Best Lenovo Chromebooks in 2022

Lenovo not only manufactures some of the best Windows laptops, but the company also is behind Chromebooks, too. It’s the number two Chromebook maker in the world, right after HP. That’s mainly because Lenovo offers a lot of choices when it comes to Chromebook devices. You’ll find traditional laptops, 2-in-1s, tablets, and even compact mini PCs that run ChromeOS.

All that considered, if you’re looking for a Chromebook that’s right for you, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve collected eight of our favorite Lenovo Chromebook devices, from various categories.

Navigate this article:

• Best overall: Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook
• Best tablet: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
• Best convertible: Flex 5i 13 Chromebook
• Best cheap Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook C340
• Best for education: 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen
• Best for business: ThinkPad C14 Chromebook Enterprise
• Best upcoming Chromebook: IdeaPad 5i
• Best portable Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook Duet

Best overall: Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook

Lenovo has a lot of great Chromebooks coming in 2022, but a lot of them are not for sale just yet. That’s why at the top of our list is one that has been around for a while and is quite popular at Best Buy. It’s the Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook. This Chromebook combines a lot of what we look for in the ideal ChromeOS device, without topping out at over $1,000. It has a great display, decent performance, an excellent keyboard, and is also fully convertible.

We’ll start first by getting into the specs of this Chromebook. Coming with an Intel Celeron N4500 CPU, and 4GB of RAM, you can speed through a lot of your basic workflows with ease. This is true even with this low amount of RAM, as ChromeOS is known to be efficient. The storage might be the slower eMMC type, but on ChromeOS, a lot of files are stored in the cloud, so this should not be a big issue. Using Android apps and playing basic Android games on the Google Play Store should also go well, too since this device is powered by Intel UHD graphics.

The other thing that makes this Chromebook great is the keyboard. It’s rare to see full-size keyboards on Chromebooks under $500, and that’s exactly what you’ll get in this case. You’ll get a number pad to the side of the main keyboard, helping make crunching numbers in Excel very easy. The only downside at this price is that the keyboard is not backlit, so you’ll have to do most of your work under lights. The Abyss Blue color option and keyboard are nice though and will set you apart from gray and black laptops that people typically own.

Now, to get into the 15-inch display itself. Coming with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution display, your content will look great on the screen. You won’t be stressed about space and can stack your windows side by side and get work done. The large panel also should feel immersive when you watch movies and TV shows as this Chromebook has a 16:9 aspect ratio. When streaming, your content should not be letterboxed. It’s something you might want to do anyway, as this Chromebook can be converted into a tablet, and tent mode for multimedia consumption, with a battery rated for 10 hours. Lenovo even rounded the corners of the display and the device to make it more comfortable for holding.

As far as other specs go, this Lenovo Chromebook has a lot of great ports that are typically absent from flagship Chromebooks. You’ll find an HDMI port, 2 USB 3.1 Type-A- ports, and a USB Type-C port. This means you can ditch the dongles and carry around the device without what accessories will work with it and what won’t.

Lenovo - Flex 3i Chromebook 15.6 Inch

The Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook has a great display, is fully convertible, and combines a lot of what we look for in the perfect Chromebook.

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Best tablet: Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

Chromebooks don’t just come as laptops anymore, and ChromeOS-powered tablets are becoming more common. One of the most popular you can buy right now is the Chromebook Duet 5. This is priced at $500 and brings a lot to the table for the money. You get a really vibrant OLED display, support for an optional stylus, a great performing SoC, and a detachable keyboard. We recently reviewed it, too. 

Powering the package is the second-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor. This isn’t like the typical Intel or AMD chips you’d find in a regular Chromebook. Rather, it’s ARM-based. That’s why we found it quite pleasing to use during our review period. There was no lag with Android games like Asphalt 9, and day-to-day web browsing worked smoothly. This makes it great for gaming.

This chip also helps with battery life. In our tests, we pumped out an entire day’s worth of work when we used the device, despite the OLED display which usually consumes a lot of battery.

Usually, a Chromebook tablet has a flimsy and cheap keyboard as an optional purchase. But right out of the box, you actually can attach this keyboard up to your IdeaPad Duet 5 display, pull out the stand from the back, and get to work. In our review time, we were able to comfortably use the IdeaPad Duet 5 on our lap without frustration and even complete long blog posts. This device is something to get you through a full day at school or work without issue.

Based on the Chrome web browser allows you to download multimedia apps from the Google Play Store, tablets are also great for multimedia and drawing. If you buy it, the IdeaPad Duet 5 will make these tasks quite fun. Lenovo doesn’t include a USI stylus for you in the box, but when we used one, we found it really excellent for taking notes in one of our class lectures in Google’s Cursive app. Other than that drawing aspect, the IdeaPad Duet 2 comes with a 16:9 OLED panel. This ratio makes it great for viewing movies and consuming media. It’s something you might want to do, too. In our tests, the display had off-the-charts brightness, great viewing angles, and accurate color reproduction. Even the speakers were great since it’s a quad-array setup.

