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When the Lenovo Chromebook Duet was introduced, it was finally the perfect match between having a Chrome OS tablet and a Chromebook. Since then, we haven’t seen any true competitors to the device, and haven’t even heard of a potential successor from the Lenovo camp. ASUS makes some of the best Chromebooks in the business, so it makes sense for the company to take on the challenge. Enter the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 and Chromebook Flip CM3.
ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3
Starting off with the ASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3, it’s not exactly a desirable naming convention, but this two-in-one device is sure to make up for it. The D-CM3 features a 10.5-inch FHD display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, while being powered by the MediaTek MTK8183 chipset, 4GB of RAM, and either 64GB or 128GB of storage.
As you would expect, the detachable keyboard is included in the box, and attaches to the bottom of the D-CM3 with a set of pogo pins at the top of the keyboard and on the bottom of the CM3 itself. When attached, the entire ensemble looks a lot like a Microsoft Surface Go 2, especially when you include the built-in kickstand on the back of the Chromebook itself.
Battery life is the real key here, as ASUS claims the 27W battery should last for up to 12 hours. ASUS also packed in dual stereo speakers, along with a serviceable 2MP front camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3
Moving onto the Chromebook Flip CM3, you won’t be able to remove the keyboard from the display like the Detachable version. Instead, you’ll have a more traditional Chromebook Flip, with the extremely useful hinge allowing you to orientate the display in any position, even folding backward and laying against the bottom of the keyboard case.
The display is slightly larger than its Detachable brethren, coming in at 12-inches and sporting a 1366 x 912 resolution. It supports the ASUS Pen stylus while featuring a 3:2 aspect ratio which is becoming the new norm for laptops and Chromebooks alike.
Under the hood, there’s another MediaTek processor at the helm, with the MediaTek MT8183C providing the power you need. This is combined with 4GB of RAM, Mali-G72 graphics, and either 32GB or 64GB of storage. But with the Chromebook Flip CM3, this can be expanded up to 1TB thanks to the built-in microSD card slot.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Flip CM3, other than the rotating hinge, is the battery life. ASUS rates the Chromebook Flip CM3 with up to 16 hours of use with the 32 Wh battery.
Pricing and availability
Although we don’t have a specific release date for the Chromebook Detachable CM3 or the Chromebook Flip CM3, the listings are already live on Amazon. The Chromebook Detachable CM3 will be available for $349.99, while the Chromebook Flip CM3 comes in at $329.99. ASUS and Google are also included 12 months of Google One with 100GB of cloud storage for free.
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