ASUS - CM32 12.1" 2.5K 2-in-1 Touchscreen Chromebook - MediaTek Kompanio 540 (2025) - 8GB Memory - 128GB Storage - Fog Silver

The Asus CM32 121” Chromebook detachable has quickly become one of my favorite new devices, and for several reasons. I’ll start by saying that I have never been a real fan of Chromebooks. I found them to be slow, with very limited use--nothing more than a bulky tablet. However, over time, they have improved significantly, and the Asus CM32 running ChromeOS (not Android) has some great features that make it a great travel companion. Asus is known for their innovation and focus on value–this device lives up to the reputation. When travelling, I want a device that can browse the web, play simple games, and play / stream movies. I check my e-mail and may tackle / print a simple document or two. I also want it to be lightweight, so I can carry it on my back when bikepacking or motorcycling. I think the best feature of the Asus CM32 is the screen. It is gorgeous and bright. At 600 nits and 2.5K resolution with a touchscreen, it is great, even in brighter rooms. It also boasts a 120Hz refresh rate, which augments the performance of the stylus and assists with smoother scrolling. The screen is Gorilla Glass, which at this price point is a great add. Another great feature is the detachable keyboard and stylus combination. I love that the keyboard is magnetically attached to the device and it comes off and attaches really easily. Without the keyboard, the device functions as a tablet; with the keyboard, it functions as a laptop. With the system running ChromeOS (currently supported through 2036), it is different from other Android tablets because of the added functionality of ChromeOS. (As an aside, I have found ChromeOS to be similar enough to Windows that I can get around the operating system similarly.) The keyboard is lightweight, and while not backlit, the keys have good travel and the spacing is nice. The trackpad is also responsive with good haptic feedback. I would be remiss if I did not mention the pen-like stylus. It magnetically attaches–and charges–right on the back of the device in a designated cubby that is built into the magnetic cover on the back of the device. The stylus works fantastically, recognizing both my block printing and cursive. The integration into ChromeOS is super. What a huge improvement over previous styluses I have used. I was really impressed!! The overall speed and performance of the device is similar to that of a budget priced laptop. As long as you don’t overload it with a lot of simultaneous tasks, it is fine. Really complex websites will scroll with slight stutter, but most websites are perfectly fine. I read some e-magazines on the Libby app and they looked great and flipped from page to page quickly and smoothly. Videos played flawlessy (and the sound was also decent, plus I could pair bluetooth earbuds). I was able to use Office 365, Minitab statistical software online, and several of my Google Play Store games without issue. However, once I had more than seven or eight web browser tabs open, or if I was copying files from a thumb drive and web browsing simultaneously, the stutter started to increase. I’ve had good luck with the battery life. I can get at least 6 hours with web browsing, light gaming, e-mail and document creation. Charging from 25% to full took just under an hour. Weight is amazing. As a tablet, the device weighs a stunning 1 pound, 11 ounces. Add the keyboard and you’re up to 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Add the power supply and the final weight is 2 pounds, 12 ounces. I can carry that on my bikes all day. There are a few things I wish were a little better. I do like the case, and I also like that the angle of the stand is adjustable. However, more than once I had the case come off when trying to adjust the angle of the stand. I found it best to grasp it at the bottom and also just above the hinge line to brace it while adjusting. I’ll just have to get used to it. The camera is not the best. Images are a little grainy, especially if the room is not well lit. However, the image is good enough for Teams or WebEx meetings. I don’t use the device to take pictures or video. The single USB-C port on the right side of the device is used by the power supply. If you don’t have a hub that supports power delivery pass-through, the one port might be limiting to you. Lastly, remember that the CPU is an ARM processor, not an x86 processor. Therefore, there may be some limitations. For example, my Brother printer could not be configured on ARM, but my Canon printer could. In addition, some apps are not yet designed to function on ARM processors, but that list is getting shorter (or you can use the Linux equivalent). If your application is web-based, there is no issue at all. The Asus CM32 is a really nice device for those looking for the flexibility of having a system that functions as both a tablet and a portable Chromebook laptop. It’s lightweight, has a great screen, features a usable keyboard and trackpad, and has rather decent productivity performance because it runs ChromeOS and not just Android. I can confidently say it will be the device that will go with me whenever I travel for personal reasons, and will also be the first device I grab if I just need to do some quick web browsing, a check of e-mail, light gaming or e-book reading around the house.

