A Chromebox is a small form-factor PC that runs Google's ChromeOS operating system. The first device debuted in May 2012.
History Chromeboxes, like other ChromeOS 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 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.
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. 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. 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. An updated system announced in November 2017 featured a 4K camera and a machine learning feature that automatically identifies and frames participants.
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. 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." 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.
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.
The capability to run Android apps with ChromeOS 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, Asus, and HP. Oregon-based CTL (Compute Teach Learn), maker of Chromebooks since 2014, launched its first Chromebox in March 2018.
In late 2020, four major Chromebox manufacturers, HP, Acer, Asus, and CTL, announced plans for new Chromebox models based on the 10th generation Intel Comet Lake architecture.
Models
Available Brand Model Processor RAM Storage SizeAuto Update Expiration date 2012-05 Samsung Series 3 XE300M22-A01US Celeron B840 4 GB 16 GB SSD 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 2014-02 Google Chromebox for Meetings Intel Core i74 GB16 GB M.2 SSD??? 2014-03 Asus Chromebox-M004U Intel Celeron 2955U 2 GB 16 GB M.2 SSD ??? 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 ??? HP Chromebox Intel Core i7-4600U 4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB??? 2014-08 Acer Chromebox CXI Intel Celeron 2957U 2 or 4 GB16 GB???2014-09Dell Dell Chromebox Intel Celeron 2955U2 GB16 GBSep 2019 Intel Core i3-4030U 4 GB Dell Chromebox for Meetings Intel Core i7-4600U 4 GB Aug 2019 2014-08 Asus Chromebox CN60 Intel Celeron 2955U 2 GB / 4 GB / 16 GB16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSDSep 20192017-07AsusChromebox 2 CN62Intel Celeron 3215U2 GB / 4 GB / 16 GB16 GB (128 GB Or more max) M.2 SSDJun 2021 2015-03 Acer Chromebox CXI Intel Core i3-4030U (Haswell) 4 or 8 GB16 GB???2015-05LenovoThinkCentre ChromeboxIntel Celeron 3205U4 GB16 GB SSDJun 2021 2015-08 AOPEN Chromebox Commercial Intel N2930 (quad core Atom) 4 GB32 GBSep 20212018-04AcerAcer Chromebox CXI3 4GKMIntel Celeron 3865U4 GB32 GBJun 2025Acer Chromebox CXI3 I38GKMIntel Core i3-7130U8 GB64 GBAcer Chromebox CXI3 I58GKMIntel Core i5-8250UAcer Chromebox CXI3 I716GKMIntel Core i7-8550U16 GB2018-06AsusChromebox 3 N017UIntel Celeron 3865U4 GB32 GBJun 2025Chromebox 3 N018UIntel Core i3-7100UChromebox 3 N019UIntel Core i3-7100U 8 GBChromebox 3 N020UIntel Core i7-8550U Chromebox 3 N3299U Intel Core i3-8130U 4 GB Chromebox 3 N3289U Intel Core i3-8130U8 GB128 GB Chromebox 3 N5327U Intel Core i5-8250U 2018-06HPHP Chromebox G2 3VD02UTIntel Celeron 3865U4 GB32 GBJun 2025HP Chromebox G2 3VD03UTIntel Core i5-7300U8 GBHP Chromebox G2 3VD04UTIntel Core i7-8650UHP Chromebox G2 3VD05UTIntel Core i7-8650U16 GB64 GB2018-07CTLCTL Chromebox CBX1Intel Celeron 3865U4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB32 GB SSDJun 20252020-12-05AsusAsus Chromebox 4Intel Celeron 5205U Intel Core i3-10110U Intel Core i5-10210U Intel Core i7-10510U4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB32 GB eMMC 64 GB eMMC 128 GB M.2 SATA SSD 256 GB M.2 SATA SSD M.2 PCIE GEN3x4 256 GB SSDJun 20282023-03-30AsusAsus Chromebox 5Intel Celeron 7305 Intel Core i7-1260P Intel Core i5-1240P
Intel Core i3-1220P8 GB / 16 GB / 32 GB128 /256 /512 GB NVMe SSD166.5 x 165.8 x 45.9 mm (1.27 L)Jun 2032
Notes
References