Asus Chromebook CM14 review: An extremely cheap laptop

The good news is that the keyboard and trackpad are great here. The Chromebook CM14 offers a comfortable typing experience, and the trackpad is spacious, although the material Asus used stretches a little more than I expected. They’re backed by a solid base for the laptop without any flexing during normal use.

You get the full 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution on the 14-inch screen, although Asus has set the display scaling out of the box so it looks like a 1,536 x 864-pixel screen. You can adjust the scaling back to the native resolution and it looks suitably crisp. However, I can’t say the same about the TN display’s washed-out colours, dim maximum brightness and poor viewing angles.

If there is one superpower that the MediaTek platform brings to the CM14, it is its efficiency. I was impressed with the battery life I got from this laptop, which lasted around 10 to 11 hours of mixed usage in a typical workday. Asus claims you can get up to 15 hours of battery life, so depending on how you use it, you may be able to get more than that.

The webcam is nothing special, it gives you a 720p shooter that looks fine on video calls. You get a physical switch to block it for added privacy, which is a nice touch. The ports are also relatively good for the price. There are two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, a 3.5-mm headphone jack, and a microSD card slot. The microSD slot comes in handy if you want extra storage, as the 64GB of built-in storage will definitely be limiting.

Hunting for sale

So should you buy the Asus Chromebook CM14? Maybe. There are always some compromises when you get into the budget range, and they are evident in the poor display and performance struggles. However, pluses like great battery life, sturdy build, and a good keyboard make the CM14 a Chromebook you can consider if you can make do with the most basic features.

What makes this decision difficult is that I’ve seen aggressive pricing on the more capable Chromebook Plus laptops, which start at $399 but are often on sale for much less. At the full $299 price of the Chromebook CM14, it’s worth considering if you can afford a more powerful option, such as acer chromebook plus 514Spend a little extra when it’s on sale. However, I’ve seen the CM14 drop in price to $180 when it’s on sale, and it’s an absolutely great buy at that price.