If you looked at Lenovo’s ultra-thin tablet this past fall and wished it ran Google’s desktop software, your wait is almost over. After launching the original device with Android and Windows, the company is preparing to add a third operating system to the mix. A Chrome OS version of the Yoga Book is slated for next year, bringing the famous touch-sensitive keyboard to a platform built specifically for students and lightweight productivity.
The Touch Keyboard Gets a Third Operating System
The hardware platform has already passed through regulatory testing under the FCC ID O57YOGABOOK, proving the physical design is locked in across all software variants. When the Chinese manufacturer unveiled the original 2-in-1 at the IFA trade show in Berlin in late 2016, the standout feature was immediately obvious. Instead of a traditional physical keyboard, the device features a flat touch-sensitive surface that uses haptic feedback to simulate typing.
When you do not need to type, that same glowing keyboard disappears entirely. The dark panel then serves as a large digitizer for the Real Pen, an included stylus that lets users draw or take notes. You can place real paper over the panel, write with actual ink, and watch the tablet create a digital copy of your notes in real time. Because the device uses a signature Watchband hinge, you can rotate the screen a full 360 degrees to use it as a traditional laptop, a flat notepad, or a standard tablet.
Adding Chrome OS to this exact hardware shell gives buyers a third distinct choice. Until now, the device has run either Android 6.0 Marshmallow or Windows 10 Pro. With Google recently expanding the Google Play store capability directly into Chrome, users will soon be able to run standard Android mobile apps on a desktop-class browser operating system.
A Direct Pitch to the Education Market
Chromebooks surpassed Mac shipments for the first time in the United States this year, largely driven by schools buying affordable, manageable laptops for students. Lenovo wants a piece of that expanding pie. By pairing a lightweight operating system with a device built entirely around note-taking, the company sees a natural fit for classrooms.
“We’ve had a lot of interest. It’s an interesting idea for education, especially with the form factor. Over time, we probably see the Android and Chrome versions melding together.” — Jeff Meredith, Vice President and General Manager of Android and Chrome Computing Business Group at Lenovo
Meredith confirmed in recent interviews with Laptop Mag and The Verge that the manufacturer will maintain three distinctive products throughout the coming year. This strategy allows the brand to test which software environment truly maximizes the hardware’s potential. For schools, the benefits of the upcoming Chrome version are very specific:
- Fast boot times ideal for short classroom periods
- Centralized administration tools for school IT departments
- Built-in virus protection and seamless background updates
- Direct integration with Google Classroom tools
- Support for both browser apps and Android applications
The education sector demands durability and simplicity. While Windows offers full desktop power and Android offers mobile convenience, Chrome OS bridges the gap by providing a secure, browser-first environment that requires almost zero maintenance from the end user.
Fighting the 14.7 Percent Industry Decline
Worldwide tablet shipments dropped by 14.7 percent year-over-year in the most recent quarter, making the market a tough place to launch new hardware. Consumers are holding onto their old iPads and Android slates much longer than they keep their phones. Despite this industry-wide slump, Lenovo has managed to capture 6.3 percent of the global tablet market, securing its position as a top-five manufacturer.
According to Jitesh Ubrani, a Senior Research Analyst tracking IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker, standing out requires dramatic hardware changes. Lenovo has been one of the few companies able to maintain growth simply because their unique form factors capture attention. Releasing the world’s thinnest 2-in-1 is part of that exact strategy.
| Operating System | Target Audience | Base Pricing Level |
|---|---|---|
| Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Mobile users and digital artists | Starting at $499 |
| Windows 10 Pro | Business professionals | Premium tier (Rs 49,999 in India) |
| Chrome OS (2017) | Education sector and students | To be announced |
The international rollout is already expanding. The company just launched the Windows variant in India last week exclusively through Flipkart for Rs 49,999. With Indian tech enthusiasts currently waiting for the Android version’s arrival, the global appetite for this specific hardware footprint is clearly present. Adding a third operating system simply widens the net.
Keeping the Internal Hardware Intact
The baseline starting price for the Android variant sits at $499, which gives us a solid hint at where the Chrome OS model will likely land. Because Chrome is inherently a lightweight system, the internal components are expected to perfectly match what is currently on store shelves. The system runs on a 10.1-inch IPS full HD display, which provides plenty of real estate for side-by-side web browsing.
Powering that display is an Intel Atom x5 processor paired with 4GB of RAM. Storage comes in at 64GB out of the box, which is more than enough for a cloud-first system like Chrome OS. For media consumption, the chassis includes Dolby Atmos audio processing to boost the internal speakers. If you need to connect external hardware or expand your files, the frame includes a specific set of ports:
- MicroUSB for charging and data transfer
- Micro HDMI for outputting video to projectors or monitors
- MicroSD card slot for expanding the base 64GB storage
- Standard headphone jack for classroom audio
Battery life remains one of the strongest selling points for this form factor. The large 8,500 mAh battery pack currently pushes the Android version to an impressive 15 hours of usage, while the heavier Windows 10 Pro version reaches up to 13 hours. Given Chrome’s efficiency, buyers should expect all-day battery life that easily survives a full schedule of classes without needing a wall outlet.
As the line between mobile applications and desktop browsing continues to blur, this hardware experiment feels less like a risk and more like a necessity. Putting a dedicated web machine inside a shell that doubles as a digital notepad creates a completely new category for schools. The #ChromeOS platform is clearly outgrowing cheap plastic laptops, and bringing it to premium hybrid hardware shows exactly where #TabletTech is heading next.
