Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Review

Now it's time for my review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet. The device was provided by Lenovo itself, thank you very much.

Do you always have to buy a laptop with Windows or a Mac? Or is it also a whole lot cheaper with a Chromebook with Chrome OS? The test should now find out.

scope of delivery

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet is delivered in attractive packaging. Inside, in addition to the tablet with Chrome OS, there is also the docking keyboard, a cover with kickstand and the USB cable with the matching charging adapter. The scope of delivery is rounded off by a small instruction manual.

  • Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook scope of delivery
    Tablet, keyboard, user manual, USB cable & charging adapter
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook scope of delivery
    Tablet, keyboard & kickstand
  • Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook packaging
    Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook packaging

Technical specifications

10.1 ″ FullHD touch display (1,920 x 1,200 pixels) with 400 nits
MediaTek P60T octa-core processor
4 GB RAM
64 GB or 128 GB storage, not expandable
Main camera with 8 MP, front camera with 2 MP
Battery: 7,000 mAh
Connectivity: WiFi 5 (802.11 a / b / g / n / ac 2 × 2), Bluetooth 4.2, 1x USB Type-C
Operating system: Chrome OS
Dimensions: 23.4 × 15.4 × 0.73 cm
Weight tablet: 456 grams
Weight cover: 234 grams
Keyboard weight: 264 grams

Processing & haptics

The tablet, keyboard and kickstand cover surprisingly make a good impression. For the price you get something and can't complain. Everything feels valuable.

For the most part, the tablet has a well-made aluminum housing; Lenovo only uses plastic on the upper part of the tablet. Why? Lenovo probably knows that itself, because it looks a bit like a little break in style.

The supplied fabric cover with kickstand is also valuable and sticks magnetically to the tablet.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook with kickstand open

Display

The 10.1 ″ display offers a FullHD resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels with a maximum brightness of 400 nits. The color reproduction corresponds to that to be expected in this price segment, but the contrasts could be better. Another point of criticism is the strong reflection of the display in direct sunlight.

All in all, the display content is crisp and sharp. What is a bit strange, however, is the fact that external displays are only supported at a low resolution. So if you are toying with the idea of ​​connecting the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook to a larger monitor, you will be disappointed when you look at the large monitor.

Google also donated a few touchscreen gestures to the display and input with a stylus pen (USI standard) was also effortless.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Pogopins

Folding stand & keyboard

The keyboard is made of plastic, but has a comfortable pressure point and is easy to type. What is missing is a backlight, so in poor light one or the other of you might have to look for the right letters. As is typical for Chromebooks, you will only find lowercase letters on the keyboard.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Keyboard

The keyboard is delicate, but unfortunately there was no other way because otherwise the keyboard cover would have been larger than the tablet. Thanks to the Pogopin connection, it sticks to the tablet without any problems and does not require a Bluetooth connection for coupling.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook keyboard connectors

The kickstand cover sticks to the tablet magnetically, holds very well and does not slip. When the stand has been folded out, the tablet or Chromebook is firm and stable. You don't have to worry that the kickstand will accidentally collapse by itself.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook with fabric cover

Chrome OS

Chrome OS is the operating system that runs on Chromebooks. It is based on Linux and is considered particularly secure. Originally a cloud operating system, Chrome OS can now also be used offline, as the data is cached locally on the device and later updated online.

Google promises 8 years of updates, so you will get updates for the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook up to and including 2028. More than twice as long as with smartphones or tablets with Android.

It's easy to use, it couldn't be simpler. Switch it on, connect to the WiFi and sign up for a Google account, that's it. You can already start "work". You have immediate access to your e-mails on Gmail, calendar, phone numbers and addresses, etc. This is the advantage of the Google system, everything is ready for you in the cloud.

Chrome OS is very easy to use - both via touchscreen, as well as with mouse and keyboard.

Google Play Store and Android Apps

If you need a little more apps, you have access to countless apps thanks to the Google Play Store. All of them cannot be installed, there are a few problems, but almost all of them.

