2024 - Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 review: One of the best budget Chromebooks just got a little better

During my freshman year of college, I had a part-time job that provided just enough money to cover my textbooks, transportation, and rent. On the laptop side, MacBooks and ultrabooks at 1,000 euros were therefore out of the question. Instead, I settled for an “as new” model for less than 300 euros on eBay.

The Lenovo Ideapad Duet 3 tablet on Amazon

It turned out to be a bad investment. The battery quickly deteriorated, the Wi-Fi connection was choppy, and eventually the hinge loosened so much that the top half of the computer came off during a morning commute.

Thankfully, today’s $300 Chromebooks offer much better experiences. the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is an affordable tablet whose screen is designed to be detached. I’ve been testing the 2-in-1 for the past month, and while there are a few telltale signs of its “low cost” makeup, I can’t help but think how great my college life would have been. better with him, instead of the used Toshiba that I dragged myself.

Technical characteristics

Dimensions: 258 x 164.5 x 7.9mm

Weight : 516.5g

Display : 10.9 inch, 2K (2000 x 1200), IPS, touchscreen (400 nits)

Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2

Memory : 4 GB RAM with 64 GB eMMC (up to 128 GB)

Operating system : Chrome OS

Battery : until 12 noon

Camera: 5 MP front, 8 MP rear

Connection Ports: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, pogo-pin (for detachable keyboard)

Design

I have to admit, the least exciting part of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is its design. Finally, before setting up the included accessories that give it its 2-in-1 charm.

On its own, the Duet 3 is just a boring slab of plastic and metal. The Storm Gray model I tested features a two-tone design: the bottom half of the tablet is colored in a purplish-gray hue, and the top in graphite. The set lacks contrast, which makes the Chromebook bland and unattractive.

But wait, there’s more! And I say that in a good way, because once you strap on the woven-textured kickstand case and compact keyboard, you’ve got a chic, multifunctional tablet with a touch of ruggedness. With the included accessories, not only do you have better access to viewing angles, physical typing, and the necessary grip, but the tablet just feels better to use.

Screen

Lenovo is making two notable improvements with the 2022 Duet 3: a larger 11-inch display and an additional USB-C port. The former is a mere inch longer than its predecessor, which I think was the right choice. For one thing, the 2-in-1 remains as compact and portable as ever. And second, the extra real space – with its peculiar 15:9 aspect ratio – is ideal for entertainment, web browsing and all the document browsing that’s made for school and work.

The screen features a 2000 x 1200 resolution (Lenovo calls it ‘2K’), and it’s a pleasure to watch. Colors are well-balanced and naturally saturated, and the Duet 3’s 400 nits are bright enough. I had no trouble using the Chromebook outdoors, even with the sun reflecting off the buildings around me.

The 15:9 format is a bit larger than the usual 16:9 format. Image: June Wan/ZDNet.

Having a second USB-C port means you can reassuringly connect the Lenovo Chromebook to an external display and still keep it charged. This was especially handy when I was testing the device’s HDMI streaming, a task that often triggers performance throttling and intense battery drain.

Accessories

As I mentioned before, the included accessories contribute greatly to the functionality of the Duet 3. The keyboard, just like the one that came with the original Duet, is compact and responsive. To install it, simply align its pogo pins with those of the tablet and snap the two together. Note that the keyboard is not Bluetooth or wireless compatible, so you cannot detach it from the tablet to continue typing.

When using it as intended, expect to be cramped, with each key a bit narrower than on a traditional keyboard. I wouldn’t say the Lenovo keyboard is unusable, but it certainly made my hands a little tired after an hour or two of use.

I had a similar problem with the smaller trackpad, and ended up using my right hand to control the cursor and my left hand to type and interact via the touchscreen.

The included keyboard features a row of function keys and a clickable trackpad. Image: June Wan/ZDNet.

Finally, the included kickstand case has a slot to fit a stylus, though Lenovo doesn’t put one in the box. The best (and only) explanation is that the Duet 3 supports the USI (Universal Stylus Initiative) 2.0 standard and not USI 1.0. Lenovo hasn’t released its USI 2.0 stylus yet, so even though the Chromebook tablet is “future-proof”, you could say it’s almost too far ahead of its time.

Performance

Performance-wise, the 2022 Duet 3 is powered by a new Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 and 4GB of RAM. What does this mean in practice? Expect a streamlined user experience that handles essential browser tasks like video playback and multi-window browsing, but nothing more.

After all, it’s a $300 Chromebook, so its performance is good at best. Since most of my workflow involves cloud and web-based programs, I actually had no problem using the Duet 3 as my primary machine. Thanks to the two USB-C ports, I hooked up the tablet to my 34-inch ultrawide monitor and was able to multitask like I would on any other desktop or laptop.

Pair the Lenovo Chromebook with a mouse for better typing and control. Image: June Wan/ZDNet.

My standard work setup includes dedicated browsers for emailing, researching, and writing, with Slack and Zoom running in the background. For the first hour or two, the Duet 3 handled all of this without issue. However, as soon as the battery drops below 45%, I noticed occasional lags and lags when loading pages with more items. Keep in mind that this is heavy use. If you’re using the Chromebook for one-time tasks and apps, the device’s 4GB of RAM should suffice.

Using a Chromebook, let alone the Duet 3, means you’re limited in terms of the programs you can use locally and offline. If you use professional software like Adobe Premiere or After Effects, I recommend looking elsewhere. Otherwise, the Lenovo’s 64GB of internal storage is actually enough for a Chromebook, even if you plan to download a dozen apps.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is suitable for use at home and on the go. Image: June Wan/ZDNet.

Finally, the 2-in-1’s speakers are sideways, moderately loud and sorely lacking in bass. There’s no 3.5mm headphone jack onboard, so I’d recommend pairing up a set of headphones or headphones for the best sound.

Battery

During my month-long trial of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, I averaged just over 10 hours per charge. That doesn’t match Lenovo’s advertised 12-hour battery life, but it’s still very good.

Considering the endless stream of Chrome tabs and apps opening and closing, the tablet did a decent job of power management and maintained its accurate and reliable battery life estimate throughout. throughout the day.

Conclusion

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is an impressive 2-in-1 that performs just as well as some more expensive Chromebooks. While its limited operating system and power may put off professionals, the tablet will suit students, traveling workers and occasional users who want a reliable machine at a lower cost.

Alternatives

Besides the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, here are three other options worth considering:

HP 11-inch Chromebook tablet

HP’s 11-inch Chromebook tablet, the same size and form factor as the Duet 3, is one of the better alternatives. It has 8GB of RAM, which is double the Lenovo, and comes with a kickstand, detachable keyboard and stylus. For added security, HP has also integrated a fingerprint reader into the Chromebook’s power button.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360

Although not as portable as the Duet 3, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 has a fully rotating hinge that makes it flexible enough to be used as a standalone tablet or regular laptop. The screen size is 12.4 inches which makes the Galaxy a better option if you want a better viewing experience.

The Samsung Galaxy Book2 360

Surface Go 3

Beyond the reach of Chromebooks, the Surface Go 3 is an affordable, Windows-powered, easy-to-carry laptop. While this 2-in-1 is the cheapest Surface yet, it’s just as functional and transformative as its more expensive predecessors. If you want a portable slab for browsing, emailing and writing content on the go, then the Surface Go 3 is a terrific choice.