Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6"

Updated on February 5, 2026

Note: This product has been discontinued. It is no longer available for purchase new. The information below is kept for historical reference.

The Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6” arrived in 2014 as Samsung’s attempt to differentiate Chromebooks through premium design rather than just competitive pricing. Borrowing the distinctive faux-leather aesthetic from the Galaxy Note 3 smartphone, this 11.6-inch Chromebook stood apart from competitors with its silver stitched lid pattern and textured exterior. The device was offered in two processor configurations: ARM-based Samsung Exynos 5 Octa models (XE503C12) and Intel Celeron N2840 variants (XE500C12), each targeting different performance and price points. Completely fanless operation made it ideal for quiet environments like classrooms and libraries, while 802.11ac WiFi support delivered faster wireless connectivity than many competitors of its era. Chrome OS support ended in June 2021, but the Samsung Chromebook 2 remains notable as an early example of manufacturers prioritizing design identity in the budget Chromebook market.

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Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6" Comparison Chart

	Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6"	Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6"	Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6"
Price	List Price: $249.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $319.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...	List Price: $299.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Model number	XE500C12-K01US	XE503C12-K02US	XE503C12-K01US
Perfomance Rating	1.9	2.4	2.4
Chromebook Plus	No	No	No
Processor	Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.58 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2840	Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.58 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2840	Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.58 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2840
RAM	2 GB	4 GB	4 GB
Internal Storage	16 GB eMMC	16 GB eMMC	16 GB eMMC
Screen Size	11.6"	11.6"	11.6"
Screen Resolution	1366x768	1366x768	1366x768
Screen Type	LED	LED	LED
Touch Screen	No	No	No
Stylus / Pen	No Stylus Support	No Stylus Support	No Stylus Support
Dimensions width x length x thickness	8.06 x 11.4 x 0.66 inches (204.72 x 289.56 x 16.76 mm)	8.06 x 11.4 x 0.66 inches (204.72 x 289.56 x 16.76 mm)	8.06 x 11.4 x 0.66 inches (204.72 x 289.56 x 16.76 mm)
Weight	2.65 lbs (1.2 kg)	2.65 lbs (1.2 kg)	2.65 lbs (1.2 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No	No	No
Webcam	720p HD	720p HD	720p HD
WiFi	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
Ethernet	No	No	No
Cellular Modem	No	No	No
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
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No	No
Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader
Battery	2 cell, 4080 mAh 30 Wh	2 cell, 4080 mAh 30 Wh	2 cell, 4080 mAh 30 Wh
Battery Life	9.0 hours	9.0 hours	9.0 hours
Fanless	Yes	Yes	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	June, 2021	June, 2021	June, 2021

Detailed Insights into the Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6”

Samsung’s design philosophy for the Chromebook 2 centered on visual differentiation in a market increasingly crowded with generic black plastic laptops. NotebookCheck’s comprehensive review described the exterior as featuring a “textured leather-like exterior design that appears premium but remains hard plastic construction.” The faux-leather pattern with decorative stitching was borrowed directly from Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 smartphone, creating a unified aesthetic across the company’s product line. Engadget’s Dana Wollman noted that “this might be Samsung’s lowest-end Chromebook, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at it.” The design gamble paid off in making the Chromebook 2 instantly recognizable on store shelves.

Build quality represented a definite step up from Samsung’s previous Chromebook efforts. Computerworld’s JR Raphael observed that construction was solid for the entry-level price point, with rigid surfaces showing only moderate depressions under pressure during testing. At just 11.4 x 8.06 x 0.66 inches and weighing 2.65 pounds, the Chromebook 2 was genuinely portable for students and travelers. NotebookCheck’s testing confirmed the lightweight construction at approximately 1.2 kg, making it easy to carry between classes or in a backpack all day.

The 11.6-inch matte display delivered adequate performance for indoor use but exhibited typical TN panel characteristics. NotebookCheck measured brightness around 201 cd/m² with a 387:1 contrast ratio, sufficient for most indoor environments but challenging outdoors. Computerworld’s review was more critical, noting that “colors appear grayish and dull with poor contrast” and that viewing angles suffered dramatically when not viewing the screen head-on. The 1366x768 resolution was standard for 11.6-inch Chromebooks of this era, though users accustomed to higher-resolution displays may find text rendering less crisp than expected.

Performance and Battery Life

The Samsung Chromebook 2 was available with two distinct processor architectures, each with different performance characteristics. The Intel Celeron N2840 variant (XE500C12) delivered performance competitive with other entry-level Chromebooks of late 2014. NotebookCheck’s benchmark testing recorded an Octane score of 8089, Peacekeeper score of 1385, and WebXPRT score of 137, figures that placed it on par with similar Intel-based competitors. Engadget’s testing found comparable results with SunSpider at 525ms, Octane at 7223, and Kraken at 3936ms, noting “the more I use Chromebooks, the more I’m convinced that performance across the board is generally good enough.”

