For years now, maximum Chromebooks have run some number of Intel or AMD processor. The occasional software used a MediaTek chip, however they had been steadily underpowered and inexpensive units that had been exhausting to counsel. ARM-based processors have labored vastly smartly for Apple at the Mac, and so they’re being utilized in an increasing number of Home windows PCs as smartly. Now, Lenovo (makers of ) and Google are giving ARM an actual shot with the $649 Chromebook Plus 14.
The firms say the MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910 chip and its AI NPU can maintain as much as 50 TOPS — however extra intriguing to me, Lenovo may be promising as much as 17 hours of battery lifestyles. I’ll imagine that declare once I see it; mediocre at best possible battery lifestyles has plagued just about each Chromebook I’ve used in recent times. However switching to ARM may just toughen on what Intel-powered Chromebooks have delivered, each in relation to battery lifestyles and general efficiency.
Time for the nitty-gritty specifications. Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14 is, as you’d be expecting, a 14-inch pc that appears moderately very similar to a silver MacBook Professional. It’s undoubtedly extra fashionable and swish than Lenovo’s extra utilitarian (and awkwardly-named) IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. It weighs best 2.58 kilos (a few pound not up to the Flex 5i) and is simply over .62 inches thick. Along with the Kompanio Extremely 910 chip, Lenovo is together with both 12GB or 16GB of RAM and as much as 256GB of garage. Lenovo isn’t skimping at the display screen, both. The 14-inch OLED panel may also be geared up with a touchscreen and has a 1,920 x 1,200 answer. The answer is rather modest, however completely in keeping with what you’d be expecting for the associated fee.
There are a couple of different great touches all through. Lenovo’s newest is the primary Chromebook with Dolby Atmos sound by way of a quad-speaker machine that comes with two downward-firing woofers. Audio high quality on laptops has greater considerably in recent times, so I’m taking a look ahead to listening to what Lenovo can ship. The 5-megapixel webcam has a miles upper answer than maximum different Chromebooks, and there’s additionally a fingerprint reader for protected logins.
All advised, this Chromebook is at the dearer facet in comparison to many different choices. However whilst you examine its specifications and design with different Chromebooks on this worth vary, Lenovo’s newest comes out taking a look beautiful just right. In fact, we’ll want to be certain the MediaTek chip is strong sufficient and in addition see what battery lifestyles is like, however Lenovo’s observe document is powerful sufficient that I’m taking a look ahead to seeing if we have now a brand new king of the Chromebooks.
New AI options
For the reason that Google is relentlessly concerned with including AI options far and wide you flip, it’s no marvel that there are a handful of recent AI tips right here. First are two which can be these days unique to Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14: Good Grouping and AI symbol enhancing within the Chromebook’s Gallery app. Google has been teasing Good Grouping for some time now; it’ll take a look at your open tabs and paperwork and ask if you wish to get them organized right into a separate digital table. And the Gallery app now has some AI-powered enhancing options like eliminating backgrounds or turning your pictures into stickers.
Past those are a number of AI options which can be coming to all Chromebook Plus laptops, lots of which is able to really feel acquainted should you’ve paid consideration to what Google has launched to different platforms in contemporary months. As an example, you’ll be able to now long-press the launcher and make a selection a space of the display screen to run a seek. As standard, the default instance is buying groceries — see a couple of brogues you wish to have, spotlight it and let Google in finding them for you. The mixing does glance great, regardless that, with a pop-over window appearing you effects so that you don’t have to go away the app you’re the usage of.
In a similar fashion, Textual content Seize analyzes textual content in a picture and suggests such things as calendar appointments according to what it reads. Or highlighting a picture of a recipe can pull the entire pieces you want for it right into a Google Medical doctors checklist.
The Fast Insert key, which used to be first presented ultimate 12 months , can now be used to generate and insert AI pictures into any place your textual content cursor is pointing — it’s now not simply restricted to Google apps. After all, Google’s “lend a hand me learn” device has a brand new “simplify” possibility that may take complicated language (assume medical explanations) and put it in simple language to provide help to perceive.
Someone purchasing a Chromebook Plus this 12 months gets a forged perk that Google first presented ultimate 12 months: a complete one year of the Google One AI Professional plan, which contains 2TB of Google Pressure garage and get entry to to extra complicated Gemini options (you’ll be able to ). For the reason that it is a $20 per thirty days plan, it’s a forged further worth — on the very least for the garage, should you’re now not all that enthusiastic about Gemini.
As for Lenovo’s new {hardware}, I’m taking a look ahead to attempting it quickly to peer if the ARM structure can ship the large battery lifestyles and function enhancements that the corporate is promising. However if you wish to throw down your money now, Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14 is to be had at Absolute best Purchase and on Lenovo’s website to reserve as of nowadays.