But for all the good things we’ve said about the IdeaPad Duet 5, it is limited in some areas. There is no headphone jack on board, so Bluetooth headphones or a USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone adapter will be your option. There are also only 2 USB-C ports, so you’ll need to invest in a dongle for connecting to displays, and USB drives.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5

With a vibrant OLED display, spacious keyboard, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a road warrior of a ChromeOS tablet

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Best convertible: Flex 5i 13 Chromebook

Just like Windows laptops, Chromebooks come in the 2-in-1 convertible form factor. Right now, one of the best of these that you can buy is the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i. This Chromebook is a lot like our top pick but is much better, which is why we reserved it in this spot. It’s also much faster with an Intel Core i3 CPU option. All of this for the price of $550.

What’s great about the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i is the processing option. It includes 10th generation Intel Core i3 processors, as well as options for 4GB of RAM. Storage, meanwhile, comes in at 64GB. This is great for everyday workflows, as well as streaming and multimedia. Generally speaking, Intel Core i3 processors are much faster than the basic Celeron processors you’ll find in typical budget Chromebooks. If you can find it at other retailers, this Chromebook also comes with options for an Intel Core i5 processor, too, which will give you even more of a performance boost.

Other than the CPU inside, this Chromebook is built tough. It’s designed out of aluminum and can stand up to the test of time. Part of that design also includes the keyboard, which is backlit. That helps with using the Chromebook Flex 5i at night during late study sessions. The keyboard is rated for 1.4 mm key travel distance which is fairly good for a Chromebook of this size.

Looking at the display now, there’s a lot to like. While most cheap Chromebooks come with obscure resolutions, this one is full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution. You’ll be able to enjoy watching movies and other content on this device, as things should be crisp and clear. The added touch and pen support are pluses, as you can annotate PDF files, or bring out your inner artist and draw in apps that you can download from the Google Play Store. Just keep in mind, then the pen is sold separately. The standard resolution display will help with battery life, too, as this Chromebook is rated at 10 hours.

The other great part of the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i has a lot to do with ports. The selection on this device will help keep you in your workflow. The mix includes two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type C ports, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, and an audio jack. You can recharge this Chromebook with USB-C when needed, which is a benefit since you’ll be able to use a PD Powerbank to charge on the go.

Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is one of the best 2-in-1s with balanced processing power, a great keyboard and display

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Best cheap Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook C340

Not all Chromebooks have to be $500, and if you’re after one that’s within a budget, then the Lenovo 300e Gen 2 Laptop is great. It might not be the fanciest Chromebook, but priced at $157.93, it will help you get your computing done right. All of this without going over the budget, while still enjoying a great form factor of a traditional 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook.

Looking at what is under the hood of this Chromebook, you’ll be getting an Intel Celeron N4000 processor. That comes paired with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage. Again, as we’ve mentioned with similar budget Chromebooks, you might not be able to do more demanding tasks on this device, but for basic web browsing, as well as multimedia consumption, you’ll be fine. ChromeOS typically handles low-powered CPUs like this one very well.

In terms of design, this device can be striking. You’ll find it in either a Platnimum Grey or a Sand Pink. The Sand Pink option will help you stand out from the crowd of boring-colored black laptops. And in terms of weight and dimensions, this is quite a compact device. It measures in at a mere 11 x 8 x 0.7 inches and is 2.65 pounds. That’s less space than a piece of paper.

Going to the display, 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. Not to forget, the Google Play Store is your gateway to productivity and entertainment. 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.

Elsewhere, the Chromebook C340  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 an audio jack. Built-in 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 makes connecting wirelessly a breeze.

Overall, this is a fantastic cheap 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 solid build quality, and impressive performance.

Lenovo Chromebook C340 2-in-1

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 education: 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen

Chromebooks are popular in education scenarios, and if you want one for this, the Lenovo 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen is the best to choose for students or for use at home. It is designed specially for the education market, is built tough, and is portable and compact, all for the price of less than $300.

The design of the 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen is what makes it the ideal education device. It’s built tough with rubber bumpers, reinforced ports and hinges, and mechanically anchored keys. This means it can stand the shock and awe that students might put it through. Lenovo is even rating it to be drop-resistant up to 29.5 inches, which is the height of a school desk. Oh, and the keyboard is spill-resistant, so it can stand up against water, and other liquids.

Other than the design, this Chromebook has specs that are great for getting school work done, without distraction. It comes with AMD A-series processors, and 4GB of RAM as well as 32GB of eMMC storage. Students will be able to pull up Google Chrome, and Google Gsuite apps like Sheets, or Pages without issue thanks to these specs. Not to forget the front-facing 720p webcam, and 2 by 2-watt speakers which are decent enough for chatting in Google Hangouts and paying attention to recorded lectures.

As a convertible, this is also a versatile education device. It can be used in laptop, tablet, tent, or stand modes to make collaboration simple. A student can take notes in laptop mode, use the touch screen in tablet mode, or put the device in tent mode to watch instructional videos. All of this can be done with confidence, too, as the device is rated for up to 10 hours of battery and has a low-power ‎1366 x 768 resolution display. There is no pen support, however, which is a miss for this device.

Students will often connect lots of accessories to their Chromebooks, too, and for this, the 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen is pretty good. It has a wide range of ports in addition to a volume slider on the side of the device. The list includes USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD-card reader. It’s rare to see full-size SD card readers on Chromebooks, and this will help in storage expansion, or with storing and moving files.

