Debuting back in October of 2020, the new Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook (ugh, Chromebook names) brings a lot of great features to the table for a starting price of $579. When announced, there was no indication of how high the price could actually go and what processor would be in that entry-level $579 machine. We’ve known this would be one of the first AMD Ryzen Chromebooks on the market, but we didn’t know exactly what the lowest-end processor in this line would be at the time. Now we do.
Thanks to a bit of deep digging by one of our readers, we have been made aware that Lenovo’s PSREF (product specification reference) listings are live for this new Chromebook and you can see the breakdown of all the models sorted by region and country. It will be available in 25 countries and comes in a relatively wide variety of configurations. A bit surprisingly, the lowest-end versions of this new Yoga Chromebook will come with the AMD Athlon Gold 3150C, not a Ryzen chip. As an example of what’s on offer, here are the configurations for the US market:
Across all models, we’re looking at IPS displays that are anti-glare, so they should all look great. Apart from the Athlon-powered devices, we’re also seeing NVMe across the board and fingerprint scanners in a handful of models with both the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 processors. Apart from those variations, it looks like the rest of the hardware will be the same regardless of the internal specs, and that’s a good thing. The ThinkPad reputation is what it is because of quality builds and sturdy chassis, so the all-aluminum frame, excellent keyboard, built-in stylus, and overall feel of all of these devices should be top-notch regardless of price point.
As far as pricing goes, we can get a pretty good idea of what to expect by looking at resellers already listing these devices online. Lenovo claimed this device would start at $579 and the lowest price we could find on the entry-level Athlon Gold version online was $595. There are listings that place this device at over $700, so pricing looks to be a bit inflated at the moment. For what it’s worth, it seems relatively consistent at the top range with the maxed-out Ryzen 7 models with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage capping out between $1100 and $1200. That’s a hefty price tag, sure, but you’re getting a ton of Chromebook for the money, too.
Hopefully Lenovo will officially start listing these Chromebooks in all their configurations on their website soon so we don’t have to speculate any longer. While I don’t know that this particular device is aimed at the consumer market, there’s no reason that anyone wanting one of these Chromebooks couldn’t get one ordered. As we learn more, we’ll keep you updated.
The IdeaPad Slim 7’s 10th Gen Intel Core mobile processing enables smart, intuitive computing that adapts to your needs. Attention sensors register your absence when you step away, and instantly recognize your face the moment you return, for seamless login. Intelligent Cooling mode extends battery life for long days unplugged.
Little by little, NVIDIA has been fleshing out its GeForce RTX 30 series on the desktop, even if the cards are rarely in stock. Now standing four SKUs tall, you can bet NVIDIA is not finished adding to the pile. Less expensive Ampere options are on the horizon (currently the cheapest card is the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, priced at $399), and adding to the deluge of leaks, Lenovo has basically confirmed three more unannounced cards.
Before we get to those, let's talk about the current lineup. NVIDIA released the GeForce RTX 3080 on September 17, with a price set at $699. Then a week later on September 24, it released the GeForce RTX 3090 for $1,499. The GeForce RTX 3070 would follow a month later, debuting for $499 on October 29, then came the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti earlier this month on December 2.
So that is where things stand—if you want to buy an Ampere card, you are looking at spending between $399 and $1,499, based on MSRP pricing (the cards cost quite a bit more on the second-hand market since demand is outstripping supply at the moment).
Looking ahead, more cards are coming, and Lenovo revealed some specific models on a support page for an upcoming Legion R5 28IMB05 desktop. Take a look...
I've highlighted the revealing entries, which include three unannounced Ampere desktop graphics cards. They include the GeForce RTX 3060 (non-Ti model), GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, and GeForce RTX 3050. Incidentally, it was reported back in July that the GeForce RTX 3060 and 3050 had been taped out, which means the final circuitry design had been sent out to manufacturing (it's the last phase before production begins in earnest).
