The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook was always an excellent device, but it’s $999 price tag was enough to scare away many people. Paying that much for a Chromebook didn’t feel right to a lot of potential computer buyers.
Samsung took to Samsung.com to rectify the situation with the announcement of the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 and its surprising $549 starting price.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Specs
Samsung is offering the Galaxy Chromebook 2 in a couple of different configurations, with the cheapest one featuring an Intel Celeron 5205U processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage space.
Obviously, Samsung had to cut some specs to reach such a low price, and these are right about where we’d expect the Chromebook to be for the price.
However, if you’re willing to spend $699, you’ll end up getting the Galaxy Chromebook 2 with an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage. For $699, the specs are decent, but they’re not exactly enough to blow you away. Those are closer to the specs offered in the previous model but at a much lower price.
Outside of the core specifications, the laptop is quite impressive. It features a 13.3-inch QLED display with a 1920X1080 resolution (last year’s model featured a 4K OLED display). It supports an active stylus with the USI Pen, but Samsung doesn’t include one in the box.
Samsung introduces the 2-in-1 #Galaxy Chromebook 2
✅ QLED display
✅ Reliable hardware
✅ Seamless integration w/Galaxy and #Google ecosystems
✅ and, a more affordable priceLearn more: https://t.co/Vc0cemeap9 pic.twitter.com/Iarqx42DXp
— Samsung US Newsroom (@SamsungNewsUS) January 7, 2021
The 2-in-1 laptop tips the scales at a shockingly-light 2.71 pounds. If portability is a significant concern for you, this Chromebook from Samsung is a great option. It’s 12 inches wide, eight inches tall, and an incredibly thin 0.54 inches deep.
Other notable features include a microSD slot, two USB-C ports, a 720p webcam, Wi-Fi 6 support, a backlit keyboard, and a decent 45.5Wh battery.
While it’s probably obvious, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 comes with Chrome OS installed out-of-the-box. It also supports a variety of Google Play apps, which significantly expands the functionality of the device. As it’s a Samsung device, it also comes with support for the Galaxy ecosystem.
When Will the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 Be Available?
The new Chromebook from Samsung is set to launch in the first quarter of 2021, though Samsung didn’t divulge a specific date. Hopefully, it comes out soon because it’s a rather nice-looking laptop that we’d love to try out.
If you’re into vibrant laptops, Samsung offers the Galaxy Chromebook 2 in a bright Fiesta Red color. Vibrant is an understatement, as this color is extremely bright. The company is also offering the Chromebook is a more subdued Mercury Gray, which will work better for people who prefer to keep things subtle.