Lenovo’s next Chromebook could be a powerhouse powered by artificial intelligence
Lenovo is working on two new AI-powered Chromebook tablets, collectively codenamed Ciri. That’s what news site Chrome unpacked claims after tracking the devices on two “public repositories” – cros.tech and Chromium Dash – which pull their info from Google servers. According to the publication, an official unveiling could happen soon.
The tablet will reportedly be known as the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and will serve as a direct successor to the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook. Like the previous generation, it features a detachable 11-inch display that can be removed from its accompanying keyboard.
It will run on the recently launched MediaTek Kompanio 838 SoC (system on a chip) which in Chromium Dash is called the MT8188G. This is the real star of the show, as it is an ARM-based chipset that houses its own “dedicated AI processor, the NPU 650”. NPUs, or neural processing units, improve hardware performance across the board.
AI power
Chrome unpacked MediaTek claims it enables high-quality multimedia, as well as “more interactive and intelligent applications.” MediaTek’s marketing materials also highlight key performance metrics, such as the chip’s ability to send video signals to two 4K displays simultaneously, plus “premium imaging” processing for delivering vibrant colors onscreen. The manufacturer even points out that the Kompanio 838 laptops offer long battery life.
The second tablet mentioned earlier is an EDU model for schools. There is almost no information about this gap within the repositories, other than that it exists. It is expected to have similar hardware, although it could probably be made more durable and drop-resistant.
Missing software
As interesting as Lenovo’s upcoming Chromebook may be, there may be some bad news about it. Chrome Unbox points out in another report that it is not a member of the Chromebook Plus series.
Laptops in this line perform better than the average Chromebook. On the one hand, this isn’t a significant problem, as Lenovo’s machine could be just as good, if not better, than a Chromebook Plus, thanks to its MediaTek chipset. However, it does mean that users won’t have access to the series’ exclusive features.
Magic Editor, Generative Backgrounds, and Adobe Photoshop support may be missing from the upcoming Chromebook Duet. Of course, we don’t know for sure. Lenovo’s device is still in development and will likely remain so for a while. Take everything in this report with a grain of salt, as things can always change.
Also check out TechRadar’s list of the best Chromebooks for 2024.
