Though we have seen just a few Chromebooks launched over the course of the yr, there have not been any main bulletins because the spring. That is not the case, as we’re getting not one however two new and thrilling Chromebooks.
These units have been introduced alongside a slew of recent adjustments slated to reach on ChromeOS within the coming weeks and months. Fortunately, I used to be in a position to spend a while with the brand new Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11″ and the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, and I’m right here to share some ideas about my expertise.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11
In 2020, Lenovo launched the unique Chromebook Duet, a ChromeOS pill that endeared itself to many. This remained true till its successor was launched with the Chromebook Duet 3, which launched in 2022. It too turned an immediate fan-favorite, providing enhancements throughout the board.
Quick-forward to now, and Lenovo is again once more with the Chromebook Duet 11. In contrast to the leap between the unique Duet and the Duet 3, the adjustments this time round are rather more delicate. For one, there is not any Duet 5 successor to talk of, which comes as a little bit of a shock however seemingly proves that the plenty desire smaller tablets.
Notably, Google identified that the Duet is the “best-selling Chromebook of all time,” which is downright spectacular. Evidently, it is secure to imagine Lenovo and Google hope the brand new Duet 11 continues to promote like hotcakes.
For those who’re questioning about specs, we have you coated:
| Class | Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11″ |
|---|---|
| Show | 10.95-inch |
| Decision | 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
| Processor | MediaTek Kompanio 838 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB |
| Battery | As much as 12 hours |
| Extras | USI 2.0 Stylus (bought individually) / Consists of Case with Keyboard and Kickstand |
After spending a while with the Duet 11, I’ve a sense that Lenovo has one other winner on its palms. The design is pretty just like the Duet 3, with just a few key variations. The very first thing that I seen, apart from what was on the display, was that Lenovo rearranged the ports with the Duet 11.
There’s nonetheless a USB-C port on the left, however that is now joined by the three.5mm headphone jack, one thing that was a stunning omission from the Duet 3. Lenovo additionally moved the USB-C port on the fitting aspect to the highest of the Duet 11, probably simply in an try to make plugging in USB-C hubs or different peripherals extra accessible.
One other change that stunned me comes within the type of the brand new bodily privateness change on the prime. That is one function that has grow to be a little bit of a mainstay with “conventional” Chromebooks, so it is a good shock to see it land on the Duet 11.
For those who determine to choose up the Duet 11 for your self, you may be pleased to know that Lenovo contains its Case with Keyboard and Kickstand. This makes it a lot simpler to begin utilizing out of the field, however the identical cannot be stated about Lenovo’s stylus.
The Chromebook Duet 11 is USI 2.0 compliant, and fortunately, we do not have to fret about any points like we noticed with the Duet 3. Nonetheless, I am unable to assist however really feel as if Lenovo missed a possibility by not together with the stylus within the field. As a substitute, you may both have to choose one up for your self or depend on one which you have already got.
One space of enchancment that was identified is that palm rejection has been drastically improved when writing or drawing on the Duet 11. Apparently, a few of that is being accomplished on the OS stage, which means that the ML mannequin adjustments ought to provide enhancements to all Chromebooks that includes stylus help.
It is also price noting that Google is partnering with Goodnotes, as you can get a three-month subscription to the app free of charge. Including much more credence to the concept that Lenovo ought to have included a stylus within the field.
Nonetheless, I am nonetheless pleased to see the Case with Keyboard and Kickstand comes within the field, whereas additionally providing a slight redesign in comparison with the Duet 3’s combo. Notably, Lenovo ditched the material end from the earlier model, opting as an alternative for a rubber/silicone texture.
The keyboard has not modified a lot. Lenovo makes use of a mechanical trackpad and chiclet-style keys. The typing expertise continues to be one among my favorites, even when it lacks the adjustments supplied by the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus.
As for the Kickstand, there’s been a tweak to the design in an try to make the Duet a bit extra useful. Together with getting used to prop up the pill in your lap or on a desk in a horizontal orientation, you can even regulate the kickstand and use the Duet 11 vertically. It isn’t precisely probably the most dramatic change, however it’s undoubtedly a quality-of-life enchancment.
Talking of which, in the event you do determine to choose up Lenovo’s USI 2.0 stylus pen, it nonetheless magnetically attaches to the again of the Duet 11. Lenovo additionally tweaked the stylus cutout on the again shell to attempt to preserve the stylus from unintentionally falling off when sliding the Duet 11 out and in of your bag.
I did not notice this till later, however I’m form of disenchanted that the Duet 11 does not fall beneath the Chromebook Plus umbrella. The plain purpose is due to Lenovo’s determination to depend on the Kompanio 828, versus an Intel or AMD chip. Apart from that, the Duet 11 has every part else wanted to fulfill the minimal {hardware} specs for Chromebook Plus.
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That is to not say that the Duet 11 will not be performant, however it’ll miss out on a number of the new Chromebook Plus options that have been additionally introduced. On the brilliant aspect, Google is bringing increasingly more options to non-Plus fashions, which is nice for not solely the Duet 11 however all Chromebook homeowners.