And so you can then use other mail programs as you wish, video programs for cutting, drawing programs, etc. Everything as you are used to from an Android tablet.

Linux apps on Chrome OS

Yes, Linux works on Chrome OS. Even if only modest on the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook. There is simply no performance for that.

Before you can start, you have to activate the corresponding function in the settings. Have you done that, Linux runs as a virtual machine in the terminal. There you can then install and use Linux programs.

For this you should of course be familiar with Linux, then thousands more programs from all conceivable areas await you. Linux just. With the command sudo apt-get install *** (please replace *** with Linux programs) you can then install everything you want.

performance

The performance is the crux of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook. 4 GB of RAM is perfectly fine, of course it could be more. But there is a lack of memory and the built-in processor.

64 GB or even 128 GB is a lot for a Chromebook in the latter case. Unfortunately, Lenovo has installed eMMC storage here, and it is not exactly known for setting speed records.

The built-in Mediatek Helio P60 is a solid processor, I think that's pretty good. Again, you can't expect rocket performance here. Nevertheless, it should be sufficient for everyday use.

If you are planning more demanding things like image editing, video editing or want to play the latest games, you should be wrong here. Sure, it works, but then a little slower.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

speaker

The speakers on the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook are ok, nothing more and nothing less. There are 2 of them, which are built into the top of the tablet. The stereo speakers deliver a balanced sound that lacks bass.

That's why it's okay to occasionally listen to music, but discerning listeners should also use good Bluetooth headphones, because you won't find a 3.5 mm jack connection. Or you use the included USB-C adapter, but then you occupy the only port.

battery pack

The 7,000 mAh battery should get you through the day easily, and in the end it does. even if the 10 hour runtime promised by Lenovo is only achieved in the best case.

Because with maximum brightness you get almost 4.5 hours of battery life, but in normal use it should be 7-8 hours. But when it comes to the can, the device reveals a small weakness.

Charging the large battery takes a lot of time. You then have to wait 4 hours, that's how long it takes to charge the battery from 0 to 100 percent. A USB-C cable with a 10 watt power supply is then included in the packaging.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook: Only 1 USB C port

Conclusion

What can I say? On the one hand, I'm excited about the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook. Because I like Chromebooks, as a review of the Lenovo Chromebook C340-11 showed a year ago.

Nobody needs more notebooks or tablets. The device is an interesting mix of tablet and notebook, especially the attachable, very good keyboard makes using it as a full work companion a pleasure.

Above all, the fact that you can install Linux apps in addition to Android apps from the Google Play Store to gain even more access to countless other programs is not to be sniffed at. Chrome OS itself has made an insane leap in the past few years. And you shouldn't forget that you can get updates for up to 8 years, a tablet or smartphone should do that!

What disappoints a little about the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is its performance. This is just about sufficient, but should then quickly reach the edge of what is possible with demanding apps or programs under Linux.

From EUR 329.00 (EU 349.00 for 128 GB) you get a device for surfing, watching YouTube, Netflix & Co. and for occasional private work such as writing emails or letters and creating a few tables. However, if you want to use complex programs such as games or video editing under Linux, you should look for a Chromebook with more power.

In any case, I am and will remain a fan of Chromebooks and can recommend the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook Review first appeared on Xiaomist .

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is VoLTE and how can you activate it on your Xiaomi

Image
In recent years, phone calls have evolved to achieve great sound quality. So much so that today we can find technologies such as VoLTE allowing us to make voice calls in high definition on our Xiaomi. Beyond the classic GSM networks, movistar, vodafone and other operators have integrated this technology, which in turn derives from the advantages of Internet access. Thanks to 4G or LTE networks, VoLTE allows us to make not only high-definition calls, but also to improve consumption and add other services . What is VoLTE and what are its advantages after activating it on a Xiaomi In detail, VoLTE is a technology capable of transmitting voice communications over the Internet . For this, whether we have a Redmi Note 8 Pro, a Xiaomi Mi A2 or any other smartphone from the firm, our voice will be encoded from analog to digital allowing its transmission in the form of packets through the network. With this, as we have already said, after activating VoLTE we will achieve higher sou
Read more

