MediaTek Kompanio Ultra Chromebook ‘Navi’ is getting a fingerprint scanner

We’ve been diligently tracking the development of the Chromebook codenamed ‘Navi’, and frankly, the picture painted so far is nothing short of impressive. This device – based on the ‘Rauru’ baseboard and likely being manufactured by Lenovo – is set to debut with MediaTek’s powerhouse Kompanio Ultra SoC inside. Add to that the recent discovery of its stunning 16-inch, 16:10 4K OLED display, and ‘Navi’ is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated Chromebooks in recent memory.

Just when we thought the spec sheet couldn’t get much better for a premium clamshell Chromebook, another significant piece of the puzzle has fallen into place. Digging through the Chromium Gerrit, I recently found a commit that clearly adds support for a fingerprint sensor to the ‘Navi’/’Rauru’ hardware.

The commit clearly references a specific change that adds the necessary configuration for an Elan fingerprint controller. While perhaps not as juicy as a 4K OLED screen or a cutting-edge processor, the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner is a critical feature for modern, premium laptops. It offers a seamless and secure way to log in, authenticate purchases, and access sensitive data without fumbling with passwords.

Most importantly, this addition further solidifies ‘Navi’s position as a top-tier device with an ARM SoC inside. It rounds out an already-compelling package, making ‘Navi’ feel less like just another Chromebook and more like a crafted flagship device poised to potentially redefine what we’ll come to expect in the premium Chromebook Plus segment.

We’re still hopeful for a reveal sometime this spring or early summer, potentially at a dedicated Chromebook event. Adding a fingerprint scanner might seem like a small detail, but it’s another checkmark in the ‘premium’ column for what could be the most exciting Chromebook arrival of the year. Stay tuned as we keep digging for more details on ‘Navi’.