- MediaTek’s Kompanio Extremely makes a uncommon look, difficult the same old CPU suspects in laptops
- Light-weight and long-lasting, however ChromeOS limits critical work past net and Android apps
- Lenovo Chromebook Plus’s $649 price ticket places it alongside Home windows laptops with broader software program help and sooner chips
Lenovo’s newest Chromebook Plus (14″, 10) has launched one thing uncommon: a MediaTek Kompanio Extremely processor.
This isn’t a reputation usually seen within the enterprise laptop computer world, particularly not in premium machines aiming to steadiness efficiency and portability.
However Lenovo appears assured this distinctive CPU, paired with Google’s latest AI instruments, can stand as much as extra acquainted silicon from AMD and Intel.
Unusual energy in a well-known shell
The Lenovo Chromebook Plus guarantees an all-in-one expertise tailor-made for professionals, college students, and creators.
It helps as much as 16GB of reminiscence and 256GB of inner storage, however the true story lies within the chip powering it – the Kompanio Extremely processor options MediaTek’s NPU 890 and Arm Immortalis-G925 GPU, delivering 50 TOPS of AI efficiency.
Whereas spectacular on paper, the broader market has but to show what this truly means for on a regular basis customers in actual workflows.
The laptop computer additionally options an OLED 2K show with 100% DCI-P3 protection, quad audio system with Dolby Atmos, and a battery life that reportedly reaches as much as 17 hours.
At slightly below 1.17kg, it qualifies among the many lightest laptop computer fashions with this a lot {hardware} inside, although real-world utilization might paint a extra tempered image.
Lenovo and Google are pushing the AI story laborious. Options like Good Grouping, AI-assisted picture enhancing within the Gallery app, and optical character recognition throughout paperwork purpose to streamline digital life.
There’s additionally Gemini help instantly on the shelf, permitting textual content summarization and tab administration.
“The Lenovo Chromebook Plus (14″, 10) delivers probably the most highly effective AI capabilities ever on a Chromebook… this premium gadget is your good on a regular basis companion,” mentioned Benny Zhang, Govt Director and Basic Supervisor of Chromebooks in Lenovo’s Clever Gadgets Group.
The machine consists of Chrome Enterprise Improve for IT management and the Chrome Schooling Improve for colleges, each permit admins to handle updates, insurance policies, apps, and safety from the cloud.
Nonetheless, customers evaluating this gadget to extra conventional choices in the identical value vary would possibly hesitate.
Beginning at $649, it overlaps with extra established Home windows and macOS gadgets – so these on the lookout for the most effective laptop computer for engineering college students might discover the restrictions of ChromeOS, particularly with software program compatibility, a deal breaker.
And whereas its portability is a power, the MediaTek processor nonetheless must show itself below demanding skilled use.
Through TechPowerUp