This group of inexpensive devices includes the one we reviewed. From reputable stores, the Asus CM14 (CM1402C) has often been sold for as little as $200. The CM14 is one of the cheapest laptops because of this, so its performance should be judged accordingly. The Chromebook has either four or eight gigabytes of RAM. We tested the model with four gigabytes of RAM.
You can only get it in the colour anthracite. Asus says that the CM14 is built to meet specific MIL-STD 810H requirements, which shows how well it is made. Asus chose to make the CM14’s case out of plastic. The matte body shows off small shiny bits, making it look nice and making it easy to hold because the surface is slightly rough. The lid, on the other hand, is completely smooth, which makes a visual contrast.
When the lid is closed, a slightly raised edge and separate rubberized sections protect the screen from damage. When the Chromebook is opened on a table, the screen slides under the body and raises it a little. Small rubber feet keep it from getting damaged. The build quality is fine, but both the lid and the body are prone to dents that can be seen. Scratches can also happen on the lid. The CM14’s ability to open the screen all the way to 180 degrees is an interesting feature. By default, Asus builds a webcam shutter right in.
Specifications
- Model Name Chromebook CM14
- Screen Size 14 Inches
- Color Gravity Grey
- CPU Model MediaTek Helio
- Ram Memory Installed Size 4 GB
- Operating System Chrome OS
- Graphics Card Description Integrated
- Graphics Coprocessor ASUS
- CPU Speed 2.05 GHz
Where to Get ASUS Chromebook CM14?
Even though the Asus Chromebook CM14 has Wi-Fi 6, the transfer rates we saw were still pretty slow. With the hardware we have now, the top upload and download speeds of 444 MBit/s and 248 MBit/s are not unusual. In normal use, the network connection worked fine, and even bigger files could be downloaded quickly and easily. This is likely because WiFi transfer speeds are still about the same as fast DSL. The antenna placement in the device and the closeness of the WLAN card to the heatspreader, along with our test setup, could be to blame for the large changes. The Asus CM14 has a 720p webcam with a mechanical shutter that is easy to use. Even though Asus is doing the right thing by adding this privacy feature, the picture quality isn’t great. It works for videoconferencing once in a while, but the pictures and videos might not be very interesting.
Automatic face exposure is something that Asus promotes as a way to make video calls more comfortable. During our test, however, we did not notice any noticeable improvements in this area. The Chromebook CM14 from Asus has an ARM Mali-G52 MP2 graphics unit built in. Although this GPU is more than enough for everyday tasks, you can also play new games on the Chromebook with the help of services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or the Google Play Store. Some games, like PUBG Mobile, can only be played in HD resolution with a high frame rate because of how the settings are set up. It’s playable, but there may be stutters now and then.