ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3

Updated on January 26, 2026

The ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 was a budget 2-in-1 Chromebook from ASUS, pairing a 360-degree hinge with a 3:2 touchscreen in a compact, portable package. Its 3:2 aspect ratio, fanless operation, and long battery life made it a practical pick for students and casual users on a budget. The model has since been discontinued and is sold mainly as refurbished units.

Related Videos

ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 Comparison Chart

	ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3	ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3
Price	List Price: $329.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $399.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Model number	CM3200FVA-DS42T	CM3200FM1A-DS44T-S
Performance Rating	3.5	3.8
Chromebook Plus	No	No
Processor	Octa-core 2.00 Ghz MediaTek Kompanio 500 (8183)	Octa-core 2.00 Ghz (max 2.20 Ghz) MediaTek Kompanio 820 (8192)
RAM	4 GB	4 GB
Internal Storage	32 GB eMMC	64 GB eMMC
Screen Size	12"	12"
Screen Resolution	1366x912	1366x912
Screen Type	Glossy display, 220nits, NTSC: 50%, Screen-to-body ratio 78 %, With stylus support	Glossy display, 220nits, NTSC: 50%, Screen-to-body ratio 78 %, With stylus support
Touch Screen	Yes	Yes
Stylus / Pen	Supported	Supported
Dimensions width x length x thickness	8.5 x 10.6 x 0.66 inches (215.9 x 269.24 x 16.76 mm)	8.5 x 10.6 x 0.66 inches (215.9 x 269.24 x 16.76 mm)
Weight	2.51 lbs (1.14 kg)	2.51 lbs (1.14 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No	No
Webcam	720p HD	720p HD
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0
Ethernet	No	No
Cellular Modem	No	No
HDMI	No HDMI	No HDMI
USB Ports	1 USB 2.0, 1 USB-C (USB-C to HDMI adapter included)	1 USB 2.0, 1 USB-C (USB-C to HDMI adapter included)
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No
Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader
Battery	2 cell, 32 Whrs, Li-ion	2 cell, 32 Whrs, Li-ion
Battery Life	12.0 hours	12.0 hours
Fanless	Yes	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	June, 2030	June, 2030

A fanless 3:2 convertible built around battery life

At 2.51 pounds and 10.6 x 8.5 x 0.66 inches, the CM3 is small enough to carry all day. The aluminum lid feels a step above the budget price, and the 360-degree hinge moves between laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes. The fanless design runs silently, which suits libraries or classrooms. Build quality is solid for the price, though the plastic body around the chassis shows its budget origins.

The 12-inch display runs at 1366x912, and the 3:2 aspect ratio gives it more vertical room than a 16:9 panel of the same size for reading documents, browsing the web, and working in Google Docs. TechRadar noted that the display offers “great display quality” despite the lower resolution, while Digital Trends called it “surprisingly nice.” The glossy panel takes touch input and USI stylus input for note-taking and drawing, though screen brightness tops out at around 220-250 nits, which can be limiting in bright outdoor conditions.

Performance comes courtesy of the MediaTek Kompanio 500 (MT8183) processor paired with 4GB of RAM. This ARM-based chip was designed specifically for Chromebooks, offering decent efficiency for basic tasks while keeping temperatures and power consumption low. Benchmarks place it at the lower end of the Chromebook spectrum, with TechRadar recording a Kraken JavaScript score of 3692ms and an Octane 2.0 score of 10,303. In practical terms, this means the CM3 handles web browsing with a few tabs, document editing, and media streaming without significant issues, but loading up too many Chrome tabs or running demanding Android apps will result in noticeable slowdowns. The 64GB variant features the slightly faster Kompanio 820 processor, which provides improved performance headroom.

A single USB Type-C port handles charging, data transfer, and video output, joined by a USB Type-A 2.0 port for legacy peripherals. ASUS includes a USB-C to HDMI adapter in the box. The microSD card slot adds storage beyond the onboard eMMC. Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and Bluetooth 5.0 handle wireless connectivity adequately, though the absence of Wi-Fi 6 reflects the device’s budget positioning. The 720p webcam is serviceable for video calls, and the 3.5mm combo audio jack is also on board, though the bottom-firing speakers are too modest for music production.

The 32 watt-hour battery is small, and the efficient ARM processor and lower-resolution display are what stretch it. Digital Trends measured nearly 12.5 hours in web browsing tests, while TechRadar found 7 hours 38 minutes in their more demanding movie playback test. For students and travelers, this means confident all-day usage without needing to carry a charger. The included compact charger uses USB-C Power Delivery and can fully charge the device in approximately two hours.

Reviewer Insights

TechRadar and Digital Trends both pitch the CM3 at students and light users on a budget.

TechRadar’s Assessment

TechRadar’s John Loeffler awarded the CM3200 a score of 3.5 out of 5 stars, noting that “it isn’t a very powerful 2-in-1 laptop by any means, but it’s powerful enough, and comes with some quality features that make it one of the best budget laptops around.” Despite poor benchmark results, TechRadar found that in practical use, “we didn’t encounter nearly as many performance slowdowns as we’d expected” and that the device was “perfectly capable of browsing, streaming, and getting some work done in the cloud without any real issue.” Battery life testing revealed 7 hours and 38 minutes on TechRadar’s movie test, which while not class-leading, provides enough runtime for a typical school or work day.

Digital Trends’ Perspective

Mark Coppock at Digital Trends gave the CM3 a score of 7 out of 10 and emphasized that it “makes the right sacrifices for a cheap student laptop.” His criticisms centered on the cramped keyboard and occasionally finicky touch display, both consequences of the compact form factor. The review highlighted battery performance, with the device lasting almost 12.5 hours in web browsing tests, a notable figure given the 32 watt-hour battery. Digital Trends particularly praised the touchpad and active pen support, calling them “excellent” for the price point.

Chrome Unboxed’s Take

Robby Payne at Chrome Unboxed initially dismissed the CM3 but later revised his opinion after spending more time with the device. His December 2023 review, testing the Kompanio 820 variant, declared “I was wrong: the ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 is quietly great.” He praised its performance and noted that “the 12-inch 3:2 IPS screen is actually quite good, plenty sharp at this size, and it feels pretty awesome in tablet mode as well.” At around $229 for the updated model, he concluded “you simply can’t go wrong with this one.”

Video reviewers rate it a solid used buy

MergeDroid put months of hands-on time into their review “ASUS Chromebook Flip CM3 Review: Best Small Chromebook?”, walked through the model variant differences, and noted the value at refurbished prices around £124. They particularly appreciated the lightweight design and 3:2 display. More recently, TechSnacker tested the CM3 in 2024 and found that it can handle light gaming like Genshin Impact at 30fps and is suitable for student use at refurbished pricing around $170.

Worth buying used for light schoolwork

Buy one secondhand if you want a light convertible for web work, Google Docs, and pen input, and you can live with 4GB of RAM and a keyboard Digital Trends found cramped. The 3:2 screen and the silent chassis are what the CM3 still does well at used prices.

Pay up for the CM3200FM1A if you can find one, because the Kompanio 820 has more headroom and its Auto Update Expiration date runs to August 2031 against June 2030 for the base model. To see how it stacks up against current options, the Chromebook Comparison Chart lets you filter and sort by specs, price, and form factor.

Frequently Asked Questions