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Samsung quietly updates the Chromebook Pro with a backlit keyboard
- Samsung quietly updated its Intel-based Chromebook Pro with a backlit keyboard.
- The looks and internals appear to be the same, however.
- The refreshed Chromebook Pro is only available from Samsung, with no word on wider availability.
When we took a look at the Samsung Chromebook Pro over a year ago, we thought the machine had a lot to offer for its $500 price tag. The Chromebook Pro has held up well since and continues to be one of the better Chromebooks you can buy.
Would a backlit keyboard make it better? If you think so, then we have good news: Samsung quietly rolled out a version of the Chromebook Pro with the requested feature.
Originally spotted by Chrome Unboxed, the new variant does not change the looks or specs of the Chromebook Pro. That is not necessarily a bad thing, as the all-metal build and 2.38-pound weight made it look great and feel light in the hands.
The headphone jack and microSD card slot sit on the left, while one USB Type-C port is found on either side. The right side offers the power button, volume rocker, and silo for the stylus. This is not the S-Pen from the Galaxy Note series, though it still features electromagnetic resonance (EMR) technology and adds functionality to the Chromebook Pro.
Above the keyboard is the 12.3-inch LED screen with a 2,400 x 1,600 resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio. Viewing angles were comfortably wide, with the 400 nits of brightness making sure you can see the display while outside.
The Intel Core m3 processor and 4GB of RAM power the Chromebook Pro. This sounds like a meager combination, but it was enough to keep several Chrome tabs open without a hitch. Android apps are a different story, though that could be due to their integration rather than a problem with the processor.
Overall, the Chromebook Pro with backlit keyboard has enough to compete with the best Chromebooks. The only possible hang-up is the $600 price tag, which puts it in low-end Windows laptop territory. The price also puts it higher than ASUS’ popular Chromebook Flip C302CA, which offers much of what the Chromebook Pro includes for over $100 less.
If you still want to pick up Samsung’s offering, you can do so at the link below. The Chromebook Pro with backlit keyboard looks to only be available through Samsung and we do not know if that will change soon.