ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA

Updated on February 5, 2026

Note: The ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA has been discontinued and reached its Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date in July 2020. Chrome OS no longer receives security updates on this device. This page is maintained for historical reference.

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA holds a significant place in Chrome OS history as the first Chromebook to receive Android app support through the Google Play Store. Launched in July 2015 at $249 for the base model, the Flip pioneered the compact convertible category that would later become a standard Chromebook form factor. With its premium aluminum construction, 360-degree hinge, and 10.1-inch touchscreen, the C100PA offered something genuinely new: a device small enough to use as a tablet but functional enough to serve as a secondary laptop. Engadget’s review noted it was “more solidly built than I’d ever expect from a $249 machine,” and that premium feel at a budget price defined what made this device special.

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ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA Comparison Chart

	ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA	ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA
Price	List Price: $249.00 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $279.00 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Model number	C100PA-DB01	C100PA-DB02
Performance Rating	2.0	2.5
Chromebook Plus	No	No
Processor	Quad-core 1.80 Ghz Rockchip RK3288C	Quad-core 1.80 Ghz Rockchip RK3288C
RAM	2 GB	4 GB
Internal Storage	16 GB eMMC	16 GB eMMC
Screen Size	10.1"	10.1"
Screen Resolution	1280x800	1280x800
Screen Type	IPS	IPS
Touch Screen	Yes	Yes
Stylus / Pen	No Stylus Support	No Stylus Support
Dimensions width x length x thickness	7.2 x 10.4 x 0.6 inches (182.88 x 264.16 x 15.24 mm)	7.2 x 10.4 x 0.6 inches (182.88 x 264.16 x 15.24 mm)
Weight	2 lbs (0.91 kg)	2 lbs (0.91 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No	No
Webcam	1280x720	1280x720
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.1	Bluetooth 4.1
Ethernet	No	No
Cellular Modem	No	No
HDMI	Micro HDMI	Micro HDMI
USB Ports	2 USB 2.0	2 USB 2.0
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No
Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader
Battery	2 cell, 4200, Lithium-ion	2 cell, 4200, Lithium-ion
Battery Life	9.0 hours	9.0 hours
Fanless	Yes	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	July, 2020	July, 2020

ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA Design and Build Quality

The Chromebook Flip’s most distinctive feature was its all-aluminum construction, an unusual choice at this price point. ASUS used a brushed metal finish throughout that gave the device a premium appearance typically reserved for much more expensive laptops. NotebookCheck’s detailed testing measured the weight at 874 grams (just under 2 pounds), confirming ASUS’s portability claims. The chassis felt solid in hand, though reviewers noted the display lid could exhibit some flex under pressure—a minor compromise for the weight savings.

The 360-degree hinge mechanism became the defining physical feature. Unlike the simple two-position hinges found on most laptops of the era, the Flip’s hinge allowed the screen to rotate fully around, enabling four distinct usage modes: traditional laptop, presentation mode with the screen facing away, tent mode for media consumption, and full tablet mode with the keyboard folded behind. The Mammoth Tech Show’s hands-on review compared the overall aesthetic to a MacBook Air, noting “you’re basically getting that MacBook Air unibody feel but for like a fifth of the price.”

Port selection reflected the era and size constraints. ASUS included two USB 2.0 ports, a micro-HDMI port for external displays, a microSD card slot for storage expansion, and a combo headphone/microphone jack. Users needing wired internet could connect a USB Ethernet adapter to one of the USB ports. The absence of USB 3.0 felt limiting even in 2015, and the proprietary charging connector meant users couldn’t benefit from the USB-C charging convenience that would become standard just a year later. Trusted Reviews particularly criticized the proprietary power socket, noting it added unnecessary inconvenience compared to a standard USB charger.

Rockchip RK3288C Performance

The ARM-based Rockchip RK3288C processor represented a departure from the Intel Celeron chips common in Chromebooks of the era. This quad-core chip ran at 1.8 GHz and included integrated Mali-T764 graphics, all within a thermal envelope low enough to enable fanless operation. The performance trade-off was real, however. NotebookCheck’s benchmarks showed the RK3288C “significantly trails Intel-based competitors in productivity benchmarks,” with Sunspider JavaScript scores roughly double those of faster Intel Celeron models.

In practical use, the performance was adequate for the device’s intended purpose. Tim Schofield’s comprehensive review found that “benchmarks don’t really mean anything to me; what really matters is real-world performance… and I’ve been pretty impressed.” The Flip handled eight to ten browser tabs smoothly, ran Google Docs without issues, and played 1080p video content without dropped frames. The limitation appeared when users tried to push beyond basic tasks—running multiple Android apps simultaneously or opening heavily scripted web applications could cause noticeable slowdowns.

ASUS offered two RAM configurations: a 2GB base model (C100PA-DB01) at $249 and a 4GB model (C100PA-DB02) at $279. Multiple reviewers recommended the 4GB variant. Engadget’s assessment concluded “the Flip is still a good deal even if you spring for the pricier $279 model,” and Tim Schofield specifically recommended the 4GB model as the better value. The 16GB eMMC storage remained constant across both models, which filled up quickly for users who stored local files. Chrome OS’s cloud-centric design and the microSD expansion slot partially mitigated this limitation.

Display and Touchscreen Experience

The 10.1-inch IPS display delivered better quality than most budget Chromebooks of its era. Running at 1280x800 resolution, the screen offered wide viewing angles essential for the convertible form factor—users could actually share the screen in tent mode or use it at odd angles in tablet mode without significant color shift. NotebookCheck measured a contrast ratio of 1041:1 and praised the “even brightness distribution” across the panel.

