A Chromebook bearing the designation “Google hatch” appeared briefly on Geekbench’s benchmark repository, pointing to a powerful new Chromebook on the way. Previously spotted in the Chromium repository, the listing confirms that this device will come with the latest in internal hardware. Specifically, that’s Intel’s latest 10th-gen Comet Lake chipset and specifically, the dual-core Intel Core i3-10110U.
The new gadget doesn’t skimp on the memory to back up Chrome OS and that chip either. The benchmark lists no less than 8GB of RAM while the processor is shown clocked at a monstrous 4.10 GHz.
As a result, it has managed to blow away scores from top devices such as Google’s own Pixel Slate Chrome OS tablet. Recent benchmarks from the latter Chromebook have fallen in at just over 800 points on the single-core side. On the multi-core side, that jumps to just under 1400 on average. Hatch manages a score of 4037 points and 7028 points, respectively.
“Hatch” isn’t one device, so which Chromebook is this?
The codename Hatch doesn’t apply to any single device, as noted in earlier reports across the web. In fact, there are at least four known devices being developed on that one board.
Now, Chromebooks on benchmarks typically show up as “Google” devices, regardless of the manufacturer. That comes back to the fact that nearly all work in the Chrome arena takes place on the Chromium Gerrit and it’s a closed ecosystem.
There’s no reason to believe this one is associated with the search giant’s next big release in that market. There have, conversely, been reports associating this particular Hatch device — namely the codename “Kohaku” — with Samsung.
Not only are Samsung employees known to be working on this model. The South Korean tech giant has not released a major update to its more powerful Chromebook Pro in some time. So there’s a good chance the device in this benchmark will be a next-generation version of that laptop.
Whether or not there are more powerful variants in the works remains to be seen, but this would be the first major update beyond the addition of mobile connectivity. Kohaku could also be a reference point to a new Samsung Chromebook Plus but it seems more likely that the “Pro” would be next in line.
What other details are available?
Other details about Hatch that have been noted in the Chrome code commits include the removal of all standard USB-A ports. Kohaku, explicitly, doesn’t seem ready to support HDMI outputs either.
Whether that negates the ability to use USB Type-C for display output remains to be seen. It’s possible Samsung plans a DeX-like solution instead, following on its trend with smartphones but that seems unlikely since Chrome OS isn’t as open as Android.
PD standards and temperature control mechanisms are part of the build details too. That’s in addition to code that points to the addition of fans for better safety and cooling. The implication of that is that this Chromebook will have much faster charging than seen in previous devices. The fans may also be used to keep the CPU cool since its clocked so high.
A garaged stylus and backlit keyboard are thought to be a part of the package.
Finally, the screen for Hatch has been tested at a resolution of 2400 x 1600 with a 3:2 aspect ratio. That doesn’t mean the final product will keep that or that Kohaku will ultimately go with that. But it does give a good indication that Kohaku will have a high-resolution panel at very least since that’s what it’s being tested with.
A screen size, in terms of inches, has not been determined. If Samsung sticks to its previous trends, this will almost certainly be a 2-in-1 or detachable in the 12-inch category. Regardless, the new Chromebook Hatch benchmark points to a powerful device to rival the best gadgets on the market.