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Chrome Unboxed’s November 2021 picks were the Lenovo Chromebook Duet for $0–$349, the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5500 for $350–$649, and the ASUS Chromebook CX9 for $650 and up. Those were the publication’s recommendations at the time—not a current ranking or guide to today’s prices. If you’re considering one now, compare its form factor and features with your needs, then check the exact device’s ChromeOS update schedule before buying.
What the 2021 list recommends
Robby Payne’s Chrome Unboxed list, published November 12, 2021, grouped its picks by price tier. Its praise and criticisms reflect the author’s editorial judgments, not a standardized comparison of benchmark, battery-life, or durability results.
| 2021 price tier | Pick | What the article emphasized |
|---|---|---|
| $0–$349 | Lenovo Chromebook Duet | Pleasing screen and value; not the choice for buyers who prioritize speed. |
| $350–$649 | ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5500 | Build, keyboard, speakers, and screen; 250-nit brightness was its main drawback. The article cited a $569 MSRP in 2021. |
| $650 and up | ASUS Chromebook CX9 | Screen, chassis, keyboard, trackpad, fingerprint reader, and configurations up to Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB NVMe storage. |
The cited $569 MSRP is historical, not a current price. The article does not establish present-day prices or availability for these models.
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Which pick fits your needs?
Lenovo Chromebook Duet: value and a detachable design
Chrome Unboxed selected the Duet in the lowest tier, praising its screen and value while warning that buyers seeking speed should look elsewhere. The article called it a suitable choice for most people for the money in its 2021 context. That is an attributed recommendation, not a claim that it will suit every workload or remain good value at any price today.
#1 Best Overall
- Intel Celeron N4120: 4 Cores & Threads, 1.1GHz Base Clock, Up to 2.6GHz Boost Clock, 4MB Cache, Intel UHD Graphics 600. The perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and value helps your device handle multitasking smoothly and reliably with four processing cores to divide up the work.
Its honorable mentions in this tier were the Acer Chromebook 317, Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Go, and HP Chromebook 11a. The Acer offered a 17.3-inch 1080p IPS display and Intel Jasper Lake processor, but its size could be inconvenient for frequent travel. The Galaxy Chromebook Go was described with a TN 1366×768 screen, 4GB RAM, 32GB storage, and a Jasper Lake processor; Payne noted that Chrome Unboxed had not yet had it in the office. The HP 11a was described as small and light, with a weaker display and a MediaTek MT8183 processor, and positioned for light tasks and Android apps.
ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5500: a mid-range convertible
The CX5500 was the mid-range winner. Payne praised its build, keyboard, speakers, and screen, while identifying 250-nit brightness as its chief weakness. He also said he bought one for his wife; that is personal context, not independent evidence of comparative performance.
Rank #2
- Storage: 16GB Flash Memory
- OS: Chrome OS
- Screen Size: 11.6"
The other mid-range mentions highlight different priorities. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is a detachable with a 13.3-inch OLED screen; the article praised its speakers and said its second-generation Snapdragon 7c performance was better than expected. The Lenovo Flex 5i is a convertible with 11th-generation Intel Tiger Lake options, with features and value emphasized. The HP Chromebook x2 11 has a bright 3:2 display and an included USI pen that charges wirelessly, while performance was identified as a weakness.
ASUS Chromebook CX9: premium features and configurations
For the $650-and-up category, Payne highlighted the CX9’s IPS screen, chassis, keyboard, trackpad, fingerprint reader, and hinge. Configurations reached Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB NVMe storage. He called it “the Chromebook to beat in 2021”—a verdict about that year’s field, not a present-day comparison.