IT admins who manage Chromebooks in School can take care of this Chromebook with ease. It’s certified for the Google Play store, as well as the Chrome Web Store. Education apps like Tinkercad, GeGebra, LucidChart, Jamboard, WeVideo, and more, are all optimized for this device.

Lenovo 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen

The Lenovo 300e Chromebook 2nd Gen is great for use in education thanks to it's built-tough design

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Best for business: ThinkPad C14 Chromebook Enterprise

Recently with the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of businesses have been moving people over to Chromebooks. Chromebooks are easier to manage for IT admins and have other benefits when used in sales operations, or for an employee who might be working from home. Lenovo designed a new ThinkPad Chromebook just for that, and it’s the ThinkPad C14 Chromebook Enterprise.

This is one of Lenovo’s most powerful Chromebooks, with specs you’d usually find on a Windows laptop. It comes with the 12th Generation Intel Core i5-1245U VPro processor. That’s paired up with 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB PCIe SSD. For demanding workflows and heavy multitasking, these specs ensure that you’ll be able to get a lot done. These CPUs come with 10 cores, and 12 threads, which is more than what’s found in the typical Intel Core i3-based Chromebooks. The VPro processors also mean that you’ll get security options, too, and IT admins will be able to deploy and remotely manage devices.

This ThinkPad even has the Titan-C Google-designed security chip inside, which can help protect the end-user identity and ensure system integrity.  That’s on top of the webcam privacy shutter, and the optional fingerprint reader.

With the design, this Chromebook rembles a traditional Windows-based ThinkPad. It has a durable chassis, and the traditional ThinkPad Trackpad, as well as ThinkPoint nub in the middle. Of course, you can’t forget the traditional ThinkPad keyboard, either, which is backlit with white LEDs.

In terms of weight, this Chromebook is fairly portable at 8.54 x 12.81 x 0.88 inches, and 3.5 pounds. Like most products with the ThinkPad branding, this one meets the MIL-STD 810H standard, too. It will last the tests of time.

With the display on the ThinkPad C14 Chromebook Enterprise, you’re getting a 14-inch Full HD resolution. Lenovo mentions the panel has a wide viewing angle, too, so your content will look bright. And at the top of that display? It’s a 1080p webcam, ensuring that you’ll look your best on all your calls. Even the user-facing speakers, should help you feel immersed in your meetings.

Ending with ports, there’s a lot to help avoid being tied up in dongles. You’ll get USB-C Gen 1, Thunderbolt 4, 2 USB Type-A ports, a MicroSD card reader, HDMI 2.0, and a headphone/mic combo. You even can add a SIM card for 4G LTE cellular data, which isn’t always possible on Chromebooks.

ThinkPad C14 Chromebook Enterprise

The ThinkPad C14 Chromebook Enterprise has everything that a business will need from vPro CPUs, a security chip, and more

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Best upcoming Chromebook: IdeaPad 5i

Our list has focused so far on Chromebooks you can buy. But, there’s an upcoming Chromebook we want to mention. It’s the IdeaPad 5i. This is Lenovo’s first big-screen 16-inch Chromebook. It’s also the first Lenovo Chromebook with a 16-inch 120Hz display. Again, this isn’t available right now, but it should be in stock at Lenovo.com very soon.

The reason we’re anticipating this Chromebook a lot has to do with the display. Usually, 120Hz displays are found on Windows gaming laptops, but Lenovo has ported one over to a Chromebook with the IdeaPad 5i. This brings content on the screen to life and makes web browsing smoother than that of what you’ll find on a typical 60Hz display on most Chromebooks. The 16-inch 2.5K resolution panel is also vibrant and will give you lots of room to stack windows side by side and multitask. If you’re

What else is there to like about the IdeaPad 5i? It’s what’s under the hood. It’s the Intel Core i3-1215U or Intel Pentium 8505 CPUs and either 4GB or 8GB of RAM. For storage, you can choose between an eMMC or an SSD. The eMMC options include 64GB or 128GB, and traditional SSDs will come in 256GB or 512GB. This is a lot of choice for a Chromebook, as typically, you’ll only find devices come in one configuration.

As a new 2022 Chromebook, Lenovo did also boost the webcam on this device. It’s 1080p, and there are two user-facing speakers for added immersive feeling. Other ports include 2 USB-A Type-C ports, 2 USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone jack, and a MicroSD card slot.

A big Chromebook like this comes at one cost, though, and its weight. The IdeaPad 5i is one big device. It measures about 0.8 inches thick and weighs 4 pounds. That’s almost as much as a traditional gaming laptop. But if you really want to be productive on the go, and live free of monitors, then it might be worth the sacrifice.

Again, this Chromebook isn’t for sale just yet but a product page is live. Lenovo did not announce a launch date or price. This is pretty typical with new products in 2022, where the pandemic has forced companies to deal with parts shortages and other issues.

Lenovo 5i Chromebook

The Lenovo 5i Chromebook has a massive 16-inch display tuned to 120Hz, making it quite a unique device

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Best portable Chromebook: Lenovo Chromebook Duet

Our guide comes to an end with the best portable Chromebook. We’ve touched on a lot of great devices so far, but most of them are big. If you want a Chromebook that’s compact, then that’s what the IdeaPad Duet is for.

