ASUS Chromebook C300

Starry Hope Rating
2.5

Updated on

Photo of ASUS Chromebook C300

Note: This Chromebook has been discontinued. Its Auto Update Expiration date was September 2021, so it no longer receives Chrome OS updates or security patches.

The ASUS Chromebook C300 put a 13.3-inch screen on the same Intel Celeron N2830 Bay Trail processor ASUS used in the 11.6-inch C200. It arrived in 2014 starting at $219, and the larger panel came with a fanless chassis and all-day battery life.

ProsCons
10-14 hour battery lifeExtremely poor vertical viewing angles
No fan, so no fan noise on any workloadRAM and eMMC soldered, so no upgrades
Starts at $219 and tops out at $279Faint CPU whine audible during operation
13.3-inch panel in a 3.08-pound bodyChassis flexes under pressure
Bright matte screen (276 cd/m²)Sluggish performance for demanding tasks
Dual-band 802.11ac at 867 MbpsInaccurate 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

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:

Check Price on Amazon

List Price: $229.00

Amazon Prices:

Check Price on Amazon

List Price: $329.00

Amazon Prices:

Check Price on Amazon

List Price: $389.00

Amazon Prices:

Check Price on Amazon

List Price: $229.00

Amazon Prices:

Check Price on Amazon

List Price: $229.00

Amazon Prices:

Check Price on Amazon

Model numberC300MA-DH02C300MA-DB01C300MA-EDUC300MA-DH02-LTEC300MA-DH01-RDC300MA-DH01-LB
Performance Rating2.31.82.32.31.81.8
Chromebook PlusNoNoNoNoNoNo
ProcessorDual-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
RAM4 GB2 GB4 GB4 GB2 GB2 GB
Internal Storage16 GB eMMC16 GB eMMC32 GB eMMC16 GB eMMC16 GB eMMC16 GB eMMC
Screen Size13.3"13.3"13.3"13.3"13.3"13.3"
Screen Resolution1366x7681366x7681366x7681366x7681366x7681366x768
Screen TypeMatte TN LCDMatte TN LCDMatte TN LCDMatte TN LCDMatte TN LCDMatte TN LCD
Touch ScreenNoNoNoNoNoNo
Stylus / PenNo Stylus SupportNo Stylus SupportNo Stylus SupportNo Stylus SupportNo Stylus SupportNo 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)
Weight3.08 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 KeyboardNoNoNoNoNoNo
WebcamHDHDHDHDHDHD
WiFi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
BluetoothBluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0Bluetooth 4.0
EthernetNoNoNoNoNoNo
Cellular ModemNoNoNoVerizon LTENoNo
HDMIFull-Size HDMIFull-Size HDMIFull-Size HDMIFull-Size HDMIFull-Size HDMIFull-Size HDMI
USB Ports1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 31 USB 2.0, 1 USB 31 USB 2.0, 1 USB 31 USB 2.0, 1 USB 31 USB 2.0, 1 USB 31 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3
Thunderbolt PortsNoNoNoNoNoNo
Card ReaderSDSDSDSDSDSD
Battery3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion3 cell, 48 Whrs, Lithium-ion
Battery Life10.0 hours10.0 hours10.0 hours10.0 hours10.0 hours10.0 hours
FanlessYesYesYesYesYesYes
Auto Update
Expiration Date
September, 2021September, 2021September, 2021September, 2021September, 2021September, 2021

Related Chromebooks

A 2.16 GHz dual-core that trades speed for endurance

The Intel Celeron N2830 is a dual-core Bay Trail processor clocked at 2.16 GHz with burst speeds up to 2.41 GHz. NotebookCheck’s testing measured JavaScript scores of 6,606 in Octane V2 and 1,580 in Peacekeeper. That is enough for web browsing, email, and document editing. Open a stack of tabs or a heavy web application and the Bay Trail architecture runs out of room, as it already did against 2014 expectations.

