Best Lenovo Chromebooks for October 2021

Lenovo is one of the largest manufacturers of Chromebooks in the world. Ranking number two on the list of Chromebook vendors by volume, Lenovo has an impressive lineup of devices running Chrome OS. If professional usability is your thing, Lenovo is one of the top Chromebook manufacturers to consider. Indeed, their flagship devices are some of the best Chromebooks you can buy. Those that use a Lenovo PC as their daily device will also enjoy the familiar design language and keyboard feedback. Perhaps most importantly, many of Lenovo’s Chromebooks also boast amazing battery life for all-day use.

Navigate this article: 

• Best overall: Lenovo Yoga Chromebook 15.6″
• Best flagship tablet: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
• Best convertible: Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i
• Best budget tablet: Lenovo Chromebook Duet
• Best for education: Lenovo Chromebook C340
• Best for business: ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook
• Best battery life: Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3
• Best 14″ option: Lenovo Chromebook S330

Best overall: Lenovo Yoga Chromebook (15.6″)

Our best overall pick comes from Lenovo’s popular Yoga line. The Yoga Chromebook is engineered for powerful performance both now and in the future, as it’s designed to improve over time with future Chrome OS enhancements. Key features include up to 8^th Generation Intel Core i5 processors with integrated graphics for seamless processing, and 128 GB of flash storage for wickedly fast boot-up times and app launching. This laptop also features 8GB of DDR4 memory and boasts up to 9 hours of battery life with regular use. The 15.6″ touchscreen display with 4K resolution is absolutely stunning.

From tablet to tent, to stand to laptop mode, the Yoga Chromebook is a 360˚ convertible 2-in-1. Wrapped in an anodized aluminum, Midnight Blue finish, it’s elegantly thin at .70” / 17.8 mm and surprisingly light at 4.2lbs / 1.9 kg.As well as a 15.6″ near-edgeless, 10-point touchscreen display with 4K resolution, it has an optional full white-backlit keyboard and spacious trackpad. It also places the latest, streamlined Chrome OS interface at your fingertips—including the Google Play Store, custom Google Maps wallpapers, images, and more.

The Yoga Chromebook is engineered for powerful performance both now and in the future as its designed to improve over time with future Chrome OS enhancements. Key features include up to 8^th Generation Intel Core i5 processors with integrated graphics for seamless processing and 128 GB of flash storage for wickedly fast boot-up times and app launching. You can also enjoy an additional 100 GB of cloud storage via Google Drive, 8 GB of DDR4 memory for streamlined multitasking, and up to 9 hours of battery life—enabling you to get everything and anything done, today and for years to come.

The Yoga Chromebook keeps you in the loop by syncing your emails and messages whether you’re online or offline*.  Thanks to two USB-C ports, a micro-SD card slot, and a USB 3.2 (Gen 1) port, you can connect all your favorite devices seamlessly for easy charging, data transfer, or streaming. Enjoy crystal-clear audio with two 2 watt speakers and a 720p webcam with dual mic array, supported by Intel 7265 2×2 AC Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 4.2 for stutter-free video-calling and multimedia streaming. What’s more, with multiple layers of security and automatic updates, your Chromebook will keep you secure from virus attacks.

Just log in with your Google account to experience a new type of convertible laptop for everything you love to do. Not only is the Yoga Chromebook easy to use, it comes with built-in virus protection, and keeps going with a long battery life. Sync your Android devices to make sure that no matter where you’re signed in with your Google account, your stuff stays with you—even if your laptop doesn’t. All the while, your email, maps, docs, and pics are safely stored either locally or in the cloud.

Lenovo’s Yoga Chromebook keeps you in the loop by syncing your emails and messages whether you’re online or offline. Thanks to two USB-C ports, a micro-SD card slot, and a USB 3.2 (Gen 1) port, you can connect all your favorite devices seamlessly for easy charging, data transfer, or streaming. You can even add a nice USB-C dock to connect more peripherals. Enjoy crystal-clear audio with two 2 watt speakers and a 720p webcam with dual mic array, supported by Intel 7265 2×2 AC Wi-Fi with Bluetooth 4.2 for stutter-free video-calling and multimedia streaming. Those that need speedy performance and top of the line specs will love this beautifully designed machine.

Lenovo Yoga Chromebook(15.6)

This Chromebook has an eye-catching aluminum design, 15.6 touchscreen, and Intel UHD 620 graphics for a truly high-end experience. If you're looking for the overall best Lenovo Chromebook in terms of specs and design, this is it.

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Best flagship tablet: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

When compared to the original Lenovo Chromebook Duet from 2020, the overall look of the tablet is fairly similar, though the Chromebook Duet 5 is a more premium device. The original Chromebook Duet has an aluminum casing, but it’s well hidden by the fabric cover and plastic on the underside of the keyboard. On the other hand, the Chromebook Duet 5 shows off its two-tone aluminum build proudly, while still having nice texture on the keyboard cover/kickstand attachment. There’s around a $200 price difference in these two tablets so you’d expect the more expensive 2021 option to carry a more solid build. Still, the original Chromebook Duet is fairly durable with the fabric/plastic duo covering much of the chassis.

As mentioned in the specs table above, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is a slim tablet that has a 13.3 inch OLED display offering 400 nits of brightness. It’s a Full HD panel, or 1920 x 1080 resolution, and supports 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. The display is certainly going to be brighter and more vivid on the Duet 5, which makes it an excellent candidate for consuming media like Netflix. The Duet 5 has a similar design language to the Apple iPad Pro, which should be considered a compliment in the tablet space. You get the rounded display corners with harder edges that feel good on your hand.  Given the large screen size, this won’t be the lightest tablet around. Even without the keyboard and kickstand attached, it weighs 1.5 pounds.

