Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook review
A two minute review
The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is here, and we’re not joking when we say we’re more interested and advance option in trying this device than any other device this year of 2021 – it’s not disappointing. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook laptop has been one of our favorite laptop for over a year now and has been hanging on to our list of the best Chromebooks.
Specification Here is the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 2.55GHz Graphics: Qualcomm Adreno GPU RAM: 8GB LPDDR4 Screen: 13.3 1920 x 1080p multitouch OLED, 400 nits Storage: 128GB eMMC flash storage Port: 2 x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen1, 1 x Pogo pin connector Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 Camera (front): 5MP RGB; (Rear) 8MP RGB w / autofocus Weight: 2.24 lbs (1.02kg) Size (W x H x D): 12.04 x 7.35 x 0.28 ins (305.86 x 186.74 x 7.23mm) Battery: 42WHr w / fast charging At 13.3 inches diagonal, the keyboard on the Duet 5 Chromebook is very similar to the ones on the Ultrabooks, they do not yet have the more spacious keyboards but are still more accessible. |
At this size and with a 16: 9 aspect ratio, however, this is a laptop that can function as a tablet, as it is a bit tricky. This is different from last year’s 10.1-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio model, which was a better tablet than a laptop due to the blocked keyboard.
The keys on the Duet 5 Chromebook keyboard are not as brightness on the back as its product, and the keyboard is still as weak as its product.
The trackpad can be good too. Our fingers get enough friction to give us unequal swipes and gestures, but it’s not so bad that you get used to it and adjust the amount of pressure you apply.
The other accessibility criticism we had about Duvet Chromebook last year – that the magnetic kickstand might be painful to extend – still exists.
A draggable tab or lanyard here can easily fix this shortcoming, but it looks like we may have to wait until next year for a better design here (or you can get Microsoft’s surface adaptation kit with any device Not only that but it works. Microsoft Surface Pro 8).
The magnetic background of the Duet 5 Chromebook also has a small cut to clip on the back of a Lenovo Active Pen Stylus, but the stylus is not bundled with the device by default and costs extra even when inserted.
When it comes to cost, one of the best things about the Duet Chromebook last year was its price. From $ 279 / £ 279 / AU $ 424, the small Duet Chromebook was a fantastic price tag.
This year’s Duet 5 Chromebook is more expensive, starting at $ 429 ($ 499 as tested) and $ 799 AU in Australia. Unfortunately, the UK is having a tough time as the Duet 5 Chromebook starts at £ 899.
We hope this is only a temporary issue, and we’re approaching Lenovo for some context for the UK’s extraordinary price differentiation. We will update this review if we ask back from the company. UK prices, the high price of the Duet 5 Chromebook laptop is not unexpected due to its size and hardware upgrades.
With regard to enhanced hardware, we should start with the display. Last year’s Duet Chromebook had a 1,920 x 1,200 LCD IPS panel that stood out for its 10.1-inch screen.
The Duet 5 Chromebook is a resolution drop to 1,920 x 1,080, but the Screen has been upgraded to OLED, which makes it exceptionally brightness and refreshing. Both duets are rated for 400 nits brightness, and the difference with the OLED display is simply unbelievable.
The OLED display alone justifies the price increase, and the fact that it starts at just US $ 429 makes this a best deal. Even when upgrading to an 8GB RAM configuration for $ 499, you still get a 13.3-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook with a 1080p OLED display for less than $ 500, which is hardly heard of – and worth every penny.
With last year’s Duet Chromebook’s MediaTek P60T chip upgrading to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 processor, the Duet 5 Chromebook step up is not the only thing on display this year.
Both are high-performance ARM-based chips, so unlike the Intel Core i3 processor, some Beefy Chromebooks-specific raw functionality is not going to pack both.
The Snapdragon 7c Gen2 is still a big improvement over the MediaTek P60T. Compared to the MediaTek P60T’s time of 3,940ms, the Snapdragon 7c Gen2 Crocon JavaScript finished with a benchmark of 1,845ms. It’s twice as fast as last year’s Duet Chromebook.
Still, the Snapdragon 7c Gen2 lags by comparison to other Chromebooks, but it still felt fairly fast when we actually used it. So unless you’re looking to compare the Duet 5 Chromebook directly with the Asus Chromebook Flip C536, Google Pixelbook, or Acer Chromebook Spin 713 – you will not see any performance delays – it will still exist.
Buy now …
You want the best 2-in-1 Chromebook
Its lightweight and easily convertible form factor makes it as comfortable as it gets, with good power and excellent battery life.
You need an OLED Chromebook
You probably don’t get a new features like an OLED best display on a Chromebook, but boy how is it worth it.
You need excellent battery life
Chromebooks have a very short battery life, and with the right adjustments, you can easily get 18-19 hours of battery life.
