For several years, the majority of Chromebooks have been equipped with either Intel or AMD processors. Occasionally, a device would utilize a MediaTek chip, but these were often underpowered and inexpensive, making them difficult to recommend. However, ARM-based processors have proven to be highly effective for Apple on the Mac, and their use is becoming more prevalent in Windows PCs as well. Now, Lenovo, the manufacturer of my favorite Chromebook, and Google are giving ARM a genuine opportunity with the $649 Chromebook Plus 14.
According to the companies, the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 chip and its AI NPU can handle up to 50 TOPS. Nevertheless, what I find more intriguing is Lenovo’s claim of up to 17 hours of battery life. I will believe this claim when I see it, as mediocre battery life at best has plagued nearly every Chromebook I have used in recent years. However, switching to ARM could lead to improvements in both battery life and overall performance compared to Intel-powered Chromebooks.
Now, let’s delve into the specifications. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is a 14-inch laptop that bears a striking resemblance to a silver MacBook Pro. It is undoubtedly more stylish and sleek than Lenovo’s more utilitarian (and awkwardly-named) IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. Weighing only 2.58 pounds (approximately a pound less than the Flex 5i) and measuring just over 0.62 inches thick, this device is a marvel of compact design. In addition to the Kompanio Ultra 910 chip, Lenovo is including either 12GB or 16GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. The 14-inch OLED panel can be outfitted with a touchscreen and boasts a 1,920 x 1,200 resolution. Although the resolution is relatively modest, it is entirely in line with what you would expect for the price.
Several other notable features are worth mentioning. Lenovo’s latest device is the first Chromebook to offer Dolby Atmos sound via a quad-speaker system, which includes two downward-firing woofers. The audio quality on laptops has improved significantly in recent years, so I am eager to experience what Lenovo has to offer. The 5-megapixel webcam has a much higher resolution than most other Chromebooks, and there is also a fingerprint reader for secure logins.
Overall, this Chromebook is on the more expensive side compared to many other options. Nevertheless, when you compare its specifications and design to other Chromebooks in this price range, Lenovo’s latest device comes out looking pretty good. Of course, we will need to verify that the MediaTek chip is powerful enough and also assess the battery life, but Lenovo’s track record is strong enough that I am looking forward to seeing if we have a new king of the Chromebooks.
New AI features
Given Google’s relentless focus on incorporating AI features everywhere, it is no surprise that there are several new AI enhancements in this device. First, there are two features that are currently exclusive to Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14: Smart Grouping and AI image editing in the Chromebook’s Gallery app. Google has been teasing Smart Grouping for a while now; it will analyze your open tabs and documents and ask if you want to organize them into a separate virtual desk. The Gallery app now has some AI-powered editing features, such as removing backgrounds or turning your images into stickers.
Beyond these, there are numerous AI features that are coming to all Chromebook Plus laptops, many of which will feel familiar if you have been paying attention to Google’s recent releases on other platforms. For example, you can now long-press the launcher and select an area of the screen to run a search. As usual, the default example is shopping – see a pair of shoes you want, highlight it, and let Google find them for you. The integration does look nice, though, with a pop-over window showing you results so you don’t have to leave the app you’re using.
Similarly, Text Capture analyzes text in an image and suggests things like calendar appointments based on what it reads. Or highlighting an image of a recipe can pull all of the items you need for it into a Google Docs list.
The Quick Insert key, which was first introduced last year on Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook Plus, can now be used to generate and insert AI images into anywhere your text cursor is pointing – it’s not just limited to Google apps. Finally, Google’s “help me read” tool has a new “simplify” option that can take complex language (think scientific explanations) and put it in plain language to make it easier to understand.
Anyone purchasing a Chromebook Plus this year will receive a solid perk that Google first introduced last year: a full 12 months of the Google One AI Pro plan, which includes 2TB of Google Drive storage and access to more advanced Gemini features (you can find all the exact details here). Given that this is a $20 per month plan, it’s a solid additional value – at the very least for the storage, if you’re not all that interested in Gemini.
As for Lenovo’s new hardware, I am looking forward to trying it soon to see if the ARM architecture can deliver the massive battery life and performance improvements that the company is promising. But if you want to purchase it now, Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14 is available at Best Buy and on Lenovo’s site to order as of today. (Note that, at least for now, only the more expensive version of the Chromebook Plus 14, with a touchscreen at 16GB of RAM, is available at Best Buy.)
