ASUS Chromebook Plus 14" CX1405CTA-I38128HG 2026, Core 3 N355, 8GB, 128GB eMMC, Hunter Green

The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX14 is a lightweight, durable Chromebook with a surprisingly capable 8-core Intel Core 3 N355 processor and 8GB of RAM. The 128GB eMMC storage is the weak link, sitting in the 5th percentile of all laptops we track. Prices range from USD 389 to USD 599, so shop around and aim for the lower end. It's a solid pick for students and casual users, but anyone needing storage or graphics performance should look elsewhere.

The Intel Core 3 N355 is an 8-core chip running at 1.9GHz, and in the Chromebook world, that's a genuinely solid performer. It sits in the 37th percentile for CPU across all laptops, which sounds mediocre until you remember that this category includes machines costing three or four times as much. For ChromeOS, which is lightweight by design, this processor handles a dozen browser tabs, Google Docs, video calls, and Android apps without breaking a sweat. The 8GB of LPDDR5 helps too, though that lands in the 21st percentile overall, so don't expect to run heavy Linux containers or dozens of Android apps simultaneously without some slowdown.

The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are, well, integrated. The GPU sits in the 28th percentile, which means this is not a machine for anything beyond casual games and video playback. The gaming score of 5.1 out of 100 tells the story: you can play browser games and maybe some light Android titles, but anything demanding will chug. The 128GB eMMC storage is the real bottleneck though. eMMC is slower than NVMe SSDs, so boot times and app launches won't feel as snappy as the processor would suggest. ChromeOS is optimized enough that it's still fine for daily use, but if you're coming from a machine with an SSD, you'll notice the difference when loading larger files or installing apps.

Against the Apple MacBook Air M4, there's no contest in raw performance, screen quality, or storage speed. The Air is in a completely different league, but it also costs two to three times as much. If your budget is under USD 500, the MacBook Air isn't even in the conversation. The Lenovo Slim 7 and HP OmniBook X Flip are Windows machines with better specs in most areas, but they're also pricier and heavier. The Samsung Galaxy Book6 Pro has a gorgeous OLED screen that makes this Chromebook's display look washed out by comparison, but again, you're paying a premium for that.

The Dell Latitude XPS 13 is the closest in spirit to this Chromebook in terms of portability and build quality, but it's a Windows ultrabook with a much higher price tag. What the CX14 offers that none of these competitors do is the simplicity and security of ChromeOS at a budget price. If you live in Google's ecosystem and don't need Windows or macOS software, this machine does 90% of what those laptops do for a fraction of the cost. The trade-off is storage, screen quality, and the ability to run demanding applications. For a student or casual user, that's a trade worth making. For anyone doing photo editing, coding with heavy IDEs, or gaming, it's not.

Pricing on this thing is all over the place, which is worth paying attention to. We're seeing listings from USD 389 to USD 599 across five US retailers. That's a USD 210 spread for the exact same machine, which is wild. At USD 389, this Chromebook is a genuinely good deal. At USD 599, you're getting into territory where you should seriously consider a Windows laptop with a proper SSD or even a base MacBook Air on sale. The affordability percentile sits at 68th, which means it's above average for value, but that's only true if you shop the lower end of that price range.

The Best Buy listing is where most people will end up, and their price match guarantee helps if you find it cheaper elsewhere. The Google One AI Premium trial adds some value if you actually use Gemini and the 5TB of cloud storage, but that's a subscription that eventually costs money, so don't factor it too heavily into the purchase decision. The real value here is in the combination of the newer processor, the durable build, and the Chromebook Plus features. Just don't pay more than you need to.

The ASUS Chromebook Plus CX14 is one of those machines that knows exactly what it is, and honestly, that's refreshing. It's not trying to be a gaming rig or a video editing workstation. It's a Chromebook that nails the basics: light weight, decent screen, snappy enough performance for browser-based work, and a price that won't make you wince. The Intel Core 3 N355 is a newer 8-core chip, which is a step up from the usual budget Chromebook fare, and ASUS paired it with 8GB of LPDDR5 and a 14-inch FHD IPS panel. For students, casual users, and anyone living in Google's ecosystem, this thing makes a lot of sense on paper.

Who's it for? Students hauling it between classes, people who spend their days in Gmail, Docs, and YouTube, and anyone who wants a secondary machine for the couch or travel. The 1.39kg weight and MIL-STD 810H durability rating mean it can survive a backpack and a few bumps. The 180-degree lay-flat hinge is a nice touch for sharing a screen or propping it up on a desk. And the inclusion of a Titan C2 security chip plus the Google One AI Premium trial is ASUS leaning hard into the "Chromebook Plus" branding, which promises a bit more oomph than your average cheap Chromebook.

But here's the thing: the storage situation is rough. 128GB of eMMC puts this in the 5th percentile of all laptops we track. That's not just below average, that's near the bottom. For a Chromebook, cloud storage does a lot of heavy lifting, but if you want to install Android apps, download movies for offline viewing, or keep a bunch of files locally, you'll feel that ceiling fast. The screen is also middle of the pack at best, and the port selection is fine but not generous. Still, for the right user, none of that matters as much as the price and the simplicity.

If you need to store a lot of files locally, this Chromebook will frustrate you. The 128GB eMMC drive is small and slow, and you'll constantly be managing space. Look at a Windows laptop with a 512GB NVMe SSD instead, even if it costs a bit more. Gamers should also skip this entirely. The integrated graphics and 5.1 gaming score mean you won't be playing anything beyond browser games. If you want to game, even casually, a budget gaming laptop or a machine with a Ryzen APU will serve you far better.

Creative professionals and anyone doing photo or video editing should also look elsewhere. The screen is average at best, with a 40th percentile ranking, and the color accuracy won't cut it for serious work. The 8GB of RAM will choke on large Photoshop files or 4K video timelines. For that kind of work, you'd want a MacBook Air M4 or a Windows ultrabook with 16GB of RAM and a better display. This Chromebook is for getting things done in the cloud, not for pushing pixels.

For students and casual users, this Chromebook is an easy recommendation, especially if you can find it near the USD 389 mark. The Intel Core 3 N355 handles everyday tasks without frustration, the build quality is genuinely good for the price, and ChromeOS means you'll spend zero time dealing with driver updates, antivirus software, or system slowdowns. The 14-inch FHD screen is fine for writing papers, watching lectures, and browsing, even if it won't win any color accuracy awards. The 180-degree hinge is more useful than it sounds, especially for group work or watching videos on a desk.

But if you're a power user, a gamer, or someone who needs to store a lot of files locally, look elsewhere. The 128GB eMMC storage is the dealbreaker here. It's not just small, it's slow. And the integrated graphics mean this machine will never be anything more than a productivity and media consumption device. For the right person, that's perfectly fine. For everyone else, spend a bit more and get something with an SSD and more RAM.