ASUS Chromebox 5a 2024, Core i5-1335U, 8GB, 128GB SSD, Black

The ASUS Chromebox 5a is a compact ChromeOS desktop with a 13th Gen Core i5 and killer port selection, including dual HDMI 2.1 and Thunderbolt. But 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM hold it back, and the $830-$865 price tag is steep for what you get. It's a great fit for ChromeOS Enterprise deployments and multi-monitor office setups, but individual buyers should think twice. If you need local storage or any gaming capability, look elsewhere.

The Core i5-1335U is a 10-core chip with a 1.3GHz base clock, and it's a solid performer for ChromeOS. In our database, the CPU ranks in the 35th percentile for this category, which sounds mediocre until you remember that ChromeOS doesn't need the same horsepower as Windows. For browser tabs, Google Workspace, video calls, and light Android apps, this processor is more than enough. You won't see slowdowns with 20 tabs open, and the integrated Iris Xe graphics handle 4K video output without breaking a sweat.

The 8GB of DDR5 RAM is where things get a little less rosy. That's the 16th percentile for RAM in this category, and it's the minimum we'd recommend for a ChromeOS device in 2025. ChromeOS is efficient, but Android apps and Linux containers can eat through memory quickly. If you're the type who keeps 40 tabs open while running a Linux dev environment and a few Android apps, you'll hit the ceiling. For basic productivity, it's fine. For power users, it's a constraint you'll notice.

Storage is the real weak spot. 128GB NVMe is fast, but it's small. The 7th percentile ranking tells the story. ChromeOS itself takes up a chunk, and Android apps plus local files will fill the rest faster than you'd expect. The microSD slot is there, but SD cards are slower and less reliable than the internal NVMe drive. If you're mostly cloud-based, you'll be fine. If you like keeping media or large files locally, this will frustrate you.

Let's be honest about the competition. The Apple Mac Studio M3 Ultra is in a completely different universe, both in price and performance. It's not really a competitor, but it shows up in our database because it's also a compact desktop. The Mac Studio will run circles around the Chromebox 5a in every measurable way, but it costs several times more and runs macOS. If you're cross-shopping these two, you probably already know which one you need.

More realistic comparisons are the Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS and the HP OMEN GT16-0364. Both are gaming-focused desktops that will absolutely demolish the Chromebox 5a in graphics performance. The Chromebox's gaming score of 9.8 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know. But those machines are bigger, louder, and run Windows. They're for a different person. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 and MSI Aegis Z2 are also Windows machines with more storage and RAM. If you need local storage, any of these will serve you better. The Chromebox 5a wins on size, simplicity, and ChromeOS management, but loses on raw specs and flexibility.

Pricing on this one is a bit of a moving target. US listings run between $830 and $865, while Canadian buyers are looking at CAD 1,144. For a ChromeOS device, that's on the higher end. You can get a Chromebook with similar specs for less, and you can get a Windows mini PC with more storage and RAM for about the same money. The value proposition here hinges entirely on whether you need ChromeOS specifically and whether the port selection justifies the premium.

For businesses already invested in ChromeOS Enterprise, the math changes. Remote management, automatic updates, and the security model of ChromeOS are worth real money to IT departments. The ASUS Chromebox 5a slots into that ecosystem cleanly. But for an individual buyer, it's harder to justify. You're paying a premium for a locked-down OS and a port selection that most home users won't fully utilize. The storage and RAM limitations sting more at this price point than they would on a $400 Chromebox.

The ASUS Chromebox 5a is one of those machines that makes you stop and ask, who exactly is this for? It's a tiny desktop, about the size of a thick paperback, packing a 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U with 10 cores, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 128GB NVMe SSD. On paper, that's a serious little workhorse. In practice, it's a ChromeOS box aimed at offices, schools, and anyone who lives entirely in a browser. And honestly, for that crowd, it's got some real appeal.

What makes this interesting is the connectivity. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4, Thunderbolt, six USB-A ports, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi 6E. That's more display output than most full-size desktops we see. The port selection ranks in the 85th percentile for this category, which is genuinely impressive for a box this small. If you're running a reception desk with dual monitors or a classroom setup, this thing will happily drive your screens without dongles or adapters.

But here's the rub. The storage situation is tight. 128GB puts this in the 7th percentile for storage among similar products. That's bottom of the barrel. ChromeOS is lightweight, sure, but if you're downloading Android apps, saving offline files, or letting Linux containers eat up space, you'll feel that ceiling fast. The microSD card reader helps, but it's a band-aid on a bullet wound for anyone with real storage needs.

This is a machine for a specific person: someone who needs a reliable, compact ChromeOS terminal with excellent display options and doesn't care about local storage or gaming. For everyone else, keep reading.

If you need local storage, skip this. 128GB is not enough for anyone who keeps a media library, large design files, or a substantial offline document collection. A Windows mini PC with a 512GB or 1TB SSD will serve you far better at a similar price. The Dell Desktop ECT1250 or MSI Aegis Z2 are both worth a look if storage matters.

Gamers should also steer clear. The gaming score of 9.8 out of 100 is about as low as it gets. The integrated Iris Xe graphics can handle 4K video playback and light Android games, but anything beyond that is a non-starter. If you want to play games on a compact desktop, the Lenovo Legion 90YA003GUS or HP OMEN GT16-0364 are far better choices, though they're bigger and more expensive. And if you're a tinkerer who wants to install your own OS or upgrade components, the locked-down nature of ChromeOS will drive you nuts. This is an appliance, not a project box.

If you're an IT administrator managing a fleet of ChromeOS devices, the ASUS Chromebox 5a is a solid choice. The ChromeOS Enterprise support, compact footprint, and excellent port selection make it easy to deploy in offices, schools, and kiosk setups. The dual HDMI 2.1 ports alone are a huge selling point for multi-monitor workstations. Just make sure your users are cloud-based, because 128GB of local storage won't hold much.

For individual buyers, it's a harder sell. The price is steep for what you get, and the storage and RAM limitations will frustrate anyone who wants to do more than browse and use Google Workspace. If you're set on ChromeOS, a Chromebook or a cheaper Chromebox might make more sense. If you need local storage and flexibility, a Windows mini PC at a similar price will give you more room to grow. This is a niche product that excels in its niche, but it's not for everyone.