Massively upgraded ASUS CX54 Chromebook Plus is 100% worth the price hike

I’ve made no secret about the fact that I love the ASUS ExpertBook CX54 Chromebook Plus. Since its arrival, it has consistently ranked among the absolute best Chromebooks you can buy, period. With its all-metal build, stunning 14-inch 16:10 QHD display (that hits 500 nits and 120Hz), fantastic keyboard/trackpad combo, ample port selection, and snappy Intel Core Ultra 5, the $699 base model already delivers a decidedly premium experience. It’s a device that easily justifies its price tag, feeling every bit the high-end machine it is.

While the base model offers plenty for many users with its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the lack of a touchscreen has been a pain point for many. Sure, there are many users like myself that feel it’s a non-issue on a clamshell device, but for others, touch input remains a desirable feature on a high-end Chromebook. ASUS did make higher-spec models with touchscreens, more RAM, and more storage, but they’ve been a bit difficult to track down through standard retail channels.

That changes today. A new configuration has quietly surfaced at Best Buy, and it brings some big upgrades along with it. Most notably, this version includes the sought-after touchscreen, double the RAM at 16GB and double the storage with 256GB SSD. And the best part is, all this extra hardware comes at just a $130 premium over the standard model.

That’s right! This new configuration comes in at $829 and frankly, it feels like an excellent value proposition. Getting double the RAM, double the storage, and adding a high-quality touchscreen for that price difference makes this new variant incredibly compelling. While the base $699 model remains a great buy (especially when on sale), the added $130 for these specific upgrades feels well worth it for users planning to push their device harder or who simply value the flexibility of touch interaction. And who knows: maybe it will go on sale down the road as well!