Chrome OS devices have gained the reputation of being low-power and low-cost computers. Google and its OEM partners, on the other hand, are attempting to increase the prominence of Chromebooks and Chromeboxes by delivering beefier hardware components. That, of course, means higher cost, as seen by CTL’s newest Chromebox CBx2-7, which may have the power to compete with even certain gaming laptops.
Chrome OS was designed with entry-level to mid-range hardware in consideration, in order to make Chromebooks more appealing to schools and businesses looking to buy in bulk. Because it offloaded many of the apps’ processing needs to the Web, it could also operate on those less capable devices.
Chrome OS, on the other hand, has come a long way from its early days and can now take advantage of the more powerful hardware available.
CTL’s newest Chromebox, the CBx2, does all of that and more. It comes in a variety of models, the most powerful of which is powered by an Intel Core i7-10610U processor. Although it isn’t an 11th-generation Intel CPU, it is quite powerful for a Chromebox.
But hold on, there’s more! CTL also has 64GB of DDR4 RAM, the most ever seen in a Chrome OS device, be it a Chromebox or a Chromebook. It also comes with a 2TB M.2 SSD flash drive, which provides ample storage capacity.
The CTL Chromebox CBx2-7 costs a hefty $1,419, which should come as no surprise. Developers who wish to make use of Chrome OS’ capacity to host both Linux and Android environments will not be disappointed, and the machine could also be future-proofed for Chrome OS gaming. The company, however, offer a $729 option that retains the same CPU but reduces RAM to 8GB and storage to a 128GB eMMC.