This is a very small Chromebook with a 10-inch IPS touchscreen. The overall dimensions come in at ‎9.44 x 6.29 x 0.29 inches, and the weight is a little over 1 pound. If you compare that to some of the other Chromebooks on our list, which are over 3 pounds and 0.7 inches thick, you’ll really see the difference.

The other part of portability comes down to the keyboard. If you like, you also can attach the included keyboard case magnetically, and pull out a kickstand for typing. That’s all when you’re not using the device as a stand-alone tablet in your hands for gaming, or multimedia. The keyboard case gives room to type up documents, scroll webpages, and use the Duet Chromebook as a laptop. And, that’s all with it fitting easily in a bag.

While you might not be multitasking a lot on this device, the MediaTek Helio P60T processor inside this tablet is great for a first Chromebook. Android apps have been known to run perfectly on the Duet, mainly since the SoC being used is ARM-based, just like your Android phone. Even Chrome should run smoothly, as the device has 4 GB or RAM.

One of the best parts of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet that make it portable is the long battery life. Lenovo rates it for up to 10 hours. Of course, that’s rated on mixed usage with the display at very low brightness. Rated at 400 nits, you’ll want to bump the brightness as high as you can to make the most out of this tablet and make webpages and media come to life.

There are some other negatives for the overall productivity though. There’s only a single USB-C port on board, and there’s no headphone jack, either. So, you’ll need to ensure you use either Bluetooth headsets or a dongle for movie watching and other multimedia. Secondly. serious multitasking might slow down this device a lot. You can always upgrade later on to the bigger sibling, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook for these, which we mentioned above.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great first Chromebook, sampling features like a detachable keyboard, a touch screen, pen support, and decent Android app performance

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These are the Best Webcams for your Apple Mac in 2022

Since the beginning of 2020, working from home has become the new norm. With this new norm has come the necessity of attending work meetings or even classes at home, and to do so, you need a good webcam for your computer. While most laptops do come with built-in webcams, the quality is more often than not sub-par. It may get the job done occasionally, but it’s always advisable to have an external webcam for Mac, or even Windows for that matter, for a more professional look. While the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 have updated webcams, they may still not be good enough professional use-cases.

If you have a computer like the Mac Mini, or you’ve hooked up your MacBook Air/Pro with an external monitor, you’re likely on the lookout for webcams for Mac along with other accessories that work well and support Mac-based applications. Here’s a list of some of the best webcams for Mac you can buy across various price points and use cases.

Dell UltraSharp 4K Webcam

4K Resolution

This high-quality webcam is perfect for those who tend to video-call others frequently. Though, some of its features, such as FoV adjustments and HDR, are unsupported on macOS.

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IFROO 1080P Wide-Angle Webcam

Affordable 1080P Webcam

If you don't want to spend too much on a webcam for your Mac but still want decent video quality, this is the one to pick. It has a wide-angle lens and can even be used for recording and streaming.

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NexiGo Webcam with Ring Light

Ring light for better illumination

The ring light around the webcam with adjustable brightness helps improve video quality if the ambient lighting around you is insufficient. It also has a privacy cover, auto-focus, and dual microphones.

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Logitech Brio 4K Webcam

5x Zoom

This option comes from a reputable company and has plenty of neat offerings. These include, but are not limited to, 4K video call support, up to 90fps, three field of view (FoV) options, 5x digital zoom, HDR, and more.

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Anker PowerConf C300 Webcam

Smooth 60fps videos with HDR

The Anker C300 outputs videos at 1080p/60fps and is HDR certified as well. It even has low-light correction and adjustable FoV. Another good option for streaming with noise-cancelling using multiple mics.

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NexiGo 2K Webcam with 3X Zoom

2K Resolution for sharper quality

This webcam has the highest resolution among the ones mentioned in this list. There is a 4MP sensor and you can digitally zoom in up to 3X. It has a 95-degree FoV, dual mics, and a privacy shutter as well.

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Logitech C920x HD Pro Webcam

Ideal for professional calls and meetings

The Logitech C920x is one of the most popular webcams especially for office meetings. It has support for stereo audio which means everyone can hear you crystal clear. There's also support for HD light correction.

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Akyta Wide-Angle Webcam with Tripod

Ultra-wide 110-degree FoV

If you want to fit more people into the frame for a group video call, this is the webcam for you. It has a large 110-degree FoV and comes with a privacy cover and a tripod in case you don't want to mount it on your monitor.

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Logitech StreamCam

Easy streaming and connectivity

This is the only webcam that connects via USB-C for faster video transfer speeds making it ideal for streamers. It can output videos at 1080p/60fps. There is support for smart auto-focus and facial tracking as well.

View at Amazon

These are some of the best webcams for Mac that you can get to improve the quality of your video and audio during online classes or meetings. Do note that most webcams connect via a USB-A port, which means you’ll need an additional dongle or a hub in order to connect them to your Mac. All of these webcams are compatible with popular video conferencing services and apps. So Skype, Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and other similar platforms will work just fine. You might encounter some freezing issues with these apps when using a new webcam for the first time. In case you encounter such issues, you can force quit the app or uninstall and reinstall it once again if the issue persists.

