Samsung’s new Chromebook 2s feature HD displays and faux leather stitching of Galaxy line

Seth Weintraub | Mar 3 2014 - 10:00 am PT

Samsung’s new Chromebooks leaked a little bit last week and again over the weekend, but now they are official. The biggest upgrades include the form factor featuring the faux leather stitching made famous by its Galaxy Note 3 and a new 1080P 13-inch display on the higher end $399 model. Both still use Exynos 5 Octocore processors that lack a little bit of the oomph of Haswell Intel processors, but they compete very well in battery life (8.5-9 hours claimed by Samsung). These machines also have wake times of less than one second and cold boots in less than ten.

Another prime area of improvement is the Hangouts video chat experience enhance by a 720P front side camera paired with improved mic and 2x 2W speakers.

The Samsung Chromebook 2 Series comes with a package of premium apps worth more than $100. It includes smartphone access and the data management service Air Droid Premium, task management and collaboration app Wunderlist Pro, and LittleBridge.com (an English learning app).

I think Samsung took the criticism of the previous models to heart. The plastic MacBook Air look grew tired easily and improvements to the screen, camera, and sound are very welcome.

“Since we introduced our first Chromebook in 2011, Samsung has been committed to continually developing our designs and features to meet our users’ ever-changing needs, while staying true to the core Chromebook attributes of simplicity, speed and security,” said Mike Abary, senior vice president of consumer IT product marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “Samsung has been the top selling consumer Chromebook brand for the past three years and we’ll continue to grow our leadership position in this space with the launch of the Chromebook 2 Series.”

“Chromebooks are particularly important in the education space – according to Futuresource, one in four devices now sold into K-12 schools in the U.S. are Chromebooks – so we’ve designed our latest models with students and teachers in mind, including features like rapid start times, longer battery life and an easy-to-grip design,” said Tod Pike, senior vice president at Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division.

Available in April, the 11.6-inch Samsung Chromebook 2 will be available for an MSRP of $319.99, while the 13.3-inch model is $399.99.

The full press release and image gallery follows:

Samsung Announces Chromebook 2 Series Featuring Faster Performance, Increased Productivity and Stylish Design

Leading Provider of Chromebooks in Education Introduces New Models to Further One-to-One Learning in K-12 Schools and Enhance Mobility and Productivity for Consumers

AUSTIN, Texas – MARCH 3, 2014 – Samsung Electronics America, Inc. today announced the launch of the Chromebook 2 Series. The new models, available in 11.6- and 13.3-inch configurations, improve on the popular Samsung Chromebook line with faster performance, longer battery life and a slim, light build enhanced by a durable textured lid and elegant stitched design. The 13.3-inch model also features a Full HD (1920×1080) resolution screen, enabling users to enjoy vibrant visuals for work, teaching and learning, and entertainment. Samsung was the leading Chromebook brand in the U.S. in 2013, accounting for more than 60 percent of overall market share, according to NPD.1

Lightning fast performance

The Samsung Chromebook 2 Series offers users nearly instant access to everything they need. It wakes up in less than one second and cold boots in less than ten. Samsung’s energy-efficient Exynos 5 Octa processors allow for effortless multitasking and rapid rendering of graphics and videos, so multimedia content never misses a beat.

Powerful productivity paired with rich multimedia

The 13.3-inch Chromebook 2 features a best-in-class, Full HD (1920×1080) display with 250nit brightness, perfect for viewing photos, video and more. It is also optimized for Google+ Hangouts messaging and video calling with enhanced audio quality on high-power speakers (2Wx2) and a noise reducing array microphone, helping conversations come alive on the high-resolution screen.

Up to 8.5 hours of battery life means that users can enjoy the Chromebook 2 models throughout a full work or school day – all on a single charge.

Chromebooks update automatically, ensuring users always have the most recent technology and security features without needing to think about it. Also, when you use a Chromebook, all your information and files are saved, encrypted to your account. This makes it easy and safe for family members or students to share a device, or switch between devices.

The Samsung Chromebook 2 Series comes with a package of premium apps worth more than $100. It

includes smartphone access and data management service Air Droid Premium, task management and collaboration app Wunderlist Pro, and LittleBridge.com, an English learning app.

Sleek, elegant design

While priced affordably, the new Samsung Chromebook 2 models are as stylish as other expensive, high- end laptops. The slim body measures less than three-quarters of an inch thick, making it easy to slip into any bag. At just under 2.5 pounds for the 11.6-inch model, it is also easy to carry anywhere. The lid features the stylish stitched design of the Samsung GALAXY Note 3, adding to the sophisticated look.

