Following the announcement of Googlebook, we finally have a clear picture of exactly who is building the hardware. Google has officially confirmed that they are working with Acer, ASUS, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to launch the first wave of Googlebooks this fall. According to Google, every device with … [Read more...] about Here are the brands making the first Googlebooks, but you’ll notice a big one is missing
Aluminium
Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
The Android Show is officially set for May 12 as we hope for some answers about Project Aluminium
Last month, we caught a brief glimpse of a leaked YouTube teaser that suggested Google was planning something massive for Android ahead of I/O 2026. While that video was quickly pulled, the cat is now officially out of the bag. Google has confirmed that The Android Show | I/O Edition is coming on … [Read more...] about The Android Show is officially set for May 12 as we hope for some answers about Project Aluminium
More info leaks about Pixel Glow, including a look at how it might work on laptops
Though it has perhaps been tempting to think of the upcoming Pixel Glow as just a nostalgic return to the quirky lightbar days of the original Chromebook Pixel, it seems more is going on with this new feature than many initially thought. New teardowns of the Pixel Diagnostics and Google apps have … [Read more...] about More info leaks about Pixel Glow, including a look at how it might work on laptops
‘Atria’ is the beginning of new Intel ‘Nova Lake’ Chromebooks or ‘Aluminium OS’ devices
If there is one thing we know about Google's Chromebook hardware development cycle, it is that they are always building for the future. While the current crop of Chromebook Plus devices offers plenty of power, the Chromium repositories have just revealed that Google is already looking ahead to … [Read more...] about ‘Atria’ is the beginning of new Intel ‘Nova Lake’ Chromebooks or ‘Aluminium OS’ devices
Google is kicking off I/O 2026 with The Android Show and maybe some answers about ‘Project Aluminium’
Google I/O 2026 is officially set for May 19th and 20th, but some juicy consumer-facing news is going to drop a little earlier than expected. For the second year in a row, Google is scheduling a dedicated podcast before the actual start of I/O 2026, and they are setting expectations incredibly … [Read more...] about Google is kicking off I/O 2026 with The Android Show and maybe some answers about ‘Project Aluminium’
Why Google needs to keep Linux support in the new Android-based ‘Aluminium’ project
When we talk about ChromeOS being re-baselined to the Android kernel—known internally as Project "Aluminium"—the conversation almost always revolves around AI. But for a core group of ChromeOS enthusiasts, there is a lingering fear right now: what happens to Linux support? For years, the ability … [Read more...] about Why Google needs to keep Linux support in the new Android-based ‘Aluminium’ project
‘Sapphire’ enters final testing phase, and it may star at Google’s August hardware event
If you’ve been following our coverage of Project Aluminium (Google’s ambitious plan to re-baseline ChromeOS on a desktop-class Android foundation) you know that the hardware has been one of the biggest question marks. We've been tracking a fleet of devices in the Chromium Gerrit for months that all … [Read more...] about ‘Sapphire’ enters final testing phase, and it may star at Google’s August hardware event
The leaked new ‘Pixel Glow’ feature looks awesome for both phones and laptops
If you miss the days of dedicated notification LEDs, you are going to love the latest Android leak. The team at 9to5Google recently tore down Android 17 Beta 4 and uncovered a feature explicitly branded as Pixel Glow. According to the code, this new hardware capability uses subtle lights on the … [Read more...] about The leaked new ‘Pixel Glow’ feature looks awesome for both phones and laptops
Project Aluminium could finally kill off awful, clunky Chromebook names
Let me be brutally honest for a second: Chromebook names are absolutely terrible (for the most part). If someone asks you what the hottest $599 laptop on the market is right now, Apple fans can simply say MacBook Neo. Two words. Clean, iconic, and instantly recognizable. If someone asks me for … [Read more...] about Project Aluminium could finally kill off awful, clunky Chromebook names
Leaked ‘Aluminium OS’ wallpapers give us a small glimpse into Google’s laptop future
We know the hardware for Google's upcoming Aluminium OS is going to be incredibly capable, but what is the software actually going to look like? If there was any concern that the merger of Android and ChromeOS was going to result in some sort of sterile, utilitarian UI, it would seem that you can … [Read more...] about Leaked ‘Aluminium OS’ wallpapers give us a small glimpse into Google’s laptop future
Lenovo’s ‘Sapphire’ Chromebook tablet will come with this iPad-like screen feature
If you’re waiting for the ultimate ChromeOS tablet, the upcoming 'Sapphire' detachable continues to look like the exact device you've been dreaming of. We already know this 13-inch, Lenovo-built powerhouse is packed with high-end specs, will come with the first-ever Chromebook Plus tablet … [Read more...] about Lenovo’s ‘Sapphire’ Chromebook tablet will come with this iPad-like screen feature
To compete with MacBook Neo, Air and Pro, the Snapdragon ‘Calypso’ chip will be crucial for ‘Aluminium OS’
A few days ago, we broke the news about 'Calypso', a new Qualcomm SoC appearing in the Chromium Gerrit alongside a reference board named 'Mensa'. At first glance, it’s just another chip in the pipeline, but the more we look at the trajectory of Google’s Project Aluminium, the more it becomes clear … [Read more...] about To compete with MacBook Neo, Air and Pro, the Snapdragon ‘Calypso’ chip will be crucial for ‘Aluminium OS’











