HMD may be ready to expand beyond phones and tablets, with fresh leaks pointing to its first-ever laptop: the HMD Chromebook CS-1 Flip. While the company has built its identity around smartphones and retro feature phones, it now appears set to enter the laptop market with a 2-in-1 convertible aimed at ChromeOS users.
HMD Chromebook CS-1 Flip could launch with Intel chip
According to @smashx_60, the device referred to both as the HMD Chromebook CS-1 Flip and HMD Book CS-1 Flip is expected to ship with an Intel processor. This marks a departure from many entry-level Chromebooks that rely on ARM-based chips like the MediaTek Kompanio series. It also hints that HMD may be targeting more than just basic web browsing with its first notebook.
While the exact processor remains unknown, the decision to go with Intel instead of ARM could place this model closer to mid-tier territory in terms of performance.
Convertible design with touch display expected
The “Flip” in the name suggests a 2-in-1 convertible form factor, similar to models like the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX1. This likely means a touchscreen, full keyboard, and support for multiple usage modes laptop, tablet, tent, and stand. However, screen size, resolution, and other hardware details are still under wraps.
Here’s what the leak reveals about the HMD Chromebook CS-1 Flip so far:
- Convertible 2-in-1 form factor
- Intel-powered, not ARM-based
- Likely features a touchscreen
- May run ChromeOS or the merged “Aluminium OS”
- Official specs and release date unknown
OS mystery: ChromeOS or Aluminium OS?
One of the more intriguing points from the leak is whether the CS-1 Flip will run the standard ChromeOS or the rumored “Aluminium OS” a new hybrid system born from Google’s merging of ChromeOS and Android. If HMD does opt for the latter, the CS-1 Flip could become one of the first devices to showcase this next-gen operating system.
HMD’s next move could shake up the Chromebook market
As it stands, HMD is entering a field dominated by the likes of Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, and Samsung. To stand out, it’ll need more than a familiar form factor. Whether it’s pricing, software, or standout features, the CS-1 Flip’s value proposition remains unclear for now.
Still, for a company that has never touched laptops directly, this move signals something bigger HMD isn’t just dipping a toe into the PC space. It’s flipping the lid open.
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