Chromebook Plus laptops debut with {hardware} necessities, unique options

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By Calvin S. Nelson


Google

Google is introducing the Chromebook Plus badge. ChromeOS gadgets with the moniker have minimal {hardware} necessities and shall be granted unique software program and AI options, with Google promising a better degree of efficiency. On October 8, eight new laptops with the Chromebook Plus branding shall be launched in North America, beginning at $399.

In a weblog put up at present, John Maletis, VP of ChromeOS product, engineering, and UX at Google, mentioned Chromebook Plus laptops have “double the efficiency” when in comparison with the top-selling Chromebooks from July to December 2022. Most of that considerably obscure declare comes from the Chromebook Plus’ minimal {hardware} necessities:

  • Intel Core i3 twelfth Gen or AMD Ryzen 3 7000-series processor
  • 8GB of RAM
  • 128GB of storage
  • 1080p IPS show
  • 1080p decision webcam with temporal noise discount

Some Chromebooks launched earlier than at present meet these minimal necessities already. A Google spokesperson mentioned that homeowners of such laptops “will get upgraded to the Chromebook Plus software program expertise within the coming weeks.”

The software program options included within the Chromebook Plus embrace Google Pictures’ AI-powered Magic Eraser and different “enhanced modifying options, like an HDR impact that enhances brightness and distinction, and the power so as to add portrait blur to your current images,” Maletis wrote.

A screenshot of Google Photos on a Chromebook Plus.
Enlarge / A screenshot of Google Pictures on a Chromebook Plus.

Google

The gadgets also can use AI to spice up picture readability and lighting throughout a video name, in addition to blur your background and block out background noise (all whatever the app used). The options shall be obtainable by way of the Chromebook app shelf, Google’s weblog mentioned.

Chromebook Plus video call features.
Enlarge / Chromebook Plus video name options.

Google

Chromebook Plus gadgets may also help File Sync, which robotically downloads Google Workspace information to the machine’s native storage so you possibly can entry them offline. This is without doubt one of the causes Chromebook Plus gadgets have a 128GB storage requirement.

Google plans so as to add extra options to Chromebook Plus laptops by way of future updates. The laptops will launch with unique dynamic desktop wallpapers that change 4 instances a day, and Google plans so as to add generative AI wallpapers, so customers can enter a immediate like “cats within the model of Van Gogh” and see one thing like this:

Google is developing generative AI wallpapers for Chromebook Plus laptops.
Enlarge / Google is creating generative AI wallpapers for Chromebook Plus laptops.

Google

Google additionally mentioned it would replace the Chromebook Plus platform with generative AI-created backgrounds for video calls and the choice to deliver up an AI-powered writing assistant by way of a right-click.

Google teases Chromebooks' upcoming AI writing assistant.
Enlarge / Google teases Chromebooks’ upcoming AI writing assistant.

Google

New Chromebook Plus laptops

Some of the new Chromebook Plus laptops.
Enlarge / Among the new Chromebook Plus laptops.

Google

As talked about, you might already personal a laptop computer that qualifies for the Chromebook Plus badge. However there’s additionally a slew of latest gadgets with the branding.

This is an outline of what we all know to date in regards to the new Chromebook Plus laptops introduced at present and arriving on October 8:

CPU Graphics Show RAM Storage Beginning Worth
Acer Chromebook Plus 514 As much as Ryzen 5 7520C AMD Radeon 610M 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS As much as 16GB LPDDR5x As much as 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD $399.99
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 As much as Intel Core i7-1355U Intel UHD 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS As much as 16GB LPDDR5x As much as 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD $399.99
Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip AMD Ryzen 3+ TBD 14-inch IPS 8GB+ 128GB+ $499
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 As much as Intel Core i7-1255U As much as Intel Iris Xe 14-inch 1920×1080 IPS touchscreen As much as 16GB LPDDR5-4800 As much as 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD $399
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch Intel Core i3-N305 Intel UHD 15.6-inch 1920×1080 IPS @ as much as 144Hz 8GB LPDDR5-4800 As much as 256GB UFS $499
HP Chromebook Plus x360 14-inch As much as Intel Core i5-1235U As much as Intel Iris Xe 14-inch 1920×1200 IPS touchscreen As much as 16GB LPDDR4x-4266 As much as 512GB PCIe SSD $699
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus As much as Intel Core i5-1334U As much as Intel Iris Xe 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen 8GB LPDDR4x As much as 512GB PCIe SSD $499
Lenovo Slim 3i Chromebook Plus Intel Core i3-N305 Intel UHD as much as 14-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen 8GB LPDDR5 As much as 256GB eMMC $549
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook Plus As much as Intel Core i5-1235U As much as Intel Iris Xe 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS @ 120Hz 8GB LPDDR4x-4266 As much as 512GB PCIe SSD €599 (not obtainable in North America)

Giving the higher-end Chromebooks a “Plus” label makes it straightforward for consumers to shortly differentiate premium Chromebooks from entry-level ones focused at younger college students and people who want little greater than internet entry. As with every OEM certification program, there is a advertising and marketing angle right here, however just like Intel’s Intel Evo branding, Chromebook Plus can simplify the procuring expertise, particularly since Google’s commonplace has clear, easy necessities.

Nevertheless, the Chromebook Plus branding nonetheless leaves OEMs wiggle room, together with round RAM and storage pace and sort, port choice, and battery life. A standard criticism about Chromebooks is round sturdiness (particularly contemplating their decrease costs and frequent utilization by youngsters) and repairability, with some restore activists saying appropriately priced alternative components are onerous to search out. It might have been a real “plus” if premium Chromebooks additionally had sturdiness or repairability necessities. However with Google extending Chromebook help to 10 years final month, we could not see one other main, sweeping growth for some time.

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