All the webcams included in this list will get the job done for numerous use cases. Look out for multiple microphones if you are going to do a lot of talking in the online meetings or classes that you attend like the Logitech C920X. If streaming is your priority, you might want to consider a webcam with a higher frame rate like the Logitech StreamCam or Razer Kiyo. If you don’t want applications and services to access your webcam when it’s not in use, make sure you get one with a privacy shutter for added peace of mind.

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Leaked renders of the OnePlus 11 Pro showcase a unique camera island design

Although it’s only been a few weeks since OnePlus launched its latest flagship, the OnePlus 10T, leaks about the company’s next flagship smartphone have already surfaced online. We recently learned that the rumored OnePlus 11 Pro could arrive before the end of this year. Now, renowned leaker OnLeaks has shared renders showcasing its design.

The leaked renders are based on an early prototype of the OnePlus 11 Pro and suggest that OnePlus could adopt a unique camera island design on its next flagship. As you can see in the attached images, the rear-facing camera setup on the OnePlus 11 Pro seems like a mashup of the circular camera island on the Xiaomi 12S Ultra and the square camera design of the OnePlus 10 Pro. While unique, the new design looks rather odd, and we sincerely hope OnePlus doesn’t settle on this for the final retail variant.

Hey #FutureSquad! I’m back from the Future with 2023’s first major leak!

Here comes your very first and very early look at the #OnePlus11Pro through crispy sharp 5K renders!

On behalf of @Smartprix -> https://t.co/0esErP2wRa pic.twitter.com/hE1xrysDcU

— Steve H.McFly (@OnLeaks) September 12, 2022

In addition to the new camera setup, the leaked renders reveal that the OnePlus 11 Pro will feature the iconic alert slider. This falls in line with a previous statement from the company, claiming that the alert slider could make a comeback on future models. Furthermore, the renders suggest that the OnePlus 11 Pro will benefit from the OnePlus-Hasselblad partnership, unlike the OnePlus 10T, and it will feature a single front-facing camera housed in a hole-punch cutout in the top-left corner of the display.

Currently, we have no further details about the OnePlus 11 Pro. However, we suspect it will launch with Qualcomm’s upcoming flagship chipset — the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

What do you think of the OnePlus 11 Pro’s camera island design? Do you love it or hate it? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Via: Smartprix

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How to use the intercom on Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini

One of the great, yet often overlooked features of the best smart speakers around is the ability to use them as an intercom. Assuming you have multiple speakers dotted around the house, it’s an effective way of communicating without yelling at the top of your voice or calling up someone’s phone. Having an intercom is no longer just for executives in enormous offices to summon their next meeting; you can effectively summon your kids for dinner with it.

In the case of the HomePod and HomePod Mini, this is also true. It’s perfectly possible to have conversations (to some degree) and deliver messages to other areas of the home through the speakers. Whether you want to tell the kids food is ready, check if they’re doing their homework, tell everyone to get up in the morning, or whatever other message you have, here’s how to do it through the HomePod.

Before you begin

Before you begin using your HomePod as an intercom, there are a couple of bits of housekeeping to make sure you’ve done. The first is to make sure your iPhone or iPad is running whatever the latest update is at the time. This also applies to every other iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or HomePod you may want to use to send intercom messages.

Especially as iOS 16 and the other associated OS versions are due to start rolling out from September 2022, it’s a good idea to ensure that you don’t have a mix of different versions going on.

How to set up and control access to intercom

One of the neat things about the intercom feature on HomePod is that you have total control over who is allowed to use it. If you don’t want your kids constantly sending messages, for example, if you have their profiles in your Home setup you can exclude them. The people section is particularly important since you can use iOS devices to send messages through the intercom feature. Likewise, at any time, you can exclude individual HomePods from being able to receive messages.

It’s a good idea to get this all set up before you start using intercom. Open the Home app on your iPhone or iPad and follow these steps.

1. Open Home Settings. In iOS 15 this is behind the house-shaped icon. In iOS 16 you’ll find it behind the three dots menu icon.
2. Tap on intercom.
3. Choose your preferred notifications.
4. Select which members of your home you want to be able to send intercom messages.
5. Select which speakers you want to be able to send and receive intercom messages.

Now you’re set up it’s time to start sending intercom messages.

How to send intercom messages

There are a number of methods you can use to send intercom messages to your HomePod speakers. Besides the HomePod speakers, you can send messages using iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods and even CarPlay to announce a message from the car.

Here’s how you use each.

How to send intercom messages from HomePod, HomePod Mini, AirPods, and Beats headphones

To use your speakers or headphones to send messages to your other speakers, simply use your voice to invoke the feature by saying:

• “Hey Siri, intercom <your message here>”

This will automatically broadcast to every enabled HomePod speaker within your home. If you want to target a particular speaker or group, you can do that too:

• “Hey Siri ask <speaker name, location or group>”

This will then target those specific speakers or groups without having to disable others in the Home app.

If you’re using your AirPods or Beats headphones it’s important to remember that they need to be connected to an iPhone or iPad in order to use the intercom feature.

How to send intercom messages from iPhone and iPad

If you’re using an iPhone or iPad there are two different methods you can use to send intercom messages. One of which is certainly more convenient than the other.

