Lenovo Duet 5: Full Assessment

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook continues to be among the many prime laptops and stands out as the most effective Chromebooks, even after three years.

Its premium expertise units it aside, particularly with its gorgeous OLED show that rivals pricier laptops.

Chromebooks require much less energy, in order that they last more than Home windows 11 laptops.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook proves this with its spectacular specs, together with 8GB RAM, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 chip, and Wi-Fi 6. 

These options made it a powerful performer in 2021, and proceed to ship glorious efficiency.

Specs

The Duet 5 Chromebook has a 13.3-inch keyboard that feels extra like these on Ultrabooks.

Whereas not essentially the most spacious, it’s extra accessible and cozy than the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook.

With its 16:9 display screen ratio and bigger dimension, the system features like a laptop computer that may flip right into a pill.

Nevertheless, it’s much less handy to make use of as a pill than final 12 months’s 10.1-inch mannequin with a 16:10 ratio, which had a cramped keyboard however labored higher as a pill.

The keyboard on the Duet 5 Chromebook lacks backlighting and stays flimsy, much like its predecessor.

The trackpad additionally has room for enchancment, because it creates friction that impacts swiping and gestures. Nevertheless, customers can adapt by adjusting the strain utilized.

The magnetic kickstand challenge from the earlier mannequin persists. It may be troublesome to increase, and including a pull tab or lanyard may resolve the issue. Sadly, the design stays unchanged.

Lenovo features a small slot on the backplate for the Energetic Pen. It’s essential purchase the pen individually, which prices additional if out there.

Final 12 months, consumers discovered nice worth within the Duet Chromebook, which began at $279 / £279 / AU$424.

Compared, Lenovo costs the Duet 5 Chromebook at $429 ($499 as examined) and AU$799 in Australia.

The UK value is far larger, beginning at £899. Lenovo will share updates after explaining the value distinction.

The elevated value of the Duet 5 Chromebook displays its bigger dimension and improved {hardware}, although the UK pricing stays a notable concern.

The {hardware} enhancements begin with the show. The earlier Duet Chromebook featured a 1,920 x 1,200 LCD IPS panel, which was glorious for a ten.1-inch display screen.

The Duet 5 Chromebook lowers the decision to 1,920 x 1,080 however upgrades to an OLED panel. This transformation makes the show a lot brighter and extra vibrant.

Each fashions are rated 400 nits of brightness, however the OLED panel delivers a far superior visible expertise.

The OLED show alone makes the upper value price it. The beginning value of $429 within the US presents glorious worth.

Even the upgraded model with 8GB RAM for $499 supplies a 13.3-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook with a 1080p OLED show, which is never out there below $500.

The Duet 5 Chromebook additionally improves on the processor. It replaces final 12 months’s MediaTek P60T chip with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2.

Each processors are ARM-based and deal with effectivity quite than uncooked energy.

Whereas they don’t match the efficiency of Intel Core i3 processors in additional highly effective Chromebooks, the Snapdragon 7c Gen2 presents a big improve.

Within the Kraken JavaScript benchmark, the Snapdragon 7c Gen2 achieved 1,845ms, practically twice as quick because the MediaTek P60T’s 3,940ms. This efficiency enhance is noticeable throughout use.

The Snapdragon 7c Gen2 lags behind different Chromebooks in benchmarks however feels responsive in day by day duties.

Efficiency points are unlikely to face out until you examine them on to fashions just like the Asus Flip C536 or Acer Spin 713.

Efficiency Checks

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook confirmed the next ends in our benchmark checks:

• Kraken JavaScript: 1,845ms

• Octane 2.0 JavaScript: 23,798

• Battery Life (TechRadar film check): 16 hours and 20 minutes

Purchase it if…

• You favor the highest 2-in-1 Chromebook.

The light-weight design is simple to transform and presents glorious consolation, strong efficiency, and battery life.

• You desire a Chromebook with OLED.

Getting an OLED display screen in a Chromebook is uncommon however spectacular.

• You want long-lasting battery life.

Few Chromebooks supply battery life like this, reaching 18-19 hours with the right settings.

Don’t purchase it if…

• You might be searching for a budget-friendly Chromebook.
  Premium options on the Duet 5 improve its value, making it a high-end possibility.
• Accessibility is a key issue for you.
  The bigger keyboard is best than the sooner model, however the kickstand should still be rugged for these with restricted hand energy or dexterity.
• You desire a tablet-focused system.
  This 2-in-1 leans extra in direction of a laptop computer, and its 16:9 display screen and 13.3-inch dimension make pill mode much less handy.

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