The ARM-based Exynos variants (XE503C12) offered different trade-offs. Computerworld’s testing revealed that even the 4GB RAM Exynos model was outperformed by Intel Haswell devices with only 2GB RAM in page loading tests. The reviewer noted that “direct comparison reveals Intel-based Haswell systems demonstrate faster page loading” despite the Samsung’s higher RAM configuration. For basic web browsing and document editing, both processor variants handled Chrome OS workflows adequately, but the Intel version offered more consistent performance during multitasking.

Battery life varied depending on usage patterns and processor variant. The Intel model achieved strong results, with Engadget measuring 7 hours for full HD video playback and an impressive 9 hours 48 minutes for standard definition content. This aligned with Samsung’s marketing claims and made the Chromebook 2 competitive for all-day classroom or work use. However, Computerworld found the Exynos variant fell significantly short of claims, measuring only 5.5-7 hours versus the rated 8 hours during real-world testing. The 30Wh 2-cell lithium-ion battery supported both configurations.

Thermal management relied entirely on passive cooling, delivering completely silent operation during all tasks. NotebookCheck confirmed quiet operation with low thermal output, making the Chromebook 2 well-suited for library study sessions and meeting rooms where fan noise would be disruptive. Engadget noted the device ran warm but within acceptable limits for fanless operation.

Connectivity and Ports

The Samsung Chromebook 2’s port selection balanced practicality with the thin chassis design. One USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 port handled peripheral connectivity, while a full-size HDMI output enabled external display connections without adapters. The microSD card slot allowed storage expansion, though Engadget noted disappointment that Samsung chose microSD over full-size SD, making it incompatible with standard camera memory cards without an adapter.

WiFi support was a genuine highlight, with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band connectivity delivering faster wireless performance than many competitors that still shipped with 802.11n-only configurations. NotebookCheck praised the “strong WiFi performance with 802.11ac support,” though actual speeds depended on router capabilities and network conditions. Bluetooth 4.0 handled wireless peripheral connections for mice, keyboards, and audio devices.

The 720p HD webcam represented an improvement over some competitors’ VGA cameras, adequate for basic video calls and conferencing. Combined audio/microphone jack and integrated stereo speakers rounded out the communication features, with Computerworld noting “respectable stereo speakers” for the price point.

Reviewer Insights on the Samsung Chromebook 2 11.6”

NotebookCheck’s Technical Analysis

Allen Ngo’s NotebookCheck review of the Intel Celeron variant earned an 82% overall rating. The review praised the improved design aesthetic over previous Samsung Chromebooks, strong WiFi performance, lightweight portability, and adequate performance for web-based computing. Key criticisms focused on the matte display with poor outdoor visibility, limited RAM options (particularly the 2GB base model), restricted viewing angles, and small 16GB internal storage. Ngo concluded that “the Chromebook 2 is a no-frills Chromebook that performs well in core aspects where target users are more likely to care about.”

Engadget’s User Experience Focus

Dana Wollman’s Engadget review provided practical perspective from daily usage. She praised the premium design with its attractive faux-leather finish, comfortable and responsive keyboard, fast 802.11ac connectivity, and strong battery life exceeding 9 hours in testing. The keyboard specifically earned attention: “Most other Chromebooks I’ve tested have flatter, shallower keys,” Wollman noted, describing the relatively cushy typing experience. Criticisms included the microSD slot choice, display viewing angles, occasional audio dropouts during multitasking, and the observation that performance offered no advantage over cheaper competitors. Her conclusion captured the market reality: “For $250, you could get Sammy’s new entry-level Chromebook, or you could also go with models from Acer, ASUS and HP.”

Computerworld’s Comparative Assessment

JR Raphael’s Computerworld review examined both the 11-inch and 13-inch models, finding “compelling — but not without compromise.” The distinctive design earned praise as a genuine differentiator, with solid build quality, excellent keyboard and trackpad, respectable speakers, and completely silent fanless operation. However, Raphael identified significant concerns including the TN panel’s limited color accuracy and viewing angles, ARM processor performance lagging Intel alternatives, battery life falling short of claims, and the overall value proposition of the 11-inch model versus Intel-based competitors. His testing methodology included extensive real-world usage alongside benchmarks, revealing the gap between marketing claims and actual performance.

Limitations and Considerations

Buyers encountering the Samsung Chromebook 2 on the secondary market should understand its practical limitations for modern use. Chrome OS support ended in June 2021, meaning no security updates from Google. This makes the device unsuitable for sensitive browsing, financial transactions, or accessing personal accounts. The ARM-based Exynos variants cannot run Linux applications through Crostini (Chrome OS’s Linux container), while the Intel Celeron N2840 variant has very limited Linux compatibility due to the older processor architecture.

With just 16GB of storage across all configurations, users had to rely heavily on Google Drive and cloud services. The 2GB RAM base model (Intel variant) struggled with modern web applications even during its supported lifetime, while the 4GB models offered more comfortable multitasking headroom. Neither RAM nor storage can be upgraded, as both are soldered to the motherboard.

For collectors or those interested in Chromebook history, the Samsung Chromebook 2 represents an interesting design experiment that brought smartphone aesthetics to budget laptops. It demonstrated Samsung’s willingness to differentiate through design rather than competing solely on specifications, a strategy that influenced subsequent Chrome OS devices from multiple manufacturers.

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