Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each inside and outside of the confines of Mountain View.
Chromebooks: B / Tablets: A
A rollercoaster of a yr for Chromebooks and ChromeOS
For a lot of the yr, issues had been pretty quiet with Chromebooks. Actually, the primary half of the yr was extra “ho-hum” than I anticipated, with new Chromebook releases being fairly iterative. It wasn’t fully sudden, as Samsung and Lenovo ended 2024 with a bang due to the previous’s return to the platform after a hiatus, and the latter bringing us one other nice hybrid possibility.
Basically, there weren’t many drastic modifications made to ChromeOS, as Google shifted its focus to raised implementing Gemini into the system. Little did I do know that greater plans had been on the horizon for each the {hardware} and the software program.
Flagship ARM chips carry x86 energy with out sacrificing battery life
The most important shift did not actually start till the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 was revealed in June, providing the “dream” Chromebook with wonderful efficiency and unbelievable battery life. Lenovo actually delivered, due to the MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910, an ARM chip that goes toe-to-toe with a number of the greatest conventional x86 chips present in Chromebooks.
Not solely does this make for a really snappy Chromebook, however the Kompanio Extremely allowed Google to implement much more on-device Gemini performance. Up thus far, just a few AI duties could possibly be dealt with regionally, however many nonetheless relied on cloud processing, doubtlessly slowing your workflow. That is now modified, as you are now in a position to carry out duties like enhancing photos with Gemini in your Chromebook.
It would not be till September that we might see the Kompanio Extremely arrive in an alternative choice, as Acer picked up the mantle with its Chromebook Plus Spin 514. It provides the identical stage of efficiency as Lenovo’s Chromebook, however has the advantage of sporting a convertible design, whereas the Lenovo sticks to a conventional laptop computer design.
Simply as spectacular, if no more so, is the battery life for these new Chromebooks. Each the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 and Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 are rated to final for as much as 17 hours on a single cost. This can be a far cry from the 8-10 hours we’re used to seeing on most of the greatest Chromebooks that depend on x86 processors.
It isn’t all sunshine and rainbows within the Chromebook world
Whereas it was superior to see the Kompanio Extremely set a brand new customary for what Chromebooks must be able to, solely two OEMs are bringing these to the lots. Samsung appears to be simply letting the Galaxy Chromebook Plus journey the wave for some time, whereas ASUS and HP have pushed extra iterative releases.
Actually, that is not likely an enormous deal, because it’s nonetheless good to have a little bit of competitors within the area, whatever the worth vary. Nevertheless, I used to be annoyed by OEMs’ unwillingness to launch Chromebooks with increased storage configurations. Some have microSD card slots, which is nice (in concept), however not all the time dependable.
I hoped we might see at the very least one Chromebook with 1TB of storage, however we did not even get one with 512GB. Nicely, at the very least not one launched for shoppers and never restricted to companies.
This might develop into an issue reasonably rapidly. One concern is that as Chromebooks develop into extra highly effective, it opens the door to extra on-device Gemini and AI performance.
Nevertheless, to carry out duties on-device, the mandatory AI fashions have to be accessible regionally, in order that they have to be downloaded. So it isn’t fully inconceivable that your brand-new 128GB Chromebook actually solely has round 100GB of usable area, which merely is not sufficient for a day by day computing system.
The opposite downside is {that a} reminiscence scarcity is already driving up the costs of RAM and storage. Simply as a short instance, take the SanDisk Excessive 1TB microSD card. For a lot of the previous yr, it is hovered across the $100 mark, reaching a low of about $76 again in October.
Nevertheless, over the previous two months, the worth creep has led the microSD card to be priced at $140. The identical might be stated for the 2TB SanDisk Excessive microSD card, which had a mean worth of $180 over the previous 6 months, solely to now value an eye-watering $270.
Actually, all I can say is that all of us have to buckle in whereas the AI increase drives costs via the roof.
Smaller flagship tablets are trickling in
Pivoting over to tablets, one in all my largest needs coming into 2025 was that we might find yourself seeing smaller flagship tablets launched. Man oh man, not solely did we see that, however I might nearly go as far as to say it is turning into a development with an increasing number of choices turning into out there.
Lenovo kicked off the yr in an enormous approach by releasing the 8.8-inch Legion Tab Gen 3 right here within the U.S., which is actually only a rebranded Y700 2024 that was solely out there overseas. Lenovo additionally launched the Y700 (Gen 4), powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, however the firm has but to carry that pill to the U.S. market.
Nevertheless, the RedMagic Astra arrived in June, bringing with it each a 9.06-inch OLED show and the Snapdragon 8 Elite. Not like the Y700, the Astra is out there right here within the States, serving as probably the most highly effective Android pill that does not really feel such as you’re carrying round a laptop computer.
I hope to see much more tablets underneath 10 inches launched in 2026, however I am additionally fairly pleased with the present state.
Android tablets are literally good once more
For many who do not care fairly as a lot about having smaller, highly effective tablets, 2025 was actually a banner yr for the class throughout the board. Samsung led the cost with its launch of the Galaxy Tab S11 and Galaxy Tab S11 Extremely, each of that are powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 9400 Plus.
OnePlus dethroned Samsung as the very best Android pill with the OnePlus Pad 3, which runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite and options a wonderful 13.2-inch, 144Hz show. However it additionally comes outfitted with loads of nice options to enhance the expertise, and I do not imply simply by shoehorning AI into each side of the software program.
Lenovo and Xiaomi additionally launched new flagship tablets, whereas Honor beat everybody else to the market with the MagicPad 3 Professional, the primary pill powered by the brand new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. I have never gotten my palms on that one simply but, however I am going to hopefully be capable of change that within the close to future.
Arguably, the very best a part of all that is that, apart from Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11, all these tablets might be had for underneath $1,000. For years, Samsung dominated the pill market, however it appears the tide is lastly starting to shift, as an increasing number of OEMs are getting into the ring.
2026 would possibly flip all the things on its head
Wanting again on the previous yr, there are causes to be enthusiastic about each Chromebooks and tablets, no matter your stance on one versus the opposite. Nevertheless, it may not be lengthy earlier than the 2 converge right into a single system, as Google and Qualcomm alluded to the potential of an Android-powered laptop computer at the newest Qualcomm Summit.
For the time being, we do not actually know a lot about what a supposed Android Laptop computer powered by Qualcomm would appear like, apart from making an attempt out Desktop Mode in Android 16. I can not think about this being the alternative for ChromeOS, because the platform continues to develop and is closely relied upon in colleges. However I am additionally intrigued by how this shall be positioned in a market dominated by Home windows and macOS.
Then once more, this might simply be an experiment with Google, desirous to see the place it goes earlier than deciding what the long run holds. Or it might actually spell the start of the top for Chromebooks and even laptop-replacement tablets just like the Tab S11 Extremely.
I am excited to see what’s to come back as we head into 2026, as I hope each Chromebooks and Android tablets proceed to develop in reputation. That stated, I’m additionally involved concerning the darkish clouds shifting in throughout the tech area as an entire, and what the area will appear like if reminiscence shortages proceed to plague the trade.