According to Lenovo's support page, the regular GeForce RTX 3060 sports 12GB of GDDR6 memory. Interestingly, that is up from 8GB of GDDR6 memory on the Ti version that already exists. However, rumor has it the regular model will feature a narrower memory bus (192-bit versus 256-bit), fewer CUDA cores (3,840 versus 4,864), fewer RT cores (30 versus 38), and fewer TMUs (120 versus 152).
Assuming any or all of that holds true, the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti will still be the overall faster card, even with less onboard GDDR6 memory.
The GeForce RTX 3050 Ti, meanwhile, is shown as having 6GB of GDDR6 memory. According to past leaks and rumors, it is expected to arrive with a 192-bit memory bus, 3,584 CUDA cores, 28 RT cores, and 112 TMUs.
Finally, the regular GeForce RTX 3050 is listed with 4GB of GDDR6 memory. It is expected to arrive with a 128-bit memory bus, 2,304 CUDA cores, 18 RT cores, and 72 TMUs.
None of the specifications are officially confirmed, as NVIDIA has not even acknowledged these new cards. But perhaps there will be an unveiling next month on or around the Consumer Electronics Show.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold is one of the most futuristic devices of the year — the world’s first foldable PC. But like so many other first-generation products, it’s not for everyone.
The who, what and how
Who it’s for: As the world’s first foldable PC, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is for early adopters and those who are OK using an imperfect machine. Lenovo got the design right, and as it’s a ThinkPad, we don’t have many durability concerns. However, Windows 10 isn’t optimized for foldables, and it shows on the X1 Fold.
What you need to know:At $2,499 with no keyboard and $2,749 with that attachment, it’s expensive to say the least. Add to that its buggy software, middle-of-the-row performance and not-so-great battery life, which hold it back. The ThinkPad X1 Fold is not for most people, and you likely shouldn’t buy this unless you truly don’t mind splurging for a cutting-edge but niche device.
How it compares: The ThinkPad X1 Fold feels as durable as any other ThinkPad. It has the classic black color and is built tough. We also don’t have qualms about opening and closing it several times during a day. The issues begin to arise with Windows 10; the operating system as a whole is not ready for a device like this, and in use, it falls behind that of other laptops and 2-in-1s like the Surface Pro 7. You’ll also find that while it can handle light tasks, it’s not the best for things like Photoshop, video editing or gaming.
Classic ThinkPad construction with folding chops
PHOTO: Jacob Krol/CNN
Dating back to the IBM days and still true today, Lenovo’s ThinkPads are tanks in the world of computers. They’re not fragile or flimsy; rather, they’re strong and can take a beating.
The physical frame of the X1 Fold is a combination of carbon fiber and magnesium alloy. It also comes in just one color: black. What’s different about the X1 Fold, when it comes to materials, is a leather back that feels quite high-end and makes the PC look like a luxury device. It feels really nice, and when the X1 Fold is closed, it resembles a classy notebook or casing.
That leather back has a portion that can fold out, essentially allowing you to prop the X1 Fold up when it’s fully open. This way it can act as a display and you can use it as a desktop — although, truthfully, the experience is more equivalent to a Windows tablet, like a Surface Pro 7. After all, it’s only a 13.3-inch display.
When it’s closed, you’ll see the glossy finish of the X1 Fold on the top, as the leather itself recoils back when folded. But when fully opened, the leather spans the back of the device. There are just two USB-C ports on the X1 Fold, and both can handle charging the device. You won’t find many buttons, either — just a power button with an LED indicator and a volume rocker.
It’s best to think of this as a 13.3-inch clamshell Windows tablet that can be folded fully in half. You can use it unfolded in a vertical or horizontal position. It can be folded to a 90-degree angle, like the Z Flip, and used like a netbook or mini laptop with the optional keyboard. Although, let’s be frank: If you buy the X1 Fold, get the keyboard. It just doesn’t make sense not to.
The design of the X1 Fold is equal parts futuristic and functional. It’s relatively compact at just over 2 pounds. For comparison, that’s lighter than a MacBook Air but heavier than an iPad Air. And it’s a design that’s highlighted by the hinge, which allows this device to be multimode in a way that’s radically different from a conventional laptop.