So you can check the battery status of your Xiaomi smartphone and how many cycles you have performed

Image
Today, our smartphone has become one of the most important tools in our day to day. That is why the duration of its battery and the state of it is very important if we want to be able to use it with total peace of mind and in a continuous way. In view of this, MIUI includes a secret menu that allows us to verify the state or health of the battery of our Xiaomi smartphone and also check the cycles that we have performed . Let's not forget that each cycle represents a full battery charge from 0% to 100% Since lithium batteries degrade with the passage of time , use and recharges that we have made, knowing these two data will give us a vision of the general state of your state and with it knowing if it has worsened considerably with the passage of weather. How to check the battery status and cycles performed on our Xiaomi smartphone To access this hidden menu in MIUI and check the battery status of our Xiaomi smartphone we will only have to perform the following steps:
Read more

How to exit the FASTBOOT mode of your Xiaomi if you have entered accidentally

Image
Although, the fastboot mode of Xiaomi phones with MIUI allows us to solve bugs or change ROMs, it is also common to enter without wanting to. If this has been your case, you most likely want to get out of Xiaomi's fastboot without spoiling anything. In general, leaving this mode that includes all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with MIUI is extremely simple. Even so, on certain occasions, exiting fastboot mode is more complex , either because Recovery starts or because our smartphone does not work correctly. In view of this, below we are going to explain how to exit the fastbook mode of your Xiaomi if you have entered without wanting to . In addition, if the conventional mode does not work, we will also give you other tips to exit this mode without causing any damage at the software level. How to exit Xiaomi fastboot If we have accidentally entered the Xiaomi fastboot , to exit this way we will only have to perform the following steps: Press and hold the power button for about 10
Read more

Does your Xiaomi charge slowly or intermittently? So you can fix it

Image
Does your Xiaomi charge very slowly or intermittently? This error is usually very common when our cable is in poor condition, we use a low-quality charger or even when the USB or USB Type-C port of your Xiaomi is dirty or obstructed. With a view to this, below we will explain the main steps or solutions to take if your Xiaomi charges slowly , if the charge is intermittent or if in the worst case, your mobile does not detect the USB that is connected to the socket electric. 1. Clean the USB port Although it may sound simple, in most cases slow charging problems are usually caused by a piece of paper or a speck of dust that obstructs the pins of the USB port . Taking into account the nature of this connector, it is normal that after repeated use dirt accumulates inside. A dirty USB C port is usually the main cause of slow or intermittent charging. To solve this charging problem and clean the USB C port of your Xiaomi, it is recommended to blow lightly inside the port itself.
Read more

Problems with Android Auto and your Xiaomi? So you can fix it

Image
Unfortunately Android Auto continues to present certain problems on some Xiaomi . Errors such as error 16 that prevent our smartphone from correctly linking to this Google vehicle system. Still, these bugs are largely solvable. And it is that, in most cases the impossibility of using Android Auto through our Xiaomi is given by the dual applications themselves. In view of this and taking as a source this interesting article from Mi Community , below we will explain how to solve two of the most common errors that we usually find when linking or connecting our Xiaomi to a car with Android Auto. Fix Android Auto error on Xiaomi devices One of the main errors of the type « An error has occurred » that we usually find when connecting Android Auto to our Xiaomi is related to Google Play Services . In itself, this error shows the message « It seems that Google Play Services does not work at the moment «, making it impossible to connect Android Auto to our Xiaomi. To solve it we j
Read more

If your Xiaomi disconnects only from the WiFi it may be because of that MIUI setting

