Past the Alphabet
Past the Alphabet is a weekly column that focuses on the tech world each in and out 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 completely 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 choice.
Basically, there weren’t many drastic adjustments made to ChromeOS, as Google shifted its focus to higher 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 convey 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 glorious efficiency and unbelievable battery life. Lenovo actually delivered, due to the MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910, an ARM chip that goes toe-to-toe with among the finest 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 so far, a number of AI duties might be dealt with domestically, 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 photographs with Gemini in your Chromebook.
It would not be till September that we’d see the Kompanio Extremely arrive in another choice, as Acer picked up the mantle with its Chromebook Plus Spin 514. It gives the identical stage of efficiency as Lenovo’s Chromebook, however has the good thing about 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. It is a far cry from the 8-10 hours we’re used to seeing on lots of the finest Chromebooks that depend on x86 processors.
It is not all sunshine and rainbows within the Chromebook world
Whereas it was superior to see the Kompanio Extremely set a brand new commonplace for what Chromebooks must be able to, solely two OEMs are bringing these to the plenty. Samsung appears to be simply letting the Galaxy Chromebook Plus experience 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 house, whatever the worth vary. Nevertheless, I used to be pissed off 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 not less than one Chromebook with 1TB of storage, however we did not even get one with 512GB. Effectively, not less than not one launched for customers and never restricted to companies.
This might develop into an issue somewhat 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 domestically, so that they have to be downloaded. So it isn’t completely inconceivable that your brand-new 128GB Chromebook actually solely has round 100GB of usable house, which merely is not sufficient for a day by day computing gadget.
The opposite downside is {that a} reminiscence scarcity is already driving up the costs of RAM and storage. Simply as a quick 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 will be stated for the 2TB SanDisk Excessive microSD card, which had a median worth of $180 over the previous 6 months, solely to now price an eye-watering $270.
Actually, all I can say is that all of us have to buckle in whereas the AI growth drives costs by the roof.
Smaller flagship tablets are trickling in
Pivoting over to tablets, one in all my greatest needs coming into 2025 was that we’d find yourself seeing smaller flagship tablets launched. Man oh man, not solely did we see that, however I would nearly go as far as to say it is turning into a pattern with increasingly choices turning into obtainable.
Lenovo kicked off the yr in an enormous manner by releasing the 8.8-inch Legion Tab Gen 3 right here within the U.S., which is basically only a rebranded Y700 2024 that was solely obtainable overseas. Lenovo additionally launched the Y700 (Gen 4), powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite, however the firm has but to convey 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 offered right here within the States, serving as essentially 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 beneath 10 inches launched in 2026, however I am additionally fairly pleased with the present state.
Android tablets are literally good once more
For individuals 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 most effective Android pill with the OnePlus Pad 3, which runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite and options a superb 13.2-inch, 144Hz show. But it surely additionally comes outfitted with loads of nice options to enhance the expertise, and I do not imply simply by shoehorning AI into each aspect 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 most effective a part of all that is that, other than Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S11, all these tablets will be had for beneath $1,000. For years, Samsung dominated the pill market, nevertheless it appears the tide is lastly starting to shift, as increasingly OEMs are coming into the ring.
2026 may flip every part 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 gadget, as Google and Qualcomm alluded to the potential of an Android-powered laptop computer at the newest Qualcomm Summit.
In the intervening time, we do not actually know a lot about what a supposed Android Laptop computer powered by Qualcomm would appear to be, other than attempting out Desktop Mode in Android 16. I am unable to think about this being the alternative for ChromeOS, because the platform continues to develop and is closely relied upon in faculties. However I am additionally intrigued by how this might 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 may actually spell the start of the tip for Chromebooks and even laptop-replacement tablets just like the Tab S11 Extremely.
I am excited to see what’s to return as we head into 2026, as I hope each Chromebooks and Android tablets proceed to develop in recognition. That stated, I’m additionally involved in regards to the darkish clouds transferring in throughout the tech house as an entire, and what the house will appear to be if reminiscence shortages proceed to plague the business.