Assuming you have “Hey Siri” enabled on your device you can do it the same way as on your HomePod. This will also apply when using CarPlay.

• “Hey Siri, intercom <your message here>”

Alternatively, you can use the Home app to send intercom messages if you spend a lot of time inside it.

1. Tap the waveform icon in the top right-hand corner.
2. Speak your message. You can use the same principles described above to dictate specific speakers or groups.
3. Hit the stop button when you’re done to send the message.

How to send intercom messages from Apple Watch

You can also use your Apple Watch to send intercom messages to your various HomePod speakers. There are two methods and both are very similar to using other devices. To send an intercom message entirely using your voice, simply say:

• “Hey Siri, intercom <your message here>”

As with the other devices, you can specify a specific speaker or group of speakers to send the message to.

Alternatively, as on the iPhone you can use the Home app on the Apple Watch to send intercom messages.

1. Open the Home app on your Apple Watch.
2. Swipe down.
3. Tap on intercom.
4. Speak your message, again remembering you can tailor it to specific speakers or groups.

How to reply to HomePod intercom messages

Intercom is good but it wouldn’t be as useful if it was only a one-way street. Fortunately, those in rooms you have delivered messages to are able to reply through those HomePod speakers. By default, if a message was broadcast to all HomePods, it will be sent back to them all as well. If the original message was directed to a specific location, the reply will only be sent back to the origin of the message.

To send a reply simply say:

• “Hey Siri, reply <insert message here>”

Or you can dictate a location for your reply by saying:

• “Hey Siri, reply <speaker name, location or group>” followed by your message.

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Intercom is a simple but incredibly useful feature on the HomePod and HomePod Mini. The ease of setup and use across Apple’s various devices make it something that the whole family can use, and certainly reduce on the need to yell between rooms!

Apple HomePod Mini

The Apple HomePod Mini is an affordable, Siri-enabled speaker that offers plenty of neat smart features. It caters to a very particular group of users, though.

View on Best Buy

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Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight review: Ultralight (mostly) without compromises

I really love what we’re seeing with ultra-light PCs. Dell actually offers a wide array of products under the umbrella of Latitude 7330. This one is the Latitude 7330 Ultralight, and it weighs in at only 2.13 pounds. It’s pretty sweet, packing Intel U-series processors, an array of ports, and a magnesium build.

There are some drawbacks. Unlike most modern laptops, it has a 16:9 display. Also, strangely, it’s the only Latitude 7330 that has a 720p camera instead of a 1080p webcam. If you were willing to get a laptop that’s a bit heavier in the Latitude 7330 that’s made of carbon fiber, that’s what you’d get. It’s just not in the Ultralight model.

Still, this laptop is great, as long as you’re not looking for the absolute best webcam. Dell Optimizer offers some really great features, like AI noise reduction for both you, and other people on the call with you. It’s pretty neat. If you’re looking for a productivity laptop to take on the go, this is a pretty great choice.

Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight

The Dell Latitude 7330 comes in a variety of flavors, but the Ultralight model weighs in at well under a kilogram, still packing Intel 12th-gen processors, an array of ports, and more.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See at Dell

Navigate this review:

• Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight pricing and availability
• Dell Latitude Ultralight specs
• Design: It’s under a kilogram, but it doesn’t stop there
• Display and keyboard: It’s a standard FHD screen and Chiclet-style keyboard
• Performance: Intel’s 12th-gen U-series is really good
• Should you buy the Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight?

Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight pricing and availability

• The Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight starts at $1,895.19
• There’s also a standard Latitude 7330 and a 2-in-1

If you’re in the market for Dell’s Latitude 7330 line of products, there’s a wide variety to choose from. To be clear, I’ve reviewed a wide variety of them in the past, and they’re almost universally fantastic. They’re all available on Dell.com, under the same product listing.

The one that I’m reviewing is the Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight, a 2.13-pound version of the Latitude 7330 that starts at $1,895.19, packing a Core i5-1235U, 16GB RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The model that the company sent me for review includes a Core i7-1265U, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD, which currently comes in at $2,256.79.

Like I said, there are various other models to choose from. There’s a Dell Latitude 7330 2-in-1, which is obviously a convertible. There are also both carbon fiber and aluminum models of the clamshell Latitude 7330. You can think of the carbon fiber one as a ‘light’ model, rather than ‘Ultralight’.

Dell Latitude Ultralight specs

Processor	Intel Core i7-1265U
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe
Display	16:9 13.3” FHD (1920 x 1080) WVA Non-Touch, 400 nits, sRGB 100%, Anti-glare, Super Low Power, ComfortView Plus Low Blue Light,
Body	12.07×7.87×0.67in (306.5×199.95×16.96mm), 2.13lbs (0.967)
Memory	16GB DDR4, 3200 MHz, integrated, dual channel
Storage	512GB, M.2, PCIe NVMe SSD
	2x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4.0 with Power Delivery & DisplayPort 1.4 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 with Power share 1x HDMI 2.0 1x Optional external uSIM card tray (WWAN only) 1x Optional Contacted SmartCard Reader 1x Optional Touch Fingerprint Reader in Power Button 1 x Universal Audio jack Wedge Shaped Lock slot
Connectivity	Intel Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz) AX211 2×2 + Bluetooth 5.2
Multimedia	HD Camera Experience: Temporal Noise Reduction, Camera Shutter Optional FHD IR Camera Experience: ExpressSign-in, Intelligent Privacy, Ambient Light sensor, Temporal Noise Reduction, Camera Shutter 2 x Speakers, Waves MaxxAudio Pro 2 x Noise Canceling Microphones Intelligent Audio with Neural Noise Cancelation Universal Audio jack
Battery	3 cell 41 WHr Polymer, ExpressCharge 1.0, ExpressCharge Boost & Long Life Cycle capable
OS	Windows 11 Pro
Price	$2,282.85

