Phoronix reports that Google may already be working on another high-end Chromebook based on Intel's upcoming 22-nm Haswell platform slated to arrive in June. The news is based on recent Haswell-based comments made by Google/Chrome developers including this one about dynamic cbmem and this one about chromeos function, among others.
Google's latest Chromebook, the Pixel, sports an Intel Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" dual-core processor clocked at 1.8 GHz, an Intel HD Graphics 4000 GPU, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 12.85-inch multi-touch display with a 2560 x 1700 resolution (239 PPI). Also thrown into the premium Chromebook are two USB 2.0 ports, a 2-in-1 card reader, dual band Wireless N and Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, and an SSD ranging between 32 GB and 64 GB capacities.
With the launch of the Chromebook Pixel, Google is undoubtedly trying to lead the Chromebook pack with a premium product much like it has with the Nexus brands in the smartphone and tablet markets. But as Phoronix points out, Google didn't provide Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge Chromebook solutions until long after the initial hardware launch. However this time Google may want to be one of the initial Haswell launch OEMs.
Intel's upcoming Haswell 22-nm chip is targeted at mobile devices based on its low power drain. Intel has stated in the past that devices using Haswell chips will see double the battery life when compared to those using Intel's third-generation Ivy Bridge processors. The power envelope alone should make Haswell a prime candidate for Google's next premium Chromebook.
Outside the Chromebook Pixel, Google's Chrome OS-based notebooks are typically budget machines focused on web-based apps and constant online use. The current crop mainly consists of ARM Cortex A-15 based SoCs (Samsung Exynos 5) and Intel's Celeron CPU (Acer C7).
