Apple has the iPad, but when it comes to cost-sensitive features, Google has countered with Chromebooks, particularly compact 2-in-1 tablets that are around 11 inches thin and come with a keyboard folio kit. Over the past four years, we at Android Police have been enthralled by Lenovo's Chromebook Duet series, HP's Chromebook x2 11, and of course, Asus' powerful Chromebook CM3 Detachable, which was released in 2021. Its clever design allows the tablet to stand in both landscape and portrait orientations, and it even has space for a stylus.
This year, the Taiwanese company announced an update to the Chromebook CM30 Detachable (CM3001), and while the move from the CM3 brought some surprisingly controversial trade-offs, like the loss of the dual-orientation mount, at the end of the day, we think this is still the best choice for a digital doodle pad if you're looking to save money.
Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable (CM3001)
$293 $339 Save $46
Asus is treating fans of portable ChromeOS tablets to the Chromebook CM30 Detachable, a 2024 iteration of the three-year-old CM3 detachable. The 10.5-inch tablet comes with a kickstand and keyboard combo and has a USI Pen built right into the device, making it perfect for scrolling, doodling, or viral videos.
- Compact keyboard for typing
- Siloed USI pens bring benefits
- There should be no base memory configuration
- Wears or tears easily
Price and availability
Buyer beware. In particular,
Jules Wang/AP
The Asus Chromebook CM30 was announced last November, but was officially released in Japan in February of this year. It was priced at about $360 in the US and was widely available in stores. An LTE-enabled model was also available at the time of release.
Contrast this campaign with the relatively tepid and even esoteric rollout in the US, where the product can only be purchased for under $300 at two major retailers: Best Buy and Walmart. The Asus website directs you to CDW, whose listing doesn't provide any details about the product or even its official name; or Central Computer, where the device is only available by special order. For these reasons, we are not linking to these pages. Additionally, while the price is the same on each listing, Best Buy sells the CM30 in a base memory configuration with 4GB RAM and 64GB onboard storage, while Walmart sells it in an 8/128GB locked-up memory configuration.
Also, as of this writing, Walmart is promoting the CM30 as a back-to-school product, but there are no discounts or really meaningful offers. If you're planning on buying one of these tablets, I highly recommend getting the 8/128 model, as I was not pleased with how slow the 4/64 unit I used for review was.
What's great about the Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable?
Affordable bundle for sketching and web-based work
In terms of features for the price, I think it's a pretty good deal for digital artists. In addition to the usual tablet, 45W adapter, and Type-C cable, it also comes with a kickstand attachment, keyboard, and a stylus that tucks into the corner of the tablet. The keyboard feels good to type on; it's a typical layout for a small Chromebook, with tight pitch (about 15mm) and short stroke (1.5mm) chiclets. ChromeOS tries to welcome pen users with shortcuts to notes and drawing pads, laser pointing, spot magnification, and more, but the apps are only so-so when it comes to pressure reading and input sampling.
A lot of that is down to the TFT display. The panel produces a usable image and has wide viewing angles that are unmatched in this price range. It glare pretty easily, so we don't recommend using it outdoors. The stylus pressure recognition is rougher than we'd like, so the 4,096 levels of recognition are pretty meaningless. We generally don't recommend doing professional creative work on this device, but we've seen less accurate colors on more expensive gear, so we're not sure what to expect. You might take a big chance on this device, or you might get a steady stream of Patreon commissions.
Google is continually improving the overall ChromeOS experience, and while this 2-in-1 doesn't fall into the Chromebook Plus category, the interface with the software has improved significantly in recent years. Android smartphone owners will appreciate the ability to unlock the CM30 by linking their device and unlocking their phone.
There are also continuity features like syncing notifications across devices. Moving commission and social notifications from your phone to your tablet makes it quicker and easier to catch and act on them. You can also go a little extra mile from old tricks like installing Android and Linux apps (Photoshop Express, GIMP, etc.), though you might need courage to deal with the delays and technical pitfalls that can come with using them. And yes, this is a Chromebook, so it lasts pretty long. I was able to get about 8 hours of use between charges for various non-gaming uses.
When it comes to video chatting, don't expect too much from the 5MP front and rear cameras, as you won't be disappointed – like most webcams in its class, the image quality is grainy.
What are the disadvantages of the Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable?
Build quality and performance are top concerns
Jules Wang/AP
The weakest link in the CM30's chain is the construction. The tablet body is glass on the front and mostly aluminum on the back, with a plastic shield on the top edge, presumably to ensure good Wi-Fi and Bluetooth reception. The device is MIL-SPEC-810H rated, but we have concerns about the top components. Our review unit cracked its housing after we accidentally dropped it from a height of 3.5 feet onto an unobstructed tile floor. The plastic ripped at the corners and separated from the rest of the tablet, but we were able to pop the components back into place. Still, it doesn't look great to me, or to me. and tablet.
But the keyboard and kickstand are the parts that concern me the most. They're very plasticky, and rather than the CM3's tougher faux-woven texture, they have an Alcantara-like texture that feels bubbly when you rub your fingertips over the surface, and they scratch easily.
The keyboard is “hinged” to a magnetic mounting bar with a slightly longer piece of material; this design decision means the keyboard can't stand at a slight angle like similar folios. Whether you feel more comfortable lying it at an angle or flat on a table is a matter of personal preference, but simply put, the fit and finish of the CM30 left something to be desired.
Jules Wang/AP
Additionally, there's a terrible supply discrepancy, with one major retailer selling the 4/64 model while another retailer (albeit via an online-only channel) is selling a version with twice the memory for the same price. If you look at related reviews of recent Chromebooks, you'll see that 4GB of RAM is not enough for other devices, such as Lenovo's recent IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook, but it's clearly not enough for this device either.
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That memory, combined with the Kompanio 520 SoC, couldn't keep up during typing tests, causing Monkeytype to hang for several seconds during the exam, an unacceptable aspect when faced with real-time and just-in-time tasks.
And buying a higher spec SKU won't magically solve your performance issues: 8GB of RAM and a Kompanio 520-equivalent chip just won't stand up to Android Police's sometimes-intimidating content management system. If you're dealing with real-time input and output, and intensive uploads and downloads as part of a multitasking setup, the CM30 Detachable might not be able to handle the workload.
Should I buy it?
Perfect for back to school if you know what you're going to school for
Jules Wang/AP
There's no denying that price is a sensitive factor in deciding whether or not you're willing to overlook the shortcomings of the Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable. The company makes a strong case for practicality and value by offering a drawing tablet with keyboard for $300. Still, if you want to stick with the device for nine years with software updates, you'll need to carefully manage the build quality. One of the bets you make with an investment like this is the value of your time, so keep that in mind if you can live with the maintenance.
From that perspective, if your use of the CM30 is geared towards creativity with no looming deadlines and a bit of portable streaming for relaxation, it's not a bad choice, especially if you can pick it up for even less than the current MSRP. perhaps If you can afford a second device and doodling is just a hobby, consider buying one. This might work for you if you already have a Galaxy S24 Ultra and you're running out of space. Otherwise, if you want to stay in this price range, you'll need to look at older or used devices with more powerful components. If you have an extra $50 to spare, you could also get a new Chromebook Plus device.
Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable (CM3001)
Getting a tablet, keyboard and stylus for $300 sounds pretty appealing, but you're missing out on a lot with its inferior specs and build quality. The Asus Chromebook CM30 Detachable is a good choice if you work on a flat surface and want to put it back in its case (sold separately) between sessions.
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