Lenovo is working on two new AI-powered Chromebook tablets, codenamed Ciri. That's what news site Chrome Unboxed claims after tracking the devices on two “public repositories” (cros.tech and Chromium Dash), which pull their information from Google's servers. According to the publication, an official unveiling may be coming soon.
The tablet will reportedly be called the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and will be a direct follow-up to the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook. Like the previous generation, it has a detachable 11-inch display that can be separated from its accompanying keyboard.
It will be powered by the recently launched MediaTek Kompanio 838 SoC (system on chip), which is known as MT8188G in Chromium Dash. 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.
The power of AI
Chrome Unboxed claims it will enable high-quality multimedia as well as “more interactive and intelligent apps.” MediaTek’s marketing material also highlights key performance metrics such as the chip’s ability to send video signals to two 4K displays simultaneously, plus “premium image processing” to display vibrant colors on the screen. The manufacturer even notes that the Kompanio 838 allows laptops to enjoy long battery life.
The second tablet mentioned above is an EDU model for schools. There is almost no information about this division in the repositories, other than its existence. It is expected to have similar hardware, although it is likely to be more durable and resistant to drops.
Missing software
As interesting as Lenovo's upcoming Chromebook may be, there's some bad news surrounding it. Chrome Unbox notes in another report that it's not a member of the Chromebook Plus series.
The laptops in this line enjoy superior performance to the average Chromebook. On the one hand, this isn't a major issue, as Lenovo's machine could be just as good, or even better, than a Chromebook Plus, thanks to the MediaTek chipset. However, it does mean that users won't have access to the series' exclusive features.
The Magic Editor, generative backgrounds, and Adobe Photoshop support might not be present on the upcoming Chromebook Duet. Of course, we don't know for sure. Lenovo's device is still in development and will be for a while longer. Make sure to take everything said in this report with a grain of salt, as things can always change.
Be sure to check out TechRadar's list of the best Chromebooks for 2024.
