This “faux” flagship Chromebook is actually worth buying at this price

When ASUS quietly launched the Chromebook Flip C433 back in 2019, we were immediately taken aback by how mediocre of a device it really was. The 14-inch 2-in-1 failed to hit the mark in many of the areas in which we expect premium devices to shine and for the past three years, I struggled to bring myself to recommend the C433 at its retail price of $499. Even discounted to $300, I can easily find better uses for my(and your) money.

Now that this Chromebook is nearly three years old, I certainly didn’t think I’d find myself writing about it. Let alone actually recommending that someone buy it but, that’s exactly what I came here to do. Recently, a “new” version of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C433 has turned up on Best Buy’s website. While it doesn’t appear to be any different from the original C433, Best Buy has it listed as a “new” product and the model number doesn’t match the one released in 2019. Either way, there’s nothing new or notable about this Chromebook sans one thing. THE PRICE.

The original C433 had an MSRP of $499 but this “new” version – which is likely just some leftover inventory that ASUS is trying to offload – is priced at $379. Honestly, that’s still too much for a Chromebook with an 8th Gen Core m3 processor and not the greatest build quality. Back in the day, I did actually say that it was worth buying at that price but the field for premium and midrange Chromebooks was much more narrow back then. With the wide array of devices on today’s market in the $400-$500 price range and premium devices like the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 going on sale for $499, I still can’t say that the aging C433 is a good purchase. However…

Best Buy has knocked a whopping $200 off of the price of the Flip C433 and that changes this conversation entirely. Yes, you can get newer devices with a long shelf life for $200-$300 but you won’t be getting something with 8GB of RAM or a semi-premium build quality and that’s exactly what you get with the Flip C433. It has, I believe, an aluminum lid which gives it a somewhat premium feel in the hand and the FullHD display is going to better than most of the sub-par HD displays that are commonly found on budget models. The C433 has the aforementioned 8GB of RAM which is matched with an 8th Gen Intel Core m3 which is the same processor that powered the Pixel Slate from Google and other Chromebooks of that time. It’s no powerhouse but it is enough to handle moderate daily tasks.

Now, am I saying that you should run right out and grab one of these? Not necessarily but this Chromebook does have some redeeming qualities at this price. For $179, you’re getting a convertible Chromebook that looks like a flagship device. While it won’t go toe-to-toe with the latest premium Chromebooks, it isn’t a pain to look at or carry around. If you simply need a device for casual use and cloud-based computing and you want one that actually looks good, this is a very solid choice. You can find the ASUS Chromebook Flip C433 over at Best Buy while supplies last.