Asus Chromebook C423 Review (Is It A Good Budget Laptop?)

Pros & Cons Of The Asus Chromebook C423

Unique Features Of The Asus Chromebook C423

Thanks to its incredible price and high-quality design, the Asus Chromebook C423 is an incredibly popular choice amongst students and home users. While it may struggle to complete more advanced tasks, you will be able to browse the internet, stream movies, and scroll through social media to your heart’s content. 

Intel Dual-Core Celeron N3350 Processor 

What is incredible about the C423 is that for the price tag, Asus has managed to squeeze in some parts that perform well above what you pay for. One of the ways they do this is through the Intel Dual-Core Celeron, a Central Processing Unit (CPU) that ticks all the right boxes.  

This processor comes with two cores and has enough power to make multi-tasking a breeze while still remaining incredibly efficient in terms of power drain. 

Anti-Glare NanoEdge Display 

The C423 comes with anti-glare technology, which means it does not reflect light like a number of other laptops. This makes it great for using on the move. 

You also have the NanoEdge display, which removes the thick bezels that used to be the norm. This allows for a larger screen inside a smaller profile with more real estate to work and browse. 

180-Degree Hinge HD Display 

Another great feature of the C423 is the 180-degree hinge system, which allows the screen to turn 180 degrees. This makes it extremely versatile for things like boardroom meetings.

USB Type-C (Gen 1) & Type-A Ports 

The world is moving into a new generation of ports. The USB-C allows for a much faster data transfer and a more secure connection with fewer chances of cables breaking. The C423 has USB-C type ports, which means you can connect all of the latest peripherals and tech to it, as well as transfer data to and from your Chromebook with ease and speed. One thing to note is that Type-C ports can get dirty, like any other port, so you should know how to keep it clean.

Apps With Google Play Store 

Obviously, one of the main benefits of any Chromebook is the ability to integrate with Google Play and the Google Play Store. This means you can take advantage of a number of apps that you cannot get on a traditional PC or Mac.  

If you use an Android phone, a Chromebook is particularly useful. It will pair up with ease and allow for seamless data integration, allowing you to use the apps on either your phone or Chromebook without having to migrate data each time. 

Google Cloud Storage Included 

Another benefit of using a Chromebook and the Chrome OS operating system is the ability to utilize Google’s incredible cloud storage capabilities. This means that you can save space and money on expensive hard drives, uploading your data to the cloud and accessing it from anywhere in the world where you have internet. 

Asus Chromebook C423 Review 

Now we have looked at the features that set the C423 apart, let's have a look at how it performs in the traditional sense. 

Design  

The body feels really sturdy and the lid doesn’t have the flex that many of the competition have in the hinge.  

Display/Screen 

The display on the C423 is a bit of a mixed bag. The NanoEdge design means that the bezels are nice and thin, and the anti-glare technology does mean that reflections are less of a nuisance than many of the other Chromebooks that we have compared. 

Unfortunately, it suffers a little in the brightness department, meaning if you are in a bright well-illuminated room, the screen can look a little less dim than it does in lower lighting scenarios. It still looks great, but other Chromebooks look better in high light. 

Performance Features 

In terms of performance, the CPU is more than capable for the majority of users. It powers through multi-tasking without getting hot, meaning we can predict a long lifespan for this processor.

When it comes to graphics ability, videos on YouTube and Facebook look high quality and bright, but you will struggle to do any kind of editing or gaming. 

Storage is always low on a Chromebook, but this is part of the package. With the huge amount of cloud storage to take advantage of, you shouldn't run out of storage anytime soon. 

Keyboard & Touchpad 

Connectivity  

The types of ports that come with the C423 is pretty awesome. You get a USB 3.2 type A and Gen 1 Type C with omnidirectional ability. This means you can charge through the USB-C in a pinch. You also get an audio port and even a MicroSD slot on the left side of the unit. 

In terms of wireless capabilities, you get a pretty standard 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO, which, while not groundbreaking, is more than enough for the majority of users. 

Battery Life & Energy Consumption  

Almost all Chromebooks come with incredible battery life and energy efficiency, thanks to their streamlined design. The C423 is no different; expect to get 11+ hours of medium usage. Of course, if you are playing videos at high quality and keeping the brightness up, that number will be less. 

Audio  

The C423 punches well above its weight in terms of audio quality. You get a surprising amount of volume and bass without losing clarity or getting that tinny reverb you get with some smaller laptop models.  

Maintenance & Warranty 

Asus has an incredible level of customer service and satisfaction. Asus offers excellent warranties and are quick to respond to customer inquires and problems. 

Price  

As we have already stated, the price of the C423 places it in the budget category of Chromebooks. For this price, it performs well above its station. This is an incredible Chromebook for the price, and we highly recommend it. 

Best For 

Chromebooks are the perfect addition for a student or as a portable business laptop. It is portable, budget-friendly, and has enough battery and power to allow you to work on the move and watch any content you want to on the sofa. 

Not Good For 

Chromebooks are typically awful at gaming and photo and video editing. This is because of their lack of a dedicated GPU and tiny SSD storage. If you want a laptop for photo editing, you should review our handy guide.

Specifications

Comparing With Other Laptops (Is The C423 Any Good?) 

Asus Chromebook C423 Vs C523 

The C523 is extremely similar in specs and ability to the C423, with the main difference being that the C523 has a larger 15.6" screen compared to the 14" display panel found on the C423. The C523 scores slightly higher than the C423 in several categories, too, and is extremely popular among students.  

Asus Chromebook C423 Vs Acer Chromebook 14 

The Acer Chromebook 14 is the most popular Chromebook in the world, being a number one seller and recommendation on Amazon. It has very similar specs to the C423 also, with ACER and Asus using almost identical parts.

The one edge the Chromebook 14 has over the C423 is the design. We think the Chromebook 14 is the best looking out of the two with its sleek aluminum design. 

Asus Chromebook C423 Vs HP Chromebook 14 

Again, in this bracket, the HP Chromebook 14 is almost identical in specification. However, in terms of design, it is quite different from the other Chromebooks mentioned here. Most people will be drawn to one brand or another. If you like how HP designs their laptops, then you should pick HP, but in terms of specs, you won't find the user experience much different. 

People Also Ask (FAQs)

Does the Asus Chromebook C423 have an HDMI port? 

No, the Asus Chromebook C423 does not have a functioning HDMI port. Instead, you will have to buy an HDMI to USB-C Adapter. 

Is the Asus Chromebook C423 suitable for school? 

Chromebooks make the perfect choice for students. They are affordable, lightweight, and portable and can take a beating thanks to the omission of an SSD and GPU. This means it will last for the entire period you are at school or college without a problem. 

Is the Asus Chromebook C423 touchscreen? 

The C423 does not have a touchscreen as standard. It does, however, have a 180-degree hinge system. 

Does the Asus Chromebook C423 model have an SD card slot?  

The C423 has a MicroSD, not a standard SD card slot. 

Can you play Fortnite on this laptop? 

The C423 cannot play Fortnite in any capacity. If you're looking for a laptop to play Fortnite, you can take a look at our favorites here.

Conclusion

There we have it. In terms of price to performance, this is one helluva laptop. For a budget-priced unit, we are extremely surprised by how capable this machine is. If you are a student or worker with a need for portability, you can't go wrong with the Asus Chromebook C423.