I really like this Chromebook. It's small, light-weight, and highly portable. The screen size is large enough to be comfortable while small enough to easily carry. The screen quality is terrific. I was very impressed by the brightness and contrast of this screen. It's great for watching videos on. The keyboard is adequate to type on. I'll confess, it's not the greatest experience, and the keys feel quite "plasticky," but it's perfectly fine for use. I do wish that the keyboard was back-lit. I mostly type by feel, but I still struggled typing in low light environments. The ergonomics also aren't great as the keyboard sits perfectly flat against the table top. The speakers are good. They won't fill a room, but they're fine for watching videos and listening to music. The port selection isn't great. There is only one USB-C port for charging and data transfer and one headphone jack. There are no USB-A ports for legacy devices, there are no SD card slots for expanding the local storage, and you're going to need a hub if you need to both charge the Chromebook and use a USB device at the same time. The magnet on the keyboard is extremely strong. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for the magnet on the kickstand. The kickstand is just rubberized panel affixed to the back with magnets. Unfortunately, they are comparatively weak, and I kept pulling the kickstand off while trying to open the Chromebook. Conversely, the magnets on the keyboard maintain an overpowered grip with the screen making it somewhat difficult to open up. I love the fact this Chromebook includes a stylus, and I love that the kickstand has a little "bubble" to ensure it remains safely stowed away. The stylus input was responsive and accurate. I didn't notice any pressure sensitivity, but that could have just been the apps I was working in. To be blunt, this Chromebook makes several compromises in order to squeeze as many features as possible into an economical package. These compromises are noticeable, but they in no way negatively impact the overall user experience. I wouldn't recommend having this Chromebook as your sole device. This is not a desktop replacement by any means. But as a secondary device or student laptop, this Chromebook is terrific. I think this Chromebook is an absolute delight to use.

This is a versatile Chromebook tablet with a detachable keyboard that has excellent hardware, but is hampered by somewhat mediocre performance. It’s the followup to the previous ASUS CM30, and is also very similar in form to the Lenovo Duet line of Chromebooks (I used to have the 2nd gen Lenovo Duet 3) and to a lesser extent Microsoft’s Surface Pro line, so it can act as both a full laptop (with the keyboard attached) and a standalone ChromeOS tablet. The hardware and build quality are generally impressive. The screen can go up to 2560x1600, and is crisp and bright with vibrant colors. I tested this using Jacob & Katie Schwarz’s 4K Costa Rica video on YouTube, and it looked great. Stereo speakers provide a good amount of volume, but mostly in the mid and high frequency range. The detachable keyboard has a very good feel, with keys that have adequate travel (despite the very low profile) and a good tactile response -- they’re not clicky, but you can still feel every keypress as they hit the bottom of their travel. The keys also don’t feel cramped at all. The magnetic keyboard attachment is strong and secure, but not to the point that it’s difficult to detach. The included USI 2.0 stylus attaches magnetically to the back of the Chromebook, where it wirelessly charges. The stylus is responsive, with no lag. It’s also pressure sensitive, which is good for artists (assuming the app that’s being used supports pressure sensitivity). The rear part of the Chromebook’s case attaches magnetically to the back of the Chromebook, and there’s a flap on top that protects the stylus. (This rear part of the case also has the integrated fold-out stand that can accommodate an almost flat position.) There’s only one USB-C port (for both charging and accessories), which is disappointing, especially if you want to charge while using some other USB accessory, so a USB-C hub might be a good idea. There is a headphone jack, though, which is a nice addition for headphone purists. (The Lenovo Duet 3 has 2 USB-C ports but no headphone jack.) Performance is where things aren’t quite so impressive. The MediaTek Kompanio 540 CPU is adequate for basic functions like browsing, streaming video, and productivity with Google Docs/Sheets (although I can still see some sluggishness in tab switching and page loading sometimes when compared to my other more powerful Chromebooks). And to its credit, it could play 4K videos on YouTube without any lag or choppiness. But the Android racing game Asphalt Legends (which I find to be a good benchmark to see how powerful a device is) is basically unplayable, even with graphics options set to Performance (vs. High Quality). I have the 8 GB RAM version of this device, so I would expect the 4 GB version to be even pokier. I realize that this Chromebook is intended to be a budget/midrange device, probably aimed at the student demographic, so I shouldn’t expect high-powered gaming ability. But considering the rising popularity of gaming tablets like the Lenovo Legion Tab, it would’ve been nice to have an option for more powerful internals. As it stands, though, this Chromebook is a very good device for general usage. The quality of the hardware, the versatility of using it as a tablet or a laptop, and the portability are all big positives to consider.

