Samsung readying high-end two-in-one hybrid Chromebook

Chromebook laptops are known for running Google's Chrome OS and for being competitively priced. The Chromebook range now looks set to get a brand new and much more ambitious model made by Samsung, all for under $500, according to leaks published on the specialist website SamMobile.

A Chromebook is a laptop computer that runs Google's Chrome operating system. The first models went on sale in June 2011 and, since then, manufacturers including Acer, Asus, HP and Toshiba have put out their own Chromebook devices. In fact, this upcoming model won't be Samsung's first Chromebook, although the new model promises to move things up a gear.

Samsung's "Chromebook Pro" appears to be a hybrid laptop running Chrome OS and rocking a 12.3-inch touch screen (2,400 x 1,600 pixels) that swivels 360 degrees -- a first for a Chromebook. This means it can be used like a laptop or like a tablet, thanks to the touch screen and accompanying stylus. A hybrid seems like a logical next step for the Chromebook since it's now possible to run Android applications on the devices (with Chrome OS version 53 or later).

Samsung is aiming for a stylish design, with a laptop that's no more than 13.9mm thick and just over 1kg on the scales. Under the hood, the PC is thought to come with 32GB of memory (although storage can be boosted with an SD card) and 4GB of RAM. Samsung is apparently promising 10 hours of battery life.

The Samsung Chromebook Pro is expected to land in the USA priced $499 by the end of October 2016.

Note that the range of Chromebook models varies from one country to another. In the USA, 36 models are currently available.