Image
One of the most common problems in Xiaomi smartphones is usually related to the WiFi connection and its automatic disconnection . A quite annoying problem, which in most cases is usually caused by a bad MIUI configuration . If you have a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO and you notice that sometimes your smartphone disconnects only from the WiFi without having taken any action, do not miss this article where we tell you how to solve it in most cases. Disconnection of WiFi on your Xiaomi, how to solve it Although it is true that the problem may be caused by some other failure, in most cases the spontaneous disconnection of the WiFi connection is caused by a bad MIUI configuration, specifically, its automatic connection to the networks with better signal . By having this option activated on our smartphone, if the WiFi signal drops at any time, it will automatically disconnect to use the data connection . To deactivate it enough to do the following steps: Go to Settings> WiFi> Wi-Fi
Read more

How to change the font in MIUI and thus further customize your Xiaomi: so you can change the type, color and size of the letters of MIUI

Image
Among the multiple options that MIUI offers us we find the possibility of changing the source of our Xiaomi . This option will not only allow us to change the font , but also change the font color and size . For this it is necessary to make use of some Asian region, be it India, Hong Kong or any other. In addition, it should be noted that this adjustment that allows us to change the source is only available for MIUI 9 , MIUI 10 and MIUI 11 , so if we have a Xiaomi Mi A2 or Xiaomi Mi A3 we will not be able to do it. How to change the font in MIUI To change the font in MIUI we must perform the following steps: Go to Settings> Additional settings> Region Next we select India or Hong Kong as a region. Go to the Themes application, download the font that we like the most from the new lower option that will appear with hundreds of fonts and then apply it. After applying it, it will be necessary to restart our Xiaomi mobile. Once done , we will have installed the ne
Read more

What is the Safe Mode of your Xiaomi, what is it for and how can you activate it

Image
In addition to the typical options that we find in the MIUI settings, Xiaomi also adds a mode called " Safe Mode " or " Safe Mode " to its smartphones. We will talk about this below, explaining its usefulness and how to activate or deactivate it on your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO. Safe Mode allows us to start a special boot, loading only the system itself and the applications that were installed on our Xiaomi when we bought it. That is, starting the Safe Mode or Safe Mode our smartphone will start loading only the essential applications . This mode is a temporary state of our smartphone and does not make any important modification on the device. In itself, Safe Mode does not delete our data , it just starts our Xiaomi, loading the basics and essentials for its operation. Safe Mode only starts essential MIUI applications. Thanks to this, the Safe Mode will help us to rule out failures in our Xiaomi derived from the installation of an application or the modific
Read more

Improve and amplify the volume of your Xiaomi and / or headphones with these simple adjustments

Image
With the evolution of technology and the arrival of content on demand, many of us spend much of the day with our headphones on, playing music or watching series and movies. That is why many of you have asked us how to increase the volume of the headphones in Xiaomi smartphones or even how to improve the sound quality in Xiaomi AirDots or Redmi AirDots S wireless headphones. How to improve the sound and increase the volume of the headphones in MIUI of Xiaomi If what we want is to increase or amplify the volume of our headphones on a Xiaomi smartphone with MIUI we must perform the following steps: Go to Settings app> Region We will change our region to Andorra, India or any other country outside the EU. With this adjustment we will be able to "skip" the European restrictions that limit the sound volume, obtaining greater amplification , both in headphones, and through the speaker itself. Headphones with cable and jack connector Xiaomi Mi Hybrid Pro HD. In add
Read more

How to activate the second space if your Xiaomi does not have this option

Image
MIUI's Second Space functionality allows us to have two smartphones in one. A way to divide our Xiaomi into two different accounts , either for personal and work use, to perform tests or simply, to prevent our son or little brother from accessing our applications and documents. Unfortunately, terminals like the Redmi Note 10 lack this functionality . The same happens with other terminals of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO of mid-range and entry. If we access the Settings, this functionality is not found among the various MIUI options . Even so, there is a little trick that allows us to access the Second Space functionality even if your Xiaomi does not have it . In this way we can create a second space without any type of restriction and in any Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO. Activate the second space on your Xiaomi If your Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO does not have the Second space functionality when accessing Settings> Special functions , do not worry, below we will explain how to use it with
Read more