Toshiba Reveals Smaller Chromebook 2

Toshiba announced today the new Chromebook 2, the follow-up to the Toshiba CB35-A3120 Chromebook we reviewed earlier this year.

The new Chromebook 2 keeps the previous model’s larger 13.3-inch display and full-size keyboard, but adds a splash of customizable color, pumps up the sound with Skullcandy audio, and packs it all into a smaller chassis for better portability.

Stack the new Chromebook 2 on top of the previous Toshiba Chromebook, and you’ll notice that the new model is significantly smaller, with a 12-inch chassis, smaller footprint, and slimmer design for greater portability. The Chromebook 2 still features a molded plastic chassis, with a textured lid and silvery colored finish.

Toshiba adds a splash of color, however, with its new SnapCase covers, which will be available in Charcoal (Grey), Aqua (Blue), and Rose (Magenta). The two-piece covers snap on to the lid of the laptop, with hard plastic construction to ward off scuffs and scrapes and a soft touch finish. The SnapCase covers will be sold separately; pricing details were unavailable at the time of this writing.

The sound has been improved in two separate ways, first by changing them from a downward firing position on the underside of the laptop chassis to an upward firing position that pipes sound up through the keyboard. Second, Toshiba has partnered with Skullcandy audio for improved hardware and specialized audio tuning. The headphone output is also tweaked to provide amplified sound with custom balancing that favors Skullcandy headphones.

In addition to headphone support, the Chromebook 2 is equipped with an HD webcam, two USB ports (one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0), HDMI output, and an SD card slot. The Web-connected Chrome experience relies entirely upon a solid Internet connection, so Toshiba includes 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard. The Chromebook 2 is powered by the latest Intel Celeron processor.

The Chromebook 2 comes in two models, one with a standard HD display (with 1,366-by-768 resolution), 2GB of RAM, and claims of up to 11.5 hours battery life. The basic model will sell for $249.99 starting Oct. 5.

The second premium model boasts a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel full HD display with Inter-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, along with 4GB of RAM and up to 9 hours of battery life. The premium model will also go on sale starting Oct. 5, for $329.99.