Please refresh the page and try again. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 Chromebook: was $499 now $379 @ Best Buy (opens in new tab) Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays have hitherto appeared mostly in elite content-creation laptops, so it's a rare treat to see one in a Chrome OS tablet, or in any laptop-like device in its price range. It was one of the first Chrome tablets on the market, and when you attach the included type cover, it doubles as a pretty serviceable Chrome-powered laptop. It had no issues playing back HD videos from storage or from YouTube, and it handled Chrome OS apps without problems. You will receive a verification email shortly. Speaking of costs, one of the best things about last year's Duet Chromebook was its price. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Heres why you can trust us. The company happened to release its innovative Chrome-powered 2-in-1 right as the COVID-19 pandemic was kicking into high gear and parents started snapping up cheap Chromebooks so their kids could attend school remotely. TechRadar is supported by its audience. Your subscription has been confirmed. Accessibility is a major consideration It did well for Lenovo, and now the company has unveiled a promising successor: the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5, an upgraded version with a bigger, better OLED screen and correspondingly higher price tag. A front-facing, 5-megapixel camera centered in the top bezel (when the slate's held in horizontal or landscape mode) serves as a webcam, while an 8-megapixel camera in a rear corner captures snapshots and video. If you're looking for the best Chromebook on the market though, this is worth consideration. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. While not the most powerful Chromebook on the market, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook still packs a punch along with outstanding battery life, a gorgeous display, and a new form factor that improves on last year's model as long as you're looking for a laptop more than a tablet. Laptop Mag is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. For a limited time, save $120 on the Editor's Choice Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The three pieces together weigh 2.24 pounds. In our Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook review, we praise the laptop's bright, vivid OLED display and 2-in-1 design. Octane 2.0 JavaScript: 23,798 A pullable tab or lanyard here could easily fix this deficiency, but it looks like we might have to wait until next year for a better design here (or, you can pick up Microsoft's Surface Adaptive Kit, which will work with any device, not just the Microsoft Surface Pro 8). Thank you for signing up to T3. We were pleasantly surprised by the performance of the original Chromebook Duet, and by all accounts so was Lenovo. (Lenovo says it covers 100% of the DCI-P3 gamut, as well as shedding 70% less blue light than its rivals.). As ever with this form of design, you shouldnt expect a perfect on-the-knees typing experience. The Duet 5 Chromebook is a step down in resolution to 1,920 x 1,080, but the panel is upgraded to OLED, making it exceptionally bright and vibrant. Their claims are correct. Both of these are high-efficiency ARM-based chips, so neither is going to pack the same kind of raw performance as an Intel Core i3 processor, which some of the beefier Chromebooks feature. Even in semiretirement in Bradenton, Florida, I can't stop playing with toys and telling people what gear to buy. So it really needs a flat surface to lay on to be usable, unlike most standard laptops. Its size alone that gives this keyboard appeal. Let's start with the obvious: it's bigger. Ports: 2 x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen1, 1 x Pogo pin connector I measured it as having a maximum brightness of just over 325 Cd/M2, which is enough to be visible in all but direct sunlight. This excellent Best Buy Chromebook deal slashes dollars off this top rated Chrome OS device. However, it is bundled with the 550 version, and that has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of eMMC storage. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The 2020 Lenovo Chromebook Duet impressed us with its remarkably low price, great screen and impressive battery life. The Duet 5 has a nominally faster version of the eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor seen in the HP Chromebook x2. The Duet 5 was no exception, with its Snapdragon CPU besting the MediaTek ARM chip in the Asus and hanging in with the Samsung's Celeron processor but simply blown away by the Core i3 of the Flex 5 Chromebook. But Chromebooks remain the cheapest way to get into Google, and the Lenovo Duet 5 is excellent value for money compared to a same-priced Windows laptop. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 performed miserably in Geekbench but otherwise the two performance benchmarks told the same story, with the IdeaPad Duet 5 again left in the dust by the Core i3 Lenovo. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It also wowed us with its long battery life lasting 13 hours and 31 minutes on our Laptop Mag Battery Test. He lives near Boston in the USA with his wife, one dog, and an indeterminate number of cats. It will be available in a pair of color options: Storm Grey or the more eye-catching Abyss Blue. Published 1 August 22, We take a look at five things you need to know before buying one of the best Chromebooks, By Max Slater-Robins If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Even when bumping up to the 8GB RAM configuration for $499, you still get a 13.3-inch 2-in-1 Chromebook with a 1080p OLED display for under $500, which is pretty much unheard of and it's worth every penny. This rules it out for people who dont have much dexterity in their hands or dont want to type with hunched-up claws. Well, yes, and that cute detachable Chromebook is still a bargain, but the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook (starts at $429.99; $499 as tested) is something else altogethera larger 2-in-1 tablet with an ultra-colorful, ultra-high-contrast, 13.3-inch OLED touch screen. A pullable tab or lanyard could easily fix this deficiency, or you can pick up Microsofts Surface Adaptive Kit as this will work with any device, not just the Surface Pro 8. The keyboard is also not great. The previous 10.1in IPS panel was a great choice for the price, but here youre buying an OLED panel, and its gorgeous. The Duet 5 comes with two fabric accessories that magnetically latch onto the back and bottom edge, respectively: a rear cover with a fold-out kickstand for propping up the screen in laptop mode, and a keyboard cover with touchpad. I was later the editor in chief of Home Office Computing, a magazine that promoted using tech to work from home two decades before a pandemic made it standard practice. The kickstand just doesnt really work on your lap without a flat surface underneath it. Battery:42WHr w/ Rapid Charge. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook was hands down one of our favorite Chromebooks ever, hanging onto its spot on our best Chromebooks list for over a year now, and the Duet 5 Chromebook improves on last year's offering in nearly every way as long as you're looking for a laptop more than tablet. The keyboard is full-sized (the A through apostrophe keys span the regulation 8 inches) and follows the standard Chromebook layout, with browser and system control keys along the top and a search/menu key in place of Caps Lock. The flipside? Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 Published 1 June 22, The Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio is a fancy foldable laptop and looks great, but its solid build comes at a premium price, By Richard Baguley This processor is twinned with 8GB of memory and a 128GB SSD for storing data locally. The non-backlit keyboard lies flat on your desk instead of having a folding hinge to give it a slight tilt as many detachable keyboards do. He currently serves as a senior editor at Tom's Guide covering all things computing, from laptops and desktops to keyboards and mice. Weight: 2.24lbs (1.02kg) There's the core tablet with its 13.3-inch OLED display, and then there's the detachable keyboard and fabric back cover with built-in kickstand. It can also run most Android apps, although some dont like the different screen resolution and only work on a portrait mode. All three yield numeric scores; higher numbers are better. Kraken JavaScript: 1,845ms Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). That's roughly $150 more than the $279 starting price of the original, OLED-less Lenovo Chromebook Duet, though you can now find it for $50-100 less. You can find faster and cheaper conventional Chromebooks, but the new Duet outshines the recently reviewed HP Chromebook x2 if you'd like a tablet that doubles as a laptop. It finished the Kraken JavaScript benchmark in 1,845ms, compared to the original Duets time of 3,940ms. Her work has been featured on Toms Guide, iTechPost, Examiner.com, Parlemag, Enstars, and Latin Times. In one test, the IdeaPad Duet 5 effortlessly managed 24 Google Chrome tabs, two YouTube 1080p videos, and Google Docs simultaneously. Storage: 128GB eMMC Flash storage Chrome OS dictates lighter or more casual use than the array of apps available for iPadOS or Windows, but the Duet 5 will satisfy plenty of consumers and students. Now the company appears ready to capitalize on the continuing demand for light, premium Chromebooks with the Duet 5, and we can't wait to see how the addition of an OLED display changes the experience of using a Chrome tablet. You want a cheap Chromebook We're hoping that this is only a temporary issue, and we've reached out to Lenovo for some context for the extraordinary price differential in the UK. Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/lenovo-ideapad-duet-5-chromebook, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. The Lenovo Duet 5 is pretty much the perfect Chromebook. I do wish it was more usable on the lap, though. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Alex Wawro Besides the IdeaPad Duet 5 and the 11-inch HP Chromebook x2which is priced $100 higher but has been widely discountedwe've also seen the 10.5-inch Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3. Samsung Display, who sent me this review unit, also pointed out that their gorgeous OLED screen emits little of the violet-blue light that can be tiring or damaging to the eye, and sent a fancy bandwidth pass filter to prove the point. There's also a pogo pin connector along the bottom edge of the tablet, which is where you plug in the included keyboard cover when it's time to shift out of tablet mode. While both Duets are rated for 400 nits of brightness, the difference with an OLED display is simply incredible. Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com Future Publishing Limited, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. It has a somewhat stiff, shallow click; a two-finger tap serves for a right-click in the familiar Chromebook tradition. Lenovo has reduced the resolution to 1,920 x 1,080 from 1,920 x 1,200, but the end result is still admirably sharp. While it's not the first OLED-equipped Chromebook on the market, the Duet 5 looks like it could be the first Chrome tablet with an OLED display. The Snapdragon 7c Gen2 finished the Kraken JavaScript benchmark in 1,845ms, compared to the MediaTek P60T's time of 3,940ms. It's not often you get a premium feature like an OLED display in a Chromebook, but boy howdy is it worth it. It's scheduled to go on sale in October 2021, with a starting price of $429. The power plug has a USB-C connector and a cable that's inconveniently short. Please refresh the page and try again. Geekbench delivers a numeric score while GFXBench counts frames per second (fps). The companys IdeaPad Flex 5 was one of our favourite Chromebooks of last year, thanks to its fantastic value and superb display. Published 16 July 22, The final piece of the Chromebook puzzle is sliding into place, By Max Slater-Robins It earns an Editors' Choice award as a premium Chromebook detachable. Currently playing: EVE Online, Elden Ring. Here's what we know so far about the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5. You should be able to purchase it through Lenovo's website (opens in new tab), and you may also be able to find it at select third-party retailers. You can find him online on Twitter at @thisdotjohn. And according to Lenovo, it should still deliver best-in-class battery life. 8-core 2.55GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, Weight (kg) - with keyboard where applicable, The COO's pocket guide to enterprise-wide intelligent automation, Automating more cross-enterprise and expert work for a better value stream for customers, A comprehensive open solution in a crowded and confusing space, 2021 Gartner critical capabilities for data integration tools, How to identify the right tool in support of your data management solutions, Unified endpoint management solutions 2021-22, How to move Windows 10 from your old hard drive to SSD, European company unmasked as cyber mercenary group with ties to Russia, ITPro is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Chromebooks aren't known for packing powerful components, because Chrome OS has a limited scope and doesn't require much to run well. New York, Lenovo says the real charger can restore battery power to 80% in an hour. Due to the kickstand, it doesnt really work on the lap, though, and there are better keyboards out there. Want the best detachable Chromebook? There is no headphone socket, which means youll need to use an adapter to use headphones, or use a Bluetooth wireless pair. The magnetized backplate on Duet 5 Chromebook also has a small cutaway for a Lenovo Active Pen stylus to clip to the back, but the stylus isn't bundled with the device by default, and even when it is included it will cost extra. Heres why you can trust us. The brain (or brains) of the Duet 5 is a Qualcomm Snapdragon SC7180 processor, with 6 cores that can run at a speed of up to 1.68GHz and two more that can run at a faster 2.55GHz. You want an OLED Chromebook The first, Principled Technologies' CrXPRT 2, measures how quickly a system performs everyday tasks in six workloads such as applying photo effects, graphing a stock portfolio, analyzing DNA sequences, and generating 3D shapes using WebGL. There's a power button at left, and volume up and down buttons on the top edge. However, its a huge upgrade on the last model and great value for money. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). That should be enough to keep you entertained on the longest commercial flight in the world: the nearly 19-hour flight from JFK to Singapore. The screen's 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution makes text and icons appear small, so as with many Chromebooks there's a choice of "looks like" or scaled resolutions (the default is 1,536 by 864 pixels), though the display quality is so good that native resolution is usable in a way it usually isn't on high-resolution displays. Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You'll search in vain for a headphone jack, so you'll want a set of Bluetooth or USB headphonesthe only ports are a pair of USB 3.2 Type-C ports, one each on the left and right edges (assuming the tablet is in landscape mode). UK pricing aside, the increased price of the Duet 5 Chromebook isn't unexpected given its larger size and improve hardware. Magnetic pogo pins on the bottom edge affix the keyboard cover to the tablet. Your money gets you a lot here: an excellent screen and a very positive Chromebook experience, although the clip-on keyboard design isnt really good for lap use, and the lack of expansion options is a bit limiting. Camera (Front): 5MP RGB; (Rear) 8MP RGB w/ autofocus That is convenient as it means you dont have to stretch the power cable behind when you are using it, and you can use the second port for extra storage or other devices while charging. (, Superb OLED display in an under-$500 detachable, Read Great Stories Offline on Your Favorite, PC Magazine Digital Edition (Opens in a new window), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, Read Our Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2022) Review, Read Our Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review, Read Our Dell Chromebook 11 (3100) Review, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook (2021) Review, What to Do When Your Computer Screen Won't Show a Picture, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (2022) Review, Testing the Duet 5: A Chromebook Variety Pack. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. There was a problem. