You could certainly make the argument that cheap Chromebooks keep the world running. That's at least true in schools. But for all their importance, not as many new affordable Chromebooks come out each year as you might think.
Asus is changing that in 2025 with the Chromebook CX14, a surprisingly pleasant 14-inch laptop that costs just $429 in its higher-end configuration. As far as cheap Chromebooks go, this is among the best.
Blending In
Photograph: Luke Larsen
The CX14 might not look like a stand-out, but in this case, that’s a compliment. The cheap Chromebooks of yesteryear were eyesores, often sporting oversized bezels and a thick-as-a-brick chassis. The CX14 is generic, but by contrast, it’s not ugly, unsightly, or outdated. My review unit came in the most boring color option, “Misty Grey.” Unfortunately, the more interesting colors, which seem to have a textured plastic material on the lid, are not available for purchase anywhere that I can find as of publication.
The CX14 is 0.78 inches thick and just over 3 pounds, making it a fairly middle-of-the-road laptop in terms of portability. It's around the same thickness as a 14-inch MacBook Pro, for reference. It’s certainly light enough to toss in your bag without a second thought, though, making it a decent option for students. You'll need two hands to open it, as the hinge is wound tight.
Unlike most 14-inch laptops, the CX14 has an old-school 16:9 aspect ratio display, with a 1,920 x 1,080-pixel resolution. I prefer the slightly taller 16:10 aspect ratio in modern laptops, providing additional screen space in the same footprint. The IPS screen itself isn’t much of a step up over standard budget laptops, which I’m not too surprised by. It maxes out at 257 nits of brightness, and the colors are squeamish. It has the same green tint as many cheap laptop displays, paired with a matte screen. (It's not a touchscreen.)