Chromebox

A Chromebox is a small form-factor PC running Google's Chrome OS operating system. The device debuted in May 2012.[1]

This article is about the variant of the Google Chromebook. For the CD box set, see Chrome Box.

Chromebox
Samsung Chromebox from front
ManufacturerSamsung; Asus; Hewlett-Packard; Acer; Dell; Google (as a bundler)
Introduced29 May 2012
Cost$179-$999
ProcessorIntel Celeron, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7
Memory2, 4, 8, or 16 GB
PortsUSB 2.0/3.0, Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort++

History

Chromeboxes, like other Chrome OS devices including Chromebook laptops, primarily support web applications, thereby relying heavily on an Internet connection for both software functionality and data storage. That connection, via a local area network, can be wireless or through an Ethernet port.

The machines are classed as small form-factor PCs[2] and typically feature a power switch and a set of connections to support a keyboard, pointing device and one or more monitors. Solid state drives are used for storage and only wireless printers are supported. The first Chromebox, released by Samsung on May 29, 2012, ran a dual-core Intel Celeron Processor 867 at 1.3 GHz, and featured six USB 2.0 ports and two DisplayPort++ slots compatible with HDMI, DVI, and VGA.[1][3]

In February 2014, Google bundled an Intel Core i7 Chromebox with a business video conferencing package, 1080p high definition camera module, external microphone/speaker and remote control.[4] This Chromebox for Meetings system retailed for $999 plus a $250 annual management fee, waived the first year—a cost thousands of dollars less than other unified videoconferencing systems, including those from Cisco and Polycom.[5] The system employed a Google Hangouts-like interface for up to 15 participants, a dedicated URL for sharing screens, and management accounts for scheduling meetings.[6] An updated system announced in November 2017 featured a 4K camera and a machine learning feature that automatically identifies and frames participants.[7]

In March 2014, Asus established a new price at the low-end of the Chromebox market with a compact, 1.32 pound model that retailed at $179 and featured a Celeron CPU and four USB 3.0 ports.[8][9] Yahoo Tech columnist David Pogue called the Asus device among the smallest, "least-expensive desktop computers ever sold", likening it to a Smart car. "You won’t be hauling lumber from Home Depot in it, but it’s a terrific deal—and most days, it’ll get you where you want to go."[10] In May, Asus released a faster model with an Intel Core i3 processor. Hewlett-Packard entered the market in June with a Chromebox powered by an Intel Celeron processor, optionally bundling a keyboard and mouse. In August, Acer introduced two models that could stand vertically and provided some business-oriented features, including encryption and fast deletion of local data. In September, Dell entered the market with an entry-level machine, as well as Dell's implementation of the Google video conferencing system.[11]

In August 2015, AOPen announced a family of Chromeboxes designed principally for driving the content of digital commercial signage. The models were ruggedized for on-site operation.[12]

The capability to run Android apps with Chrome OS devices, introduced by Google in 2016 and realized by certain Chromebooks in 2017, seemed to bypass Chromeboxes until a cluster of new Chromebox offerings appeared in 2018, including Acer,[13] Asus,[14] and HP.[15] Oregon-based CTL (Compute Teach Learn), maker of Chromebooks since 2014, launched its first Chromebox in March 2018.[16]

