Google has announced two new Chromebooks today: Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook Plus and Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 11.
Alongside these devices, Google is introducing a brand-new feature: the Quick Insert button. This button is designed to provide instant access to some of Google’s latest AI-powered tools.
The Quick Insert button, which will replace the search/launcher button on certain Chromebooks, debuts with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus.
This feature is a gateway to a suite of new AI functionalities. By pressing the button, users can bring up a menu that offers tools like “Help me write,” which assists in drafting memos, emails, and will soon include AI image generation, as explained by John Maletis, VP of ChromeOS product, engineering, and UX.
In addition to writing help, the Quick Insert button offers faster access to information. It can quickly display a list of recently visited websites, allowing users to easily insert links.
The button also facilitates searching through photos, videos, documents, and spreadsheets stored in Google Drive, or pulling up favorite GIFs and emojis.
A similar move was made by Microsoft earlier this year, adding a dedicated Copilot key to some laptops for fast access to Windows’ AI features.
One of the exciting new features arriving with this button is Welcome Recap, which aims to catch you up when you log back into your device.
This feature, available on all Chromebooks, offers a summary of activities you were engaged in before logging out.
Welcome Recap works across devices, providing reminders such as your next video call, quick access to recently opened files, or clickable suggestions to resume an article you started on your Android or iOS phone. For those who tend to keep many tabs open, this feature could be especially useful.
In addition to Quick Insert, other AI-powered features are rolling out this month for the premium Chromebook Plus lineup.
These include “Help me read,” which summarizes the content you’re viewing, and Live Translate, offering real-time caption translations in over 100 languages.
The Recorder app is another new addition, capable of generating transcripts from lectures, interviews, or conversations. During a demonstration, the app accurately captured my words and recognized multiple speakers, showcasing its effectiveness.
Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook Plus will be the first to showcase these features. With its sleek grayish-blue aluminum body, this device is visually striking.
Weighing only 2.58 pounds and measuring 0.46 inches in thickness, it stands out as the lightest and thinnest Chromebook from either company to date.
The Chromebook Plus features a 15.6-inch OLED display that looked impressive in person. The keyboard is also well-designed, complete with a full number pad.
However, this device isn’t aimed at users seeking high-end performance. It runs on an Intel Core i3 100U Raptor Lake Refresh processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Battery life is estimated to be around 13 hours on a single charge.
Meanwhile, Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 11 doesn’t feature the Quick Insert button but still supports all the latest ChromeOS features.
This refreshed version of the popular detachable model from 2020 maintains its portability and versatility, with updated hardware.
The detachable magnetic keyboard allows the Duet 11 to function as either a tablet or a traditional laptop. The rear cover folds into a kickstand, letting you position the device vertically or horizontally.
Lenovo highlights the Duet 11’s 10.9-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen, which has advanced palm rejection technology. This makes it ideal for using the included USI Pen 2 stylus, which magnetically attaches to the back of the device.
Powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, the Duet 11 is well-suited for light productivity tasks and media consumption.
It features two webcams—an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera. Lenovo estimates up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Additionally, there’s an education edition of the Duet 11, with a more durable case for the tablet portion to protect against accidental drops.
Both Chromebooks will be available later this month. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 will start at $340, while the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, being the more premium option, will start at $699.
