Asus Chromebook CX9 (14-Inch, 2021)

Sleek, light styling ; Brisk performance ; HDMI and three USB (two Thunderbolt 4) ports ; Pleasing keyboard and screen (with 4K option)

Expensive ; No LTE mobile broadband option ; Wi-Fi 6, not 6E

It could stand a price cut, but the 14-inch, 2.3-pound Asus Chromebook CX9 is the very model of a capable business Chromebook.

Punchy performance ; Vibrant display ; Long battery life ; MIL-Spec design ; Great keyboard and touchpad

Poor webcam ; Weak speakers

The lightweight, sleek design and punchy performance of the Asus Chromebook CX9 combined with a good FHD display are held back by Chrome OS

Attractive design, solid build ; Plenty of ports ; Good keyboard ; Useful ErgoLift hinge

Poor speakers ; Average battery life ; Core i7 models are expensive

Incredibly powerful ; Unique hinge makes it even more comfortable to type on ; Compatible with Google's Steam Alpha initiative ; Durable and sturdy construction ; UHD display is gorgeous

Battery life leaves a lot to be desired ; Bottom-firing speakers are meh ; Virtual numpad is neat, but not useful

There's a lot to like about the Chromebook CX9, even though it's using Intel's 11th Gen chips. There's plenty of power under the hood, and the hinge mechanism puts the keyboard at the perfect ergonomic angle. But middling battery life really puts a...

Stylish, strong and light chassis ; Great keyboard ; High-quality screen ; Solid Core i7 processor

Mediocre battery life ; Other laptops are faster ; Expensive