Sliding on the keyboard case, you get a fabric texture for grip when carrying around the Duet 5, which is a similar feel as with the original Duet. This tablets can be a bit slippery when used without the keyboard case, so it’s a good idea to slip it on when heading out for the day. One key specification worth noting is the lack of biometric security on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 This is somewhat expected at the $229 price point of the original Duet, but is fairly disappointing at the higher price point of the Duet 5. It would really be nice if OEMs would consider adding biometric security to all Chrome OS devices, which is fairly standard on phones in 2021.

One of the most improved aspects of the new Chromebook Duet 5 is the larger, more detailed display. The OLED panel has deeper blacks and still gets a bit brighter than the original Duet. To be sure, the original Duet has an excellent screen at its price point, the 400 nits of brightness is plenty for working outside. This large display is excellent for taking advantage of writing with Google’s new cursive app, or enjoying Android games and streaming content.

It is a fairly large tablet, so it might be awkward to use this tablet for reading or for extensive handheld use. I often use my tablets while lecturing at the university and I’m not sure I’d feel comfortable doing that with a 13.3″ display. On the other hand, if you need to get some work done on your tablet, the screen will have plenty of real estate for using the detachable keyboard with touchpad. You should be able to fit in a couple windows for multitasking easily. With the incredibly bright panel, working outside will also be enjoyable on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5.

As a fairly large tablet, the Chromebook Duet 5 is rated for significantly better battery life. Lenovo rates the Duet 5 to get about 15 hours of real world use, which sounds a little unrealistic to me.  One thing that might improve battery life however, is the Snapdragon 7c gen 2 processor inside the Duet 5. If Lenovo optimized the tablet to take advantage of the 7c’s efficiency capabilities, we could see significantly improved battery life. The original Duet gets fairly close to the 10 hours of battery life claimed by Lenovo, so perhaps the Duet 5 can be similarly efficient.

Overall, battery life looks like a pretty big selling point for Chromebook Duet 5. In addition to the impressive battery life rating, you also get fast charging with a fast charging brick in the retail box. Lenovo hasn’t given any specs on exactly how fast we can expect the device to charge, but we’ll have a full run down of that in our review. Over the course of the last 18 months, video calling rose to prominence thanks to the ongoing pandemic. Most Chromebooks still have mediocre 720p webcams and don’t feature a rear camera at all.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is a larger, more premium version of the Chromebook Duet from 2020. You get a bright OLED display, detachable keyboard, and USI pen support. All of those features for $429 makes this a solid value in the Chrome tablet space.

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Best convertible: Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i

Faster, simpler, and more secure thanks to Chrome OS, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook (13″ Intel) is packed with the latest features for a great user experience. Thousands of apps on Google Play, wallpapers, images, and all-day battery life means that you’ll have complete freedom to work, play, and take your device wherever you want. You’ll also enjoy a webcam privacy shutter, so when you’re not on a video call or recording something, simply slide the shutter over, and you’ll be hidden from anyone watching.

Watch and stream shows and videos with no distractions, thanks to narrow bezels and wider viewing angles on a 13.3″ FHD IPS display. The touchscreen on the Flex 5i Chromebook 13″ also allows for a more intuitive navigation experience. And the sounds match the sights, with enhanced stereo speakers and a built-in amplifier that’s certified by Waves Audio.

Chromebooks are some of the most secure devices around. With the verified boot process, the system automatically detects malicious changes every time the user boots up—and reverts to a safer version whenever necessary. Feel free to explore a rich library of apps, including Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Google Meet to collaborate, create work, and connect with others. The Flex 5i’s port connectivity options include two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, and a headphone/mic combo jack. The USB-C ports allow for fast data transfer, multimedia streaming, and battery charging. And you’ll enjoy fast and reliable internet connection with the latest Intel WiFi 6, while Bluetooth 5.1 connects you to your favorite wireless accessories.

Everything about a Chromebook is quick, secure, and easy. Just log into your Google account, and the Flex 5i Chromebook brings Google Drive files, documents, and Chrome preferences right to your fingertips. And to protect against security threats, your Chromebook updates every six weeks for the latest safeguards against malware and other threats.

Perhaps the worst part about the Flex 5i is the weird naming convention. You can find this Chromebook on sale across the web under a few different names. Lenovo calls it the Chromebook 5i, which is why I went with that name here. On other hand, you can also find this device for sale under the Chromebook Flex 5 name at Costco. The key to getting the latest model is look for the 11th generation Intel chips inside, older models will not have this key specification. This also makes sure you get the fastest version this machine, which is quite good in 2021.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i

The new Flex 5i builds on the previous clamshell model and adds true 2-in-1 convertible capability. Not only that, but you also get the newer 11th generation Intel chips inside for improved performance.

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Best detachable keyboard: Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The 2-in-1 design is fairly ubiquitous throughout the Chromebook space. Unfortunately, most of those 2-in-1 devices don’t have a detachable keyboard. If you want a Chromebook that converts into a true tablet, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is calling your name. The tablet features a unique dual-tone Ice Blue & Iron Grey design, with a sophisticated fabric texture on the stand cover. Its 10.1″ display features thin 9.13mm bezels and FHD (1920 x 1200) resolution in 400 nits brightness, for sharp details and color.

