Samsung has officially announced the Chromebook Pro and Chromebook Plus at CES, making these their latest Chromebook offerings after numerous leaks over the past couple of months which have all but left anything to the imagination, as those previous leaks mostly gave up every single detail. This of course, serves as Samsung’s official confirmation on the existence of these devices. While these are not Samsung’s first Chromebooks by any means, they are Samsung’s first Chromebooks which they have partnered with Google to design, and they’re Samsung’s first Chromebooks with a metal body which give both the Chromebook Pro and the Chromebook Plus a more premium look.
Both Chromebooks feature out of the box Google Play integration (in beta) so using Android apps is easy, especially when you consider that both models also come with a 360-degree rotating display so you can use it either like a traditional laptop, or as a tablet-like 2-in-1 device when you simply want to interact with the touchscreen display. Each display is also Quad HD resolution and while the Chromebook Pro was already suspected as having an integrated stylus that comes in the package (which Samsung simply calls a pen), the Chromebook Plus comes with the same stylus so both models will have that extra layer of productivity for those who will be needing this to take notes or draw.
By all accounts, the Samsung Chromebook Pro and the Chromebook Plus seem to be fairly similar and they are, right down to the looks and most features, but where they differentiate from each other is on the inside with the processor. The Chromebook Plus is the more entry-level of the two, and features things like internal graphics and an OP1 hexa-core processor that was designed especially for Chromebooks. On the same token, the Chromebook Pro is powered by an Intel Core M3 6Y30 processor with Intel HD graphics. Both have the same amount of RAM with 4GB of LPDDR3 RAM, and they each have 32GB of internal storage space. They both support Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 ac for connectivity, and use USB Type-C for charging, which shouldn’t be much of a surprise as these aren’t the first Chromebooks to do so and Samsung has already implemented USB Type-C on devices like the Galaxy Note 7. The screen sizes are 12.3-inches and each Chromebook will come with a 3.5mm audio jack, as well as 2 USB Type-C ports and a media card reader. The Chromebook Plus and Pro will also have stereo speakers and an HD webcam. Both Chromebooks feature battery life of up to 8 hours so for the most part the battery life is about standard compared to most other Chromebooks, although just a bit less likely due to the use of the quad HD display, and the battery life will likely vary based on your own personal use. Samsung states that the Chromebook Plus will cost $449 and will be available for purchase next month in February through retailers like Best Buy. The Chromebook Pro won’t be available until later this Spring, and has Samsung has yet to mention a price for this particular model.