The touchscreen responded accurately and added genuine utility for Chrome OS, particularly after Android app support arrived. However, the experience wasn’t universally positive. Trusted Reviews found the “touchscreen simply isn’t as nice to use as the comfortable keyboard,” suggesting the convertible feature worked better in theory than practice for many users. The thick bezels around the display—nearly an inch on each side according to EpicDroid’s measurements—drew criticism for reducing the overall screen-to-body ratio and attracting fingerprints.

The glossy screen coating proved problematic in bright environments. NotebookCheck specifically noted “severe reflections outdoors” that limited the device’s usefulness in direct sunlight. For indoor use under typical lighting conditions, however, the display performed well for web browsing, document work, and video consumption.

Keyboard and Trackpad

At 10.1 inches diagonal, the Chromebook Flip’s keyboard was necessarily compact. The island-style keys used a smaller pitch than standard keyboards, requiring an adjustment period for users with larger hands or those accustomed to full-sized keyboards. NotebookCheck characterized it as having “good travel distance despite cramped dimensions,” while Engadget noted that the keys “feel generously spaced given the 10.6-inch deck.”

Several reviewers mentioned specific keyboard limitations. There was no backlit option, which limited usability in low-light environments. The Chrome OS keyboard layout lacked dedicated Delete and Caps Lock keys—not unusual for Chromebooks, but The Mammoth Tech Show highlighted this as a minor frustration for users transitioning from Windows or Mac laptops. Despite these constraints, reviewers who used the device for extended periods generally adapted. EpicDroid mentioned the keyboard was “comfortable even for those with carpal tunnel” after the initial adjustment.

The trackpad, proportionally small like the keyboard, received mixed feedback. Trusted Reviews described it as simply “small,” while others found it adequate for the device’s size. Chrome OS’s gesture support for two-finger scrolling and tap-to-click worked reliably on the surface.

Battery Life

Battery performance emerged as one of the Chromebook Flip’s standout features. ASUS rated the device for 9 hours, but real-world testing consistently exceeded this claim. Engadget’s battery rundown test measured 10 hours and 49 minutes—“better than most Chromebooks including the Acer Chromebook 13 and Google Pixel.” Tim Schofield reported consistent eight to ten hour results in everyday use over several weeks of testing.

The combination of the efficient ARM processor and fanless design contributed to this impressive endurance. The 4200 mAh (approximately 31 Wh) two-cell lithium-ion battery packed enough capacity to genuinely last a full work or school day without charging. Trusted Reviews confirmed “8 hours realistic use” matched their testing, though they noted similar battery life could be found in cheaper non-convertible Chromebooks.

The proprietary charging connector remained a consistent complaint. While the device charged in approximately two to three hours, users couldn’t share chargers with other devices or find replacements at local stores. This limitation became more apparent as USB-C charging became standard on subsequent Chromebook generations.

Historical Significance: First Android App Chromebook

The ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA earned its place in Chrome OS history by being the first device to receive Google Play Store support. In May 2016, nearly a year after launch, Google announced that Android apps would come to Chrome OS—and the Flip was the initial test device. This transformed the Chromebook from a browser-only device into something that could run the full library of Android applications, dramatically expanding its capabilities.

The touchscreen and convertible form factor proved particularly well-suited for Android apps designed for tablets. Users could run productivity apps like Microsoft Word offline, play mobile games, and access Android-exclusive utilities. EpicDroid’s long-term review praised this capability as significantly expanding the Flip’s utility, calling it one of the device’s major selling points during their seven to eight months of use.

However, the Rockchip processor showed its limitations with more demanding Android applications. Simple productivity apps ran well, but graphics-intensive games or apps requiring significant processing power could struggle. The 2GB RAM model in particular showed its constraints when running multiple Android apps alongside Chrome tabs.

Who Was the Chromebook Flip For?

The ideal user for the Chromebook Flip was someone who prioritized portability and versatility over raw performance. EpicDroid summarized it well: the Flip was “a fancy web device” that excelled at “blogging, social media, and media consumption” but fell short “for video editing, for picture editing… the Chromebook Flip is not the device for you.”

The device worked particularly well as a secondary computer. Tim Schofield noted he “found myself using this as a replacement real quick instead of my laptop… for things I don’t need a heavy-powered PC to do.” The combination of all-day battery life, silent operation, and tablet versatility made it ideal for coffee shops, flights, or casual couch computing. Students appreciated the light weight and durability for carrying between classes, while travelers valued its compact footprint.

The convertible features, while innovative, proved more useful in theory than practice for many users. Engadget admitted they “mainly used this in classic notebook mode,” and Trusted Reviews questioned whether “when key features of the device aren’t worthwhile they become gimmicks.” Tent mode worked well for watching videos, but full tablet mode proved awkward due to the weight and the keyboard backing against your hands.

ASUS Chromebook Flip C100PA Legacy

The Chromebook Flip C100PA pioneered features that became standard across the Chromebook ecosystem. The convertible form factor with 360-degree hinges is now common across all price points. Android app support expanded to nearly all Chromebooks. And the concept of premium build quality at budget prices influenced competitors to improve their materials and construction.

Chrome OS support ended in July 2020, following Google’s Auto Update Expiration policy. The device received roughly five years of updates—less than the eight years Google now promises for new Chromebooks, but reasonable for devices from this early convertible era. After the AUE date, the Chromebook Flip no longer receives security updates, making it unsuitable for sensitive tasks like online banking or accessing personal accounts.

For users seeking a modern equivalent, ASUS continues the Flip line with current models featuring USB-C charging, improved processors, and longer support timelines. The convertible Chromebook category the C100PA helped establish now includes options at every price point, from budget education devices to premium productivity machines.

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