Chromebooks
 
	 
		
	
	MediaTek has announced a new chipset for Chromebooks, which will debut in early 2026 with the promise of battery life improvements and the ability to run in fanless laptops.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	I used to love Chromebooks, to the point where my main laptop was a Chromebook for a few years. But lately, it’s felt more and more like the platform has been struggling to retain relevance, and the latest Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 – besides being a mouthful – basically paints a perfect picture of that.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	After debuting in 2022, the Steam for Chromebook Beta will stop working in early 2026. At the time, it was a big ChromeOS effort, but there hasn’t been an update in ages.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	I’d argue that ChromeOS is enough for most people’s personal usage these days given the online services they mainly use and the advancement of web apps. However, I don’t think Chromebooks being third behind Windows and Mac is enough for Google, and that’s why we’re seeing what I’d call “desktop Android” in the near future.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Lenovo has introduced its latest Chromebook, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. This device is the first Chromebook Plus model to feature an ARM processor and the first to integrate the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra chip.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Following the Android announcement last week, Gemini is set to replace Google Assistant on Chromebooks.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	A pair of Chromebook updates today highlight their broad usage across personal and enterprise, starting with Roblox enhancements.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	At the BETT 2025 education show, Google today announced the latest education and Chromebook features.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	One of the biggest appeals of a Chromebook in 2024 is the affordable price tag, as the lightweight but still capable OS allows for a device to punch above its weight class in terms of performance. But the new Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great reminder that the minimum for Chromebooks today isn’t enough, as it’s a really good tablet that’s held back by a simple spec.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Intel has launched its latest generation of laptop chips, “Lunar Lake,” with the promise of massive performance and battery life gains.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	The Chromebook market has shrunk in the past couple of years, especially with high-end options starting to vanish. Recently, it looks like HP has thrown in the towel on its highest-end Chromebooks from the Dragonfly lineup.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Amid Computex this week, MediaTek has unveiled a new chipset for Chromebooks, with the Kompanio 838 promising better battery life and AI.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	This week, Google is launching the next batch of Chromebook Plus machines from Acer, Asus, and HP and, alongside more AI, they also bring Intel Core Ultra chips to some machines.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	As a ChromeOS user, be on the lookout for a new “Add to Chromebook” badge that will make it easier to install Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	HP is introducing several new 2024 Chromebook models this week, with prices starting at $299.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	As Google’s rebrand of Nearby Share continues, we’re now seeing Quick Share appear on Chromebooks.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	We spotted that Google was adding charging sounds to ChromeOS at the end of 2022, and they’re now live on Chromebooks.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	It’s 2024 and the vast majority of Chromebooks don’t have fingerprint sensors. Biometric authentication has become the norm on smartphones, but most ChromeOS users are still typing in a password. (Having to enter your Google Account credentials so often in public seems like a bad idea.)
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Intel has today debuted its latest generation of mobile CPUs for Windows laptops and Chromebooks, with the Meteor Lake architecture arriving in new “Core Ultra” processors. Here’s what’s been improved, and the first machines arriving with the new chips.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	At the vanguard of Google’s Chromebook Plus initiative, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 delivers everything you need from an everyday laptop at an excellent starting price of $399.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Google is increasing how many updates Chromebooks get from eight to 10 years. ChromeOS is also adding adaptive charging and an energy saver mode.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	If you have a Chromebook, you might also be able to score free access to Nvida’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service, as Google is teaming up with the company to offer a freebie.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	For many, laptops are portable workhorses designed to get work done and handle meetings, but for many, all they need to be are machines good for browsing the web and handling simple tasks around the house. With the Flex 3i and Slim 3 Chromebooks, that’s exactly what Lenovo delivers, and it does so with style and an affordable price.
Expand Expanding Close 
		
	
	Mongolia has a Vision 2050 initiative that involves universal connectivity and “embracing technology in their school systems.” As part of that, Google and Mongolia are working to provide “every child and educator with access to online learning devices,” specifically Chromebooks.
Expand Expanding Close