One big thing that’s missing from this model is a backlit keyboard, which is a shame if you want to use it in low light. The previous model of the CX34 came with a backlit keyboard, but strangely, Asus has decided not to include one in the box with this updated version.
On the plus side, the keyboard is comfortable to use over long periods of time, despite the lack of backlighting, and the keys have plenty of travel so typing never feels tedious. My only complaint is that the home key bumps on the “F” and “J” keys are small, which makes touch typing a bit difficult.
The trackpad is large and spacious, but the material it’s made of offers more resistance to your fingers than I’d prefer. I also encountered a trackpad bug during testing that caused it to become unresponsive after waking the CX34 from sleep. This was temporary and resolved with a reboot (a simple process for a Chromebook), but it’s worth noting.
The CX34’s touch display is great for everyday tasks and web browsing. The 14-inch, 1,920-by-1,080-pixel panel is sharp, and the matte finish keeps reflections to a minimum. It’s not the brightest display, though, and you might struggle to work outside on a sunny day.
Photo: Daniel Thorpe Lancaster
While the 16:9 screen ratio is standard for laptops, it would have been nice if Asus had gone for a slightly taller 16:10 display. The extra vertical space a 16:10 screen offers is perfect for the kind of productivity work the CX34 is targeted at. You can really see this in competitors like Acer’s Chromebook Plus Spin 714.
The CX34’s port selection is very good, with two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, an HDMI slot, and a standard headphone jack. The USB-C port can charge the laptop with the surprisingly compact 45-watt charger that Asus includes in the box, but it can also be used for a DisplayPort over USB-C connection to an external monitor.