You’ll know exactly where the hinge is, thanks to larger bezels around the display. The hinge is physically open on the sides. That’s a bit concerning, but we also didn’t encounter any issues with the fold or items getting lodged in the small opening.
PHOTO: Jacob Krol/CNN
And if you opt for the keyboard, you can leave it on the display when the PC is folded. It will actually fill in the fold where a paper clip or a sharp object could potentially slide in and puncture the display.
When unfolded, the display stretches to fill the full 13 inches and creates tension. This is by design and makes the display stronger in this position. Remember, this is an OLED polymer display and not glass. You also don’t need to be gentle when opening or closing the X1 Fold — that’s a noticeable difference from folding phones. However, when using it in a laptoplike format, we noticed discoloration, as the bottom half of the display is noticeably darker.
The ThinkPad X1 Fold’s display is a 13.3-inch OLED with a 1536 x 2048 resolution. Images are reproduced accurately, but it lags behind other laptops with a full 4K display. The plastic nature of the display increases the glossy factor, as it’s super reflective. It’s really hard to use it in direct light or outdoors — especially when you add in the fact that it can’t get that bright.
Performance is good enough, but software is buggy
PHOTO: Jacob Krol/CNN
The ThinkPad X1 Fold has two big shortcomings: Windows isn’t optimized for foldables, and Lenovo’s customization only does so much. Intel’s Lakefield stacked processor provides expected performance but doesn’t shine with efficiency or a runway for high-powered tasks.
Lenovo’s answer to switching from one big screen to a clamshell is a Mode Switcher. When it’s working, it will detect when you’re folding or turning the X1 Fold through the accelerometer. With that, you can select which app is where depending on your orientation. It’s an easy way to set you up for success, and it was handy for staying within two apps. But too many times it ended up not engaging when we needed it.
You’ll also find that many apps aren’t optimized to run in these smaller scenarios or in the mini clamshell mode. Essentially, you snap the keyboard onto the right side of the X1 Fold (or the bottom half), and it turns that portion of the display off, leaving you with the top half. It allows you to use the X1 Fold as a mini laptop. You can use the keyboard and trackpad to navigate a 7-inch display. It’s been handy for quickly triaging an email inbox, but not much else.
More importantly, though, for the apps that worked with it, the keyboard functioned well. You’ll also find that the keyboard, which attaches magnetically and charges wirelessly, uses a lot of power. In this mode, we suggest being plugged in, which takes away from the practicality of using this on the go.
And when it’s working properly, the X1 Fold recognizes the keyboard is there in just a matter of seconds. The dock will get moved up and you’ll be ready to rock. And while instances of it not recognizing the keyboard were more prominent before several updates, it still occasionally occurs when turning the X1 Fold on or after a restart.
It all comes down to the fact that Windows 10 isn’t designed for a device like this. Windows 10X, an optimized version of Windows 10 for foldables, would likely squash a lot of issues, but it’s delayed. It was teased alongside the Surface Neo, a folding Surface device, which is also delayed. A lot of the updates fall on Lenovo, and it tried to squash as many issues as it could. The other half falls on individual app developers to take advantage of a design like this.
When the X1 Fold works, namely the mode switcher, it’s great. But when it doesn’t, it really feels like a first-generation product. And as far as the processor goes, the X1 Fold performs well for a mobile architecture chip from Intel. To get specific, it’s an Intel Hybrid Processor — the i5-L16G7 — with 8GB of RAM. And for most tasks it will be enough to power them; web browsing, word processing, big spreadsheets and even the occasional photo edit worked well on the X1 Fold.
It just cannot scale, but then again the X1 Fold is designed as a business laptop. We tried some gaming on it and The Sims 4 was playable. Any high-powered title, though, would crash or just not run when we tried. We also found that for some titles, the auto orientation will cause the app to crash or quit, so be careful of your movements while using this PC.
To put the performance into perspective, we ran the ThinkPad X1 Fold through Geekbench 5, which stress-tests a machine with real-world use cases. The ThinkPad X1 Fold scored an 822 on the single-core test and a 1,738 on the multi-core test. It’s middle of the road and lags behind several devices, including the Intel MacBook Air, the M1 MacBook Air and the Surface Laptop Go.
