‘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 look destined to become recipients of this new hybrid OS, but a recent commit for the Lenovo-built Sapphire just gave us a very clear timeline for what could be the flagship device for this entire effort.

According to a new commit, Sapphire has officially entered the “system lock for FW qual” phase. For the uninitiated, this is the part of the development cycle where the firmware is frozen for final testing. It is a massive green light that the hardware is finished and mass production is right around the corner.

The historically likely four-month runway

While it is tempting to think this means a launch is weeks away, history tells a bit of a different story. Looking back at a nearly identical commits for devices like ‘Ciri’ (the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11″), we saw that device hit its firmware lock at the very end of April 2024 and it was announced and shipped in September of that year. The same holds true with multiple other devices as well.

If we apply that same four-month logic to ‘Sapphire’ (also made by Lenovo and also a tablet), we land squarely in mid/late-August for a likely ship date. This timing is too perfect to be a coincidence. Over the past two years, Google has moved its flagship hardware events to August, and I’m willing to bet that Sapphire is destined for that stage.

The Flagship Introduction of ‘Aluminium OS’

This is where things get interesting. We know Sapphire is being manufactured by Lenovo, but I believe it is going to be the flagship device for the official arrival of ‘Aluminium OS’ (or whatever this all ends up being branded as).

Historically, Made By Google events are reserved for first-party hardware. However, Aluminium OS is an OEM-first product, much like Android. Just as Google uses the Pixel to showcase what Android should be, they need a “Hero” device to show the world what this new AI-centric, desktop-class Android OS can do.

By partnering closely with Lenovo on a high-end, iPad-like detachable powered by the MediaTek Kompanio Ultra, Google can introduce a “Made By Google” software experience on a device built by one of their strongest hardware partners: Lenovo.

Why ‘Sapphire’ is the device to do this

Google needs a device that screams premium to go toe-to-toe with the MacBook Neo and iPad Pro. A budget clamshell won’t cut it for the launch of a new era. Sapphire fits the bill perfectly with a 13-inch detachable form factor, pen support, fingerprint scanner, quad speakers, OLED screen, and high-octane SoC.

While I’d never suspect a standard Chromebook outside of the Google-made Pixelbook line to ever be a part of the Made By Google event, this entire thing just feels different. If Google is taking Project Aluminium seriously and wants it to be a commercial success where Apple has so much of a grip on the industry, it has to be included in events like this. Either way, we’re on the road to seeing ‘Sapphire’ in all its glory early in the fall for sure, and that’s something to be extremely excited for! Stay tuned!