This has taken years to come to fruition, and it appears stunning.
A common issue with many Chromebooks is the need to choose between performance and battery life, often sacrificing one for the other. There hasn’t been a viable solution that offers both until now; the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 may be the answer we’ve been seeking.
I was fortunate to be invited to a launch briefing for the device, among several other creators and executives from both Google and Lenovo. We were informed about numerous new features heading to all Chromebook users, including “Select to search with Lens” and “Text Capture.”
Over the past eight months, it’s been challenging to feel enthusiastic about Chromebook hardware. The lengthy gap between device launches earlier this year led me to wonder if consumer Chromebooks were fading out. However, all that enthusiasm has surged back with the unveiling of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14.
Power, performance, and features
The source of this excitement comes from several factors. First and foremost, we’re looking at the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 driving this device, marking it as the first Chromebook powered by Kompanio Ultra. As one might expect, this ARM-based processor is expected to deliver outstanding battery life, with Lenovo asserting that the Chromebook Plus 14 can last up to 17 hours on a single charge.
While this isn’t entirely unheard of in the Chromebook realm, it’s quite impressive considering the Kompanio Ultra 910 incorporates both a dGPU and NPU. This results in an on-device Gemini experience that reportedly boasts a 32% speed increase and 44% improved efficiency. These enhancements are notable; they resemble the kind of advancements seen with the launch of the Apple M1.
During various demonstrations, the Chromebook Plus 14 handled tasks effortlessly. I kept reminding myself that many of these features are being processed on-device rather than relying on the cloud. I’m thrilled about the possibility of accessing more Gemini functionalities, even without internet connectivity.
Exclusive to the Chromebook Plus 14 are “Smart grouping” and “Image editing in the Gallery app.” As someone who keeps 20-30 tabs open routinely, I exhaled in relief during the presentation.
While I may still use Photoshop or darktable for serious photo editing, the capability to use Gemini in the Gallery app for background removal will save me countless hours. Both features operate on-device and are powered by Gemini, accompanied by a range of new AI capabilities available for all Chromebooks.
What about the design?
Performance and battery life usually cover most users’ priorities, leading us to the design aspect. Lenovo has certainly excelled in this area; the Chromebook Plus 14 is elegant and lightweight. It exudes “premium” quality from top to bottom, starting with its display.
We have a 14-inch 2K OLED display that is visually striking, offering excellent viewing angles and vibrant colors. There’s even a slight bulge at the top, where the somewhat lackluster 5MP webcam resides. While it serves its purpose, it does leave some room for improvement.
As for the keyboard, if you’ve used a Lenovo Chromebook or laptop in recent years, you’ll feel instantly comfortable. Additionally, I was pleased to see the Quick Insert Key return, which first appeared with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus, but hasn’t made its way to other Chromebooks yet.
One concern I have pertains to the trackpad. Apple has spoiled me with its Magic Trackpad, and aside from the HP Dragonfly Pro, I haven’t encountered anything comparable. While it didn’t seem like the Chromebook Plus 14 was equipped with a glass trackpad, it also didn’t feel inferior like some other alternatives. So, I’ll be scrutinizing this further once my review unit arrives.
Lastly, I wanted to mention the bottom casing. While aluminum graces the lid and keyboard deck, the base is plastic, which may remind Pixelbook Go owners of their device.
Neither Google nor Lenovo explicitly mentioned that it took cues from the Pixelbook Go, but it’s quite evident. Lenovo did explain that they chose this design for its ease of portability, allowing users to handle the Chromebook Plus 14 with confidence. Regardless of the motivation, it’s pretty neat to witness, adding an additional layer of uniqueness to this device.
This could be the “change” that Chromebooks required
In the end, what truly excites me about the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the possibility that this could be the “Apple M1 moment” we have been anticipating. Lenovo and