Use the Lenovo Chromebook Duet as a laptop with a full-sized, comfortable, and responsive keyboard, or detach it for use as a 10.1″ tablet. The five-point pogo pin and magnet design makes it easy to connect and detach, and it’s thin and light in either mode— from 7.35mm / 0.29″ and 450g / 0.99lbs as a tablet, to 18.2mm / 0.71″ and 920g / 2.03lbs. With great battery life, it’s easy to take just about anywhere. On the inside, the Duet is powered by a MediaTek Helio P60T Processor (2.00 GHz, 8 Cores, 8 Threads), 4 GB LPDDR4x (soldered) RAM, and 64 GB eMMC storage. Overall, this is the best true 2-in-1 Chromebook out there.

The tablet alone measures 0.29 by 9.4 by 6.3 inches and combines a glossy front panel with a two-tone back that has an eight megapixel rear-facing camera lens in one corner. There’s a two megapixel front-facing webcam in the medium-thick screen border or bezel. Two speakers and two pinhole microphones decorate its top edge (as you hold it in landscape mode). Along its right edge are a volume rocker, the power button, and the USB port, which serves for data transfer, charging—the supplied power plug’s cord is rather short—and DisplayPort video output. Pogo pins on the tablet’s bottom edge fit the keyboard.

Detachable laptops differ from 2-in-1’s, wherein you can entirely remove them from their keyboard and use them as a tablet. They tend to be a lot less bulky, although they may compromise on specifications as a result.Use the Lenovo Chromebook Duet as a laptop with a full-sized, comfortable, and responsive keyboard, or detach it for use as a 10.1″ tablet. The five-point pogo pin and magnet design makes it easy to connect and detach, and it’s thin and light in either mode—from 7.35mm / 0.29″ and 450g / 0.99lbs as a tablet, to 18.2mm / 0.71″ and 920g / 2.03lbs. With great battery life, it’s easy to take just about anywhere.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best budget detachable Chromebooks on the market, though it features a MediaTek Helio P60T, 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. It has a full HD screen too, so it’s a perfect media streaming machine when it’s engaged in tablet mode.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is one of the best detachable Chromebooks you can buy today, and what's more, you're not going to need to break the bank to pick one up.

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Best for education: Chromebook C340

This 11″ Chromebook is portable enough to move around the classroom, but durable enough to withstand a few bumps. The lightweight Chromebook C340 11″ boasts an ultraportable, 360° convertible design and all-day battery life. It’s just 2.65lbs / 1.2kg and takes up less space than a piece of printer paper, but Intel processing gives it power that defies its size. The laptop comes in two snazzy colors, Platinum Grey and Sand Pink.

Inside you’ll find an Intel Celeron N4000 Processor (1.10 GHz, up to 2.60 GHz with Turbo Boost, 2 Cores, 2 Threads, 4 MB Cache),4 GB LPDDR4 2400MHz (Soldered) RAM, and 64 GB eMMC storage. It’s also easy to connect to other devices, thanks to its two ultrafast USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and audio jack. Built-in 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 make connecting wirelessly at school a breeze.

Thanks to the HD, wide-viewing angle IPS display, you can enjoy—and share—all your favorite movies and videos with crystal clarity. The touchscreen lets you click or drag files right on the screen for easy, intuitive interactions. Google Play Store is your gateway to productivity and entertainment on the Chromebook C340 11”. With millions of apps at your fingertips from the moment you log in, you’ll enjoy a rich library of games, music, movies, TV, books, and more. Whether you’re into photography, picking stocks, or just keeping up with your friends, there’s an app for you.

Get more done fast with the Google Assistant on your Chromebook C340. Send an email, find documents, listen to music, access your calendar, or control smart home devices, all without switching screens. Just say “Hey Google” to get started. No setup needed—just log in with your Google account to experience the safe, streamlined Chrome operating system. Staying synced with Android phones and tablets is easy, and you can log in anywhere. So, your work stays with you even when your laptop doesn’t—all while keeping email, maps, docs, and pics safely stored either locally or in the cloud.

The Chromebook C340 11” makes it easy to connect to other devices, thanks to its two ultrafast USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 ports, two USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 ports, and audio jack. Built-in 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 make connecting wirelessly a breeze. Overall, this is a fantastic Chromebook if you need something ultra portable for children, or to take along on short trips yourself. The machine is stylish, fast enough for basic tasks, and can handle all of your media consumption needs with no issues whatsoever. Lenovo definitely knows how to build a Chromebook with a solid build quality, impressive performance, and a reasonable price tag. The C340 also comes in that gorgeous sand pink color, which is a rare hue to find on a Chrome OS device.

Lenovo Chromebook C340

Unlike most compact Chromebooks, the C340 Chromebook comes in a refined silver finish that offers a premium feel. In addition to working in the classroom, it’s also a great work from home pick, with a 720p webcam and two 2W speakers.

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Best for business: ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook

Business laptops need a bit of power mixed with style. Running Chrome OS with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 3700C processor and integrated AMD Radeon graphics, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise delivers powerful performance in a sleek and durable aluminum chassis. Bootup takes seconds and once an employee logs in, the device becomes unique to that user. Plus, unlike your typical ThinkPad, this laptop comes in Abyss Blue — adding a bit of flair to worker style.

