Lenovo confirms a Chrome OS powered Yoga Book is coming next year

Earlier this year Lenovo announced its futuristic take on the 2-in-1 tablet with the Yoga Book. By ditching physical keys for an entirely touch experience, the Yoga Book created something truly unique. Right now, you can get the Yoga Book with either Android or Windows, but many have asked for a Chrome OS model. Now, Lenovo is confirming that new variant for next year.

In an interview with Tom’s Guide, Lenovo confirmed it would be launching a third variant of the Yoga Book, this time powered by Chrome OS. The new variant is set to release during 2017 as confirmed by Lenovo’s Android and Chrome Computing Business Group president and VP Jeff Meredith.

Just like the currently available variants, this new model will still feature the same drawing features and Halo Keyboard as the Android and Windows versions. Meredith explains that there has been a lot of interest in a Chrome OS Yoga Book, with potential use cases in the education sector especially.

We’ve had a lot of interest. It’s an interesting idea for education, especially with the form factor.

Meredith also mentions that as “Android and Chrome meld together,” a Chrome OS powered Yoga Book will only make more sense. He further hints at the potential of what sounds like Andromeda.

Over time, we probably see the Android and Chrome versions melding together, especially based on the fact that we’ve now seen Chrome roll out the Google Play store capability into Chrome. We’ll probably maintain the three distinctive products throughout this year at least.

Over the past few months, we’ve also seen bits and pieces of evidence that Chrome OS would indeed be running on a Yoga Book-type form factor through the model codenamed “Pbody.” That Chromebook, which is in development, lists haptic feedback which is what the Yoga Book uses to make the touch-typing experience feel more like the real thing.

It’s unclear when Lenovo will reveal this new model, but there’s always the potential that we could see a peek at it at CES in January, or, more likely, at MWC or IFA later this year. In the meantime, you can check out our review of the Android-powered Yoga Book here.