I ’ve reviewed only a fewbudget laptopsin the last mates of age . The ground is simple — I can only refresh so many laptops , and there have been so many good ones to cover that I ’ve just not had the prison term . But budget laptops are important , merely because many people do n’t have $ 1,000 or more to spend on a laptop computer that will only be used for basic computing tasks .
The LenovoChromebook Duetis one of the dear sub-$500 laptops I ’ve reviewed , come in at under $ 350 at current Price . The updated model was deserving another aspect , and this time around the price is back up , but the experience is in reality a footstep back rather than ahead . Even as an affordable alternative , it does n’t land on our recommendation of thebest Chromebooksyou can buy .
Specs and configurations
There are two models of the Chromebook Duet 11 . The based model cost $ 360 with a MediaTek Kompanio 838 chipset , 4 GB of RAM , 64 GB of eMMC storage , and a 10.95 - in FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) IPS display . For $ 400 , you get 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage . My review unit has 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage , but that shape is n’t listed
Those are low-cost prices , and I would commend springing for the more expensive configuration just for the additional storage . Chrome OS does n’t demand a lot , but I do n’t like the estimate of just 64 GB . RAM is n’t a big deal , given that Chromebooks be given quite well with 4 G . IU do n’t have many comparisons , at least none of that we ’ve reviewed . The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a $ 549 laptop that has a great 16 - in QHD+ display and faster public presentation . You could also weigh anApple iPadfor $ 349 with 64 GB of storehouse that would give you a great experience , but you ’ll pay more to add a keyboard and kickstand cover — both of which are include with the Chromebook Duet 11 .
Design
The Chromebook Duet 11 is a sturdy little pad of paper . It ’s establish of Al , as far as I can tell , and it ’s sturdy and low-cal . That gives it a enceinte feel in mitt , essentially equivalent to other tablets at any price . You wo n’t worry about its strength when you toss it into a backpack , and you ’ll just make out it ’s there . It ’s a bit with child than the iPad in bitchiness of having a similar display size , but it ’s not so much that you ’ll notice it .
There ’s not a lot to say about the Chromebook Duet 11 ’s aesthetic . The front is the usual black slate and the back is a dark gray with a weak greyish incision on top . The iPad come in dissimilar colors if you ’re into that , but in person , I thought Lenovo ’s tablet appear just fine .
One reward of the Chromebook Duet 11 is that a kickstand natural covering is included , which attaches magnetically to the back of the pad of paper and stays firm in spot . It adds heaviness and weightiness , but it works well enough and is easy to pop on and off . The keyboard is also include , but as you ’ll see below , that ’s not really a good thing .
Keyboard and touchpad
I did n’t exactly fuck the let in detachable keyboard on the older Chromebook Duet , given small keycaps and a hamper layout . The permutation on that one also were n’t nifty . This clip around , though , I admit that I flat - out fight to use the keyboard . I do n’t bonk if it ’s different or if my permissiveness got bad , but I plainly could not type on it at all . The switches were so at large that I had a hard time just enter my Google password when set up it up . It was so bad that I did n’t even render to my usual practice of writing this review on the laptop computer itself . I wo n’t even bother comparing it — I ’ll just say instead that just about any keyboard you use is likely to be a lot better .
The touchpad was very small and just fine . And the presentation supported speck just fine during my examination . Lenovo did n’t include the optional active pen , so I could n’t test the drawing and hand aspect that draw the Chromebook Duet 11 attractive at these prices .
Connectivity and webcam
You get two USB - C ports and an audio jack . That ’s it . But lots of tablets do n’t offer much more , even far more expensive models . Even the very expensiveMicrosoft Surface Prodoesn’t have much more connectivity . You ’ll practice one of the port to charge the laptop , leaving one gratuitous for connecting peripherals . Wireless connectivity is a mates of generations behind at this point with Wi - Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 .
There are two webcam : 5MP front - facing and 9MP hind end - facing . That ’s good enough for whatever you might want to do with this tablet , let in whatever AI features that Google rolls out in Chrome OS that will utilize the tv camera .
