Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 arrives March 1 with a $50 preorder bonus

The wait is almost over.

What you need to know

• Samsung has opened preorders for the Galaxy Chromebook 2, starting at $550.
• Available in two colors, this more affordable version of last year's ultrabook comes with either a Celeron or an Intel Core i3.
• The Galaxy Chromebook 2 will go on sale March 1, and if you buy it from Samsung or Best Buy from March 1-14, you get a $30 credit to spend on your next purchase.
• If you preorder in February, you get a $50 credit instead of $30.

Announced at CES 2021, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 took the original striking (and stunningly expensive) Galaxy Chromebook and reined in the over-the-top features in order to provide a premium Chromebook without quite as much of a premium price tag, giving us one of the Best Chromebooks without breaking our wallets in half. Rather than a 4K AMOLED display, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 has a 1080p QLED display. Rather than having the Active Pen garaged in the laptop, the stylus will now be sold separately. Rather than sporting Project Athena internals, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 features either a Celeron or an Intel Core i3 processor powering your experience.

Category	Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 ($549)	Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 ($699)
Processor	Intel Celeron 5205U	Intel Core i3-10110U
Memory	4GB	8GB
Storage	64GB eMMC	128GB eMMC
Display	13.3" QLED 1920 x 1080px	13.3" QLED 1920 x 1080px
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
Ports	2x USB-C microSD card slot	2x USB-C microSD card slot
Battery	45.5Wh	45.5Wh
Features	Backlit keyboard Active Pen support	Backlit keyboard Active Pen support
Weight	2.71 lbs	2.71 lbs
Dimensions	12" x 8" x 0.55"	12" x 8" x 0.55"

As I said during the Galaxy Chromebook 2's announcement, that $549 starter model seems a bit steep for a Celeron-powered Chromebook, even if the screen is gorgeous and the battery life is better than last year's model. This isn't to say that $700 for the beefier i3 model isn't expensive for its processor — the Lenovo Flex 5 has an i3 for $400 and the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has an i5 for $630 — but there are few Chromebooks in 2021 that can match the Galaxy Chromebook for style and panache.

I'd pay a little more for a great screen on my Chromebook, and no one knows how to do a great screen better than Samsung. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 will be the first Chromebook with a QLED touchscreen, and honestly, at 13.3-inches, I'm perfectly happy to see 1080p quality here rather than 4K.

If you're wanting to get your hands on a Galaxy Chromebook 2, you can pre-order it right now from Samsung.com and get a $50 promotional credit to use on a subsequent purchase. On the other hand, if you wait until March 1 when it's available for immediate purchase, you can get a $30 promotional credit when buying the Galaxy Chromebook 2 from Samsung or from Best Buy so long as you purchase it before March 14.

Premium look for less

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2

Samsung's latest Chromebook offers up performance while keeping costs down by ditching the built-in pen and the 4K screen. While the Celeron version might be a hair underpowered, the Core i3 model could be quite nice for those seeking a flashy Chromebook without a 4-figure price tag.

From $549 at Samsung From $549 at Best Buy