Google Reportedly Developing Own Arm-Based Processors for Chromebooks After Being Inspired by Apple Silicon

[MacRumors]

After unveiling its latest Pixel 6 smartphones with a custom Arm-based Google Tensor chip last month, Google is also developing its own Arm-based processors for future Chromebook laptops and tablets, according to Nikkei Asia.

Google plans to roll out its own processors for Chromebooks in around 2023, according to the report. Chromebooks are laptops, tablets, and detachable devices that run Google's Chrome OS operating system, and they are available from brands such as Google, Samsung, Lenovo, Dell, HP, Acer, and ASUS in several markets.

The report claims that Google was particularly inspired by Apple's success in developing its own chips for not only iPhones, but also Macs following the introduction of the Apple-designed M1 chip last year. The first Macs with Apple silicon chips were released in November 2020 and Apple previously said the transition away from Intel-based processors for its Mac lineup would take about two years to be completed.

The latest Mac to transition to Apple silicon is the base model iMac, which was updated with the M1 chip, a colorful new design, and a larger 24-inch display in April. Apple is also rumored to be planning redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with a faster version of the M1 chip for release later this year, with multiple reports having stated the notebooks are likely to be released in October or November.

Article Link: Google Reportedly Developing Own Arm-Based Processors for Chromebooks After Being Inspired by Apple Silicon

 

[l0stl0rd]

Interesting lets get the ARM race going

 

[CalfCanuck]

Apple Silicon is the thin edge of the wedge for Intel.

 

[huge_apple_fangirl]

I still don't get why Google is wasting money on hardware and "custom" chips (read: modified Exynos's). Slavishly copying Apple hasn't worked for anyone else, why should it work for them?

 

[CalfCanuck]

I still don't get why Google is wasting money on hardware and "custom" chips (read: modified Exynos's). Slavishly copying Apple hasn't worked for anyone else, why should it work for them?

Slavishly copying iOS to create Android worked pretty well...

 

[Mousse]

Inspired by Apple to make Chromebook unable to be converted into a cheap PC.😑

With Intel/AMD chips we can flash the BIOS and replace ChromeOS with Windows or Linux. I use prefer Linux since it's less resource intensive and runs well on a Chromebook.

 

[DotCom2]

"Inspired" ? LOL! You are being too nice MacRumors.

 

[Madhatter32]

Hopefully this will bode well for more ARM based software development.

 

[macsplusmacs]

Once again it took apple to show the industry the way.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I still don't get why Google is wasting money on hardware and "custom" chips (read: modified Exynos's). Slavishly copying Apple hasn't worked for anyone else, why should it work for them?

Samsung would beg to differ.

 

[thingstoponder]

At best they’ll stamp their name on an existing design for the PR. None of these companies are going to do what Apple did.

Microsoft did the same thing with their “custom Microsoft” chip for their Surface X. It was just a Qualcomm with less teeth an half the single core performance of the M1.

 

[mannyvel]

Apple's been making its own chips for years now. Given the retail cost of chromebooks I can't imagine that there's any real margin left, especially after R&D costs. But Google's already making its own chips on the sever side, so why not?

Maybe they can unleash an AI-designed chip on the low-end market. It seems that AI would be a perfect tool for this type of product, since it's balancing billions of variables.

 

[tobybrut]

Google is making Tensor for the Pixel 6 phones. Why would it be surprising Google wants to extend Tensor to their other devices? Google’s not the only follower. Everyone is moving to ARM.

 

[jz0309]

IF this would have been inspired by Apples M1 success, we might see those in 2025, maybe… they’ve been planning for this longer…

 

[_Spinn_]

It will be interesting to see if Google can create something competitive.

 

[progx]

With Intel/AMD chips we can flash the BIOS and replace ChromeOS with Windows or Linux. I use prefer Linux since it's less resource intensive and runs well on a Chromebook.

Windows 11 is built with ARM in mind since Microsoft is developing ARM chips in house as well.

When has a different architecture ever stopped Linux? You can run Ubuntu on Raspberry Pi, I'm pretty sure someone will get Linux running on all these different ARM-based chips.

 

[Metrosey]

Apple Silicon is the thin edge of the wedge for Intel.

And AMD, ARM is coming for them too.

 

[macduke]

This has me really excited. Companies tend to chill when they've got the fastest chip. Apple is going to need some kind of serious competition moving forward. Google is in a unique position though because of their experience with quantum computers and AI. I hope that someday quantum computers are no longer room-sized devices like old computers from the 50s. But I think silicon or perhaps graphene computers are likely to be around for some time and will use quantum computers to augment their performance via the cloud.

 

[Naraxus]

Once again it took apple to show the industry the way.

Hardly. ARM processors have been used for years

 

[rictus007]

Competition is always good

 

[iBluetooth]

Slavishly copying iOS to create Android worked pretty well...

Google didn’t create Android, they bought it and adjusted to work more like iOS. They had inside knowledge sitting on Apple board.

 

[iBluetooth]

Hardly. ARM processors have been used for years

Apple founded ARM Ltd. with Acorn and VLSI. With Apple having the largest share 44%.

 

[Cosmosent]

Very surprised Google didn't see the Wisdom to do so shortly after Apple released their register-rich A7 processor, in the 5s !

 

[Analog Kid]

Google's already making its own chips on the sever side

This is the piece I was missing... If they've done more than just one tensor chip for a failed Pixel phone, then maybe they have a shot at this.

Still, servers are pretty forgiving and it's a long way to reach Apple's level of specialization. As the years progress though it'll be interesting to see how the processor architectures originally designed for mobile compete with those originally developed for servers.

Google has the cash, but I'm not convinced they have the focus or the will.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Hopefully it’s not buggy