Ready for the classroom

In 2013, Chromebooks were among the most popular mobile computing devices utilized in K-12 schools. As the leading provider of Chromebooks in education, Samsung is helping to foster this growth by increasing options for educators with the Chromebook 2 models. With its extensive battery life, bright display and student-friendly design, the Chromebook 2 helps teachers engage students and deliver new learning experiences.

The Samsung Chromebook 2 Series is ideal for educators and administrators seeking to adopt one-to- one learning programs. Using the web-based console – available with support from Google for $30 per device for schools – Samsung Chromebooks can be centrally managed, making it easy for educators to configure a set of laptops across the classroom or the entire school. Samsung Chromebook 2 is a classroom-ready and cost-effective solution to support dynamic teaching and learning.

Available from April, the 11.6-inch Samsung Chromebook 2 will be available for an MSRP of $319.99, while the 13.3-inch model is $399.99.

Key Specifications

Category		Details		11.6-inch Samsung Chromebook 2		13.3-inch Samsung Chromebook 2
Display		Size	11.6”		13.3”
		Resolution	HD LED Display (1366 x 768)		Full HD LED Display (1920 x 1080)
		OS	Google Chrome		Google Chrome
		Processor	Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (1.9GHz, 2MB L2 Cache)		Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (2.1GHz, 2MB L2 Cache
		Memory2	4GB DDR3L System Memory at 1600MHz (onboard)		4GB DDR3L System Memory at 1600MHz (onboard)
	Performance

		Storage3	16GB e.MMC iNANDTM Embedded Flash Drive		16GB e.MMC iNANDTM Embedded Flash Drive
		Camera	720p HD Web Camera		720p HD Web Camera
	Battery Life	Battery Life4	Up to 8 hours		Up to 8.5 hours
		Dimensions	11.40″ x 8.06″ x 0.66″		12.72″ x 8.80″ x 0.65″
	Dimensions	Weight	2.43 pounds		3.09 pounds
		Color	Jet Black, Classic White		Luminous Titan Gray
		Ports	1 HDMI, 1 USB3.0, 1 USB2.0, MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader, Headphone out/Mic-in Combo, DC- in		1 HDMI, 1 USB3.0, 1 USB2.0, MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader, Headphone out/Mic-in Combo, DC- in
	Ports

	Availability	MSRP	$319.99		$399.99

Availability Date

April 2014

*All functionality, features, specifications, and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.

1Source: The NPD Group/Total Channel
2Total amount of available memory may be less based on system configurations, graphics support, and other factors.

3Accessible capacity varies; MB = 1 million bytes, GB = 1 billion bytes, TB = 1 trillion bytes. Please note that a portion of the hard drive is reserved for system recovery, operating system and preloaded content software.

4Battery life will vary depending on the product model, configuration, power management settings, applications used, and wireless settings. The maximum capacity of the battery will decrease with time and use. Test results based on independent third party Mobile Mark (or Battery Mark) tests. Non-Metric weights and measurements are approximate.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), is a recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology. A wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SEA delivers a broad range of digital consumer electronics, IT and home appliance products. Samsung is the market leader for HDTVs in the U.S and America’s fastest growing home appliance brand. To discover more of the award-winning products you love with Samsung, please visit www.samsung.com.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a global leader in technology, opening new possibilities for people everywhere. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of TVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, cameras, home appliances, printers, LTE systems, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 286,000 people across 80 countries with annual sales of US$216.7 billion. To discover more, please visit www.samsung.com.

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Key Specifications

Category		Details		11.6-inch Samsung Chromebook 2		13.3-inch Samsung Chromebook 2
Display		Size	11.6”		13.3”
		Resolution	HD LED Display (1366 x 768)		Full HD LED Display (1920 x 1080)
		OS	Google Chrome		Google Chrome
		Processor	Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (1.9GHz, 2MB L2 Cache)		Samsung Exynos 5 Octa (2.1GHz, 2MB L2 Cache
		Memory2	4GB DDR3L System Memory at 1600MHz (onboard)		4GB DDR3L System Memory at 1600MHz (onboard)
	Performance

		Storage3	16GB e.MMC iNANDTM Embedded Flash Drive		16GB e.MMC iNANDTM Embedded Flash Drive
		Camera	720p HD Web Camera		720p HD Web Camera
	Battery Life	Battery Life4	Up to 8 hours		Up to 8.5 hours
		Dimensions	11.40″ x 8.06″ x 0.66″		12.72″ x 8.80″ x 0.65″
	Dimensions	Weight	2.43 pounds		3.09 pounds
		Color	Jet Black, Classic White		Luminous Titan Gray
		Ports	1 HDMI, 1 USB3.0, 1 USB2.0, MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader, Headphone out/Mic-in Combo, DC- in		1 HDMI, 1 USB3.0, 1 USB2.0, MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader, Headphone out/Mic-in Combo, DC- in
	Ports

	Availability	MSRP	$319.99		$399.99