Narrow bezels frame the display — an FHD IPS touchscreen model with a 72% color gamut — providing a larger screen to bezel ratio.  So whether the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise is running a conference call, streaming a video, or building a presentation, this 2-in-1 device looks great. Like all ThinkPad laptops, the C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise is tested against 12 military-grade requirements and more than 200 quality checks.

ThinkShield combined with Chrome Enterprise equals an unbeatable combination for security. The built-in security suite boasts a number of physical and biometric security features, like a webcam privacy shutter, the proprietary Google H1 TPM chip, and an optional touch fingerprint reader. Chrome Enterprise keeps your business safe with seamless updates and protection against evolving threats. Plus, each device includes a Kensington lock slot so it can be tethered when needed.

The C13 comes in a unique color that Lenovo calls Abyss Blue. It’s refreshing to see an interesting color on a Chromebook design, far too many are plain black or grey slabs. The color is a fairly dark blue and the laptop has a nice matte finish that keeps it business appropriate.The keyboard on the C13 is excellent with just the right amount fo travel. Keys are incredibly quiet as well, making this laptop an excellent office companion. Backlighting is subtle and even across the keyboard. There’s also spill-resistance protection if you should splash the occasional glass of water on the keyboard.

As for the touchpad, it’s unbelievably nice for a Chromebook. It’s also absolutely wonderful to have dedicated buttons above the touchpad for left and right click. You can still use two fingers to click if you want, but I’m a big fan of having the option to tap an actual button when I want. Bottom line — this is a good looking Chromebook with a functional keyboard and an exceptional trackpad.General performance on the C13 is great, but there are a few bugs to work out with the arrival of Ryzen processors on a Chromebook. There are some well-documented bugs that cause the C13 to crash entirely (fade to a black screen), when watching certain streaming videos.

With the ThinkPad C13, Lenovo did an excellent job considering all possible use-cases for a premium Chromebook. You get an excellent display, powerful processor, plenty of storage, and several optional bonus features in the build to order models. I personally think the USI pen and fingerprint sensor are worthwhile upgrades for those looking to use the C13 in a professional setting. If you need to take pictures in tablet mode, you can also add the world-facing camera for $20 more.

If you’re thinking about buying this Chromebook, you probably already have a substantial budget in mind. For those in that situation, this is an excellent option in almost every way. I would guess that eventually Google and AMD will take care of the Ryzen bugs. Aside from those small bugs and the subpar speakers, I have very few noticeable gripes with this Chromebook. Most people aren’t buying a Chromebook to listen to music, so you should be good with a pair of headphones. Overall, this is an amazing machine, it just has an incredibly high price tag to match.

ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook

Running Chrome OS with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 3700C processor and integrated AMD Radeon graphics, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise delivers a powerful performance in a sleek and durable aluminum chassis. Bootup takes seconds and once an employee logs in, the device becomes unique to that user. Plus, unlike your typical ThinkPad, this laptop comes in Abyss Blue—adding a bit of flair to worker style.

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Best battery life: Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3

If you want a compact 11″ Chromebook with the best battery life in class, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3 ticks all the boxes. The Chromebook Flex 3 (11″) is built for speed and distance, delivering the processing power for your everyday needs, while memory and storage provide fast boot times. With all that power you still get all-day battery life, making this device a trusty companion from day to night. The Chromebook Flex 3 features a MediaTek MT8183 Processor (2.0 GHz), 4 GB LPDDR4X 1866MHz (Soldered) RAM, and 64 GB eMMC storage.

Complementing the iconic dual-tone textured design of the Chromebook Flex 3 11 inch is a truly versatile 360-degree convertible configuration. To add function to the stylish design, USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as Bluetooth, let you connect to the peripherals you love, while WiFi lets you connect to the world. Enjoy your favorite shows at any angle with the Chromebook Flex 3 11.6 inch HD IPS display. Its 10-point touchscreen also enables an intuitive experience like using a tablet or smartphone. Soak in the crystal-clear sound of dual user-facing 2W stereo speakers. With the Chromebook Flex 3, you can enjoy Netflix all day and still get some work done too.

Chrome OS offers a truly user-friendly experience that provides everything you need at your fingertips. Just log in with your Google account and immediately access Google Drive files and Chrome preferences. Chromebooks are also the safest laptops around, with device updates every six weeks to protect you from security threats. And if you need an extra hand just say “Hey Google,” and Google Assistant can help you send emails, check your calendar, controlling smart home devices, and more.

Enjoy your favorite shows at any angle with the Chromebook Flex 3 11.6 inch HD IPS display. Its 10-point touchscreen also enables an intuitive experience like using a tablet or smartphone. Soak in the crystal-clear sound of dual user-facing 2W stereo speakers. Complementing the iconic dual-tone textured design of the Chromebook Flex 3 11 inch is a truly versatile 360-degree convertible configuration. To add function to the stylish design, USB-C and USB-A ports, as well as Bluetooth®, let you connect to the peripherals you love, while WiFi lets you connect to the world.

The Chromebook Flex 3 (11″) is built for speed and distance, delivering the processing power for your everyday needs, while memory and storage provide fast boot times. With all that power you still get all day battery life, making this device a trusty companion from day to night. This machine gets impressive battery life that outlasts the competition, but is still stylish enough to carry as an everyday laptop. If you need something that is small and compact, but also want the best battery life out there, Lenovo has you covered with the Chromebook Flex 3.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3

Do you need a laptop that can last through two full days of work? The Chromebook Flex 3 features 16 hours of battery life with typical use. Whether you're traveling for work or using this in the classroom, that kind of battery life always come in handy.