I’ve owned Asus chromebooks before (including a smaller 2-in-1) and have always been happy with their performance, build quality and value. This new model is easily the best of the bunch. While the screen is likely the standout, I actually want to just start my praise with the size of the whole package. It’s a little wider than my 11 inch iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard combo, but not nearly as unwieldy as the 13 inch iPad Pro/Air that I’ve played with in stores before. I know some people love that thing, but I just cannot get used to a tablet that big. At 12.1 inches, this Asus feels like it hit a sweet spot where you get a bit more screen real estate and a notably less cramped keyboard than the 11 inch iPad counterparts. And since Chromebooks are still really good at doing web and browser based work, all that extra space does indeed make a difference in productivity even if it doesn’t seem like it when you just look at the measurements. I guess the best way to describe it is that it’s closer to the feel of a 13 inch laptop in usage, but still manages to be more portable and smaller in practice. Holding both it and the 11 inch iPad Pro/Magic Keyboard in hand, I definitely think the Asus is lighter. So, this should be a really great device to travel with or take on the go and get work done. And yeah that screen is great! Very bright and sharp. Colors pop and it’s easy on the eyes. Responds to touch as you’d expect and scrolls buttery smooth. The build of the tablet itself feels sturdy and premium and looks good to my eyes. Speakers on both sides that support Dolby Atmos. You get one USB-C port and, lo and behold, a headphone jack! The keyboard, as mentioned, is nice and wide with all the keys you need. The typing experience is tactile and not mushy. Speed demons should have no problem with it. The trackpad is wide and has given me zero issues. It attaches magnetically to the side of the tablet, and then there’s a back cover that also attaches magnetically and provides the kickstand functionality (not unlike a Microsoft Surface). All seems sturdy and will help prevent scratches. The back cover has the additional function of covering the included stylus, which also attaches and charges magnetically. I’ve yet to find a way to really work the stylus into my daily computing usage, but it works well for simple notes and doodling. Very similar to the Apple Pencil in size/appearance. Battery life has been good so far and performance is fast and excellent. I had one issue where I was getting pop up message that was a little random and as if it was trying to sign me out of Gmail, but there was a ChromeOS update and it hasn’t done it since. Obviously, Chrome itself is in constant development so you can always count on having a solid web experience. Complaints? Like my previous 2-in-1 I’m still not 100% sold on the tablet experience here. When you remove the keyboard you’re launched into a different OS environment and it just isn’t quite as premium as iPadOS or Android. I know there’s continued talk of making ChromeOS and Android a more merged experience, and it’s easy to see why with things like this. If you’ve used a good Android phone or tablet, then you’ll probably find yourself wishing that the device could just replicate that when in tablet mode, and yet it’s not quite there. Maybe some day! If you’re planning to primarily use this device similar to a laptop then it’s really not an issue. And it sure beats the bulk of many other Chromebooks that are actual laptops!

The Asus Chromebook CM32 12.1' 2.5K 2-in1 is everything that I was looking for in home and away 2- in- 1 device. It will be a great travel Chromebook. I love the color and sleek build. Unboxing was a streamline in setting up a new device. I just love the Google Chrome interface with everything transferring over from all my devices in no time. The Chrome Operating System comes with 10 years of operation support making it a very secure operating system. The Asus Chromebook is a sturdy and well built Chromebook that is very responsive and fast operating system. The Asus Chromebook automatically attaches to the detachable keyboard with a secure click. The Chromebook stand pulls out in the back of the Chromebook easily with the wireless rechargeable stylus located at the top of the Chromebook back cover. The stylus is able to charge also while being stored. I charged the Asus Chromebook right out of the box and let updates install while charging. Beautiful touchscreen screen resolution of 2560x 1600 pixels at 2.5K. The screen is an amazing 12Ohz display. The Asus Chromebook has speakers on each side that support Dolby Atmos. The battery life is very good and steady for basics things I need with convenient type C charging at 45W. Wi-Fi is showing status as strong. The Asus Chromebook 12.1 2-in1 Touchscreen comes with front and rear cameras with tap switching photo, video and scan right at your finger tips. I added Google Messages to be able to text and see messages from my Contacts. There is so much to explore with Gemini, Apps and Games on this new Asus-CM32 12'1 2.5K 2-IN-1 Chromebook.