Almost everything you want from a Chrome tablet
Inexpensive tablets running Google’s Chrome operating system are scarce, but they hold exciting potential as learning tools for kids or even just as extra portals to the internet in busy households. The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 can handle these scenarios and more. But this $369 tablet isn’t a screaming bargain of a Chromebook, and its design, build quality, and computing power leave a bit to be desired. The Editors’ Choice-winning Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a better detachable Chrome device for most people. The Sum of All Components As a detachable 2-in-1, the CM3 includes two separate main components. There’s the tablet itself, a black rectangle with a 10.5-inch screen; this piece measures 0.31 by 10.1 by 6.6 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.12 pounds. It’s slightly thicker than but generally comparable with the Apple iPad Air, which is 0.24 by 9.7 by 7 inches. The iPad’s slightly thinner screen bezels and rounded corners make it appear a bit more sleek than the CM3’s tablet half. Still, this is far from the ugliest Chromebook ever made. It also stacks up nicely against the Microsoft Surface Go 2, a budget-minded 10-inch Windows detachable tablet. The Surface Go 2 is 0.33 by 9.7 by 6.9 inches, and at 1.2 pounds it’s a touch heavier than the CM3. That’s because the CM3 (and most other Android and Apple tablets) lack the kickstand that’s built into the Surface Go and Surface Pro tablets. (Photo: Molly Flores) A kickstand lets you prop up a tablet on a flat surface for more comfortable viewing, but you can accomplish this with the CM3’s included magnetic cover. It’s a stylish, fabric-covered back panel in heather gray. It snaps on to the CM3 and has both vertical and horizontal hinges, so you can set up the tablet in either orientation. (The Chromebook Duet uses a similar cover.) The second main component included with the CM3 is its keyboard cover. iPad users might rarely need a physical keyboard, but they’re more useful for Chrome and Windows tablets. Microsoft charges you extra for Surface keyboard covers, so it’s nice that Asus includes one standard with the CM3. The keyboard uses the standard Chrome layout, with browser navigation buttons instead of the more conventional function-button row. The black cover also sports a tiny touchpad below the keyboard, which is mainly handy for moving the cursor as an occasional alternative to tapping your fingertips on the CM3’s capable touch-enabled display. (Photo: Molly Flores) Touch support in Chrome OS is consistently improving. Tablet mode activates automatically once you detach the magnetic keyboard. You can then perform specific navigation gestures like partially swiping up from the bottom of the screen to view open app windows, or fully swiping up to access the home screen. A Keyboard Hinge Too Stiff for Comfort The tablet portion of the CM3 feels sturdy and well-engineered, and design flourishes like the large camera lens that protrudes slightly from the back of the tablet add to the appeal. The tablet employs a solid aluminum unibody construction, and it certainly feels like it can shrug off some modest rough-housing from the small, dirty fingers of an elementary-schooler. It’s not rated to MIL-SPEC standards, though few inexpensive Chromebooks are. As sturdy and good-looking as the CM3’s tablet base is, the keyboard and back cover feel a bit cheap. The heather-gray padding on both components feels rough, especially on the edges where it attaches to the black backing. The keys are made of equally rough plastic, and you can see where the labels have been adhered to the keycaps.
