ASUS Chromebit CS10 was the cheapest Chrome OS hardware when it launched in 2015. Equipped with a Rockchip RK3288-C quad-core processor coupled with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB eMMC. plus one HDMI port and one USB port it was offered for $85.
Five years later it’s still available, and while the list price has slightly increased to $89, Chromebit CS10 is now offered for just $69.99 on Amazon US.
Here’s a reminder of ASUS Chromebit CS10 specifications:
- SoC – Rockchip RK3288-C quad-core Cortex A17 processor with ARM Mali-T764 GPU.
- System Memory – 2 GB LPDDR3
- Storage – 16 GB eMMC flash, plus 100G Google Drive for 2 Year free usage (not sure if this is still an option as we’ll discuss below)
- Video Output – HDMI
- Connectivity – Dual-band 802.11 2×2 (MIMO) a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.0
- USB – 1x USB 2.0 host port, 1x micro USB OTG port
- Power – 5V via micro USB port
- Dimensions – 123 x 31 x 17 mm
- Weight – 75 grams
The Chromebit ships with an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, a warranty card, and a user manual.
One of the likely reasons for the lower price is because Chrome OS hardware gets security updates for five years, and CS10 Chromebit support will expire in November 2020. That may also mean the 2-year of free Google Drive storage may not be available after that time.
The device has been in the wild long enough, that there are instructions to install other Linux distributions alongside Chrome OS including Arch Linux Arm and Ubuntu. Some people are also using it as a digital signage player. Having said that, for alternative uses, you may get cheaper and more recent Android TV stick on Aliexpress.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Surprised it doesn’t melt.
I was about to say the same, when you see the size of the huge heat sinks on my RK3288 build farm to keep them below 100 degrees C (roughly 5cm*5cm*2cm)!
Asus ARM Devices: “You pay us for our brand”
Canadian prices for this are crazy in comparison. :/
Problem we have with tech and manfactored goods is “” American “” global corporations getting products made in China / Vietnam / etc for USD$1-2 per hour without GST/VAT/Working standards the same as AU+NZ+UK+CA+USA/EU They then use goverment programs and trade systems to basically ship the goods globally for free * The price of X item is set in USD RRP * The price is then converted from USD RRP into AU+NZ+UK+CA+USA * Then local importation fees + levys + Taxation * Then local GST/VAT * Then local Wholesaler profit * Then… Read more »
So many cables!! I wish for something you just stick in. Maybe usb-c would allow such thing?
Yes, USB-C would have been nice, but it was only getting started in 2015.
2GB RAM and support until november 2020? This looks like electronic waste to me.