Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 is our pick for this year’s Best of CES 2021 award without question.
It should probably not surprise anybody that Samsung has taken home our award for the best Chromebook of CES 2021 with its Galaxy Chromebook 2. Not only did this device’s predecessor already received accolades from Android Headlines in 2020. This is actually the second time running that a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is taking home this particular prize.
With that said, this device isn’t quite the same power-first laptop as the one it’s replacing. Samsung has balanced out its focus this time instead, giving more attention to battery life and value. All while holding to the same design standards and other features that made the original great.
Take your pick. There’s a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 for everybody
Now, Samsung changed quite a few things with the second-generation Galaxy Chromebook. Not least of all, this 13.3-inch laptop comes with an FHD display instead of a 4K panel. But that’s also a QLED panel. So it should be as sharp and crisp as one would expect from a Galaxy-branded Chromebook. And, of course, contrast and brightness will be better than ever, in addition to battery life.
Another aspect that should help battery life with this Chromebook — compared to its predecessor — while simultaneously improving value and desirability, is the underlying hardware. Samsung opted not to continue offering this Chromebook with the 10th-Gen Intel Core i5 found in the original. Instead, it offers two variants this time around. One of those packs an Intel Celeron 5205U and the other an Intel Core i3-10110U.
Both of those are 10th-gen chips. So they’ll offer all the power users need. Especially coupled with Intel UHD graphics and either 4GB or 8GB RAM. Samsung backed that up with 64GB or 128GB of expandable storage too. And, although it also took away the previously-included S Pen, the screen is still USI pen-ready and all of the latest connectivity features are included.
Conversely, the company also bolstered its speakers to two 5W components coupled with a Smart Amp. And all of the other ports, backlighting, and styling choices have stuck around.
This will easily be one of the best Chromebooks you can buy in 2021
Now, all of that should equate to a similarly premium experience as last year’s device. But Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2, as launched at CES, should also be a big improvement in terms of battery life. Specifically, as a result of the changes listed above. And the pricing is going to be much more reasonable because of those too.
The 4GB/64GB Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 powered by an Intel Celeron processor will, for example, cost just $549.99. And the Intel Core i3 variant with double the RAM and storage will start out at just $699.99.
Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 not only wins our Best of CES 2021 award hands down. It’s also a true contender to dominate the entire year on the Chromebook front.