What began as a single reference board for MediaTek’s upcoming MT8189 chipset has evolved into the most extensive Chromebook development program ever seen for an ARM-based processor. Codenamed “Skywalker,” the platform has now grown to include 11 distinct devices, with a parallel “Jedi” line recently appearing in development logs.
The discovery signals a massive coordinated push by Google, MediaTek, and manufacturing partners to launch a new generation of affordable, efficient Chromebooks, likely targeting the education and consumer markets.
Unprecedented Scale of Development
The “Skywalker” baseboard now supports 10 variant devices, while the newly discovered “Jedi” baseboard has spawned its first device, “Padme.” This brings the total number of MT8189-based Chromebooks in active development to 11, a number that dwarfs previous MediaTek Chromebook launches.
“This level of pre-release hardware development is something we’ve never seen before for an ARM SoC in the ChromeOS ecosystem,” said a source familiar with the development. “It clearly signals a major strategic commitment from all involved parties.”
Example List of Devices in Development
Skywalker Family Devices:
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Obiwan
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Luuke
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Yoda
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Anakin
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Quigon
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Baze
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Tarkin
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Phasma
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Grogu
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Starros
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Finley (newest addition)
Jedi Family Devices:
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Padme (first device, with more expected)
What This Means for Consumers
The sheer volume of devices suggests consumers can expect:
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A wide variety of form factors and designs
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Competitive pricing across multiple manufacturers
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Strong performance and battery life from the MT8189 chipset
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Likely launch announcements at CES 2026 or BETT 2026
Industry observers note that this scale of development typically indicates a chipset that hits the sweet spot between performance, efficiency, and cost—exactly what the education market demands.
With development continuing at a rapid pace, more devices may join both the Skywalker and Jedi families before these Chromebooks officially launch in 2026.
