ASUS Chromebook CX34 14" Rock Grey 2025 Review

The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is a mid-range ChromeOS laptop focused on portability and Google AI. It has a decent Intel i5 CPU but is hampered by very small 128GB storage and only 8GB of RAM. It's best for users who rely entirely on cloud services and want the built-in Gemini tools.

Looking for a Chromebook that's a bit more powerful than the basic models? The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 is one of the new wave of 'Chromebook Plus' laptops, designed to be a step up from the entry-level options. It's a 14-inch laptop running ChromeOS, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The price is around $379, which puts it squarely in the mid-range for Chromebooks. People searching for a 'good Chromebook for work' or a 'Chromebook with an i5' will find this on the list. It's built to be portable and durable, with a touchscreen and a hinge that lets it lay flat, which is handy for sharing your screen.

Let's talk about what those specs actually mean. The Intel Core i5 1335U processor is a solid middle-of-the-pack chip for a Chromebook. In our database, its performance score sits in the 33rd percentile, meaning it's faster than the basic Celeron or Pentium Chromebooks, but it's not going to blow you away compared to some higher-end options. The 8GB of RAM is a bit of a weak spot, ranking in the 21st percentile. For most ChromeOS tasks like browsing, docs, and streaming, it's fine, but if you're a tab hoarder or like to run a lot of Android apps side-by-side, you might feel the pinch. The 128GB storage is a real letdown, ranking dead last in the 8th percentile. That's barely enough for the OS and a handful of files. You'll be relying heavily on cloud storage, which is fine for ChromeOS, but still a limitation.

At $379, the CX34 sits in an interesting spot. It's not the cheapest Chromebook, but it's offering a better processor and the 'Chromebook Plus' AI features as its main value props. The problem is that the storage and RAM feel like they belong on a $250 machine, not a $380 one. If you're sold on the ChromeOS ecosystem and want the AI tools, it's a contender. But if raw specs for the price matter more, there are alternatives with more storage and RAM for similar money.

This isn't competing with the MacBook Pro or Legion gaming laptops listed; that's apples and oranges. For Chromebooks, the real competition is against other 'Plus' models and Windows laptops in the same price range. Compared to a basic $200 Chromebook, the CX34's i5 is a clear upgrade. But compared to something like the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus (which often has 256GB storage), the ASUS feels skimpy. And if you're not wedded to ChromeOS, a $400 Windows laptop like the HP Pavilion could give you a full Windows system with more storage and a better screen for similar tasks, minus the Google AI integration.

Skip this if you need local storage for large files, photos, or videos. The 128GB SSD is a major bottleneck. Also, avoid it if you do any graphics work, gaming, or heavy multitasking—the RAM and GPU aren't up for it. Power users and anyone who prefers a traditional desktop OS like Windows or macOS should look at alternatives in the same price range, which often offer more capable hardware for general computing.

Should you buy this? It's a mixed bag. If your top priorities are portability, durability, and diving deep into Google's AI ecosystem with Gemini, the CX34 delivers on those fronts. The free year of Gemini Advanced and YouTube Premium are nice perks. But if you need more than 128GB of local storage, or if you plan to push beyond basic web apps and light Android apps, the limited RAM and storage will become frustrating quickly. This is a Chromebook for a very specific user: someone who lives in the Google cloud, values a tough and light body, and is willing to trade local specs for cloud-based AI features.