NotebookCheck recorded 14 hours and 4 minutes of web browsing on a single charge, stretching past 22 hours at idle. Small Business Computing’s testing landed at nearly 10 hours of mixed business use. There is no fan, so no workload produces fan noise, though NotebookCheck heard a faint CPU whine in quiet rooms.

Wireless runs through the Intel Dual-Band AC 7260 adapter, which gives the C300 dual-band 802.11ac at theoretical speeds up to 867 Mbps. Bluetooth 4.0 covers mice and headsets.

Bright and matte, with vertical angles that collapse

NotebookCheck measured 276 cd/m² on the 13.3-inch panel with reasonably even distribution, which is enough brightness for indoor rooms. The matte finish keeps reflections off the screen, a sensible choice for a machine meant for work.

The TN panel is the weak point. NotebookCheck called the vertical viewing angles extremely poor: tilt the lid a few degrees and the image washes out. That rules out awkward seating positions and makes the screen hard to share with a second person. Color accuracy falls short as well, which counts for less on the document and browser work the machine was sold for.

A 3.08-pound plastic shell with a full-size keyboard

The chassis measures 13.0 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches and weighs 3.08 pounds, light enough to carry daily despite the 13.3-inch footprint. Small Business Computing noted that “the solid build quality compares favorably to premium ultraportables” while acknowledging the plastic construction attracted fingerprints.

ASUS fitted a full-size layout with dedicated Chrome OS action keys across the top row, and the key pitch leaves room for long typing sessions. The touchpad is large, so cursor work does not feel cramped, though multi-finger gestures register inconsistently.

Ports come to one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, full-size HDMI for presentations, an SD card reader, and a combo headphone/microphone jack. Small Business Computing called the stereo speakers “decent,” which covers a video call or sharing a clip with a couple of people.

Reviewer Insights

NotebookCheck

Steve Schardein’s 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. His testing recorded 14+ hours of web browsing battery life and surface temperatures that remained comfortable during extended use thanks to the fanless design. 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

Small Business Computing’s August 2014 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.”

Configurations ran from $229 to $389

The C300MA-DB01 opened the line at $229 with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and the C300MA-DH02 doubled the RAM to 4GB for $279. Schools bought the C300MA-EDU, which carried 4GB and 32GB at $329. The C300MA-DH02-LTE added Verizon cellular for $389. Shells came in black, red, and light blue.

Every configuration shipped with 100GB of Google Drive storage free for two years, an offset for local storage that tops out at 32GB.

The HP Chromebook 14 and Samsung Chromebook 2 were the alternatives

The HP Chromebook 14 offered similar specs at a higher price, while the Samsung Chromebook 2 was smaller and faster on its Exynos processor. ASUS kept building large-screen Chromebooks around battery life and price after the C300, and the Chromebook C523 and Chromebook Flip C434 carried the formula forward with better displays and newer processors.

For a side-by-side look at how the C300 stacked up against other Chromebooks from that era, the Chromebook Comparison Chart puts specs in context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I still use the ASUS Chromebook C300 in 2026?

A: It still powers on, but Chrome OS updates stopped in September 2021. No security patches arrive, no new features land, and sites built to newer web standards may misbehave. Keep it away from online banking and anything else sensitive.

Q: What was the battery life of the ASUS Chromebook C300?

A: NotebookCheck measured 14 hours and 4 minutes of web browsing on a single charge. 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: Size, mostly. Both run the same Intel Celeron N2830 processor and share most of their specifications. The C300 carries a 13.3-inch display against the C200’s 11.6-inch screen and weighs 3.08 pounds 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 the eMMC storage were soldered to the motherboard. NotebookCheck noted the “limited upgradability” as a weakness, so buyers picked the configuration they wanted at purchase.

Q: Was the ASUS Chromebook C300 fanless?

A: Yes. There is no fan, so the machine stays silent under every workload. NotebookCheck praised the “cool, completely silent operation” though they did note a faint CPU whine that could be audible in very quiet environments.