Design: It’s under a kilogram, but it doesn’t stop there

• It weighs in at 2.13 pounds
• There’s a USB Type-A port and two Thunderbolt 4 ports

Like I said above, you have choices in build material for the Latitude 7330. Aluminum is the heaviest, which is to be expected. Carbon fiber is lighter, and magnesium is the lightest. The Latitude 7330 Ultralight comes in at 2.13 pounds. Most companies seem to aim for “under a kilogram”, so they land at around 999g or 2.22 pounds, so this goes a step further.

Also, while Dell’s website for configuring a Latitude 7330 is kind of a mess, I really like that the company offers a variety of designs, all of which are designed for business. The carbon fiber is a black weave style. The magnesium on this unit is a sort of gunmetal gray. You’ve got options here.

Your laptop bag doesn't have to be so heavy.

At 2.13 pounds, it’s perfect for anyone that’s on-the-go. Moreover, you can configure it with cellular connectivity, so it’s super easy to just throw it in a bag, carry it wherever, and work from wherever. Your laptop bag doesn’t have to be so heavy.

As far as ports go, there are Thunderbolt 4 ports on both sides. First of all, Thunderbolt has become a staple of what we consider to be a good laptop, but to be fair, most people don’t take full advantage of it. Still, you’ll be able to connect the dock of your choosing for proper expansion. What I like, particularly, is that there’s one on each side. It seems trivial, but cables get in the way, and sometimes it’s just easier to have the charging port on a different side.

On the left side, there’s just the one Thunderbolt 4 port and a 3.5mm audio jack. On the right, there’s the Thunderbolt port, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and HDMI 2.0, so there’s a proper array of ports here, something that’s critical in a business environment where you could be using any kind of peripheral. It could be a brand new peripheral, or it could be 2012.

Ultimately, the design isn’t particularly sexy, nor is it intended to be. This is a business laptop, so it’s not meant to turn heads. It’s meant to be more functional, and it gets the job done there. It’s very light, and that’s the key selling point.

Display and keyboard: It’s a standard FHD screen and Chiclet-style keyboard

• The display is FHD, but weirdly 16:9
• The camera is still 720p

The Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight comes with a 16:9 1,920×1,080 400-nit display, which is fine. The strange thing is that it’s 16:9, like the rest of the Latitude 7330 lineup. This would have been completely normal two years ago, but most of the rest of the market has moved on to 16:10 screens, to the point where it’s actually jarring for me to run into something that’s 16:9.

This is the only display option for the Ultralight model. For the traditional clamshell, there are options that come in at 250, 300, and 400 nits, and of course, touch and non-touch options (the Ultralight is non-touch only). There are also two 300-nit options for the convertible.

The display supports 100% sRGB, 77% NTSC, 82% Adobe RGB, and 83% P3, which is all pretty good, particularly for a business laptop. This is really more of a productivity machine, rather than a creativity machine that would require a color-accurate work flow, so it exceeds expectations there. It’s also a matte anti-glare display, which is also helpful on this type of device.

Brightness maxed out at 432.1 nits, which is pretty awesome considering how much it exceeds what was promised. Contrast ratio maxed out at 1,400:1.

The bezels are narrow on the sides with a bit more space on top for the webcam. Unfortunately, the camera is still a 0.9MP sensor, or 720p. This comes at a time when Intel is including FHD webcams as a recommendation in its latest Evo spec, most business laptops are including FHD webcams, and companies like HP are even pushing that boundary with 5MP cameras.

The disappointing part is that Dell had originally led the charge on this. When the working from home boom started in 2020, it took a long time to actually get laptops with proper webcams. Redesigns have to sit in the pipeline for 12-18 months. But Dell was first, including FHD webcams in a bunch of Latitude laptops because it was already planning to do so. Unfortunately, there’s no FHD option for the Latitude 7330 Ultralight as there is for the rest of the 7330 series. In fact, an FHD webcam comes standard for the rest of the 7330 series.

To be fair, it’s a pretty large sensor, and as far as 720p standards go, it’s one of the better webcams out there. It’s just not as good as other business laptops, and that’s a big deal considering how much of today’s business environment revolves around being on video calls.

The keyboard is pretty standard. It uses the backlit Chiclet-style keys that you’d expect from a Dell Latitude. It’s a good keyboard, but if you’re looking for the best typing experience, it’s still not coming from Dell. Again, that’s not to say that it’s bad. The keyboard is great; it’s just that HP and Lenovo are doing better in their business products.

