Lenovo's Latest Chromebook Is Designed for Cloud Gaming
In a first, Lenovo has created a 16-inch Chromebook specifically for gaming.
The company today introduced the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook, which is slated to go on sale this month starting at $599.
The product may seem a little strange since it doesn’t run Windows, the main OS for PC gaming. Instead, it’s loaded with ChromeOS, which can install Android-based games. But Lenovo also designed the 16-inch laptop to run several cloud gaming services, which rely on streaming the gaming experience over the internet.
Specifically, the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook meets the required specifications to run GeForce Now, Microsoft’s Xbox cloud gaming, and Amazon Luna, which require a monthly subscription to stream the games. So the Chromebook may appeal to existing customers of those services.
Lenovo added: “As part of the new ChromeOS software, users can easily search, click, and play games across platforms by using the Everything Button, exclusive to Chromebook devices. Gamers can then pin their favorites titles to the taskbar for fast future access.”
On top of all this, Valve is working on bringing Steam to ChromeOS. So it's possible the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook could receive support to run Steam, although Lenovo couldn't confirm. Currently, only seven higher-end Chromebook models qualify(Opens in a new window) to run an Alpha build of Steam for ChromeOS. These Chromebooks have Intel Iris Xe Graphics, 11th Gen Core i5 or i7 processors, and at least 8GB of RAM.
As a gaming notebook, the product features a 2,560-by-1,600 IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also contains a four-zone RGB keyboard with a 1.5mm key travel.
In terms of specs, the IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook can be configured with a 12th Generation Intel Core
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