ASUS Chromebook C300
Updated on
Note: This Chromebook has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase new. Its Auto Update Expiration date was August 2019, meaning it no longer receives Chrome OS updates or security patches. The information below is kept for historical reference.
The ASUS Chromebook C300 represented ASUS’s answer to a specific market demand: users who wanted more screen real estate than the company’s 11.6-inch C200 without paying premium prices. Released in 2014, this 13.3-inch Chromebook shared the same Intel Celeron N2830 Bay Trail processor as its smaller sibling but stretched the display to a larger form factor that made it genuinely practical for extended work sessions. At a starting price of just $219, the C300 positioned itself as one of the most affordable ways to get a larger-screen Chromebook experience.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Exceptional 10-14 hour battery life | Extremely poor vertical viewing angles |
| Completely silent fanless operation | Limited upgradability (soldered components) |
| Affordable pricing at $219-$279 | Faint CPU whine audible during operation |
| Larger 13.3-inch display | Weak structural rigidity despite decent surface stability |
| Bright matte screen (276 cd/m²) | Sluggish performance for demanding tasks |
| Fast dual-band WiFi AC support (867 Mbps) | Inaccurate color representation |
Related Videos
ASUS Chromebook C300 Comparison Chart
 ASUS Chromebook C300 | ASUS Chromebook C300 | ASUS Chromebook C300 | ASUS Chromebook C300 | ASUS Chromebook C300 | ASUS Chromebook C300 | |
| Price | List Price: $279.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $229.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $329.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $389.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $229.00 Amazon Prices: | List Price: $229.00 Amazon Prices: |
| Model number | C300MA-DH02 | C300MA-DB01 | C300MA-EDU | C300MA-DH02-LTE | C300MA-DH01-RD | C300MA-DH01-LB |
| Perfomance Rating | 2.3 | 1.8 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
| Chromebook Plus | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Processor | Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.41 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2830 | Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.41 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2830 | Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.41 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2830 | Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.41 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2830 | Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.41 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2830 | Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.41 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2830 |
| RAM | 4 GB | 2 GB | 4 GB | 4 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Internal Storage | 16 GB eMMC | 16 GB eMMC | 32 GB eMMC | 16 GB eMMC | 16 GB eMMC | 16 GB eMMC |
| Screen Size | 13.3" | 13.3" | 13.3" | 13.3" | 13.3" | 13.3" |
| Screen Resolution | 1366x768 | 1366x768 | 1366x768 | 1366x768 | 1366x768 | 1366x768 |
| Screen Type | Matte TN LCD | Matte TN LCD | Matte TN LCD | Matte TN LCD | Matte TN LCD | Matte TN LCD |
| Touch Screen | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Stylus / Pen | No Stylus Support | No Stylus Support | No Stylus Support | No Stylus Support | No Stylus Support | No Stylus Support |
| Dimensions width x length x thickness | 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (330.2 x 231.14 x 22.86 mm) | 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (330.2 x 231.14 x 22.86 mm) | 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (330.2 x 231.14 x 22.86 mm) | 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (330.2 x 231.14 x 22.86 mm) | 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (330.2 x 231.14 x 22.86 mm) | 13 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches (330.2 x 231.14 x 22.86 mm) |
| Weight | 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg) | 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg) | 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg) | 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg) | 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg) | 3.08 lbs (1.4 kg) |
| Backlit Keyboard | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Webcam | HD | HD | HD | HD | HD | HD |
| WiFi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Ethernet | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cellular Modem | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| HDMI | Full-Size HDMI | Full-Size HDMI | Full-Size HDMI | Full-Size HDMI | Full-Size HDMI | Full-Size HDMI |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3 | 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3 | 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3 | 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3 | 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3 | 1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3 |
