Google goes upmarket with Chromebook Plus

The HP Dragonfly Pro Chromebook. Picture: June Wan/ZDNET.

Chromebooks are everywhere. Over the years, they have become the norm for many people: students, individuals, companies, creators… and pretty much everything in between.

This success is explained by their low price, of course, but not only. Chromebooks are also faster, more reliable and more secure. And since the majority of users spend most of their time in a web browser, what could be more logical than using a Chromebook? The only problem is that some Chromebooks do not have the technical characteristics required for certain needs.

That’s why Google is launching Chromebook Plus. This new label will make it easier to identify if a device meets certain minimum requirements defined by Google.

Minimum requirements for Chromebook Plus

For a Chromebook to be labeled Chromebook Plus, it must meet the following minimum requirements :

• CPU : Intel Core (i3 or higher) or AMD Ryzen 7000
• Screen : IPS panel with minimum 1080p definition
• Camera : minimum 1080p webcam
• RAM : 8 GB or more
• Storage : 128 GB or more

Devices that meet these criteria will receive Chromebook Plus status, which will make it easier for new buyers, allowing them to quickly find out which laptop is capable enough for their needs.

But that’s not all.

The advantages of Chromebook Plus

Not content with having a more powerful device, Chromebook Plus buyers will also benefit from the following advantages :

• the magic eraser of Google Photos ;
• offline file synchronization ;
• AI-enhanced video conferencing (especially in terms of lighting and noise suppression) ;
• 3 months of subscription to Photoshop on the web ;
• 3 months of priority subscription to GeForce NOW (a gaming platform) ;
• 25% discount on LumaFusion ;
• 3 months of Realms Plus for Minecraft ;
• 1 month trial of Boosteroid ;
• 100 GB of cloud storage on Google Drive ;
• 3 months of Premium subscription for the Pixlr suite.

8 Chromebook Plus available on October 9

For the launch of Chromebook Plus, eight devices will be available from October 9 in stores, among which :

• the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook Plus 16 ;
• the convertible 2-in-1 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus 14 ;
• the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook Plus 14 ;
• the HP Chromebook Plus x360 14 and Chromebook Plus 15.6 ;
• the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and 514.

If your Chromebook is eligible, you will soon be automatically upgraded to the Chromebook Plus software experience.

Source: ZDNet.com