It’s just not a very efficient processor in its current state. The efficiency concerns carry over into battery life as well. In everyday use, we found that the keyboard drained a lot of power and shrunk our workdays. And when we used the X1 Fold for a full workday, it required a charger nearby.
It scored behind all of the aforementioned laptops and several others in our battery test, clocking in at six hours and 15 minutes.
Bottom line
PHOTO: Jacob Krol/CNN
From the costly price alone, the ThinkPad X1 Fold isn’t for most. And the fact that it’s a foldable PC makes it an even tougher sell. In its current state, the ThinkPad X1 Fold is a pretty niche product and you’ll likely be better served from a ThinkPad X1 Carbon, a Dell XPS 13, a Surface Pro X or even a Surface Pro 7. Those 2-in-1s feature great hardware and a nearly perfect software experience.
Even so, we appreciate what Lenovo has done here. The hardware and design of the X1 Fold is excellent. It’s the first foldable screen that we aren’t afraid to apply pressure to. But there’s still work to be done here — the software experience needs to improve, and a good chunk of that falls on the Windows team.
Lenovo is clearly on to something here with the X1 Fold, though.
The Yoga 9i is Lenovo’s flagship 2-in-1, and among the most premium devices in the company's entire consumer PC line. It has a 360-degree hinge that can be used to fold the display back until it touches the bottom of the chassis, effectively turning the laptop into a tablet. That’s paired with internal hardware that’s as powerful as you’ll find in any 2-in-1 on the market today.
Display: 14-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen LED-backlit IPS
Battery: 60Wh integrated Li-Polymer with Rapid Charge Express
Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 2 with Thunderbolt 4, Power Delivery 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 2, 3.5 mm stereo audio/microphone combo jack.
Pricing starts at $1,099 for an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB solid state drive. Our review unit, with a Core i7-1185G7 processor, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD, retails for $1,379. Other configurations offer further upgrades with pricing as high a $1,849, and you can customize the laptop if you order directly from Lenovo.
What we like
Nice display, outstanding audio
Credit: Matthew S. Smith / Reviewed
The Lenovo Yoga 9i's 14-inch display is a slight increase from the more common 13.3-inch or 13.1-inch displays. This makes the Yoga 9i easier to use than most small laptops. Text appears larger, and browser windows more easily fit side-by-side.
Our test unit has a 1080p touchscreen with a reflective, mirror-like finish, but the display is bright enough to combat glare indoors. The display performs well, delivering a sharp, punchy image with vibrant color and acceptable contrast for a display of this type. It can struggle with dark scenes in movies because the LED-backlighting can’t dim enough to reproduce a convincing, inky black. Still, most owners will be pleased.
You can upgrade to a 4K touchscreen that supports HDR for just $100. This is unnecessary for most people, but it will deliver a crystal-clear image, and could be useful for photographers or other professionals.
Related content
The Yoga 9i's audio is leagues ahead of other PC laptops.
Lenovo pairs the enjoyable display with an outstanding Dolby Atmos branded soundbar that’s integrated into the hinge. It can’t deliver an experience near comparable to a full-sized Dolby Atmos soundbar, but it’s leagues ahead of other PC laptops.
The soundbar points directly at you, not down toward your desk or up toward the ceiling. The result is clear, enjoyable, balanced audio that isn’t muffled or distorted. It does have limitations, like flat bass that can’t deliver serious punch for music or action movies, but the overall experience is superior to the PC competition and can trade blows with Apple’s MacBook Pro 13.
A good keyboard and touchpad
Credit: Matthew S. Smith / Reviewed
The Lenovo Yoga 9i’s keyboard doesn’t inspire confidence at first. Its plastic keys are a similar silver to the surrounding metal, but don’t quite match, a subtle design flaw that interrupts the Yoga 9i’s otherwise premium design. Individual keys appear nearly flush with the interior, suggesting a flat and wooden typing experience.
