Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook review: double handheld convenience

On DroidApp we don’t often take a closer look at a Chromebook, but is the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook now a laptop or a tablet, and what can you do with it? You can read our findings of this versatile Chromebook in the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook review.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook review

Although this Chromebook has been available for a few months, Lenovo launched the IdeaPad Duet last year in perhaps the perfect time for compact laptops / tablets. It is also not surprising that Lenovo is betting on a slightly younger target group with this Chromebook. With plenty of homeschooling features, this handheld device may not be a bad choice for students of all ages.

In the package

In the box of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet, in addition to the Chromebook itself, we also find a magnetically attachable keyboard and a magnetic back cover. That back cover can also be transformed into a kickstand with which you can use the screen in an upright position. Useful! We also find a USB Type-C charging cable and accompanying wall adapter.

Design and interface

This Chromebook from Lenovo has a gray back with a light blue accent. Making the whole look fresh. The IdeaPad Duet from Lenovo is very compact with a 10.1 inch screen and for those looking for a lightweight tablet / laptop combination, this device could be a contender. On the side we find the single USB-C port. This is multifunctional to use, for example to connect your headphones.

In terms of comfort, the keyboard takes some getting used to, especially because the keys are quite close together and the feedback from the keys is also very light. The trackpad also requires some getting used to, which is partly due to the compact size. What does contribute enormously to the comfort of this Chromebook is the supplied “fabric” back cover. This has a fold-out section that allows you to place the screen at different angles.

Chrome OS

With Chrome OS you have access to an internet-oriented operating system in which the Chrome browser plays the leading role. Those who actively use the Google Chrome browser will quickly feel at home on this Chromebook. Of course you can install your favorite extensions in the browser such as a password manager or adblocker. If you already use Chrome, you will also immediately find your browser favorites on the Duet.

In tablet mode, the swipes are intuitive and you quickly understand how to go back to the previous window. But also that by swiping from the bottom up you go back to the start screen. If you connect the keyboard, the interface also changes into a laptop-like environment with a taskbar and menu. You can of course still use the touchscreen with the keyboard connected.

For those who want to work while on the train, their Chromebook can easily be connected to an Android smartphone. This way you can use the internet on your smartphone without any difficult actions. When your smartphone is paired, you will also see an indicator of the telephone range on your Chromebook.

With Android support

The nice thing about Chrome OS is that nowadays you can also run Android applications on it. In some cases you will notice that apps do not use the correct formats and it remains to be seen whether the developer of your favorite apps has done some extra work on good tablet support.

In desktop mode you can also use the Android apps with which you can put them side by side while working. For example, your Chrome browser on the left and the Spotify app on the right.

Multimedia and camera

The 16:10 screen with its 1920 × 1200 resolution is more than enough to store a lot of apps and also great for watching a Netflix series. The colors on the screen are good and the screen can also be bright enough, making it reasonably usable outside. Because the reflections from the screen make it difficult to view the screen. The dual speakers on the top of the tablet deliver surprisingly clear sound quality, even at the loudest setting.

If you’re thinking of video conferencing, the IdeaPad Duet can also handle a fairly sharp 2 megapixel front camera. At the back we find an 8 megapixel camera, and although we expect that you will not quickly shoot your holiday photos with this Chromebook, it is nice to be able to take a quick photo of, for example, a document.

Performance and battery life

We are very positive about the battery life that a full battery charge can easily get you through the working day with at least 10+ hours of screen-on time. That is more than enough for me personally to get through two days. It is true that recharging the entire battery can take quite some time, about 4 hours. This may be partly due to the charger that seems to be taking its time. Yet all this does not have to be a problem when you hang the Chromebook on the charger in the evening. With another adapter we know how to shorten the charging time to 1:56 hours.

The MediaTek P60T processor is able to provide sufficient computing power and speed for the browser work. Supplemented with 4 gigabytes of RAM, you can keep a few tabs open on this Chromebook. Android apps also run surprisingly well on this Chromebook, especially if not too heavy graphics performance is required. Because although you can easily play a game on the IdeaPad Duet, we do notice that the tablet has a hard time with more intense scenes.

The IdeaPad Duet is available in two different storage spaces, namely 64GB and 128GB. We definitely recommend that you go for the 128GB variant so that you can take plenty of entertainment with you on the go if you are without an internet connection.

Review

Due to its low price and compact size, this versatile Chromebook is ideal for those looking for a tablet that should not cost too much money but at the same time also wants the luxury of a keyboard. With both the fast Chrome OS and the Android operating system, you are free in what you can do with this Chromebook. Of course, the performance is not equal to that of a high-end Chromebook or Android tablet. For example, the IdeaPad Duet occasionally stumbles over graphically intensive games.

For some homework, e-mailing, browsing and watching movies and series, this Chromebook from Lenovo is perfect! The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 64GB and 128GB variants can be purchased via Bol.com, MediaMarkt, Paradigit, Megekko and Coolblue.