Keyboard
First of all, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T will feel like a premium device in your hands as it boasts a sturdy aluminum silver chassis finished with elegant diamond-cut anodized edges that deliver a unique look.
Moreover, you won't have any issues carrying it with you on your commutes since it weighs just 3.19 pounds with a thickness of just 0.62 inches, while its versatile 360° ErgoLift hinge allows you not only to improve the keyboard's ergonomics but also to use it as a tablet when needed.
The C434TA-DS384T features a sharp and almost bezel-less 14-inch Full HD touchscreen display equipped with IPS technology, so you'll be able to work, study, and watch multimedia from virtually any viewing angle with up to 100% of the sRGB color gamut. This makes it an excellent option for editing pictures and videos.
However, if you prefer an OLED convertible with even higher color accuracy, then you might consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook 82QS0000US – a low-cost 13-inch laptop packed with Octa-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a low-consumption LPDDR4x RAM.
As for the keyboard, it offers a pleasant overall feel and key travel, so you can type on it with no interruptions even in dim environments, as it's backlit, just like other Chromebook Flip models.
Last but not least, the multi-gesture touchpad is comfortable and smooth enough to navigate through Chrome OS with the reliability you need on a daily basis.
The ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T is powered by the Dual-Core Intel Core M3-8100Y processor with four threads and 4 MB of SmartCache memory, reaching a burst frequency of up to 3.40 GHz via Intel's Turbo Boost 2.0 technology.
Unlike other low-cost Chromebook convertibles in the market, this model packs in a stunning 8 GB LPDDR3 RAM.
Most Chromebooks will come with 4GB of RAM. And while 4 GB of RAM on a Chromebook is still a respectable amount of RAM, with 8 GB, you will be able to comfortably multitask and run more RAM-intensive tasks without experiencing any lag in performance.
Graphics-wise, it features Intel UHD Graphics 615 integrated GPU, which is a solid graphics card for things such as streaming video, editing pictures, and the like. However, as you might expect, this is by no means a gaming laptop. We just wanted to get that out of the way.
Finally, although it's slower when compared to your standard PCIe NVMe SSD drives, the built-in 64 GB eMMC flash storage delivers good loading times when opening files and apps.
Additionally, if this seems too limiting, you can always make use of the microSD card slot and introduce a card that can act as a permanent external storage unit, being able to easily store documents, pictures, and multimedia content for easy access while leaving the laptop's internal storage for apps to allow for snappier performance.
Ultimately, with this set of specs on a Chromebook, you can expect to enjoy a fluid Chrome OS experience, being able to run multiple tabs at the same time without any issues, open apps quickly, as well as edit pictures and videos without any problems whatsoever.
Connectivity and Extras
As for connectivity, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T offers a variety of options to cover your daily needs, including a full-sized USB-A 3.2 port and two USB-C 3.2 ports with DisplayPort support for external monitors.
Also, there's the aforementioned microSD card reader, a headphones jack, and an HD webcam for video calls, while wireless connectivity is provided by Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 5 standards.
And in case you didn't know, the previously known Wi-Fi 802.11ac protocol is now called Wi-Fi 5 after Wi-Fi Alliance updated its name back in 2018 in order to make it easier to remember for users.
However, if you are looking for a convertible laptop with wider connectivity options, then you can take a look at the ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EA-AS34T, as it comes with a high-speed Thunderbolt 4 port and a fingerprint reader as well.
An Impressive Battery Life
Moving onto the battery life of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T, as many users have reported, it delivers a solid performance as it can reach 10 and a half hours of mixed usage and even surpass the 11-hour mark when playing local multimedia content.
This is quite impressive, even by Chromebook standards. Most Chromebooks offer anywhere between 6 and 8 hours of battery life. Having a laptop that can deliver up to 10 hours means you don't have to have battery anxiety every time you leave the house with your Chromebook.
Even if you used the Chromebook intensively with the brightness set at 100%, this still means you would get a solid 8 hours! That's pretty great!
Bottom Line: Should you buy it?
All in all, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T is an excellent Chromebook that does everything a laptop should do, and it does it well.
It's got a great design, a powerful processor, plenty of RAM (for a Chromebook), a decent amount of storage, and, most importantly, a long-lasting battery that will allow you to work comfortably for long periods without having to worry about carrying the charger everywhere you go.
So, if you are looking for a reliable and affordable Chromebook that can do everything you need it to do, we highly recommend checking out the ASUS Chromebook Flip C434TA-DS384T.
You won't be disappointed!