Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 provides a high-resolution display for underneath $500

It’s been over a yr since Samsung launched its shiny pink Galaxy Chromebook 2. Its subsequent shot at this system is now available for purchase, and it’s one thing, properly, a bit completely different.

The new Galaxy Chromebook 2, so far as I can inform, isn’t almost as pink as its predecessor. (It’s fairly black and white.) But it does have a 360-degree hinge, and is extra reasonably priced with a beginning value of $429.99, making it maybe a extra…sensible buy on a number of fronts.

What’s most fascinating right here is the show. Not solely is that this Chromebook 16:10 (an excellent facet ratio — thumbs-up), nevertheless it additionally comes with a 2560 x 1600 display. That’s definitely going to be one of many highest-resolution screens you will get at a $430 value level.

This remains to be a little bit of a small display at simply 12.4 inches — smaller than its predecessor, which was a 13.3-incher. But the facet ratio and backbone imply that it ought to be capable to present greater than different screens of this measurement. The additional vertical area will enable for extra scrolling and multitasking area than you’d get on a typical low-cost Chromebook, whereas the decision allows clearer textual content and footage. Students with visible impairments or studying disabilities, particularly, can profit from bigger and clearer textual content, so a display like that is a technique for faculties to spend money on accessibility.

Specs-wise, the Chromebook 2 360 comes with 4GB of RAM and both 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage in addition to a forty five.5Wh battery. (You ought to positively purchase the additional storage, which is barely $20 extra.) That’s all powered by an Intel Celeron N4500 — “Celeron” could be a really off-putting phrase to learn in an article a few Windows laptop computer, however Chrome OS usually runs significantly better on weaker processors than Windows does.

For ports, you’ve received two USB-C, one USB 3.2 Type-A, one microSD slot, one combo audio jack, one nano safety slot, and an optionally available nano SIM slot. The costlier Galaxy Chromebook 2 doesn’t even have that USB-A, in order that’s a win for the 360 in my guide.

Image: Samsung

This appears fairly clearly to be a “Galaxy Chromebook 2” in identify solely. It doesn’t look very like its predecessor. But it does look a rung or so nicer than the everyday (ugly and outdated) units that occupy faculty laptop computer carts, and nearly definitely will ship a greater viewing expertise (an space the place faculties ought to be investing). Durability, after all, is a crucial a part of any pupil laptop computer, and whereas we will’t decide that from the images, earlier Galaxy Chromebooks have been fairly well-built.

Between the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 and Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop SE, that is shaping as much as be a yr the place PC-makers which are higher recognized for premium units take a stab on the training area. It’s creating some fascinating choices for faculties as laptops turn out to be extra central to the classroom expertise. Perhaps the period of the stereotypically ugly and sluggish faculty laptop computer cart is coming to a detailed — however that can rely on what number of faculties truly decide to purchase these fancy-screened items.