When it comes to laptops, most people think about Windows-based options or Apple MacBooks. But Chromebooks have managed to create a niche for themselves in the competitive segment. Made for the always-connected generation, these devices offer quick boot-up times along with promising smooth performance. You also get a long-lasting battery life with Chrome OS-based offerings. While there are several chipsets that laptopmakers could use for powering a Chromebook, MediaTek dominates the category with its Kompanio processors. So it isn’t surprising to see the chipmaker continuing to introduce new offerings in the range. The latest addition is MediaTek Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528, which is targeted at the entry level. Here’s why these processors deserve your attention.
Superb performance
The MediaTek Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 SoCs feature an octa-core CPU with big architecture. This includes two ARM Cortex-A76 cores running at up to 2.2GHz (up to 2GHz for Kompanio 520) for taking care of heavy tasks, whereas six Cortex-A55 cores with a clock speed of up to 2GHz take care of regular workloads. Graphics are handled by the dual-core ARM Mali G52 MC2 2EE GPU which is 20 percent better in comparison to the previous generation. With regards to storage, the chipset supports LPDDR4X RAM and eMMC 5.1 for storing your content.
Whether you are doing everyday activities like browsing the internet, watching multimedia, doing casual gaming, or running heavy apps, the processors will ensure that the Chromebook offers a buttery-smooth usage experience. Not to mention that the chipsets will enable quick boot-up times, immediate connectivity, and seamless multitasking. In terms of numbers, MediaTek claims that the Kompanio 520 gets a 100 percent performance boost for single-core performance. For Kompanio 528 on the other hand, single-core performance is improved by up to 80 percent, whereas multi-core performance will see a 15 percent uplift. Both chips also promise 100 percent faster storage performance.
Crystal-clear visuals
The newly launched chipsets promise a great multimedia experience as well. Not only do both Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 support native full HD+ displays, but can also connect to external monitors, TVs, or projectors with 1080p resolution. Students or professionals will be able to enjoy the Chromebooks powered by these processors alike, as they can enhance their productivity with a secondary display.
Speaking of multimedia, MediaTek Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 offer upgraded multimedia engines. They also come with VP9 decoding that’s able to decode YouTube and web content better. Other encoding and decoding engines include H.264 and HEVC. There’s also HiFi-5 DSP that can support voice assistants or a better video conferencing experience thanks to ultra-low power audio microphone processing.
Support for powerful camera capabilities
Both the Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 chips come with a new-gen imaging processor that promises better performance as well as power efficiency. Along with that, the OEMs can offer Chromebooks with up to 32-megapixel cameras that can capture sharp images or full HD videos at up to 60fps. What this means is that you can use the devices for not just video calls, but taking online classes too.
Furthermore, the cameras will be able to make use of MediaTek’s hardware imaging engine which will enhance photos and videos across various lighting conditions, including low light.
Scores high in the connectivity department
For I/O, Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 can support 1 x USB 3.0 port and 1 x USB 2.0 port with OTG capabilities. With regards to wireless connectivity, the chipsets support MediaTek Filogic Wi-Fi 6 options, letting you get high speeds with low latency. The processors also come with Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth LE Audio Technology, which supports Dual-Link True Wireless Stereo Audio.
MediaTek has a wide range of Kompanio chipsets catering to various audience segments. While Kompanio 1200 and Kompanio 1380 are aimed at providing high-end experiences, the newly-launched Kompanio 520 and Kompanio 528 are ideal for entry-level devices without compromising on any aspect. Chromebooks powered by the new processors will make their way to the market by the first half of 2023, so you won’t have to wait for long to get your hands on them.