Begin to type, though, and any fears will be put at ease. Despite appearances, the Yoga 9i’s keys have significant travel and smooth key action that bottoms out with a firm, steady feel. I felt immediately comfortable while testing the 2-in-1 and could type with speed and accuracy rivaling a full-sized desktop keyboard.
The keyboard thankfully lacks any quirk or flaw. No key is needlessly small, no feature is placed in an unusual location. The Yoga 9i has a spacious, forgiving layout.
I can say the same of the touchpad. It’s large, offering plenty of space to execute multi-touch gestures. The touchpad responds quickly, and its smooth surface is pleasant to use. Even the physical left and right mouse buttons, which are integrated into the touchpad, activate with significant travel and an audible click. The Yoga 9i’s touchpad falls short of a MacBook, but it’s as good as you’ll find on a Windows 2-in-1.
Advanced connectivity
Credit: Matthew S. Smith / Reviewed
Lenovo goes all-in on modern connectivity with the Yoga 9i. The laptop has four physical ports, two of which are USB 3.2 Type-C with Thunderbolt 4. That leaves a single USB 3.2 Type-A port and a headphone jack. All ports are found on the 2-in-1's left flank.
The Yoga 9i isn't a great choice for people who have many wired USB Type-A devices, but that's becoming a common theme in the space at large, and overall I like the Yoga 9i’s approach. Its ports are forward-looking, providing the best of single-cable bandwidth and versatility. You can pair this laptop with a USB-C monitor that has power delivery, such as the the ViewSonic VG2455, for a single-cable connection that charges the Yoga 9i while passing video to the monitor.
The Yoga 9i supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1, so the laptop works well alongside new WiFi and Bluetooth devices in the coming years. Like all WiFi 6 laptops, it can achieve excellent speeds when used with a WiFi 6 router. We measured a maximum WiFi speed of 754 Mbps.
What we don't like
It’s a bad tablet
Credit: Matthew S. Smith / Reviewed
The Lenovo Yoga 9i's 2-in-1 design means it can be used as a laptop or a tablet. That’s possible thanks to a folding hinge that lets the display rotate 360 degrees. The rotating hinge also allows a few alternative modes. For example, you can use the keyboard as a stand for the display, which is great for watching a movie.
Unfortunately, the Yoga 9i is a terrible tablet. The reasons for this are obvious. Its 14-inch screen is massive and unwieldy when held in tablet mode, and its 3.02-pound weight is three times that of the latest iPad Air. Using the Yoga 9i as a tablet is like using a wooden plank with a nail through it as a back-scratcher.
To make matters worse, Windows 10 remains a poor tablet operating system, and Microsoft has thrown in the towel. The touchscreen experience is confusing, inconsistent, and only adequate if you use apps purchased from the Microsoft Store.
Using the Yoga 9i as a tablet is like using a wooden plank with a nail through it as a back-scratcher.
In fairness to the Yoga 9i, the fault doesn’t lie with Lenovo. The company was among the first to embrace 2-in-1 devices and has never wavered. However, it relies on software from Microsoft and processors from Intel, and neither company has come through on the promise of making 2-in-1 devices a priority.
While this is technically a 2-in-1, don’t buy it with tablet use in mind. Instead, think of the Yoga 9i as a laptop with a little added versatility.
Performance is just ok
All Lenovo Yoga 9i configurations have Intel processors and are part of the company’s “Evo” platform. This includes not only the Thunderbolt 4 and WiFi 6 features previously discussed, but improved Intel Iris Xe graphics. Our test unit had an Intel Core i7-1185G7 quad-core processor, the Yoga 9i’s most powerful option.
Despite that, the Yoga 9i’s performance is only fine. It scores better than less powerful Intel processors, of course, but can only trade blows with AMD Ryzen processors, like that in the Asus Zenbook 14. Ryzen tends to fall behind Intel in single-core tests and speed ahead in multi-core tests. Most demanding modern apps, like Adobe Photoshop or Maxon Cinema 4D, use multiple cores well, giving AMD an edge.
