Google has announced three Chromebooks for cloud gaming. Start with ASUS, Lenovo, and Acer | HelenTech

Google has announced three new Chromebooks for cloud gaming in collaboration with ASUS, Lenovo and Acer, which have been suggested since last month that they may introduce a new model that can be described as a “Gaming Chromebook”.

Of those, two models, ASUS and Lenovo, are models for which information has already been released.ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip (CX5501)｣、｢Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook”, and from Acer the “Acer Chromebook 516 GE” appeared.

ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip (CX5501)

This model was released on Amazon in the US in mid-September, and appears to have been renamed “ASUS Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip (CX5501)”.

As for the specifications, please refer to the previous article, but the specifications are roughly as follows.

• 15.6 inch Full HD touch screen
• Convertible model
• Refresh rate 144Hz
• Core i5-1135G7
• 16 GB RAM / 256 GB PCIe SSD
• Wi-Fi 6 / BT 5.0
• USB-C x 2, USB-A, HDMI, microSD card slot
• Backlit keyboard
• USI pen support
• 357.6 x 240.7 x 1.85 mm
• 1.95 kg

The distinguishing feature of this model is that it supports the first refresh rate of 144Hz for Chromebooks. Pricing has not been revealed at this time, but it is expected to go on sale later this month.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook

This was also hinted at at the end of last month, but Lenovo’s “IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook” was officially announced.

The specification details were summarized in the previous article, but I’ll pick up the approximate specifications and show them.

• 16 inch 2560 x 1600 IPS touch screen
• Refresh rate 120 Hz
• Core i3-1215U / i5-1235U
• 8 GB RAM
• 128GB eMMC / 256GB-512GB PCIe SSD
• Wi-Fi 6E / BT 5.0
• USB-C x 2, USB-A x 2, HDMI, microSD card slot
• RGB backlit keyboard
• Battery up to 11 hours
• Starting at $599

Pricing starts at $599, and sale time starts from the second half of this month just like ASUS.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE

Finally, the gaming Chromebook released by Acer is a model called “Acer Chromebook 516 GE”, which allows you to choose higher specifications from the two models mentioned above.

The specifications that can now be confirmed are as follows.

• 16 inch 2560 x 1600 100% sRGB IPS
• Refresh rate 120 Hz
• Core i5-1240P / i7-1260P
• 8 GB RAM / 16 GB RAM
• Up to 256 GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• HD webcam
• RGB keyboard, anti-ghosting technology
• Wi-Fi 6E / Bluetooth 5.2
• USB-C x 2, USB-A, HDMI, Ethernet
• Battery up to 9 hours
• from $650

Starting at $649.99, it will be available in the US later this month, along with ASUS and Lenovo.

Since these models that Google announced this time around are called “first generation,” I think it’s very likely that gaming Chromebooks with cloud gaming will emerge as a major focus in the future. Also, given that gaming services like Steam for ChromeOS that can be played locally will be developed, so-called high-end gaming Chromebooks equipped with graphic panels are also expected to appear.