If you are looking for a sleek-looking machine that performs well in your daily tasks, the Asus Chromebook C433 is the one you have to look at.
It’s the successor to the Chromebook C302, where the C433 improves upon a couple of things, like an improved display, a better processor, and a bigger battery.
But like everything, it falls short in a few departments, and I will discuss it more in detail as we go on with our review.
Specs at Glance
CPU: Intel Core m3-8100Y | GPU: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 8GB LPDDR3 | Display: 14” 1920×1080 touch supported | Storage: 64GB eMMC | Battery: 48Wh | OS: Chrome OS
Chassis & Build Quality
Weighing the same as the last year at 1.50 kg (3.31 lbs), the Asus Chromebook C433 is not as light as the Asus Chromebook CX1, which weighs around 1.2kg(2.65 lbs).
Still, it isn’t extremely heavy like Windows laptops available in the same price range as the Acer Aspire 5, weighing around 1.8kg (3.9 lbs). Though it will be a bit heavy for my taste, I don’t really mind carrying it around, and I think its completely usable.
The chassis size is the same as the previous model. It measures 32.10 x 20.70 x 1.65 ~ 1.65 cm (12.64″ x 8.15″ x 0.65″ ~ 0.65″,. So nothing changed there.
Though if you want something even smaller, you can get an 11-inch Chromebook like the Chromebook CX1.
As for the chassis itself, when you first look at this laptop, you may get the impression that it is entirely made of a sleek all-aluminum body.
However, that’s not the case here.
Apart from the clean-looking aluminum lid that blends in perfectly with the rest of the chassis, the bottom chassis of the laptop is made of cheap-feeling plastic with noticeable flex. I don’t really mind it considering it’s a budget laptop, moreover, the aluminum lid does give off a premium look at such an affordable price, so that’s nice.
Also, opening up this laptop is a bit of a workout, as it fails the one-finger lift test, which is a bit of a shame. This is because Asus included a lid-closing magnet that is a bit too strong, though it’s not a deal breaker by any means, just a mild inconvenience.
Overall the chassis quality is acceptable at this price point, even though the competition has offered better build quality.
I/O Ports & Wireless Connectivity
The I/O is what you would come to expect from a budget Chromebook. The Asus Chromebook C433 packs dual USB C 3.2 ports that support display out and power delivery, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, an audio combo jack, and a microSD slot.
This is pretty standard when it comes to I/O on Chromebooks, so I am not really surprised by this. Would have loved a HDMI port, but I guess you gotta adapt to that dongle life.
On the wireless side, being a 2019 release, it lacks the latest WiFi and Bluetooth versions, including WiFi 5 AC and Bluetooth 4.2.
Though it doesn’t have the latest WiFI and Bluetooth standard, it’s more than enough for my basic use.
Keyboard & Touchpad
Keyboard
The keyboard is where the Asus Chromebook C433 excels. The keys are clicky and give off very nice feedback, thanks to their short travel.
Though the keys require more force to actuate compared to the previous Asus C302, it’s still fun to use. I prefer these low-travel keys for typing specifically, especially when I am working on long essays and assignments because you can comfortably type on for hours without fatiguing your fingers.
What bothers me is that this keyboard’s backlit is dim, making it quite difficult to read the legend even at the highest brightness setting. So this wouldn’t be a problem when I am working in a completely dim room at night but could be a bit annoying in other situations.
Also, if you are coming from a Windows laptop to the Asus Chromebook C433, you would have to say goodbye to the CAPS lock.
Chromebooks have a search button instead. You would need to get used to using the shift key as you type in Caps. Which as a regular Windows user, I found quite annoying.
Touchpad
The touchpad is big, 10.4 cm x 6 cm (4.1” x 2.4” inches). This allows you to move freely on its surface, accurately tracking all movements and chrome gestures.
The touchpad’s surface is made of smooth-feeling plastic, which makes gliding your finger on it easy.
The buttons on the lower side also actuate fairly easily.
However, when you start using it on your lap, you will feel like you are bending the chassis as you click on the Touchpad.
This makes the entire experience of using the Asus Chromebook C433 a bit worse for someone like me who pushes a bit extra force on the touchpad.
Display
The display on the Asus Chromebook C433 is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it significantly improves upon its predecessor, C302 by shrinking the bezels significantly and reaching a screen-to-body ratio of 85%. The lower screen-to-body ratio allows the C433 to blend better with other modern-day devices, which helps me personally because I can’t tolerate thick bezels anymore.
Also, the 1080p touchscreen display is one of the best for great color reproduction at this price point. Covering 93% of the sRGB color gamut, compared to the C302’s 76% coverage, the Asus Chromebook C433 produces vivid, saturated colors that give life to whatever you are looking at. I would honestly not mind watching a couple of Youtube videos or TV shows on this display.
