Samsung's $200 Chromebook 3 Is Its Most Affordable Yet

Samsung lifts the veil on its light, durable Chromebook 3, and it's only $200

By Gabe Carey February 13, 2016

Samsung Chromebook 3 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

At CES last month, Samsung revealed that its follow-up to its well-reviewed Chromebook 2 would be making its way to market in 2016. Now it seems that day has arrived, as the Korean electronics company has listed the Chromebook 3 on Adorama, complete with an economical $200 price tag.

Of course, with the low price comes equally low specs, with the entry-level model wrangling in an 11.6-inch matte display with 1,366 x 768 resolution, an Intel Celeron N3050 Braswell processor, an Intel HD Graphics GPU, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of storage. It’s worth noting, however, that the company plans on adding a model with 4GB of RAM later on down the road.

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Samsung Chromebook 3 back — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Samsung Chromebook 3 front — Image used with permission by copyright holder

On top of that, you can expect the Chromebook 3 to have a built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip, and USB 3.0, in addition to Bluetooth 4.0, a pair of stereo speakers, a microSD card slot, and an HDMI port.

Distinguishing itself from previous models, the Chromebook 3 has installed a set of UL-certified key caps on its ergonomic keyboard, keeping up the ongoing trend of comfort for Samsung’s lightweight budget laptop series.

Obviously, these specs weren’t devised to impress, but the sturdy magnesium frame that houses the machine is a nice touch if you’re planning on throwing your laptop against the wall out of sheer frustration. All kidding aside, the finish was designed for those involved in schools and businesses, intended to endure some light roughing up.

If you’re curious about its size, the Chromebook 3 measures 0.7 inches thick, weighing it at about 2.5 pounds. Battery life-wise, you’re looking at up to 11 hours, according to the manufacturer. That’s quite good, if the real-world use comes close to the claim. A lot of Chromebooks can manage six or seven hours, at best.

Obviously, being a Chromebook, you can expect it to run Google’s simple Linux-based operating system, including all the cloud-based productivity tools you’ll need to get your work done. If you’re looking for something cheap and durable to get you by, Samsung’s Chromebook 3 looks to offer just that and a little more.

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