Chromebook Plus Certification By Google Pushes Higher Hardware Specs, Other Exclusive Features For ChromeOS Devices
Keneci News
Google on Monday, announced a new certification for devices running its cloud-based operating system. Laptops that meet a minimum hardware requirement as set by the tech giant, will be certified with the Chromebook Plus branding. This will help shoppers identify high-quality Chromebooks in an ecosystem filled with cheap underperforming devices.
The Chromebook Plus label confers Google's imprimatur on a product, and means that the device has theses or better hardware specifications: an Intel Core (i3 or higher) or AMD Ryzen 7000 CPU; an IPS panel with at least 1080p resolution, a 1080p webcam; 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
Chromebook Plus devices will also get a few exclusive AI-powered features, including a magic eraser tool in Google Photos (which can automatically remove background elements), improvements to lighting and noise cancelation in video conferencing, and Offline File Sync (which automatically downloads files from Drive onto your device).
Google and four OEM partners also announced upcoming Chromebook Plus laptops that will be available for order from 0ct.8. These include HP Chromebook Plus x360 14 and Chromebook Plus 15, Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming ChromeBook Plus 16, and Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and 514.
Laptops already in the market that meet the minimum hardware requirements, will receive the exclusive feature updates later, according to Google.
"With double the performance, Chromebook Plus offers built-in Google apps and powerful AI capabilities," Google writes in a blog post announcing the new branding. "It also offers Google Photos Magic Eraser and Adobe Photoshop on the web to help consumers boost their productivity, inspire their creativity and make everyday tasks intuitive. It’s a laptop experience that optimizes hardware performance with software apps and tools, all at a starting price of $399."