UPDATE 16/5: The Amazon product page has been taken offline; we’ll keep an eye out for further updates.
The Chromebook was first announced by Samsung at CES back in January, where it was announced with a lower spec Samsung Chromebook Plus. Samsung has previously advised us that neither of these Chromebooks are coming to Australia, after all Samsung exited the laptop and Chromebook market in Australia back in 2013.
The Chromebook Pro is the higher spec device with an Intel processor but carries a higher price tag, $549.99USD to be precise. The rest of the internal specs appear to be mostly the same though as you can see from this comparison table:
| Model Code | XE513C24-K01US Chromebook Plus |
XE510C24-K01US Chromebook Pro |
| Operating System | Google Chrome | Google Chrome |
| Processor / Chipset | OP1, Made for Chromebooks. Hexa-core (Dual A72, Quad A53) |
Intel® Core™ M3 Processor 6Y30 (0.90 GHz up to 2.20 GHz, 4 MB L3 Cache) |
| Graphic | Internal Graphics | Intel® HD Graphics 515 |
| Display | 12.3″ 2400×1600 LED Display (3:2 aspect ratio) with Touch Screen Panel | 12.3″ 2400×1600 LED Display (3:2 aspect ratio) with Touch Screen Panel |
| Memory | 4GB LPDDR3 Memory (on BD 4GB) | 4GB LPDDR3 Memory (on BD 4GB) |
| Hard Drive | 32GB e.MMC | 32GB e.MMC |
| Color | Platinum Silver | Black* |
| Multimedia | Internal Dual Array Digital Mic | Internal Dual Array Digital Mic |
| Stereo Speakers (1.5W x 2) | Stereo Speakers (1.5W x 2) | |
| 720p HD Camera | 720p HD Camera | |
| Network | 802.11 ac (2×2) | 802.11 ac (2×2) |
| Bluetooth v4.0 | Bluetooth v4.0 | |
| Ports | 1 Headphone out/Mic-in Combo | 1 Headphone out/Mic-in Combo |
| 2 USB-C™ [up to 5Gbps*, 4K display out with optional adapter, Charging] | 2 USB-C™ [up to 5Gbps*, 4K display out with optional adapter, Charging] | |
| MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader | MicroSD Multi-media Card Reader | |
| Input | Clickpad | Clickpad |
| Touch screen | Touch screen | |
| Island-type keyboard | Island-type keyboard | |
| Pen | Pen | |
| Power | 30 W USB-C™ Adapter | 30 W USB-C™ Adapter |
| 39Wh | 39Wh | |
| Dimension | 280.8 x 221.6 x 12.9 ~ 13.9mm (11.06″ x 8.72″ x 0.51″ ~ 0.55″) |
280.8 x 221.6 x 12.9 ~ 13.9mm (11.06″ x 8.72″ x 0.51″ ~ 0.55″) |
| Weight | 1.08Kg (2.38lbs) | 1.08Kg (2.38lbs) |
| Software | ※ Software can be changed without notice. | ※ Software can be changed without notice. |
| AirDroid Premium (free one-year subscription, full version) |
AirDroid Premium (free one-year subscription, full version) |
|
| ArtCanvas | ArtCanvas | |
| Etc | Accelerometer Sensor | Accelerometer Sensor |
| Gyro Sensor |
While Samsung Australia won’t be bringing these to market here, the good news is that Amazon will ship one to you when they’re released. The $550 price tag converts to $772.76AUD if you want to pre-order now, with shipping additional in three tiers depending on how fast you want to receive it:
- AmazonGlobal Standard Shipping – averages 9-12 business days – $20.13AUD
- AmazonGlobal Expedited Shipping – averages 7-11 business days – $26.56AUD
- AmazonGlobal Priority Shipping – averages 2-5 business days – $59.66AUD
The May 28th date may be delayed again, as Samsung hasn’t officially said that this is the release date, though the Amazon listing says it’s from Samsung themselves. Also a factor is the release of Chrome 59, which is the release which will likely bring Android apps to Chrome OS more broadly and isn’t quite ready to rock – though that’s easy enough to fix.
If you’re interested in getting the Samsung Chromebook Pro shipped, you can head over to Amazon and pre-order now.
I’m still not sold on touch screens for “laptops”. Convertibles might tip me over, but as a laptop, take $100-150 off the price and I’d be just as happy. Still want to see 8GB of RAM as well, 4 just does not cut it for serious usage.
Wow, I think someone jumped the gun (Amazon or Samsung). The page on Amazon is now gone – not just sold out, actually gone.
How does warranty issues work?
If only I didn’t purchase a new laptop last month… Sadly had to retire my samsung chromebook 🙁
The Pro is black, not silver.
Also we don’t know for sure whether Chrome v59 will bring Android apps or not. Purely speculation.
Updated. Thanks Dan. You’re right; Chrome 59 will probably bring Android apps, but it isn’t confirmed until it’s out.