Models
Available Brand Model Processor RAM Storage Size Auto Update Expiration date[17]
2012-05 Samsung Series 3 XE300M22-A01US[1][3] Celeron B840 4 GB 16 GB SSD 1.3 in × 7.6 in × 7.6 in (3.3 cm × 19.3 cm × 19.3 cm) Mar 2018
2013-01 Series 3 XE300M22-A02US Intel Core i5-2450M
2013-03 Series 3 XE300M22-B01US Celeron B840 4 GB 16 GB SSD 1.57 in × 8.10 in × 8.10 in (4.0 cm × 20.6 cm × 20.6 cm)
2014-02 Google Chromebox for Meetings[lower-alpha 1] Intel Core i7 4 GB 16GB M.2 SSD 12.4 in × 12.4 in × 4.2 in (31 cm × 31 cm × 11 cm) ???
2014-03 Asus Chromebox-M004U[8] Intel Celeron 2955U 2 GB 16 GB M.2 SSD 4.88 in × 4.88 in × 1.65 in (12.4 cm × 12.4 cm × 4.2 cm) ???
2014-05 Chromebox-M075U Intel Core i3-4010U 2 or 4 GB
2014-06 Hewlett-Packard HP Chromebox CB1 Intel Celeron 2955U 2 GB / 4 GB / 8 GB 16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSD 4.96 in × 4.88 in × 1.53 in (12.6 cm × 12.4 cm × 3.9 cm)[18] ???
HP Chromebox[19] Intel Core i7-4600U 4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB ???
2014-08 Acer Chromebox CXI[20] Intel Celeron 2957U 2 or 4 GB 16 GB 6.5 in × 5.1 in × 1.3 in (16.5 cm × 13.0 cm × 3.3 cm) ???
2014-09 Dell Dell Chromebox Intel Celeron 2955U 2 GB 16 GB 4.9 in × 4.9 in × 1.7 in (12.4 cm × 12.4 cm × 4.3 cm) Sep 2019
Intel Core i3-4030U 4 GB
Dell Chromebox for Meetings[lower-alpha 1] Intel Core i7-4600U 4 GB Aug 2019
2014-08 Asus Chromebox CN60 Intel Celeron 2955U 2 GB / 4 GB / 16 GB 16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSD 1.6 in × 4.9 in × 4.9 in (4.1 cm × 12.4 cm × 12.4 cm) Sep 2019
2015-03 Acer Chromebox CXI[21] Intel Core i3-4030U (Haswell) 4 or 8 GB 16 GB 6.5 in × 5.1 in × 1.3 in (16.5 cm × 13.0 cm × 3.3 cm) ???
2015-05 Lenovo ThinkCentre Chromebox[22] Intel Celeron 3205U 4 GB 16 GB SSD 7.0 in × 7.2 in × 1.4 in (17.8 cm × 18.3 cm × 3.6 cm) Jun 2021
2015-08 AOPEN Chromebox Commercial[23] Intel N2930[24] (quad core Atom) 4 GB 32 GB[25] 6.5 in × 6.2 in × 0.9 in (16.5 cm × 15.7 cm × 2.3 cm) Sep 2021
2018-04[26] Acer Acer Chromebox CXI3 4GKM Intel Celeron 3865U 4 GB 32 GB 5.9 in × 5.8 in × 1.6 in (15.0 cm × 14.7 cm × 4.1 cm) Jun 2025
Acer Chromebox CXI3 I38GKM Intel Core i3-7130U 8 GB 64 GB
Acer Chromebox CXI3 I58GKM Intel Core i5-8250U
Acer Chromebox CXI3 I716GKM Intel Core i7-8550U 16 GB
2018-06[27] Asus[28] Chromebox 3 N017U Intel Celeron 3865U 4 GB 32 GB 14.9 x 14.9 x 4 cm Jun 2025
Chromebox 3 N018U Intel Core i3-7100U
Chromebox 3 N019U Intel Core i3-7100U 8 GB
Chromebox 3 N020U Intel Core i7-8550U
2018-06[29] HP HP Chromebox G2 3VD02UT Intel Celeron 3865U 4 GB 32 GB 5.87 in × 5.87 in × 1.57 in (14.9 cm × 14.9 cm × 4.0 cm) Jun 2025
HP Chromebox G2 3VD03UT Intel Core i5-7300U 8 GB
HP Chromebox G2 3VD04UT Intel Core i7-8650U
HP Chromebox G2 3VD05UT Intel Core i7-8650U 16 GB 64 GB
2018-07[16] CTL[30] CTL Chromebox CBX1 Intel Celeron 3865U 4GB / 8GB / 16GB 32GB SSD 5.83 in × 5.85 in × 1.62 in (14.8 cm × 14.9 cm × 4.1 cm) Jun 2025

Notes
  1. Equipment bundle
gollark: Fabs are horribly overbooked for years, it's annoying.
gollark: If there's lots of supply anyway, then presumably someone trying to sell stuff at very high prices will just lose money.
gollark: Like what?
gollark: The problem is *insufficient supply* and scalpers are a distraction.
gollark: Oh, well, that's fine, they just mispredicted market conditions.