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. Those are the only wired connections, though. When last years Duet cost 300, however, you may wonder where all your money is going and the obvious answer is the display. Rounding out its specs are Qualcomm Adreno graphics and 128GB of eMMC storage. This folds over to form a cover that looks rather like a hardback book cover. Lenovo's new Chromebook Duet 5 looks like it should last as long or longer, as the company claims its 42WHr battery will deliver up to 15 hours of use on a single charge. With an excellent OLED screen and great battery life, the Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook is a step above the competition. Lenovo claims the Chromebook Duet 5's OLED display can achieve 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and deliver brightness levels of up to 400 nits, which would make it pretty eye-catching; we're eager to get one in for testing and review so we can verify these claims for ourselves. Rounding out its specs are Qualcomm Adreno graphics and 128GB of eMMC storage. We gave the IdeaPad Duet 5 an overall rating of 4 out of 5-stars and our coveted Editor's Choice award. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. The Duet 5 is a tablet design, a slab of glass and metal on the back, with an included clip-on keyboard that connects to the bottom of the case. Today's best Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook deals, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, I cracked under the pressure of PowerWash Simulator seriously, I have nerve damage, How to delete all emails in Gmail and keep your inbox squeaky clean, How to mute Google Chrome tabs put a stop to annoying website audio, Philips Fidelio T1 review: When great sound isn't enough, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Published 28 July 22, Google's free ChromeOS Flex brings old hardware right up to date and it's completely free, By Carrie Marshall It deserves a place as one of our Chromebook Editors' Choice honorees. The original IdeaPad Duet - which this convertible follows on from - was similarly appealing, and the Duet 5 Chromebook improves on last years offering in several important ways. When I tried to use the longer USB-C charger for my phone, a Chrome OS pop-up said I'd connected a low-power charger, and the system wouldn't recharge while turned on. A 13.3-inch OLED touch screen makes Lenovo's second, bigger version of its Chromebook Duet a surprisingly nice 2-in-1 detachable for the money. The front-mounted webcam captures fairly well-lit and colorful images at resolutions up to 2,592 by 1,944 with just a touch of noise or static. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). While the larger keyboard is a huge improvement over last year's model, the kickstand might still be challenging for those with more limited hand strength or dexterity. On each side of the case is a Type C USB 3.0 port, either of which can be used to connect the included 30W charger. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Nor does it compare well to laptops for the feel of the keys, with a flat action that lacks travel. Today's best Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook deals, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook at Lenovo USA for $419.99, Meta developers will be asked to program almost exclusively in these four programming languages, HBO just canceled another comedy with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, You're finally getting the Google Play Store and apps you deserve, Daredevil: Born Again has a key difference to other Marvel shows and I'm all for it, Samsung's cheap OLED TVs are canceled for now, as talks with LG break down, Don't do what I did and leave an iPhone out in the sun, Stray is such a hit that the cat is getting put into Doom, We finally know what 'Wi-Fi' stands for - and it's not what you think, Bad news, Amazon Prime members - one of your best perks is being taken away, 7 new movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video, HBO Max and more this weekend (July 29), The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. Cool with Chrome OS in tablet form? New York, Both are equally slim, measuring just over 7mm thick, but this means that things have flipped: the Duet was better as a tablet, the Duet 5 is better as a laptop. Visit our corporate site, Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street New York, NY 10036, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. In terms of improved hardware, we need to start with the display. The OLED display alone more than justifies the increase in price, and the fact that it starts at only $429 in the US makes this a fantastic deal. Unfortunately, the UK is in for a tough time as Duet 5 Chromebook starts at an eye-popping 899 (opens in new tab). Richard Baguley has been writing about technology since the 1990s, whenhe left a promising career in high finance to work on Amiga Format magazine for Future. Still, the Snapdragon 7c Gen2 is lagging in terms of benchmarks vis a vis other Chromebooks, but it still felt reasonable snappy when we were actually using it. Alex Wawro is a lifelong tech and games enthusiast with more than a decade of experience covering both for outlets like Game Developer, Black Hat, and PC World magazine. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Starting at $279 / 279 / AU$424, the smaller Duet Chromebook was a fantastic value for the price. It's perfectly fine for opening half a dozen browser tabs or playing a single 1080p video or Android game, but not strong enough for serious multitasking. There were two obvious candidates to pit against the IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook in our benchmark testsits fellow tablet-and-keyboard combos, the Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 and HP Chromebook x2.