Performance: Intel’s 12th-gen U-series is really good

• Dell chose Intel’s 12th-gen U-series processors for this product, and it’s the right choice

With Intel’s 12th-gen lineup, there are a lot of choices that a company can make for a product. Some companies are pushing for the new 28W P-series, while others are opting for the more traditional 15W U-series. I’ve reviewed a lot of them now, including a bunch of ultrabooks using 45W H-series processors without dedicated graphics. Having lots of experience with these devices, I’m comfortable in saying that 15W U-series is the best option for almost everyone, and that’s what Dell chose for the Latitude 7330 Ultralight.

Like I said earlier, this is a laptop that’s built for productivity on the go. It’s great at that. Everything about it feels fast and snappy, as it should. Most of this includes just working through the browser, as many people work these days. But I have to admit, I took this and the ThinkPad X13s with my on a work trip recently, and while the intention was to use the ThinkPad for the bulk of the trip, I ended up using this Latitude for a lot of photo editing in Lightroom Classic and Photoshop.

The Snapdragon PC just couldn’t meet my needs, thanks to how poorly the native Photoshop app works and the lack of native browsers. That’s not the point though. The point was that the Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight could meet my needs, and while Dell didn’t include 4G LTE in this configuration, it’s an option, so all of the benefits were there. It did great with photo editing, just like it did with productivity. This laptop was a lifesaver.

For benchmarks, I used PCMark 10, 3DMark: Time Spy, Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, and CrossMark.

	Latitude 7330 Ultralight Core i7-1265U	Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 Core i7-1260P	HP Elite Dragonfly G3 Core i7-1265U
PCMark 10	4,991	5,178	5,094
3DMark: Time Spy	1,225	1,761	1,717
Geekbench 5 (single / multi)	1,754 / 5,991	1,622 / 8,207	1,713 / 7,284
Cinebench R23 (single / multi)	1,568 / 5,677	1,309 / 7,115	1,692 / 6,756
CrossMark (overall / productivity / creativity / responiveness)	1,488 / 1,489 / 1,576 / 1,253	1,547 / 1,436 / 1,771 / 1,292	1,559 / 1,484 / 1,744 / 1,288

I noted above that 15W processors are still the right choice for this type of product, and in case you thought I had forgotten, I’m still going to tell you why. The reason comes from benchmarks. These machines aren’t designed to accommodate such high TDPs, so the power usually isn’t sustained well enough in order to actually have a higher score than the 28W processor or even the 45W processor.

The Latitude 7330 Ultralight actually benchmarks fairly low for its class, which is still fine. The Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1 actually scored 5,305 on PCMark 10, which actually exceeds the score that the 28W processor in the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 got. When I tested the Asus Vivobook S 14X, which had a 45W Core i7, that scored 5,233.

Performance on the Latitude 7330 Ultralight is the best at this size and weight.

Battery life was pretty mediocre on the Latitude 7330 Ultralight. To be clear, this unit came with a 41mAh battery, but it’s also available with a larger 58mAh battery, and it adds around $19 to the config price. It’s probably worth it.

For some numbers, the best I was able to get was five hours and nine minutes, which isn’t great. The worst was two hours and 42 minutes, which is terrible. On average though, I found that you’re looking at around four hours of battery life. It’s not terrible, but it’s definitely not good.

To be clear, I run these tests with real-world performance. I just work and then record how long it lasted. Work means using the Vivaldi browser, editing photos, Slack, Notepad, and some other productivity applications. Brightness was only at around 25% most of the time, since I found that to be comfortable (I set it to the minimum comfortable brightness).

Dell Optimizer

One cool thing about Dell’s business laptops is that it has an app called Optimizer that has a lot of neat features. Here are some examples.

For one, you can adjust thermals for better performance, for it to stay quiet, and more. There’s also ‘adaptive battery performance’, which should get you better battery life based on it learning how you use your PC.

The Network category has a feature where it can automatically use both wired and wireless networks simultaneously for a faster download speed. You can also choose your five most-used applications and optimize your PC for it.

Dell Optimizer improves your meeting experiences in a meaningful way.

Probably most interesting is the Audio category. That’s where you can remove your background noise when you’re on a call. One thing that’s newer is that you can actually remove background noise coming from others’ streams. It’s pretty great.

There’s no option for an IR camera or anything along those lines on the Ultralight, so the Presence Detection category doesn’t work unless you plug in a Dell webcam. This offers a feature called ExpressSign-in, which can wake up the PC when you sit in front of it and automatically log you in. But again, it doesn’t work with this laptop.

Should you buy the Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight?

Now, it’s time to ask the question. Should you buy it?

You should buy the Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight if:

• Your work is productivity-related
• You travel a lot, or you take your PC on-the-go
• You have an external webcam that you use with your laptop

You should NOT buy the Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight if:

• You make a lot of video calls from your PC
• Your work flow includes creative work

If you make a lot of video calls, you’re better off with the carbon fiber model, which is just a little bit heavier but comes with an FHD webcam.

Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight

The Dell Latitude 7330 comes in a variety of flavors, but the Ultralight model weighs in at well under a kilogram, still packing Intel 12th-gen processors, an array of ports, and more.

Features:

Pros: Cons:

See at Dell

The post Dell Latitude 7330 Ultralight review: Ultralight (mostly) without compromises appeared first on XDA.

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