At the highly anticipated AMD Computex 2024 event, MediaTek unveiled its latest innovation for Chromebooks-the Kompanio 838 chipset.
This announcement was part of a broader showcase that included the MediaTek Pentonic 800 chipset for smart TVs and more advanced AI offerings.
MediaTek unveiled the Kompanio 838 chipset at AMD Computex 2024, boosting Chromebook performance, efficiency, AI, and connectivity.Image via Mediatek
What is the Kompanio 838?
The Kompanio 838 is a 6nm octa-core processor designed to enhance performance and efficiency for Chromebooks. This next-generation chipset features a combination of two high-performance Arm Cortex-A78 cores clocked at 2.6GHz and six power-efficient Arm Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0GHz.
This setup is complemented by the Arm Mali-G57 MC3 GPU, offering robust graphics capabilities suitable for a variety of applications from multimedia consumption to light gaming.
Kompanio 838: AI Capabilities and Performance Upgrades
A standout feature of the Kompanio 838 is its dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU), capable of handling four trillion operations per second (TOPS).
This NPU, known as the MediaTek NPU 650, significantly boosts AI computing power, enabling enhanced interactive experiences and more efficient multimedia processing.
John Solomon, VP and GM of ChromeOS and Google for Education, emphasized the innovation, stating, "The finely tuned balance of power and efficiency the Kompanio 838 brings to Chromebook is a key point of innovation."
Compared to its predecessors, the Kompanio 838 offers up to 76% faster graphics performance, 66% greater CPU performance, and 60% higher web-based benchmark scores. This marks a substantial leap over the previous Kompanio 500 series, making the 838 an appealing choice for those seeking high performance in a portable device.
The Kompanio 838 also supports dual 4K displays, providing users with ample screen real estate for multitasking. For video streaming and playback, the chipset includes hardware-accelerated AV1 video decoding, which ensures smooth 4K video streaming without excessive battery drain.
Connectivity is another area where the Kompanio 838 excels. The chipset supports MediaTek Filogic Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, allowing for both dual-band and tri-band options. This ensures faster internet speeds-up to 1.9Gbps-and more reliable connections, aided by a 2x2 antenna configuration and enhanced security with WPA3 support.
All-Day Battery Life and Power Efficiency
One of the key benefits of the Kompanio 838 is its power efficiency. The 6nm process technology, combined with intelligent power management, enables all-day battery life, making it ideal for students and professionals who need their devices to last throughout the day.
Benny Zhang, Executive Director and General Manager of Chromebooks at Lenovo's Global Innovation Center, highlighted this advantage, saying, "We are committed to empowering students and teachers with tech devices and solutions that enhance learning."
Imaging and Multimedia Enhancements
The Kompanio 838 also includes the next-generation MediaTek Imagiq 7 series Image Signal Processor (ISP), which upgrades HDR imaging, supports dual cameras and improves low-light capture. This ensures that photos and videos are of professional quality, even in challenging lighting conditions.