Unlike other cheap budget laptops with washed-out low-resolution screens due to their poor coverage of sRGB color gamut ranging from mid 48% to 53%. So the Asus Flip C433 has the upper hand in this case.
Do note that this display falls short in brightness; like other Chromebooks at this price point, this Chromebook carries the disease of having a dim display. This is where Asus didn’t bother improving upon the previous C302. The Asus Chromebook C433 has pretty much the same max brightness as the previous model. The C433 maxes out at 280 units while the C302 maxes at around 290 units.
A laptop with brightness maxing around 315 to 330 nits is recommended for use outdoors. Which is why I can’t see myself using the Chromebook C433 outside.
Though if you are someone who works in a room well-lit by natural light, you would still be able to use it. Just remember to keep your brightness to the max.
If you mostly work outdoors with your laptop, then I cannot recommend the Asus Chromebook C433 to you.
As for the touchscreen, it works fine. But don’t expect to use a stylus on it, as the tracking experience is awful. But at this price point, it’s hard for me to complain.
Also, using the Asus Chromebook C433 in tablet mode is unpleasant, considering the device’s weight. If you plan to use this laptop mostly in tablet mode, I suggest getting a good Android tablet like the Galaxy Tab S6 for this price. As it would quite lightweight and easy to carry.
Speakers & Webcam
The stereo speakers are on the Asus Chromebook C433 alongside the ports and volume button.
They sound pretty much what you would expect from a budget laptop. They produce clear mids with no bass and treble.
So they are fine as long as you plan to use them to listen to a podcast or watch a youtube video. Anything more than that, and I recommend you use headphones.
The webcam is also quite usable for occasional Zoom calls. It produces a soft, washed-out image that can look grainy in a dimly lit room. But for the most part, they are not bad.
Performance
The performance of the Asus Chromebook C433 is one of the best in the budget Chromebook lineup. You can easily work on a Word document with 20 Chrome tabs opened in the background while listening to music on Spotify simultaneously.
The Asus Chromebook C433 would do it all without breaking a sweat. This is all thanks to the Intel Core m3-8100Y CPU and its abundant 8GB RAM.
Comparing it to the previous model, the performance is more or less the same, with a few minor tweaks.
If you are an Android user, you will feel at home using the Asus Chromebook C433 due to Chrome OS, Considering that it’s heavily integrated with Google services and can run Android apps easily.
Though I would like to mention that not every Android app scales well on Chrome OS. So if you plan to use many apps on the Asus Chromebook C433, that’s something to keep in mind.
Also, you won’t get the same flexibility on Chrome OS as on a Windows 10 laptop. This is because Chrome OS is quite limited and the most you can do is use web apps and Android apps on it.
You can’t install popular productivity apps like Adobe After Affects or run games by downloading Stream. So if your workflow consists of that, I suggest getting a budget Windows laptop.
However, you can stream games from a local machine or cloud via services like Google Stadia (Update: Stadia is dead now:/) or Geforce Now. But the limited ability of Chrome OS also helps it be lightweight and provide great performance on low-powered hardware.
It is a great choice for someone looking for a laptop that performs well at basic tasks while not breaking the bank.
Battery
The 48Wh battery provides great battery backup and does what you would expect. The Asus Chromebook C433 lasts around 9-10 hours comfortably on a single charge.
This is a significant improvement from its predecessor i.e. C302, which lasted around 8 hours max. You can easily take this machine with you outside without worrying about carrying a charger. And since it charges via USB C, I could just charge with my phone’s charger and I don’t need to carry an additional charger, which quite convinient.
Expandability and Upgradability
Chromebooks aren’t usually known for upgradability, and the Asus Chromebook C433 is no exception.
Its 8GB RAM is soldered to the board along with its SSD.
So you can upgrade the storage with a microSD card, but you can not upgrade the RAM down the line.
Conclusion – Should you buy the Asus Chromebook C433?
For the most part, the Asus Chromebook C433 is an excellent machine that can take on all your basic office and school work with relative ease. Even though I mostly prefer flagship laptops, I can still see myself using the Chromebook C433 for basic use.
This, combined with an excellent battery and sleek design, makes the Asus Chromebook C433 a great buy.
However, the sleek-looking chassis of the Asus Chromebook C433 is also quite flimsy.
So if you are a clumsy person who tends to drop things, then I will advise you to get something like the Lenovo Ideapad 3 14” that is made of solid plastic chassis.
Another issue that might bother you is the dim display and keyboard backlit of the Asus Chromebook C433, which can negatively affect your experience with the C433 in a well-lit room.