| Thunderbolt Ports | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Card Reader | SD | SD | SD | SD | SD | SD |
| Battery | 3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion | 3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion | 3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion | 3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion | 3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion | 3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion |
| Battery Life | 10.0 hours | 10.0 hours | 10.0 hours | 10.0 hours | 10.0 hours | 10.0 hours |
| Fanless | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto Update Expiration Date | August, 2019 | August, 2019 | August, 2019 | August, 2019 | August, 2019 | August, 2019 |
Related Chromebooks
-
ASUS Chromebook C423The ASUS Chromebook C423 packs a 14-inch HD display, Intel Celeron power, and 10-hour battery life… -
ASUS Chromebook C523The ASUS Chromebook C523 brings a 15.6” anti-glare display, robust connectivity with 802.11ac Wi-Fi… -
HP Chromebook 14 (AMD)The HP Chromebook 14 combines a 14-inch WLED-backlit display, TrueVision HD webcam, and fanless… -
HP Chromebook 14The HP Chromebook 14 was a popular budget Chromebook known for its WLED-backlit display,… -
Acer Chromebook 315The Acer Chromebook 315 shines with its vivid 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, 10-hour battery life, and… -
Acer Chromebook 311 (AMD)The Acer Chromebook 311 combines an 11.6-inch ComfyView screen, robust AMD processing, and 10-hour…
Hardware and Performance
The ASUS Chromebook C300 runs on the Intel Celeron N2830, a dual-core Bay Trail processor clocked at 2.16 GHz with burst speeds up to 2.41 GHz. NotebookCheck’s comprehensive testing measured JavaScript benchmark scores of 6,606 in Octane V2 and 1,580 in Peacekeeper, numbers that reveal both the processor’s capabilities and limitations. For basic web browsing, email, and document editing, the C300 delivered adequate performance. Push it harder with multiple tabs or demanding web applications, and the Bay Trail architecture showed its age even by 2014 standards.
The tradeoff for this entry-level processor was extraordinary battery life. NotebookCheck achieved 14 hours and 4 minutes of web browsing on a single charge, extending to over 22 hours at idle. Small Business Computing’s real-world testing confirmed these numbers with nearly 10 hours of mixed business use. This endurance came courtesy of the efficient Bay Trail architecture and completely fanless design, which meant zero fan noise during any workload. NotebookCheck did note a faint CPU whine audible in quiet environments, though most users would never notice it.
ASUS equipped the C300 with dual-band 802.11ac WiFi via the Intel Dual-Band AC 7260 adapter, capable of theoretical speeds up to 867 Mbps. This was a notable inclusion at the price point, providing network performance that wouldn’t bottleneck the system for years to come. Bluetooth 4.0 rounded out the wireless connectivity options.
Display
The 13.3-inch display delivered mixed results in professional testing. NotebookCheck measured brightness at 276 cd/m² with reasonably even distribution across the panel, making it adequately bright for most indoor environments. The matte finish effectively eliminated reflections, a practical choice for a device intended for work.
However, the TN panel suffered from severe viewing angle limitations that reviewers consistently flagged as the C300’s most significant weakness. Vertical viewing angles degraded dramatically with even small positional changes, making the display problematic for anyone working at non-optimal angles or attempting to share the screen with others. Color accuracy also fell short of ideal, though this mattered less for the productivity-focused use cases the C300 targeted.
Design and Build
The C300 scaled up the C200’s design language to accommodate its larger 13.3-inch display. Measuring 13.0 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches and weighing 3.08 pounds, the device remained portable despite the size increase. Small Business Computing noted that “the solid build quality compares favorably to premium ultraportables” while acknowledging the plastic construction attracted fingerprints.
The keyboard earned consistent praise. ASUS included a full-size layout with dedicated Chrome OS action keys across the top row. The spacious key pitch and responsive feel made extended typing sessions comfortable. The substantial touchpad improved cursor navigation compared to cramped alternatives on smaller Chromebooks, though multi-finger gestures were less reliable by contemporary standards.