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Best 14″ option: Lenovo Chromebook S330

The Chromebook S330 is the best 14″ option from Lenovo. Featuring a MediaTek MT8173C Processor (1.70 GHz, 4 Cores, 4 Threads), 4 GB LPDDR3 1866MHz (Soldered) RAM, and 64 GB eMMC storage. Starting at only 20.8 mm / .82” and 1.45 kg / 3.2 lbs, and with a full keyboard and spacious trackpad, this Chromebook is perfect for day-to-day computing, on or offline.

Full I/O support comes standard on the Lenovo Chromebook S330 with USB-C, SD card, and USB 3.1 support allowing you to connect to your favorite devices. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 also features powerful AC WiFi with Bluetooth 4.1 for connecting up to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, complete with a 720p webcam and two 2W speaker systems for crystal clear video calls. Further, Chrome OS delivers a suite of collaborative apps and services perfect for group work or individual play.

The Lenovo Chromebook S330 brings you the best that Chrome OS has to offer —in a sleek, secure laptop in stylish Business Black. Enjoy your favorite multimedia content with crisp visuals on a 14” anti-glare display. Starting at only 20.8 mm / .82” and 1.45 kg / 3.2 lbs, and with a full keyboard and spacious trackpad, this Chromebook is perfect for day-to-day computing, on or offline. Capable of handling all your daily computing needs with ease, the Lenovo Chromebook S330 delivers the best in performance for school, business, and more. Enjoy fast processing for daily tasks, LPDDR3 memory for effortless multitasking, eMMC storage, quick boot-ups, quick software loading, and more.

Full I/O support comes standard on the Lenovo Chromebook S330 with USB-C, SD card, and USB 3.1 support allowing you to connect to your favorite devices. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 also features powerful AC WiFi with Bluetooth 4.1 for connecting up to two Bluetooth devices at the same time, complete with a 720p webcam and two 2W speaker systems for crystal clear video calls. Further, Chrome OS delivers a suite of collaborative apps and services perfect for group work or individual play.

No setup needed— the Lenovo Chromebook S330 comes ready to go! Just log in with your Google account to experience a new type of laptop for everything you love to do. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is easy to use, offers built-in virus protection, and keeps going with long battery life. Stay synced with your phone, tablet, and everywhere you’re signed in with Google, so your stuff stays with you even when your laptop doesn’t—all while keeping email, maps, docs, and pics safely stored.The latest apps on Google Play aren’t just for your phone anymore. Enjoy the best Google has to offer, standard on your Chromebook. With apps ready to go from the moment you log in, you can enjoy access to Google Play Music, Games, Movies, Books, YouTube, Google Photos, Google Maps, Google Hangouts, and more. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 is infinitely customizable to with apps to meet all of your daily needs—from working, creating, or entertaining, to just plain having fun.

While not the most powerful machine, the S330 can get the job done for basic tasks, if you need the 14″ form-factor. The battery life is very impressive for this size Chromebook as well, which means you won’t need to charge too often. When you do need to top up the battery, you get USB-C charging, so you can likely find a charger for this at home laying around somewhere.

Lenovo Chromebook S330

Honestly, a 14 inch display size is the sweet spot for many people. The Chromebook S330 offers that in a sleek, secure laptop in stylish Business Black. Enjoy your favorite multimedia content with crisp visuals on a 14

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That wraps up our list of the best Lenovo Chromebooks you can buy today. If you’re looking for the flagship, go with the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook 15.6″, which is one of the best Lenovo laptops running any OS. For all-day battery life in a compact package, we recommend checking out the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3. Either way, when you buy a Lenovo Chromebook, you’re getting well-built hardware and excellent performance.

Now you’ve seen our choices, let us know your favorite Lenovo Chromebook in the comments below.

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WhatsApp tests a new redesign for Picture-in-Picture mode

WhatsApp has had picture-in-picture mode since 2018. PiP mode is convenient; when somebody sends you a video link from YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook, it lets you play the video in a small floating window right within the chat, so you don’t have to leave the conversation. While the feature has mostly remained unchanged over the years, WhatsApp is finally giving it a facelift in the latest update.

According to WABetainfo, WhatsApp is testing a new redesign for the picture-in-picture mode that adds a new control bar to the video player. The control bar appears at the bottom of the video and features controls like the pause/resume button, full-screen button, and close button. Previously these controls appeared on the video feed itself and kind of got in the way of the viewing experience. But with the dedicated control bar, you now get an unobstructed view of the video feed.

You can check out the new picture-in-picture mode design in the screenshot attached below:

The picture-in-picture mode redesign is rolling out with the latest WhatsApp beta update. The redesign was available on my phone running WhatsApp beta version 2.21.22.3. It’s not available on the stable version of WhatsApp. If you want to check it out, you’ll need to be on the latest WhatsApp beta version. If you’re not a beta tester, you can sign up for the program here. Alternatively, you can also grab the APK straight from APKMirror.

Besides the new picture-in-picture mode, WhatsApp is working on tons of other features such as allowing you to transcribe voice messages, helping you find local shops and cafes, letting you hide Last Seen status from specific contacts, and more. WhatsApp is also working on allowing you to transfer your chats from Android to iOS, but there’s no official word yet on when it will be made available to users.

