Snapdragon X Plus Chromebooks could quickly turn out to be a actuality

Keep in mind just a few weeks in the past, after I stated that I used to be apprehensive in regards to the gradual and painful demise of ChromeOS? Yeah, let’s simply fake that by no means occurred. Since then, we have seen new Chromebooks from each Acer and ASUS, and there is extra on the way in which.

Robby over at ChromeUnboxed is a grasp with regards to digging via the Chromium Repositories. The most recent discovery was a commit that brings “preliminary help for Qualcomm X1P42100 SoC,” which is simply the codename for the Snapdragon X Plus chip.

Earlier than I get too forward of myself, this is not affirmation that such a Chromebook will ever truly see the sunshine of day. We have seen it numerous occasions the place a tool virtually makes it to the end line, solely to fall simply brief and principally disappear. Nevertheless, I am actually (and I imply REALLY) hoping that is not the case right here.

The commit message does not actually say anything, so there is not any indication of what a ChromeOS Snapdragon X Plus system seems like. All we actually know and care about, for the second, is that the work and improvement are underway.

It isn’t like that is the primary time we’re seeing a brand new ARM chip make its method to the platform. Not too long ago, MediaTek introduced its Kompanio Extremely processor, particularly geared in the direction of the finest Chromebooks. It presents virtually 20% sooner CPU efficiency, whereas consuming “as much as 50% much less energy” than the competitors. Consequently, MediaTek claims it is capable of supply as much as 20 hours of battery life on a single cost.

That is what makes the concept of an ARM-powered Chromebook so intriguing: a tool that’s as highly effective as its Home windows counterparts, with a battery that lasts all day. Plus, these ARM-powered laptops are a lot smaller and lighter than “conventional” choices, making them perfect for varsity and journey.

Up up to now, we have been seeing MediaTek inch increasingly more into the Chromebook house, with a smattering of Intel, and the occasional Snapdragon 7c from Qualcomm. Notably, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is powered by the Kompanio 828 and performs admirably, however the reality is that it may very well be higher.

Supplied that Google does not find yourself altering its thoughts, we may ultimately have the ChromeOS equal of the Floor Professional 11 or Floor Laptop computer 7. And hey, this is an concept: Google ought to mud off the Pixelbook 2 it shelved again in 2022, and launch it with the Snapdragon X Plus on the helm.

For the sake of not diving down that rabbit gap once more, there are a few different elements to contemplate. First, we’d not truly ever see a mass-produced Snapdragon X Plus Chromebook launched. It is completely attainable that Google is utilizing the X Plus as a improvement base, in anticipation of the Snapdragon X chip that Qualcomm introduced at CES 2025.