ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus: Early Hands-on & Impressions

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Though we won't be making it to CES 2024 this year - for a variety of reasons this time around - that doesn't mean we don't get to bring a bit of CES to you right here from our studios. We expect ASUS to have their new, monster Chromebook Plus - the ExpertBook CX54 - on display out in Vegas this year, and since we won't be there in person, ASUS was kind enough to send one over for a look right now!

That's right! We have what could become the new King of Chromebooks for 2024 in the office and we've put together some early impressions of this wildly-impressive new Chromebook. There's a lot to cover on this one, so let's just get started, shall we?

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[thewanderer]

A few years ago, I decided to go from being a 100% Windows user to a part-time Windows user and a part-time-Chrome user for a range of reasons. Then 6 months ago, I became a 100% Chrome user and haven’t looked back since (almost - see below)! Chromebooks are super fast, can do everything I need them to do, including YouTube video editing, are secure, integrate easily with Google products, are light, and you can buy and change machines easily just for fun because they are relatively cheap.

The one pain-in-the-bum issue that keeps popping up for me is when you use an app that lets you add a photo or video. Nearly always, they let you do this by selecting from Google Drive, but not from Google Photos, two very separate apps since a few years back. A workaround is nearly always necessary, that involves multiple steps to move photos and videos from Photos to Drive, and then refreshing or closing then reopening the app you want to upload to!

Have I missed a trick here, or are we still waiting for Google to resolve this …..?

[saidalisamed]

Please show the device on camera more than the presenter. We're interested in the device being reviewed and not the face of the presenter. You're clearly missing that point.

[mannkeithc]

The build quality and connectivity are great, but I wouldn't buy any Chromebook that didn't have a touch display. The latter is essential for using some Android apps.

[FigWidIt]

I'm happy we're seeing QHD 2560x1600p displays in Chromebooks now. I stream alot of shows/movies on my chromebook so a higher resolution would make it all better.

[jebaker]

Awesome! I'd like to see high-end Chromebooks like the Dragonfly and this available for retail sale in the $900 range. Just a bit lower than they are now.

Thanks for sharing!

[ianoulton]

Now I know this is going to sound strange. But my eyesight condition has the effect that these kind of keyboards are really good for me. The dark letters on the silver background really work for me. I'm sure Asus did not have me in mind when they made the device and they have probably never heard of optic atrophy. But by accident they have made a keyboard contrast that would make my life so much easier. Now if it comes out with a touchscreen, which I'm sure it will, and the trackpad doubles as a number keypad like the CX9, I will definitely buy this.

[orangef]

Perfect timing for me, I own the CX5400FM, it's a great Chromebook, but it got some water damage and would cost more to repair than buy a new one.

[avoltaz]

really wish there was a different color option

[CF]

I can't understand why laptop makers insist on white or light gray keys with a white backlight. ALL keyboard keys should be black or dark gray if they will be backlit.

[mrdanieldavis]

Probably another Chromebook that will be almost impossible for the average person to be able to purchase. I have given up on trying to find the DragonFly Pro I want in stock. Another note ... I know you are very enthusiastic about Best Buy, but for those of us who work overseas and use shipping companies to handle our US purchases for us ... Best Buy refuses to sell to us. So please give other purchase options in addition to Best Buy in the future. Thank you.

[RayRift]

After being a fan of the Asus C302C I just wouldn't want one without touch screen nor flip to tablet capabilities.

[FrankBruce]

Good thing to hear that the voice is back, Asus is building incredible hardware, this book is not the exception.

[rml]

You mentioned that the viewer most likely knows a lot about Chromebooks and this one- which seems to be a fairly common thought amongst people presenting information that everybody who's listening is on page with them- I know next to nothing and it was simply interested in what Chromebooks do and are capable of

[-Jka-]

Looks nice build quality - I couldn't see any rubber feet on the keyboard upfacing area so it doesn't appear to be a full 360 flip screen which is a shame. I'm still enjoying my Asus Flip CX5400 (Gen 11) just wish they'd do that in a Gen 14, Ultra. You mentioned they are going to provide different configurations I'm just hoping for Flip with 16GB memory :)

[DavidSchulmanTheReal]

Thanks for the review. I've been holding out for a decent successor to my Pixelbook Go I-7. This looks like it. Fast, bigger and brighter screen, light weight, thin and tough. Exactly what I was looking for on my search for PBG-2.

[Mantenner]

I so hope this comes to Australia, have been waiting for a pixelbook go replacement for so long now.

[nyceyes]

Backlight that doesn't go through the key characters is useless. That appears to be the case here. That's a hard pass for me.

[melcrose]

DESPERATELY waiting for the new CM3001 .. small, docked pen, portrait / landscape, etc, etc, etc. Buying the minute it's out.

[DRUNKGOOGLER]

Maybe we will have Chromebook pro category in couple of years?

[DavidDuVivier]

NB Not just "old plain vanilla HDMI", but HDMI 2.1. What I miss on these high-end ASUS chromebooks (I got an ASUS CX9 before Robby went sour & started trashing them... a bit unfairly, in my opinion: Mine is a Core i7 / 16GB RAM / 512GB storage machine, and it performs quite well) is a LAN port. LAN is so much more stable, and so much faster in real life, than any WLAN / WiFi setup, and though you can use a LAN to USB-C adapter, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port would really be nice for "power users". PS My ASUS Chromebox 5 does have LAN (obviously) and does a great job with my 2 4K monitors. Only problem is that (as far as I can tell) it doesn't support WUHD (5120 x 2160) ultrawide curved monitors... but that's an issue related more to Intel's Core i7 onboard graphics and Chrome OS - it's not ASUS's fault.