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Microsoft Surface Duo 2 review: Productivity powerhouse, this time with a decent camera

The Microsoft Surface Duo 2 is the second iteration of the company’s dual-screen smartphone efforts. The first iteration was not something we would call a success. At best, we could say that it got mixed reviews.

The original model had something that you could barely consider to be a camera. And when it launched at $1,399.99, it was using last-gen specs, such as a Snapdragon 855 and 4G LTE. The Surface Duo 2 fixes those things, and it even improves upon the software.

Navigate this review:

• Design: The Surface Duo 2 is the most beautiful piece of hardware I’ve used
• Camera: The Surface Duo 2 is a massive improvement, but it still needs work
• Performance: The Snapdragon 888 and 5G take the Surface Duo 2 to a new level
• Work and play: Does it make more sense to get a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3?
• Conclusion: Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Duo 2?

Microsoft Surface Duo 2 Specs

Processor	Snapdragon 888 5G Mobile Platform
Body	Open: 145.2 mm (H) x 184.5 mm (W) x 5.50mm (T) Closed : 145.2 mm (H) x 92.1 mm (W) x 11.0 mm (T at hinge) Weight: 284g
Display	Dual PixelSense Fusion Displays open: 8.3” AMOLED, 2688×1892 Single PixelSense Screen: 5.8” AMOLED 1344×1892 (13:9) 401 PPI HDR Wide color 100% SRGB, DCI-P3 Dual displays with 90Hz adaptive refresh rate 800 nits max brightness Display Material: Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
Battery	4449mAh (typical) dual battery 4340mAh (minimum) dual battery
Camera and video recording	Dynamic triple lens rear-facing camera: Wide: 12MP, f/1.7 aperture, 27 mm, 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF and OIS Telephoto: 12MP, f/2.4 aperture, 51 mm, 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS and 2X optical zoom Ultra-Wide: 16MP, f/2.2 aperture, 13 mm, 1.0µm, 110o diagonal field of view with distortion correction Front-facing Camera: 12MP, f/2.0, 24 mm,1.0µm Flash: Dual led – dual color flash Photos: Auto mode with low-light & HDR multi-frame photo capture and dynamic range scene detection Dedicated night photography mode Smooth Zoom between all 3 Rear Facing Camera combined with digital super zoom up to 10x Portrait mode with adjustable depth control. Portrait mode supported for wide and tele camera. Machine learning used for portrait mode Panorama mode with wide dynamic range Capture short video during photo capture with long press Capture photos during video recording Video recording: HDR Video 4K video recording at 30 fps and 60 fps 1080p video recording at 30 fps and 60 fps Slow motion video at 120 or 240fps HEVC and H.264 video recording formats
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax (2.4/5GHz) Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1 NFC for payments and provisioning 5G-NR NSA (mmWave): Release 15 DL 64 QAM up to 6 Gbps, 8xDL CA (800MHz), 2×2 MIMO 5G-NR NSA (mmWave): Release 15 UL 64 QAM, 2xUL CA (200MHz), 2×2 MIMO 5G-NR NSA (mmWave) Bands: n257, n260, n261 5G-NR NSA (Sub-6): Release 15 DL 256 QAM up to 3.2 Gbps, 2xDL CA (TDD+TDD), 4×4 MIMO 5G-NR NSA (Sub-6): Release 15 UL 256 QAM 5G-NR NSA (Sub-6) Bands: n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n20, n25, n28, n38, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 Gigabit LTE – A Pro Release 15 with 4×4 MIMO and LAA LTE DL Cat 20, 256 QAM up to 2Gbps, 5xDL CA LTE UL Cat 13, 64 QAM Contiguous 2X ULCA LTE Bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71 WCDMA: 1,2,5,8 GSM/GPRS: GSM-850, E-GSM-900, DCS-1800, PCS-1900 Location: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS
Storage and memory	128GB, 256GB, 512GB 8GB DRAM LPDDR5 memory
Software	Microsoft built-in applications: Intune Company Portal LinkedIn Microsoft Authenticator Microsoft Bing Search Microsoft Edge Microsoft Lens – PDF Scanner Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint & More Microsoft OneDrive Microsoft OneNote Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Start Microsoft Teams Microsoft To Do Surface Tips Xbox Game Pass Microsoft Surface Duo 2 UI core features: App Groups Dual screen windowing Dynamic Dock Dynamic Triple-Lens Camera Microsoft 365 Feed Span apps automatically Surface Duo Glance Bar SwiftKey Adaptive Keyboard Universal Search Your Phone Companion – Link to Windows Other preinstalled apps: Calculator Chrome Clock Contacts Files Gmail Google Assistant Google Calendar Google Drive Google Duo Google Maps Google Photos Google Play Movies & TV Google Play Store Google Search Messages Phone Sound recorder YouTube YouTube Music Operating System: Android 11
Video playback	Video Playback Formats: MKV, MOV, MP4, H.265(HEVC), AVI, WMV, TS, 3GP, FLV, 3G2, AVI, FLV, TS/M2TS, MKV, WEBM, 3GP/MPEG-4,HEIC/HEIF,ASF/WMV, MOV Wireless* Chromecast and Miracast support Wired: DisplayPort over USB-C. Supports video out when connecting via HDMI Adapter 4K video out over USB-C when connecting via DisplayPort cable or HDMI Adaptor to external monitor *Wireless dependent on the TV/monitor support
Security and authentication	Biometric lock type: Fingerprint reader with enterprise grade security Lock type: Swipe, PIN, password Security applications pre-loaded on device: Microsoft Authenticator
Countries and carrier availability	Unlocked device for all carriers Australia Canada France Germany United Kingdom U.S. Austria Belgium Denmark Finland Ireland Italy Netherlands Spain Sweden Switzerland Japan
Sensors	Dual Accelerometer Dual Gyroscope Dual Magnetometer Dual Ambient Light Sensor Dual Proximity Sensor Hall Sensor Fingerprint Sensor
Ports	USB 3.2 Gen 2
Audio	Stereo speaker, Dual Mic AI-based noise suppression and acoustic echo cancellation optimized for productive use in all postures Best-in -class Full Duplex communication for voice calls in hands free mode, receiver and LRA Audio formats supported: 3GP, MP3, MP4, MKV, WAV, OGG, M4A, AAC, TS, AMR, FLAC, MID, MIDI, RTTL, RTX, OTA, IMY Qualcomm® aptX Classic, HD and TWS Hearing aid compatibility: M4/T3 Wake on Voice using Google Assistant
Exterior	Exterior Material: Corning Gorilla Glass Color: Glacier, Obsidian
Pen and inking	Supports all in-market generations of Surface Slim Pen, Surface Pen, and Surface Hub 2 Pen Simultaneous Pen and touch are supported
Price	$1,499.99 / $1,599.99 / $1,799.99