Rank #3
- Intel Processor Up to 2.80GHz, 4GB DDR4, 128GB Storage
- 15" FHD IPS Display, Intel UHD Graphics
- 1x USB Type C, 1 x USB Type A, 1x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, HDMI
- Fast WiFi and Bluetooth, Integrated Webcam
- Chrome OS, AC Charger Included, Pastel Silver
The high-end honorable mentions were the HP Chromebook 13.5-inch x360 (formerly Elite c1030), Acer Chromebook Spin 713, and ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5400. The article pointed to the HP’s 3:2 13.5-inch display, aluminum build, and fingerprint reader; the Acer’s 3:2 QHD screen and fast internals; and the ASUS’s aluminum chassis, FHD screen, fanless design, stowed USI pen, and available 11th-generation Core processors.
The article also named the HP Chromebase 22 as a sidebar favorite, but explicitly noted that it is not a Chromebook, so it is not included among the laptop picks here.
Rank #4
- THE BETTER WAY TO LAPTOP – Imagine a Chromebook that’s as flexible as your day: thin and lightweight with built-in Google apps and stress-free security.
- TAKE HITS KEEP MOVING – Sleek, light, and built to last- the Chromebook 2-in-1 is just 0.69” thick and 3.3lbs. Enjoy long-lasting battery life, fast charging, and military-grade durability for nonstop productivity wherever life takes you.
- PERFORMANCE THAT MATCHES YOUR HUSTLE – Fuel your ideas with an Intel Core processor and 128GB storage. Boot up in under 10 seconds to start the day powerfully efficient.
- FLEX YOUR CREATIVITY ANYWHERE, ANYTIME – Create, work, or unwind your way with a versatile 2-in-1 design. Flip easily between laptop, tent, and tablet modes with a responsive touchscreen built for flexibility.
- BRILLIANT VIEWS AND IMMERSIVE AUDIO – See, hear, and create with awesome clarity. The WUXGA display brings rich detail to your work and play, while audio tuned by Waves MaxxAudio provides immersive, balanced sound.
Check ChromeOS support before buying one now
The 2021 rankings cannot tell you how much support a particular used or refurbished unit has left. Google’s September 2023 announcement says Chromebooks released from 2021 onward would receive 10 years of automatic updates starting in 2024. For earlier devices already in use, Google described an option to extend updates to 10 years from the platform’s release. The applicable schedule is device-specific; don’t infer a unit’s remaining support from its model family alone. Google’s announcement explains the policy.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchThere is an important trade-off for eligible pre-2021 Chromebooks: opting into extended updates removes Android apps and the Google Play Store, and the choice cannot be reversed after opting in. Google’s extended updates guidance describes the change.
Best Value
- FOR HOME, WORK, & SCHOOL – With an Intel processor, 14-inch display, custom-tuned stereo speakers, and long battery life, this Chromebook laptop lets you knock out any assignment or binge-watch your favorite shows..Voltage:5.0 volts
- HD DISPLAY, PORTABLE DESIGN – See every bit of detail on this micro-edge, anti-glare, 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display (1); easily take this thin and lightweight laptop PC from room to room, on trips, or in a backpack.
- ALL-DAY PERFORMANCE – Reliably tackle all your assignments at once with the quad-core, Intel Celeron N4120—the perfect processor for performance, power consumption, and value (2).
- 4K READY – Smoothly stream 4K content and play your favorite next-gen games with Intel UHD Graphics 600 (3) (4).
- MEMORY AND STORAGE – Enjoy a boost to your system’s performance with 4 GB of RAM while saving more of your favorite memories with 64 GB of reliable flash-based eMMC storage (5).
- Open Settings on the Chromebook.
- Select About ChromeOS, then Additional details.
- Read the Update schedule section for that device’s last update date. Google provides these steps in its update-schedule help page.
For a used or refurbished Chromebook, check this schedule for the exact unit before paying. If Android apps matter to you, also confirm whether extended updates have been enabled or are being considered.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to use this retrospective
Choose among these 2021 recommendations by matching the original strengths to your priorities: detachable portability and value for the Duet, a praised keyboard and speakers for the CX5500, or premium hardware features and higher-end configurations for the CX9. Treat that as historical guidance only. The source does not provide standardized performance, battery, or durability measurements, and it does not establish current pricing or availability. The original video listing was published on November 12, 2021.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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