Samsung announced that its Chromebook 2 convertible starts going on sale today for a starting price of $539. The Chrome OS-powered laptop is available in either bright Fiesta Red or more muted Mercury Gray colors, with Samsung promising special incentives if you pre-order the laptop early.
The Chromebook 2 will officially start shipping on March 1, Samsung said.
If you’re in the market for a new Chromebook, picking up the Galaxy Chromebook 2 from February 16 through February 28 through Best Buy or Samsung’s online store will get you a $50 credit good for a future purchase.
“Consumers who pre-order can earn up to $50 toward select purchases where the pre-order was made,” Samsung said in a prepared statement ahead of the laptop’s availability. Samsung fans who reserved the Chromebook 2 prior to February 15 on the company’s website earned an additional $30 voucher for a future purchase. Unfortunately, that means even if you order today, you’d miss out on that extra $30 store credit.
For those who are commitment-phobic, you can still get a voucher good for a future purchase if you wait until after the laptop launches. This way, you can see the laptop in action at Best Buy and check out reviews before you decide to open up your wallet. If you purchase the Chromebook 2 between March 1 and 14, you’ll get a $30 credit toward a future purchase, the company stated. Given that the Chromebook 2 occupies the more premium segment of the Chromebook market, these incentives should help make the purchase a little easier on your budget.
Aside from being powered by Google’s Chrome operating system, the star feature of the Chromebook 2 is its QLED display, which Samsung is porting from its lineup of premium televisions. The Chromebook 2 is said to be the world’s first Chrome OS laptop that comes with this screen technology, which helps colors stay vivid and bold.
Designed for productivity and entertainment, the Chromebook 2 also comes with Samsung’s Smart Amp sound feature, which the company claims can deliver cinematic audio that’s 178% louder than average laptop speakers. The pre-order page for the laptop lists battery life at 13 hours.
New enhancements to Samsung’s second-generation Chromebook design include larger keyboard keys that are backlit for ease of typing. along with up to an Intel Core i3 processor that supports Wi-Fi 6+ network connectivity.
If you’re still on the fence, be sure to check out our guide to the best Chromebooks on the market today.