References
  1. Leo Kelion (29 May 2012). "Google Chrome OS computers updated with faster processors".
  2. "Chromebook Definition from PC Magazine Encyclopedia". PC. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  3. Dormon, Bob (5 July 2012). "Review: Samsung Chromebox". The A Register.
  4. Hachman, Mark (6 February 2014). "Google's next hardware push: Chromebox videoconferencing for businesses". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  5. Liedtke, Michael (6 February 2014). "Google debuts videoconferencing tool, battling Cisco and Polycom". San Jose Mercury News. Digital First Media. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  6. "For Meetings: Chromebox, plus everything you need for video meetings". Google. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  7. Davenport, Courbin (1 November 2017). "Google made a Chromebox for Hangouts video conferences". Android Police. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  8. Cunningham, Andrew (27 March 2014). "Review: Asus crafts a tiny $179 Chromebox out of cheap, low-power parts". Ars Technica. Condé Nast Digital. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  9. Domingo, Joel Santo (12 March 2014). "Asus Chromebox M004U". PC Magazine. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  10. Pogue, David (14 March 2014). "Asus Chromebox: A Tiny, Cheap, Very Useful Computer". Yahoo! Tech. Yahoo!. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  11. Sneden, Joey-Elijah (5 September 2014). "$179 Dell Chromebox Will Hit US Stores Late September". OMG! Chrome!. Ohso Ltd. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  12. Fagioli, Brian (August 2015). "AOPEN unveils commercial-grade Chrome OS devices as Google targets digital signage market". BetaNews. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  13. Davenport, Corbin (12 July 2018). "Acer Chromebox CXI3 review: The ultimate Chrome OS desktop". Android Police.
  14. Danton, Tim (June 2018). "Asus Chromebox 3 review: can this tiny computer replace a Windows PC?". The Big Tech Question.
  15. "The Chromebox now comes with Android Apps; HP and Asus launch Android App supported Chromebox". Chrome Computing. 9 November 2018.
  16. Brangers, Gabriel (8 March 2018). "CTL launches affordable Kaby Lake Chromebox". Chrome Unboxed.
  17. "Auto Update policy - Google Chrome Enterprise Help". support.google.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  18. "HP Chromebox". Hewlett-Packard. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  19. McAllister, Neil (11 June 2014). "HP has Chromeboxes with Intel Core i7 chips, but they'll cost you". The Register. Situation Publishing. Retrieved 17 October 2014.
  20. Portnoy, Sean (22 August 2014). "Acer introduces Chromebox CXI PC family starting at $179.99". ZDNet. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  21. Newman, Jared (5 March 2015). "Acer's 4K Chromebox goes big on RAM, not on price". PC World. IDG. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
  22. "ThinkCentre,ThinkCentre Chromebox,Model:10H50003US". psref.lenovo.com. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  23. "AOPEN Unveils First Commercial Grade device based on Google Chrome". 10 August 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  24. "Chromebox Commercial". Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  25. "Chromebox Commercial Specsheet" (PDF). Retrieved 18 January 2016.
  26. Pelegrin, Williams (14 April 2018). "Do you like Chrome OS, but hate laptops? Acer's newest Chromebox might be for you". Android Authority. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  27. Abent, Eric (1 June 2018). "ASUS Chromebox 3 launches: Here's what's inside". Slash Gear.
  28. "ASUS Chromebox 3 | Chrome Devices | ASUS Global". ASUS Global. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  29. Tofel, Kevin (30 May 2018). "HP Chromebox G2 now available direct starting at $199". aboutchromebooks.com.
  30. https://es.ctl.net/products/chromebox
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