The model that Microsoft sent me for review is the one with 256GB of storage, in Obsidian.

Design: The Surface Duo 2 is the most beautiful piece of hardware I’ve used

I know the header says this, but the Surface Duo 2 is the most beautiful piece of tech I’ve laid my eyes on. Seriously, this thing is a work of art, and you can feel it when you look at it. The original model only came in a white color called Glacier, but the new additional to the family is Obsidian. If you thought that Glacier was pretty, wait until you see this.

To be completely fair, the fact that it’s so beautiful is a detriment to the product. The biggest flaw in the Surface Duo 2 is that there’s no screen on the outside, so every time you want to use your phone, you have to open it. That’s a pain point. We’ll talk a bit about the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 later on, but that’s a similar device that does have a display on the outside, and it works.

But here’s the thing. Part of me would rather give up that very basic functionality and ease of use in order to keep that black glass panel with the silver Microsoft logo. It’s just so pretty.

The Surface Duo 2 is the most beautiful piece of tech I've laid my eyes on.

There is a camera bump on the back. Sorry folks, but this is just physics. The camera on the original Surface Duo was a potato. You see, it only used the front-facing camera, which was also included in a phone that was thin to begin with. If you want better quality, you need more z-depth, plain and simple.

This really isn’t something that you want to compromise either. Many shouted down those that complained about the camera on the original Duo, but you have to remember that the goal is to have one device for everything. Even if productivity is the goal here, we have to remember that the user is replacing their personal smartphone with this, so it needs to be able to take proper pictures.

So yes, when you fold the display back 360 degrees, it can no longer lie flat against the other side. It’s fine though.

The only port is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port on the bottom, which supports fast charging. There’s no headphone jack, and that’s no surprise given that this thing is just 5.5mm thin. It’s actually quite impressive how thin this thing is, even though it’s a bit thicker than its predecessor. I’m not complaining though. The engineering here is phenomenal.

The two screens are beautiful as well. It has two 5.8-inch AMOLED 1,344×1,892 displays that get 90Hz refresh rates and have 800-nit max brightness. The total pixel density is 401ppi. The colors are vibrant, the blacks are black, and it’s absolutely delightful. They support pen input from any MPP pen, and you can even get a case that will let you attach and charge the Slim Pen 2.

Sadly, the Slim Pen 2 haptics that feel like you’re writing on paper won’t work with this device. I’m told that that feature is coming later.

Microsoft isn't trustworthy when it comes to Android software updates.

Speaking of the screen, as beautiful as it is, I did have some issues with it. There were plenty of times I had to touch or swipe the screen multiple times to do what I needed to do. I really wish the touchscreen was more sensitive, and that’s another thing that I’d like to see in a future update. This is almost certainly something that can be improved in new firmware.

But the unnerving thing is that that’s precisely the area where the original Surface Duo failed. Microsoft shipped the product a certain way, and once it was on shelves, little was done to make it better. The problem with this strategy is that it leaves little confidence that the product will improve over time. It’s an area where Microsoft could really learn from OnePlus.

One other thing to note about the display is that the curve around the back for what Microsoft calls the Glance Bar. It can be useful, but most of the time, it’s not really practical. It does show notifications as they come in, and it lights up when a call is coming in. But to check the time, it’s just as easy to open the device as it is to press the power button to light up the Glance Bar.

Camera: The Surface Duo 2 is a massive improvement, but it still needs work

Like I said earlier, the camera in the original Surface Duo was a potato, so it’s nice to see the team put some actual effort into this one. The Surface Duo 2 has three rear camera lenses: 12MP f/1.7, 12MP f/2.4 2x zoom, and 16MP f/2.2 ultra-wide.

I’m pleased to say that the camera is decent. However, it certainly won’t be winning any awards. In daytime, it’s pretty easy to get right, although it does weirdly try super hard to focus on the middle of the viewfinder. That’s something that other OEMs worked out a while ago, that if your subject is not in the middle, it should still be focused on.

That’s a minor issue though, because the major issue is nighttime performance, and I’m not talking about the quality of photos. When you open up the Camera app at night, the frame rate in the viewfinder drops to a point where it actually gets hard to use. It’s even harder to focus on the subject that you’re trying to focus on. This is an area that I judge based on how many images I have to delete after testing. It was a lot for this phone.

