For the past year, the Asus Chromebook Flip C434 has reigned atop our best Chromebooks rankings. But the competition is expanding, with laptops like the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook and Google Pixelbook Go entering the premium space. Tasked to ensure Asus' position for another 12 months is the Chromebook Flip C436, a $799 Chromebook with a 2-in-1 design like its sibling, but a higher starting price.

Does the Chromebook Flip C436 justify the sticker shock? In short, yes. It has a sleek design, a vivid screen, fast performance and good battery life. But the Flip C436 isn't perfect, and other premium competitors are narrowing the gap while cheaper Chromebooks deliver better value.