Samsung is no stranger to the Chromebook scene, and the followup to its hit Chromebook Pro and Plus, codenamed Nautilus, will have a Sony IMX258 camera on board, according to a code commit targeted to the upcoming Chromebook. The commit specifically mentions the camera, and says that it will support video and even still photos in RAW format. It is worth noting that this camera is the same one found on the LG G6 and the Essential PH-1, which marks a significant step up in the world of Chromebook cameras. It’s likely no coincidence that such a sensor is making its Chrome OS debut on a detachable, where one could conceivably take the tablet along for an adventure and take some nice photos, then return home and use a keyboard and trackpad to retouch those photos. As a side note, though it was all but confirmed before, the language in the commit makes it extremely clear that Nautilus is a Samsung product.
Another interesting thing to note is that the IMX258 is commonly used in dual camera setups, which means that Nautilus may well sport dual cameras. Even without dual cameras, it’s one of the best setups for mobile devices currently on the market. On top of that, Samsung is no stranger to configuring and using Sony’s sensors in its devices; the flagship Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus use Sony cameras in some variants.
Not much is known about Nautilus just yet; it was first spotted back in October as an Intel Kaby Lake detachable of some sort, and more information has gradually come down the pipeline since. It’s still not known what Kaby Lake processor it will have, how much RAM it will have, what type of screen it will have, or how big the battery will be. Now that which vendors and employees to watch for news on Nautilus has been revealed, it will become much easier to track this particular device as development continues. Though it hasn’t been in development long, it may end up making a showing at this year’s CES, since its predecessors, the aforementioned Chromebook Plus and Pro, did just that in 2017.