One thing that’s quite cool is that you can do more with the two screens. With the viewfinder on one screen, your image gallery is on the other. Tap an image in the gallery, and the other screen shows editing options. This wasn’t possible with the original Duo because there was no rear camera, so the display has to be folded 360 degrees to take a picture.

These are the samples I took:

I really do like the way that the camera handles colors and such. Everything about it is just so much better than the original Surface Duo.

It’s a key change. I don’t care how much this device is aimed at productivity. It’s still a smartphone, and it has to be good at the things that smartphones do. Having a passable camera is one of those things.

Performance: The Snapdragon 888 and 5G take it to a new level

Honestly, if something ships with a last-gen processor, I’m not too mad at it. I personally believe that flagship smartphone processors offer more power than most consumers will know what to do with. So last-gen chipsets are fine, but not in a $1,400 smartphone, and that was the case with last year’s model.

Now, the Surface Duo 2 is specced out. It comes with a Snapdragon 888, which is the latest from Qualcomm, and it has 5G connectivity. I turn 5G off, of course, because despite living in such close proximity to New York City, T-Mobile’s 5G is still much slower than 4G LTE for me.

So, what can you do with all of the power you get from a Snapdragon 888? That’s a whole lot of productivity right there. And yes, the additional processing power does help in running two apps side-by-side, something you’ll be doing a lot with this device. If you’re not running two apps side-by-side, I’m not sure why you’d be looking at the Surface Duo 2 at all.

Letting you use the second screen as a gaming controller or photo editor is smart and practical.

Another big use case is gaming though. Don’t forget that the company that makes this productivity-focused device also makes Xbox consoles. And alongside the consoles, there’s also an Xbox Cloud Gaming service. You can play mobile games using the second screen as a controller, with games like Asphalt 9, or you can stream console games using an Xbox controller. There are lots of gaming options here.

It’s pretty cool to see that Microsoft has done a lot with the second screen. From using it as a gaming controller to using it to edit photos and more, it’s impressive.

It’s also got a 4,340mAh battery, something that I never had trouble getting through the day with. At worst, it was on 35% when I put it on the charger at night. Sadly, the fast charging isn’t that fast at 23%, so it’s not like a OnePlus 9 Pro where I can just tell you that if the battery dies, you can just charge it for a few minutes. There’s no wireless charging either, sadly.

Work and play: Does it make more sense to get a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3?

I don’t care what anyone says. The Surface Duo 2 is not a foldable phone. It’s a dual-screen device with a hinge. This is the point where you have to start asking, is it better to have a foldable or a dual-screen device?

Both devices are more similar than you might realize. Microsoft and Samsung have a strong partnership where the Galaxy Z Fold 3 has some solid integrations with Windows and other Microsoft 365 services. Both are priced similarly as well.

There are pros and cons to each. The foldable display on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will likely break down sooner than two traditional displays would, so that’s a mark in favor of the Duo. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 unfolds into one big display.

Invincible

With the Surface Duo 2, you can force any app to span both screens. Sadly, that doesn’t work very well for a lot of media consumption, as you can see from the Comixology app above. You’ll also have to look at that split if you’re watching videos.

Fragile Things

The Amazon Kindle app is great though. It’s actually made for dual screens, and there’s even an animation that looks like you’re turning the page in a book. Weirdly though, the virtual page is anchored to the left side of the left screen, rather than the middle of the two screens. Either way, the Surface Duo 2 is a great Kindle reader. Of course, so is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Take a look at the Outlook app as well. One screen shows you all of your emails, and the other shows the email you’re reading. Using one pane for navigation and the other for content is probably the most natural, but the problem is that the industry has already come to a natural solution. That’s because we have a whole tablet market, where app designers have already been using one side for a navigation pane, and they are not splitting the screen at 50%.

Both the Surface Duo 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 are fantastic Microsoft phones. If you’re into Microsoft services, either one deserves your attention. I have to say though, in most situations, I think the big foldable screen is the way to go.

Conclusion: Should you buy the Microsoft Surface Duo 2?

Now, here’s the question. Should you buy this $1,500 dual-screen smartphone? It would be hard to fault you if you did. In fact, it’s so easy to just look at this thing and fall in love with it at first sight. It’s so beautiful, and the AMOLED screen is so easy on the eyes.

It's easy to look at the Surface Duo 2 and fall in love at first sight.

There is some bad though, and it all comes down to Microsoft simply not being trustworthy with software updates. Just so we’re clear, Android 12 shipped this week and Android 11 is still not available for the original Surface Duo. The Surface Duo 2 has some weird touch issues, and like I said, the camera could use some real software improvements at night. Will this stuff get fixed in firmware updates? There’s no way to know for sure. I don’t even want to promise that the firm will deliver support for haptics with the Slim Pen 2, and that’s something it actually promised.

Overall though, I do quite love the Surface Duo 2. There’s something about it that’s pleasant and delightful, and the productivity aspect of it is real. If you spend a lot of time working on the go, you’ll find that it’s super useful to have one app on one screen and another app on the other.

Microsoft really did a great job with this one. The camera is improved, and most importantly, the software is a lot better. I just hope that the Redmond firm continues to do well with it by servicing it with software updates.

Microsoft Surface Duo 2

The Surface Duo 2 fixes the wrongs with the original model, improving the camera, the software, and more.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See at Amazon

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