Chrome OS devices/Chromebook

From ArchWiki

Main article: Chrome OS devices.

Introduction

First generation of Chromebooks

The first generation of Chromebooks: Google Cr-48, Samsung Series 5 500 and Acer AC700 use Insyde H2O firmware and not Coreboot firmware. There are three approaches how to install Arch Linux on these devices:

  • Flash a custom H2C firmware (only available for Google Cr-48) and install Arch as on any other UEFI laptop.
  • Take the ChrUbuntu approach which uses the Chrome OS kernel and modules.
  • Build and sign your own kernel, see [1].

Hardware comparisons

Warning: The availability of SeaBIOS does not promise device compatibility for Linux or that the pre-installed SeaBIOS works properly. Before purchasing a device visit its page on the ArchWiki and look for Linux users' posts about that model.
Chromebook Models
Available Brand Model Processor RAM Storage Upgradable Screen Resolution SeaBIOS Remarks
Dec 2010 Google Cr-48 Intel Atom N455 2GB
DDR3
16GB SSD mSATA 12.1 in
(30.7 cm)
1280x800
(16:10)
Unavailable for
1st generation
Custom H2C
firmware available
Jun 2011 Samsung Series 5
XE500C21
Intel Atom N570 mSATA Unavailable for
1st generation
Jul 2011 Acer AC700 mSATA
Mini
11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
Unavailable for
1st generation
May 2012 Samsung Series 5
XE550C22
Intel Celeron 867
Intel Core i5 2467M
4GB
DDR3
mSATA 12.1 in
(30.7 cm)
1280x800
(16:10)
In custom
firmware only
Custom firmware
available
Nov 2012 Acer C710 Intel Celeron 847
Intel Celeron 1007U
2-4GB
DDR3
320GB HDD
16GB SSD
SATA
2.5" 7,9.5mm
11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
In custom
firmware only
Custom firmware
available
Feb 2013 HP Pavilion 14
Chromebook
Intel Celeron 847 SATA
2.5" 7,9.5mm
14 in
(35.6 cm)
In custom
firmware only
Custom firmware
available
Lenovo ThinkPad X131e
Chromebook
Intel Celeron 1007U 4GB
DDR3
16GB SSD mSATA 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
In custom
firmware only
Custom firmware
available
Google Chromebook
Pixel
Intel Core i5 3427U 4GB
DDR3
32GB iSSD
64GB iSSD
No 12.85 in
(32.6 cm)
2560x1700
(3:2)
Yes Custom firmware
available
Nov 2013 HP Chromebook 14 Intel Celeron 2955U 2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB SSD
32GB SSD
42mm M.2
NGFF
14 in
( 35.6 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
Yes Custom firmware
available
Acer C720/C720P
Chromebook
Intel Celeron 2955U
Intel Core i3-4005U
42mm M.2
NGFF
11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
Yes Custom firmware
available
Jan 2014 Toshiba CB30/CB35
Chromebook
Intel Celeron 2955U 2GB DDR3 16GB eMMC No 13.3 in
(33.8 cm)
Yes Custom firmware
available
Apr 2014 Dell Chromebook 11 Intel Celeron 2955U
Intel Core i3-4005U
2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB eMMC No 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
Requires stock
SeaBIOS patching
Custom firmware
available
Jun 2014 Lenovo N20/N20P
Chromebook
Intel BayTrail-M N2830 2GB DDR3 No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Asus Chromebook
C200/C300
2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB eMMC
32GB eMMC
No 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
13.3 in
(33.8 cm)
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Lenovo ThinkPad 11e
Chromebook
Intel BayTrail-M N2930 4GB DDR3 16GB eMMC No 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
ThinkPad Yoga 11e
Chromebook
No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Jul 2014 HEXA Chromebook Pi Intel BayTrail-M N2830 32GB eMMC No No Custom firmware
available
Sep 2014 Toshiba CB30/CB35
Chromebook 2
Intel BayTrail-M N2840 2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB eMMC No 13.3 in
(33.8 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
1920x1080
(16:9)
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Acer CB3-111
Chromebook 11
Intel BayTrail-M N2830 2GB DDR3 No 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Oct 2014 C730
Chromebook 11
Intel BayTrail-M N2840 2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB eMMC
32GB eMMC
No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
HP Chromebook 11
G3
16GB eMMC No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Samsung Chromebook 2
XE500C12
2GB DDR3 No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Feb 2015 Dell Chromebook 11
3120
2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Acer C740 (EDU)
Chromebook 11
Intel Celeron 3205U
Intel Core i3-5005U
16GB SSD
32GB SSD
42mm M.2
NGFF
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
CB5-571
Chromebook 15
16GB
32GB
42mm M.2
NGFF
15.6 in
(39.6 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
1920x1080
(16:9)
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Mar 2015 C910 (EDU)
Chromebook 15
Intel Celeron 3205U
Intel Core i3-5005U
Intel Core i5-5200U
4GB DDR3 16GB SSD
32GB SSD
42mm M.2
NGFF
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Google Chromebook
Pixel 2
Intel Core i5-5200U
Intel Core i7-5500U
8GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
32GB
64GB
No 12.85 in
(32.6 cm)
2560x1700
(3:2)
Yes Custom firmware
available
Lenovo N21
Chromebook
Intel BayTrail-M N2840 2GB DDR3
4GB DDR3
16GB eMMC No 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
1366x768
(16:9)
Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Jan 2016 Acer CB3-131-C8GZ
(Chromebook 11)
4GB
DDR3
No Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Jun 2016 Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook (sentry) Intel Core i5-6300U (Skylake) 8GB
LPDDR3
32GB eMMC No 13.3 in
(33.8 cm)
1366x768 (16:9) Requires writing
SeaBIOS
Custom firmware
available
Oct 2017 Google Pixelbook Intel Core i5-7Y57
Intel Core i5-7Y57
Intel Core i7-7Y75
8GB DDR3
8GB DDR3
16GB DDR3
128GB
256GB
512GB
No 12.3 in
(31.2 cm)
2400x1600
(3:2)
Yes Custom firmware
available
March 2018 Acer Chromebook 11 (C732)
Astronaut
Intel Celeron N3450 4GB LPDDR4
8GB LPDDR4
32GB
64GB
No 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
1366 x 768 (16:9) Yes Custom firmware
available
March 2020 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 13IML05 Chromebook Intel Celeron 5205U
Intel Core i3-10110U
Intel Core i5-10210U
4GB DDR4
8GB DDR4
32GB eMMC
64GB eMMC
128GB SSD
256GB SSD
? 13.3 in
(33.8 cm)
1920 x 1080 (16:9) ? Custom firmware
available
September 2020 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 CB 11IGL05 Intel Celeron N4020 4GB LPDDR4-2400
8GB LPDDR4-2400
32GB eMMC
64GB eMMC
128GB SSD
? 11.6 in
(29.5 cm)
1366 x 768 (16:9) ? Custom firmware
available
August 2021 Acer Chromebook CX5500 Intel Core i3-1115G4
Intel Core i5-1135G7
Intel Core i7-1165G7
8G LPDDR4
16G LPDDR4X
128GB SSD
256GB SSD
512GB SSD
? 15.6 in
(39.6 cm)
1920 x 1080 (16:9) ?

See also