In a world the place worth is king and performance is secondary, Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet collection has reigned supreme for years. It began with the unique Duet again in 2020, earlier than it was refreshed in 2022. Maintaining with the two-year cadence, there is a new Duet on the town with the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11.
It comes as little shock that Lenovo launched a refreshed model of the Chromebook Duet. Not solely has it been two years because the earlier iteration, however, I used to be to see what sort of enhancements Lenovo would make. Extra importantly, Google shared that the Duet is the “best-selling Chromebook of all time.” So to be able to maintain that prepare transferring, a brand new model was inevitable.
I used to be lucky sufficient to spend a while with this new Chromebook pill as a part of Google’s Chromebook Fall Occasion. At which level I got here away feeling as if Lenovo has largely hit its stride on this kind issue. After spending extra time with it for this evaluate, I nonetheless largely really feel the identical, however with just a few caveats that it’s best to bear in mind.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11: Worth and availability
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 was introduced alongside the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus on October 1, 2024. There are two fashions obtainable for order, with a 4GB/64GB mannequin and an 8GB/128GB model. Pricing for the previous is available in at $339, whereas the latter is available in at $399.
As an added bonus, whichever variant you resolve to go together with, Lenovo contains the Folio Keyboard with stand and the Lenovo USI Pen 2. This won’t be the case with each retailer, nevertheless it must be obtainable at a lot of them.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11: What I like
Earlier than we check out the Duet 11 itself, it is vital to speak about one thing that I am extraordinarily pleased about. In my hands-on, I stated, “I am unable to assist however really feel as if Lenovo missed a possibility by not together with the stylus within the field.”
It seems that this is not the case, as Lenovo is together with each the Folio Keyboard with Stand and the Lenovo USI Pen 2 within the field. This makes me pleased as a result of it implies that you will get every little thing it is advisable to begin utilizing the Duet 11, with out making separate purchases.
| Class | Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 |
|---|---|
| Show | 10.95-inch IPS, 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA), 400 nits, 60Hz, 16:10 |
| Processor | MediaTek Kompanio 838 |
| Reminiscence | 4GB / 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 64GB / 128GB eMMC |
| Entrance Digital camera | 5MP |
| Rear Digital camera | 8MP w/ Auto Focus |
| Battery | 29Whr; As much as 12 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C (5Gbps) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Audio | 2x 1W audio system, 3.5mm Audio Combo Jack |
| Extras | USI 2.0 Suitable, Folio Keyboard with Stand and Lenovo USI Pen 2 included |
| Safety | Bodily Privateness Shutter for entrance digital camera |
| Safety | MIL-810H, spill-resistant chassis |
| Dimensions | 255.30 x 166.84 x 7.59mm |
| Weight | 510 grams (pill); 1093 grams (pill, keyboard, case) |
| AUE Date | June 2034 |
When Lenovo launched the IdeaPad Duet 3, the largest improve got here within the type of an extremely improved show. Fortunately, Lenovo did not actually attempt to make too many variations with the Duet 11, because it nonetheless sports activities a ten.95-inch 2K display. Whereas my getting older eyes aren’t what they as soon as had been, it is nonetheless a pleasure having the ability to modify the show and textual content dimension to suit extra on the display, whereas offering a crisp display.
Talking of the display, Google defined that the palm-rejection has been improved on the OS degree. It is not likely one thing that may be measured, however I’ve loved utilizing the Duet 11 as a digital pocket book. More often than not, it is proper subsequent to my mouse, so I can begin jotting down notes each time I would like.
I’ve used my justifiable share of USI pens over time, however I did discover one thing in regards to the Lenovo USI Pen 2 that is included with the Duet 11. I believed one thing was completely different in comparison with the final one which I purchased, and after digging in my desk drawer, it turned out that I used to be proper.
There’s nothing functionally completely different than earlier than, however Lenovo ditched the pen cap-like design with the clip on the tip. As a substitute, it is extra just like the Penoval USI 2.0 Pen, aside from the replaceable AAAA battery.
I am not a lot of an artist, exterior of simply drawing stick figures, however I’ve largely loved utilizing the Duet 11 paired with GoodNotes. It is nonetheless not as easy in comparison with utilizing Samsung’s S Pen with the Galaxy Tab, or the Apple Pencil with an iPad. However it’s actually only a stable expertise, and I doubt you will run into any points.
As a pill, the Duet 11 feels similar to some other 11-inch pill that I’ve used over the previous couple of years. If Lenovo was aiming to create a premium machine, the corporate undoubtedly nailed it. Though hefty, you will not discover something that feels low-cost when holding and utilizing the pill.
This extends to the bodily webcam swap discovered on the highest, which occurs to even be one other change over final yr’s mannequin. There’s an consideration to element right here that I actually did not count on, however I suppose that is what occurs when a tool reaches its third era.
One of many largest upgrades I hoped for out of a brand new Chromebook Duet can be an up to date processor. Not simply because the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 is getting lengthy within the tooth, however we want a bit extra “oomph” with the entire AI options being applied into ChromeOS.
For essentially the most half, the Dimensity 838 appears to ship, a chip that was launched in Could 2024. Together with merely being extra highly effective than the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, the Kompanio 838 additionally has an “AI-enabled NPU,” which ought to imply that the Duet 11 should not battle once you’re utilizing the on-device Gemini AI options.
I am additionally a fan of the brand new “Welcome Recap” characteristic that seems each time I wake the Duet 11 from sleep. Though I do not use it the entire time, I get pleasure from having the choice to both decide up from the place I left off or get the day began with a clear slate. It is vital to level out that though the Welcome Recap characteristic was introduced alongside the Duet 11, it is not restricted to the Duet, and is coming to all Chromebook house owners.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11: What I do not
To this point, I have been fairly darn constructive on the Chromebook Duet 11, and for good motive. Nevertheless, it is not been all sunshine and rainbows, Since I form of left off with efficiency within the final part, I will contact on a few issues that caught out.
