Recognition: David Imel / Android Authority
- Samsung will release the Galaxy Chromebook 2 at a starting price of $ 549.99.
- Customers who pre-order and go get discounts on other purchases.
- It’s not as powerful as the original, but it’s far more accessible.
You don’t have to wait long for a cheaper Galaxy Chromebook. Samsung has announced that it will be releasing the Galaxy Chromebook 2 on March 1st at a starting price of $ 549.99. Pre-orders are available today at both Samsung.com and Best Buy and last until February 28th.
As is often the case with Samsung launches, you have an incentive to save money before the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is released. When you pre-order from Samsung and Best Buy, receive up to $ 50 on select purchases from this store. If you wait until after it starts, you’ll have until March 14 to get up to $ 30 off your next purchase at both stores.
See also: The best touchscreen Chromebooks you can buy
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 is less of a successor to the original model and more of a more accessible re-release. While the first Galaxy Chromebook was a premium computer with a 4K screen, a pen, and a Core i5 processor, its sequel starts with a 1080p screen (without a pen), a 1.9 GHz Celeron 5205U, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB storage. With a 2.1 GHz Core i3-10110U chip, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage space, you can upgrade to a more powerful variant.
That is not to say that the machine is necessarily a step backwards. It’s the first Chromebook with a QLED screen, as Samsung would like to point out – it’s not as vivid as the previous Galaxy’s 4K OLED, but it should improve battery life significantly. You still get the high-quality looking aluminum case with a striking red option as well as touchscreen support for Chrome OS and Android apps.
Again, the key to the Galaxy Chromebook 2 is that price. The previous model’s $ 999 sticker excluded this for everyone but the most enthusiastic Chrome OS supporters. While the $ 549.99 for this model is still well above what you’d pay for budget Chromebooks, it’s a lot more practical if you work or study at home and want something that goes beyond a simple portable device.