Performance
The late model of the Chromebook Duet used a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset , which was n’t particularly tight but kept thing moving along well enough . Chrome OS does n’t ask a bunch of resources , and the Qualcomm chipset mated with 4 GB ( the same in my critique social unit ) was honest enough . Its Geekbench 5 scores were n’t great , as you may see in the board below , but again — Chrome OS .
Lenovo switched to a MediaTek Kompanio 838 chipset this time around . That ’s an 8 - essence part that should be at least as subject of the previous role model ’s Qualcomm , and it did around the same in Geekbench 5 as its predecessor . It did sorry in Speedometer 2.0 , which give a jolting thought of how straightaway a laptop is at running the web processes that are build into Chrome OS . I saw that as I used the tablet , where the newfangled Chromebook Duet 11 did n’t feel as fast . Even with just Chrome heart-to-heart , there was a lot of stuttering and delays . It was n’t a pleasant experience .
It ’s specially unsatisfying since this is a unexampled chip and machine , compare with something from two years ago . That ’s not what you want .
I do n’t know if it was down to go a newer variation of Chrome OS that might be more feature - laden or just the chip itself . The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE had a low - oddment Intel Core chipset , but it was plenty speedy with zero slowdowns . But that chipset is still faster than this MediaTek option .
The bottom line is that Lenovo has some workplace to do , if the functioning issues I experienced can be address by an update . If not , then it ’s hard to urge . Get the al-Qaida iPad instead , which will be a ton more fluid . I ran a few game on the Chromebook Duet 11 , and it goes without saying , but I would n’t urge bribe the Chromebook Duet 11 if even clean Android gaming is at all important to you .
Battery life
The Chromebook Duet 11 has the same 29 watt - hr assault and battery as its herald and the same display solution and engineering . In spite of performance being a bit worse , electric battery life was n’t honest . In fact , it dropped off at least an time of day .
It ’s not that stamp battery life was poor . It was n’t , and in fact it was somewhat upright and means you ’ll get above - fair battery life story . It ’s just a flake disappointing that performance was n’t better as a trade - off .
Display and audio
The Chromebook Duet 11 has a 10.95 - column inch 16:10 FHD+ ( 1920 x 1200 ) IPS show . That ’s enough penetrating , and the 60Hz refresh pace is to be require for under $ 400 . Subjectively , the presentation looked effective enough , with sufficient brightness in my home office and likely enough for all but working outdoors under the sun . The colour were fine and seemed accurate enough , and contrast was good enough that Black person did n’t fleet into grey .
I ca n’t quiz the display using my tintometer , so I ca n’t supply objective metrics . But I suspect that the display will be more than honest enough for anyone who ’s going to grease one’s palms the Chromebook Duet 11 . Certainly , you could expend a lot more and get a much higher resolution , good colors and contrast , gamy luminousness , and maybe even an OLED control board . And the iPad does have a gamey - resoluteness display that ’s considerably brighter , for not a mess more money .
But for the common entanglement browsing , email , and distinctive media intake uses , the exhibit is fine . Audio is provided by two side - firing speakers , and it ’s fine , too . You have to pace up to theApple iPad Proto get really good audio recording in a tablet .
It’s affordable, but that’s not really good enough
I wanted to like the Chromebook Duet 11 . I liked the older version quite a chip , particularly when it dropped under $ 350 . It was ( just ) tight enough , get decent battery aliveness , and could serve as a comely Chromebook for anyone with limited computing need . But I do n’t feel the same style about the newest version .
The line between fast enough and problematically slow is sparse , and the new Chromebook Duet 11 fall on the problematic side . It ’s been a while since I ’ve quiz a twist with performance this pitiful . Lagging and hesitations even just in Google Chrome will make using the Chromebook Duet 11 a very unpleasant experience , disregarding of how canonic the use eccentric is . bewilder in an uncomfortable keyboard , and you have something that ’s not worth corrupt — even at rock - bottom terms .
Lenovo has a large 2 - in-1 option , theLenovo Chromebook Duet 5 13 , which has a faster processor and an OLED screen for just $ 150 more , whereas the previous - gen modelis selling for just $ 240 .
