One of the biggest appeals of Chromebooks in 2024 is their affordability, with a lightweight yet capable OS that allows the device to punch above its weight class in terms of performance. But the new Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a great tablet with simple specs, and a reminder that today’s bare-bones Chromebooks aren’t enough.
Announced as part of the latest Chromebook Plus machines, the latest Lenovo Chromebook Duet follows up on a model released a few years ago that was one of the first truly promising Chromebook tablets. The Duet had well-designed hardware, a great screen, and a decent keyboard in the box. It was a home run for the price.
Here’s what I concluded in my 2020 review of the IdeadPad Duet.
…for Android users who want a tablet that integrates well with their phone, or for those who just want a good browser on their tablet, the IdeaPad Duet is the way to go…basically more than a traditional Android tablet. I know I would recommend it.
Things have changed a lot since then, except for the main complaints I had about the original.
First, let’s look at the hardware. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11, as the name suggests, features an 11-inch display. The new panel has higher resolution compared to the original and is about as sharp as you’d expect from a tablet of this size. It’s not particularly bright and can be a bit annoying outdoors, but it’s good enough for basically any indoor condition. The viewing angles leave a little to be desired, but they’re good enough to enjoy the tablet in normal use cases.
The tablet itself isn’t particularly thin, but it’s thin enough to easily slip into most bags. There’s a magnet on the inside to attach the kickstand cover, and I usually left it on 24/7. The kickstand has an angular design, which isn’t ideal for laps, but it works very well on a desk or table. The cover also has a stylus slot. A stylus is included when purchased from Lenovo.com, but the unit I reviewed did not have one. However, the Duet will work with any USI stylus, and this USI stylus I bought on Amazon fits perfectly (if it doesn’t fit, the part that holds the pen is magnetic).
Lenovo has equipped this device with two USB-C ports, both of which can be used for charging, external peripherals, audio output, and anything else you might need. There’s still a headphone jack, the webcam has a physical shutter cover, and there are speakers on the left and right side in landscape mode (for the best sound quality).
At the bottom, there are pins and slots for operating the included keyboard. The magnets are strong enough to provide a stable connection, but like the kickstand, they aren’t stable enough to comfortably use the machine on your lap. This is a device that requires some sort of table top if you want to use the keyboard. The keyboard itself is good, with good key travel and feedback, the deck isn’t too flexible, and the trackpad is responsive. My main complaint is the size issue. As usual with these small tablets, the keys on the right side of the keyboard feel a little cramped, and the trackpad is tiny by modern standards.
Battery life is also very good. When used in moderation, it can easily become an all-day machine. When I used the tablet as an Android tablet to watch movies on a flight from North Carolina to New York City, the battery drained less than 15%. Also, while working to write this review, the battery drained just under 15%. ChromeOS estimates it can last between 6 and 8 hours, and based on my usage, that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
As for the hardware, I’m really happy with this machine.
My problem is completely internal.
ChromeOS is a lightweight operating system, but Google needs to improve its standards, and Duet proves that. The MediaTek Kompanio 838 has plenty of power for both the Chrome browser and Android apps, but there is an obvious major bottleneck in memory. 4GB of RAM isn’t enough for modern Chromebooks. Unless you only view one tab at a time and use one Android app at a time, this machine won’t cut it. The whole experience is slow and filled with wait times. This browser is so notorious that when one of your Chrome tabs runs out of RAM, Duet comes to a screeching halt trying to catch its breath. Even a moderate workflow can sometimes be borderline unusable.
However, this is for the 4GB model I used. Lenovo also sells an 8GB version. many Better, but this 4GB tier shouldn’t exist. especially Price range of $359 Lenovo is asking for $80 more than the previous generation, even though the performance is definitely worse than when I first started using the original Duet.
If you’re interested in this form factor (and you should be!), don’t look at the 4GB version. The 8GB model is only $40 more, so the upgrade is worth every penny.
Chromebook details:
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