I am not solely positive if it is only a “me” factor, however I am unable to assist however really feel just like the cursor is not as easy accurately. There appears to be the slightest little bit of stutter, no matter whether or not I am utilizing the trackpad that is constructed into the keyboard case or a Bluetooth mouse. It might have one thing to do with being on the ChromeOS Beta Channel, however I’ve already tried to Powerwash it for a distinct motive, and the stutter continues to be there.
One other downside that I bumped into was that the Duet 11 simply fully froze whereas I used to be engaged on this evaluate. There have been about 10-15 Chrome tabs open, on one facet of the window, with the Obsidian app open on the opposite.
I used to be going backwards and forwards between the completely different tabs after which tried to open the Slack PWA solely to finish up with a frozen display. The bizarre factor was that after I left Panera and acquired house, I grabbed the Duet 11 out of my bag, opened it up, and every little thing was nonetheless proper the place it was.
Whereas which may appear to be rather a lot happening all on the identical time, there’s actually no excuse because the mannequin I am utilizing is provided with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. There should not have been any bottle-necking to talk of, however that leaves me a bit fearful about Duet 11 with 4GB of RAM.
Having a number of configurations of a Chromebook is nice, and I fully perceive that the 4GB/64GB mannequin must be adequate for a lot of. However is that basically going to be the case just a few years from now? Frankly, I’d have favored to see the 8GB/128GB model as the place to begin, after which both an 8GB/256GB or perhaps a 16GB/256GB variant.
This is not one thing directed solely at Lenovo, as there are many Chromebooks on the market with simply 4GB of RAM. We already know the way widespread Chromebooks are in school rooms, so maybe reserve the lower-end fashions for offers Google makes with faculty districts. In relation to the Duet 11, I am unable to assist however really feel prefer it takes away from the premium {hardware} expertise.
Even with the 8GB Chromebook Duet 11, you would possibly end up bumping up towards the 128GB restrict. There are methods to work round this, however not everybody has quick web speeds to make the most of cloud storage options comparable to Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive. In fact, there’s additionally the choice of counting on a conveyable SSD or arduous drive, and whereas that is handy, it does not assist should you left it behind and also you want an vital file.
This might have been solved by implementing a microSD card slot, and it is not like there is not room within the chassis. Not solely did Lenovo add a 3.5mm headphone jack, however there may be additionally the bodily webcam swap on the highest. On the finish of the day, it appears like a missed alternative, even when some firms are attempting to part out expandable storage.
Lastly, it’s kind of disappointing to see one other new Chromebook launched in 2024 with out some type of biometrics. There are a number of ways in which ChromeOS makes an attempt to maintain undesirable folks from utilizing your Chromebook, however all it takes is only one time for the partitions to return crashing down.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11: The competitors
As I’ve talked about just a few occasions right here, there’s not a lot standing in Lenovo’s manner with regards to Chromebook tablets. The ASUS Chromebook Removable CM3001 is the newest contender and is nearly $100 cheaper. Nevertheless, it additionally has some fairly thick bezels and is not practically as highly effective with the Kompanio 520 on the helm.
Your subsequent finest wager can be to get both the Chromebook Duet 3 or the Duet 5, regardless of these being a bit older. And should you like the concept of a ChromeOS pill, however desire a bigger display, then the Duet 5 continues to be your solely alternative. We had been hoping to see a successor to Lenovo’s bigger Chromebook pill, however I suppose it simply is not within the playing cards.
The variety of options rapidly begins to develop, supplied that you simply’re okay with a extra conventional design. Acer’s Chromebook Plus 515 prices the identical quantity because the higher-end Duet 11, coming in at $399. However because of the Intel Core i3, you will get pleasure from the entire new and upcoming Chromebook Plus options that will not be obtainable on the Duet 11.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11: Must you purchase it?
You should purchase this if:
- You need the perfect Chromebook pill.
- You are able to improve from the IdeaPad Duet 3.
- You a light-weight and transportable machine to take with you anyplace.
- You are in search of a Chromebook that is a step above the finances choices.
- You desire a companion machine that is extremely versatile.
You should not purchase this if:
- You want the quickest and strongest Chromebook on the market.
- You need to benefit from the numerous Chromebook Plus options which are obtainable.
- You do not need to be restricted to simply two RAM and storage choices.
There isn’t any such factor as the right machine, nevertheless it feels as if Lenovo is getting nearer and nearer to creating the right Chromebook pill. The unique Duet supplied a stable basis, and it was one which Lenovo has simply been constructing on since then. The Chromebook Duet 11 is a superb instance of when an organization makes significant enhancements, listens to suggestions, and implements modifications within the “proper” manner.
Certain, there are gripes and complaints available, however in actuality, I absolutely count on this new mannequin to promote simply in addition to its predecessors. It additionally would not shock me if it flies off of the cabinets as quickly as the primary spherical of reductions arrives.
I can (and can) wholeheartedly advocate the Duet 11 to anybody who asks, with one caveat — pay the additional $40 so you will get double the RAM and storage. We do not know what the longer term holds, however I’d enterprise to guess that it will not be too lengthy earlier than efficiency takes successful with the entry-level model.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11
It is unbelievable, should you get the fitting one
There are two fashions of the Chromebook Duet 11, however solely considered one of them must be in your radar. The entry-level 4GB/64GB variant will most likely begin to really feel a bit sluggish a lot prior to the 8GB/128GB mannequin. So simply spring for the additional $40 and thank your self later.Â