Connectivity matched the competition: one USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, full-size HDMI for presentations, an SD card reader, and a combo headphone/microphone jack. The built-in stereo speakers proved “decent” according to Small Business Computing, sufficient for video calls or sharing content in small groups.
Reviewer Insights
Professional reviews from 2014-2015 painted a consistent picture of the C300 as exceptional value with a standout battery life achievement but hampered by display limitations.
NotebookCheck
Steve Schardein’s comprehensive February 2015 review awarded the C300 a 78% rating (“Good”), calling it “one of the best-balanced Chromebooks we’ve had the pleasure of reviewing” as a companion device. The detailed testing revealed 14+ hours of web browsing battery life and surface temperatures that remained comfortable during extended use thanks to the fanless design. However, the review cautioned that “sluggish performance for demanding tasks” and “extremely poor vertical viewing angles” were significant compromises buyers needed to accept.
Small Business Computing
The August 2014 business-focused review positioned the C300 as “practical hardware for cloud-dependent business users.” Testing confirmed nearly 10 hours of real-world battery life and praised the keyboard as “legitimate full-size” with the same quality as more expensive ASUS ultrabooks. The review highlighted that the C300 “bridges the gap between tablets and traditional laptops” at its $249 price point, though it acknowledged Chrome OS limitations meant it “will not fully replace desktop computing for many businesses.”
Available Configurations
ASUS offered the C300 in multiple configurations to hit different price points. The base C300MA-DB01 at $229 paired 2GB RAM with 16GB storage, while the C300MA-DH02 at $279 doubled the RAM to 4GB. An EDU model targeted schools with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage at $329, and the premium C300MA-DH02-LTE added Verizon cellular connectivity for $389. Color options included black, red, and light blue variants.
All configurations included 100GB of Google Drive storage free for two years, effectively expanding the limited local storage capacity for users comfortable with cloud-based workflows.
Historical Context
The ASUS Chromebook C300 launched during Chromebook’s emergence as a legitimate computing category. In 2014, 13.3-inch Chromebooks were relatively uncommon at budget price points, giving the C300 a notable market position. Its competition included the HP Chromebook 14, which offered similar specs at a higher price, and the more compact Samsung Chromebook 2, which provided better performance through its Exynos processor.
The C300’s influence can be traced through subsequent ASUS Chromebook designs, with the company continuing to offer larger-screen options that prioritized battery endurance and value. Models like the Chromebook C523 and Chromebook Flip C434 evolved the formula with improved displays and modern processors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I still use the ASUS Chromebook C300 in 2026?
A: While the C300 can still physically function, it stopped receiving Chrome OS updates in August 2019. This means no security patches, no new features, and potentially incompatible websites as web standards evolve. Using it for any sensitive activities like online banking is not recommended.
Q: What was the battery life of the ASUS Chromebook C300?
A: The C300 achieved exceptional battery life for its time. NotebookCheck measured 14 hours and 4 minutes of web browsing on a single charge, while Small Business Computing achieved nearly 10 hours of real-world mixed business use.
Q: What was the difference between the ASUS C200 and C300?
A: The C300 was essentially a larger version of the C200. Both used the same Intel Celeron N2830 processor and shared similar specifications, but the C300 featured a 13.3-inch display versus the C200’s 11.6-inch screen. The C300 weighed 3.08 pounds compared to the C200’s 2.5 pounds.
Q: Could you upgrade the RAM or storage in the ASUS Chromebook C300?
A: No, both the RAM and eMMC storage were soldered to the motherboard and not user-upgradeable. NotebookCheck specifically noted the “limited upgradability” as a weakness. Buyers needed to choose their desired configuration at purchase.
Q: Was the ASUS Chromebook C300 fanless?
A: Yes, the C300 featured a completely fanless design, which meant silent operation during all workloads. NotebookCheck praised the “cool, completely silent operation” though they did note a faint CPU whine that could be audible in very quiet environments.