The Yoga 9i falls behind the latest Dell XPS 13 in processor tests despite the fact it has a more powerful processor (the XPS 13 we tested had an Intel Core i7-1165G7). Lenovo’s tuning of the Core i7-1186G7 doesn’t make the most of its potential.
Intel’s Iris Xe graphics make a mixed showing. The Yoga 9i slightly beat the Asus Zenbook 14, powered by an AMD Ryzen processor with Radeon integrated graphics, in less demanding game benchmarks. The Yoga 9i won its victories by just a few frames per second, but a win is a win.
Shoppers needing strong multi-core performance should look for an AMD Ryzen processor, instead.
However, the Yoga 9i failed to launch Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Metro Exodus. That’s disappointing. Intel’s integrated graphics remain an unreliable choice for gaming.
In practice, most people won’t have a problem with the Lenovo Yoga 9i’s performance most of the time. It feels speedy in day-to-day use and can handle many open applications at once. Still, anyone in need of strong multi-core performance should look for an AMD Ryzen processor, like that in the Asus Zenbook 14, or a six-core Intel i7-10710U, which can be found in the 2019 variant of the Dell XPS 13.
The laptop’s WiFi range isn’t great
Credit: Matthew S. Smith / Reviewed
The Lenovo Yoga 9i’s WiFi 6 performance can be impressive, enabling wireless downloads that are just as quick as using wired Ethernet. There’s more to WiFi than speed, though. Reliability is also key, and that’s where the laptop tripped up.
We spent some time using the laptop in a detached office that’s 60 feet away from a router. This is a difficult scenario that some laptops can’t handle, and the Yoga 9i is among them. Its wireless range was so poor the laptop sometimes couldn’t reach the internet at all.
The 9i struggled when placed multiple rooms away from a router. Its WiFi remained adequate for web browsing but was unreliable for video conferencing over Zoom or Slack. The modest range could be an issue in large homes that lack excellent WiFi coverage.
Should you buy it?
No. It's a passable option in an arena packed with top-tier competition.
Mediocre performance is its key flaw. The Yoga 9i isn’t slow, but its Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor feels lackluster for the price. The MacBook Air or Pro with Apple Silicon blows away this laptop in both benchmarks and day-to-day use. Sticking to the Windows world, you’ll find better performance from a laptop with AMD’s Ryzen or an Intel Core i7 six-core CPU.
If you can get past its performance, the Yoga 9i’s lackluster tablet mode is a problem. It’s fine in some situations. You might like folding the keyboard back and propping the Yoga 9i on your lap while you watch a movie. Try to use it like a Microsoft Surface Pro or an iPad, though, and you’ll tire of its bulk.
There’s some good news. The Lenovo Yoga 9i nails several fundamental features. It has a great keyboard, a pleasant touchpad, a good display, and excellent audio. We enjoyed using the laptop through most of our testing, WiFi range issues aside.
Still, the Yoga 9i’s competitors outpace it. The Dell XPS 13 is a better portable laptop. Asus’ Zenbook 14 is a better performance value. Microsoft's Surface Pro is a superior Windows 2-in-1. And if you need raw speed, the MacBook Pro 13 with Apple Silicon will serve you better.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i is a jack of all trades. It’s not bad, and sometimes quite good, but it’s never the best value for your money.
Matthew S. Smith is a veteran tech journalist and general-purpose PC hardware nerd. Formerly the Lead Editor of Reviews at Digital Trends, he has over a decade of experience covering PC hardware. Matt often flies the virtual skies in Microsoft Flight Simulator and is on a quest to grow the perfect heirloom tomato.
We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. If you’ve found different results in your own research, email us and we’ll compare notes. If it looks substantial, we’ll gladly re-test a product to try and reproduce these results. After all, peer reviews are a critical part of any scientific process.
After graduating with a B.S. in environmental hydrodynamics from the University of California, I studied reactor physics to become licensed by the U.S. NRC to operate nuclear reactors. There's a striking level of appreciation you gain for everyday consumer electronics after working with modern nuclear reactivity systems astonishingly powered by computers from the 80s. When I'm not managing day-to-day activities and US review articles on Notebookcheck, you can catch me following the eSports scene and the latest gaming news.
