Tuesday was a busy day for Google Inc. as the search giant unveiled a host of new Chrome OS hardware. The company introduced three new Chromebooks: the Haier Chromebook 11, the Hisense Chromebook – both in the 11-inch category – and, by far the most impressive, the ASUS Chromebook Flip, a convertible laptop-tablet. Also unveiled was the Chromebit, an HDMI dongle that turns a display into a full-blown computer running Chrome OS.

A convertible Chromebook

Measuring in at 10.1-inches, the ASUS Chromebook Flip is the smallest Chromebook to date and boasts a more premium look and feel thanks to an all-metal chassis. It has a 360-degree hinge allowing the screen to flip all the way around, putting the device into tablet mode. The Chromebook Flip features a touchscreen with an on-screen keyboard for entering text in tablet mode.

The ASUS Chromebook Flip weighs in at less than two pounds and has an estimated battery life up to 10 hours, according to Google. Other specs include the aforementioned 10.1-inch IPS display with a 1280×800 resolution; 2GB or 4GB of RAM –both with 16GB SSD and running on the Rockchip 3288, ARM-based chipset.

Ports and connectors include two USB2.0 Type A ports, an SD card reader, headphone/microphone jack and an HDMI port.

Set to retail at $249, the ASUS Chromebook Flip will go on sale sometime in the next six to eight weeks.

Cheapest Chromebooks to date

Touting quality and affordability, Google also introduced two other Chromebooks retailing at $149. Previously the cheapest Chromebooks cost $199. Google doesn’t want you to “choose between a computer that performs well and one that you can afford.”

The Haier Chromebook 11 measures in at 11.6-inches as is available through Amazon, while the Hisense Chromebook, also with an 11.6-inch screen size, is available at Walmart. Both, says Google, meets the performance and quality criteria.

A Chromebook on a stick

Last but not least, Google also introduced the Chromebit, an HDMI dongle made by ASUS due for release this summer. “Smaller than a candy bar,” Google said it will retail for less than $100. By connecting the dongle to any display via an HDMI port, it effectively turns the display into a full blown computer.

According to Google, it is aimed at schools and business looking for cost effective ways to roll out computers by repurposing old hardware.

Apparently there are even more Chromebook models coming later this year. Google vice president Caesar Sengupta told the press that the ASUS Chromebook Flip is just one of 10 new models in the works.

Images via chrome.blogspot.com