Pricing for the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is available in at $349, and it is going to be out there someday this month.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus
Arguably the extra thrilling announcement to come back is that Samsung is getting again into Chromebooks in an enormous approach. The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is lastly official, bringing with it just a few main adjustments and options that goal to place it above the remaining.
Beginning off, that is being touted because the “thinnest Chromebook Plus ever,” because it’s simply 11.8mm thick. One other advantage of that is that the Galaxy Chromebook Plus can be extremely mild, weighing simply 2.58 kilos.
| Class | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus |
|---|---|
| Show | 15.6-inch OLED |
| Brightness | 400 nits |
| Processor | Intel Core 3 100U (Raptor Lake-R) |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 256GB |
| Battery | As much as 13 hours |
| Weight | 2.58 kilos |
| Extras | Fast Insert key |
When listening to these numbers, the very first thing that got here to thoughts was whether or not there can be keyboard (or deck) flex to deal with. I am pleased to say that this may not be a problem for anybody. Even when holding it with my index finger and thumb in a single nook and the laptop computer open, there wasn’t any discernible flex.
It is nice to see, as that’s normally one sticking level with fairly just a few totally different Chromebook fashions. However I am pleased to see that Samsung managed to work some magic to squash any potential issues.
A part of the rationale why I used to be frightened in regards to the potential for deck flex is that the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is packing a 15.6-inch OLED show. With bigger laptops, there’s normally a compromise to be made someplace, however I did not get the identical feeling in my time with Samsung’s upcoming providing.
The show itself seems to be simply as crisp and clear as you’d anticipate from a premium Samsung product. I would not be stunned if it is the identical panel that the corporate used with the Galaxy Guide 4 360.
By way of efficiency, I do not see very many points, because the Galaxy Chromebook Plus is powered by the Intel Core 3 100U. That is a part of Intel’s Raptor Lake collection, which appears to carry out fairly effectively on Home windows, so I surmise the identical will probably be true with ChromeOS.
Paired with the Core 3 100U, Samsung contains 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which once more must be superb for almost all of individuals. My greatest sticking level is that it appears Samsung is just providing a single configuration. So if you need extra RAM and/or extra storage, you are simply out of luck.
Together with being the “thinnest,” the Galaxy Chromebook Plus additionally takes house the excellence of being “the primary” in one other main approach. Very similar to we noticed earlier this yr when Microsoft mandated a Copilot key for Home windows laptops, Google is now introducing a brand new Fast Insert key.
Nonetheless, as an alternative of getting used to invoke Copilot or Gemini, pushing the Fast Insert key will deliver up a drop-down menu in your display. From right here, you may entry a wide range of totally different instruments and options. These embrace issues like Assist Me Write and different Gemini-powered options. But it surely does not cease there, as you may view your shopping historical past, search for a particular file in Google Drive, or simply insert an emoji.
I’d argue that an much more vital profit is that the Fast Insert menu is not confined to only being out there with Google’s apps. It has been built-in on the OS stage, which means which you can make the most of it no matter what you are at present doing.
Seeing as I tend to modify between home windows filled with a wide range of tabs, I am unable to wait to get my palms on the Galaxy Chromebook Plus to place the Fast Insert key to the take a look at. You is perhaps questioning whether or not that is coming to different Chromebook fashions, and there is each excellent news and dangerous.
The “dangerous” information is that the Fast Insert key will solely be out there with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus for now. The excellent news is definitely twofold: Google has confirmed that the Fast Insert key will probably be out there on future Chromebook Plus fashions.
For those who’re feeling a bit ignored, do not. The Fast Insert menu will seem when utilizing the Launcher Key + F keyboard mixture. A part of what makes this so thrilling is that despite the fact that you won’t have the flamboyant new Fast Insert key, Google continues to be implementing a brand-new function in a approach that everybody can get pleasure from.
Lately, we have seen various examples of what a premium Chromebook seems to be like. HP held that title with the likes of the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook and Dragonfly Professional Chromebook. Nonetheless, with HP seemingly bowing out of the high-end market, this opens the door for some competitors.
Acer and ASUS are already there with the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 and Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip. Nonetheless, there is not any such factor as not sufficient choices, and Samsung’s re-entry into the house with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus comes on the good time.
Pricing for the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus is available in at $699, and it’ll even be out there someday this month.
So much to be enthusiastic about
The Chromebook house has been pretty quiet as of late, however there is not any denying that the yr is ending with a bang. We lastly have a refreshed mannequin of one of the best ChromeOS pill with the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11. In the meantime, it appears as if Samsung is seeking to redefine the time period “premium Chromebook” with the Galaxy Chromebook Plus.
That does not even account for the inflow of recent and thrilling options which might be coming to ChromeOS throughout the board, no matter whether or not you’ve got a “common” Chromebook or a Chromebook Plus. Maintain your eyes peeled for extra Chromebook content material, as I hope to get each of those units in for assessment simply in time for the 2024 vacation procuring season.
