OPINION : rumour have been floating around besiege ‘ Chromebook X ’ , a Modern recording label that will intelligibly signal high - end Chromebooks from their budget sibling . But as it presently stands , this does n’t seem like anything more than a change of branding , with no direction on actually improve Chromebook computer hardware .
The glare is on Google this hebdomad , with rumours flying around about a blade new verification system for its Chromebook telephone line of laptops . Seen first on9to5Google , the report claims that Google will be enter ‘ Chromebook X ’ as a recording label for gamy - end Chromebooks . It ’s worth noting out of the gate that this is all currently speculation , with no confirmation from Google on the cogency of these claim .
arrange aside the idea that this could all be desirous mentation , I want to take a closer look at the idea of work in a Chromebook X recording label .
For starters , it ’s very resonant of Intel Evo . For a more elaborated explanation check out ourIntel Evo explainer , but in a nutshell , Intel Evo is a high badge of accolade present to Intel - powered machine that shoot a specific set of criteria . This includes battery life , Wi - Fi 6Esupport , fast charging and more . It ’s a very light way of life for consumers to identify capable laptop without needing to make out all the computer jargon that usually goes along with that .
But Chromebook X is n’t doing what Intel Evo does , at least not in the same manner . 9to5Google claims that Chromebook X laptops will have to gain some standard . The most notable of these is the processor necessary . Chromebook X devices will need to let in either an AMD Zen 2 + ( Skyrim ) , AMD Zen 3 ( Guybrush ) or Intel Core 12th Gen ( Brya and Nissa ) .
Those specs search perfectly reasonable , until you realize that the so - telephone Nissa stemma typify Intel ’s N - Series microchip , which are well - known for their affordability and typically feature in laptops that are under £ 400/$400 .
This means that , unlike Intel Evo , Chromebook X is not single out the salutary of the best . Google would be setting a low bar by allowing verification for Chromebooks with the limitations of an outdated or underpowered CPU . certainly , not everyone need a juggernaut laptop , but it feel a tad shoddy to label them as an “ above average ” Chromebook when that is n’t reflected by the specs . This feel more like an exercise in rebranding than any attempt to actually improve the hardware .
Of course , Chromebooks can be herculean devices . TheHP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook ( 2023)comes with an Intel Core 12th Gen central processing unit , which supply fantastic carrying out in our testing – at least for a Chromebook . But as our tests show , it ca n’t throw up against many of its Windows rivals . And the $ 999 price tag is well out of compass of what most Chromebooks cost , which is one of the main marketing point of these laptops over Windows and Mac devices .
No matter what recording label you stick onto a Chromebook , it has its limitations . That ’s not to say that you should never consider trying out a Chromebook , but I get the impression that the new Chromebook X moniker is an attempt to extenuate the slow advancement of ironware and instead rebrand what ’s already on the securities industry .
Adding a Chromebook X paster is not go to solve Google ’s Chromebook problem . If Google wants people to move on from the idea that Chromebooks are all just browser app - in - a - box machines , then it needs to start promote the hardware where it counts . I ’d have a go at it to see a new PixelBook that lead the charge .
And if not , then start betray Chromebooks on what they ’re expert at ; unproblematic browsing , easy piloting and ( usually ) a very affordable asking price . It seems like Google is judge to have its patty and deplete it too , with newfound terms that are simply putting a fresh coat of blusher on what we ’re already intimate with .
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