USI is no longer the new kid on the block. In fact – and I had to look this up – we’ve been talking about USI since mid-2019. For over two years, we’ve watched as USI went from a thing that we were waiting impatiently to arrive to a pretty standard inclusion in the modern […]
Continue ReadingUnboxing/First Impressions
Similar to our reviews section, unboxing Chromebooks and other Chrome OS devices are central to our DNA. It's where our name came from, after all. In this section, you'll find our initial reactions to devices as we pull them out of the box. Sometimes, that's the most telling part of a device review. Be sure to check out the reviews that go with each unboxing.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 unboxing and hands-on first impressions [VIDEO]
Today, we have a pretty special unboxing to do with the brand-new Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5. This device was made official back in September, but just arrived in retail locations in mid-October. Lenovo was nice enough to send one over and, as we do around here, we opened it up all on camera. There are […]
Continue ReadingPixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro unboxing and initial hands-on [VIDEO]
Today is the day! Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are official, they are in the office, and we’re allowed to at least share our initial thoughts on the hardware and general feel of these phones right now. For specific Google features, we are still under embargo, so we can only share certain things at […]
Continue ReadingJust-announced Acer Chromebook 515 hands-on and initial impressions [VIDEO]
Acer has unveiled a healthy selection of Chromebooks at their latest Global Press Event and we have hands-on with one of those devices here in the office. The Acer Chromebook 515 is the company’s latest stab at a larger 15.6-inch device and they aren’t holding back on the internals this time. In years past, Acer […]
Continue ReadingHands-on and initial impressions of the new Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i [VIDEO]
Early in 2020 – at CES, actually – Lenovo took the wraps off of a new Chromebook that became a general mainstay for the past 18 months in the Chrome OS ecosystem. The Chromebook Flex 5 was awesome not just for what it offered, but for the price is commanded, too. At an MSRP of […]
Continue ReadingSome thoughts on Cursive – Google’s new handwriting app for Chromebooks [VIDEO]
Along with the launch of the HP Chromebook x2 11, two interesting new apps came into the Chrome OS ecosystem: HP QuickDrop and Google’s new Cursive app. We were able to get QuickDrop up and running right away and in all our initial testing, the service works impressively well. I’ve actually used it a few […]
Continue ReadingHP Chromebook x2 11 unboxing and initial impressions [VIDEO]
As we come into the second half of 2021, there are a lot of new Chromebooks here and on the way. It feels like every time we turn around there’s a new package arriving in the office that begs for attention. We’re getting to them one by one – don’t you worry – but there […]
Continue ReadingASUS Chromebook Detachable CM3 unboxing and initial impressions [VIDEO]
It’s been a bit of a wait, but we finally have ASUS’ new tablet here in the office. Since it’s been around for quite some time, there’s little surprise, here. This is a 10.5-inch tablet/detachable Chromebook that offers a similar array of hardware that we’ve had in this space since early 2020 in the Lenovo […]
Continue ReadingUnboxing the Pixel 5a that is here to basically replace the Pixel 4a 5G [VIDEO]
Today, Google has officially unveiled the Pixel 5a and in the simplest terms, it is here to replace the generally-unavailable Pixel 4a 5G. If you remember back to just under a year ago, Google announced the Pixel 4a a bit later than expected, teased the Pixel 5 and 4a 5G, and then proceeded to release […]
Continue ReadingHands-on with HP’s awesome new Chromebase with the rotating screen [VIDEO]
In our line of work, things can get a tad stale from time to time. After all, just like with smartphones, Chromebooks can only do so much to differentiate themselves. Sure, great build quality, better materials, and conscious choices can make devices like the new ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5400 and CX9 stand out from the […]
Continue ReadingASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14-inch (CX5400) unboxing and hands-on [VIDEO]
ASUS has come out swinging in 2021. With already-great devices like the ASUS Flip CX5 (15-inch) already impressing us, the high-end CX9 on the way and the detachable CM3 all being great options for consumers at this point in the year, it could be argued that ASUS doesn’t really need to add yet another Chromebook […]
Continue ReadingASUS Chromebook CX9 unboxing and initial impressions [VIDEO]
I have been waiting for this day for months. Not since October of 2017 and the announcement of Google’s Pixelbook have I been this excited to get my hands on a flagship Chromebook. No, it isn’t a new Pixelbook. Nor is it a new premium device from Samsung. The Chromebook that has had me on […]
Continue ReadingWalmart’s new Onn Android TV box versus the Chromecast with Google TV [VIDEO]
As soon as the new Onn Android TV box showed up at Walmart, we were immediately intrigued. Armed with the new Android TV interface that pulls heavily from the already-great Google TV UI and a price that is absolutely jaw-dropping, there was already a good chance we were going to be happy with this streaming […]
Continue ReadingUnboxing the sub-$200 14-inch Lenovo Chromebook 3 [VIDEO]
Right off the top, I’m going to go ahead and tell you that there isn’t much in the Lenovo Chromebook 3 that is mind-blowing, ultra-impressive, or eye-catching. Those types of titles aren’t really what this Chromebook is about, after all, but when any Chromebook dives beneath the $200 price point, it turns heads. This particular […]
Continue ReadingASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 unboxing and initial impressions [VIDEO]
We now have one of two of ASUS’ new MediaTek-powered Chromebooks in the office in the form of the ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3. We’re still patiently waiting on our review unit of the detachable CM3 tablet by ASUS, but this 12-inch 3:2 convertible is definitely a close relative to that more sought-after Chromebook tablet and […]
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