Samsung introduces new, sleek 11.6-inch Chromebook 3

Samsung has joined ASUS in offering a new ultra-portable Chromebook for the masses this year at CES 2016. While ASUS went with a ruggedized look, Samsung has gone with a more sleek appearance, while still promising a durable and long-lasting build.

The new Chromebook 3 weighs a little over 2.5 pounds and has a reinforced metal body and 180-degree hinge to ensure that it’s not easily broken. What’s more, its shape and grippy finish are designed to make it easy to carry, but difficult to drop accidentally.

“We’re seeing more and more people flocking to Chromebooks as families, students and other consumers seek out easy-to-use, highly portable and affordable laptops as resources for personal use, education and even work,” said Gary Riding, senior vice president, Mobile Computing at Samsung Electronics America. “Samsung recognized that demand when we launched the first-ever Chromebook in 2011. We’re continuing to keep up with evolving consumer needs with this new iteration, which offers even more convenient features that solve consumers’ pain points, like all day battery life and fast charging capabilities.”

Specifications are typical of the smaller, more affordable Chromebooks:

• 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 resolution anti-glare display
• Intel Celeron N3050 processor
• Intel HD GPU
• 2GB or 4GB RAM
• 16GB storage
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2x MIMO tech
• Bluetooth 4.0
• 2 x 1.5W stereo speakers
• 720p built-in webcam
• USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports
• HDMI out
• 3.5mm jack
• MicroSD card slot
• 11 hour battery life (33Wh)

Although exact pricing and release date details haven’t been announced, Samsung intends to launch the new Chromebook 3 at some point in the next few months. Similarly specced Chromebooks normally cost between $200-$250, anything more than that would surely make Samsung’s latest laptop unappealing.