Chromebooks are laptops and two-in-ones that run on Google'sChrome operating system. While the hardware might look like any old laptop, the minimalistic, web-browser-based Chrome OS is a different experience from the MacOS and Windows laptops you're probably used to. If you're not sure what exactly a Chromebook can and can't do compared to other laptops, here's all the info you need to know. Basically, though, Chromebooks are a great pick if you live your life on the web and don't need to install Windows or Mac software.
Chromebooks are generally more affordable than Windows PCs, MacBooks and iPads, too. However, as the Chrome OS has evolved to include use of Android apps from the Google Play store, you'll now find premium models with faster processors, more memory and speedier storage. They're more expensive, of course, but also slimmer, lighter and typically have better battery life.
Editors' top picks
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The list below comprises the best Chromebook picks we've reviewed and is updated regularly as we review new products. Each one is independently chosen by our editors.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
The Duet is a 10-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad. Its small size might be a little limiting as a primary device, though you can connect to an external display via its USB-C port. It is, however, a great pick if you're looking for an affordable Chromebook for pure mobility or as a secondary device. Read our review of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet..
Josh Goldman/CNET
The Acer Chromebook 715 started life as a premium model targeted at a growing business market for Chrome OS devices. Along with its smaller sibling, the Acer Chromebook 714, the 715 has a premium all-aluminum chassis built to survive drops from up to 48 inches (122 cm) and downward force up to 132 pounds (60 kg). You could also get the Acer Chromebook 715 with a fingerprint reader, a backlit keyboard, an Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of memory for around $750. Or, you can get a much more affordable version that dials back on the specs and extras but keeps the premium build quality, making it a fantastic choice for a home office or student Chromebook laptop. Read our Acer Chromebook 715 review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
The Chromebook Flip C434 was one of our favorites last year, and we think it's a great Chromebook this year, too. The Flip C436 has a slim aluminum design with a 14-inch full-HD touchscreen. Inside you'll find higher-end components than the previous iteration for greatly improved performance. This touchscreen Chromebook also comes with a higher price, though, starting at $700. Still, as Chrome OS matures, the extra processing performance is certainly nice to have, as is having that performance in an attractive design. Read our Asus Chromebook Flip C436FA review.
Juan Garzon / CNET
Just as Google's Pixel phones offer the best pure Android experience, the Pixelbook Go is built to deliver the best of Chrome OS. The premium Chromebook starts at $649, but fully loaded with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage and a 4K display, the price hits a pricey $1,399. That's a lot, and more than what's needed for most people. Still, it's an excellent little Chromebook, especially for those who really want to explore all that Chrome can do including Linux and Android apps. Read our Pixelbook Go review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
Tired of trying to work on documents or spreadsheets on a small widescreen display? The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 uses one of Acer's bright VertiView displays, a 13.5-inch 2,256x1,504-pixel touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio. As the name implies, it gives you more vertical room to work, but it still has the width of a typical 13.3-inch laptop with a 16:9 ratio. Between that and its battery life that lasted more than 12 hours in our tests, you'll be able to get more work done in a day and it's still thin and light enough for an everyday carry.
Josh Goldman/CNET
If you'd rather have a wider screen instead of a taller one like the Spin 713's, this HP is the way to go. It's roughly 0.75 inches wider than a premium 13.3-inch model, but that extra width in screen size makes it easier to work in two windows side-by-side. The two-in-one design means you can use it as a tablet (though it's a bit heavy to use handheld) or tent it and connect an external keyboard and mouse and use it as a small all-in-one computer.
The Core i3 processor and 8GB of memory kept it running smoothly even with a couple dozen tabs open and streaming video in the background. And it has a long battery life to boot, lasting 10 hours, 40 minutes in our tests.
Josh Goldman/CNET
The Galaxy Chromebook is stunning. From its brilliant red aluminum body to its crisp 3,840x2,160-pixel AMOLED display, this slim, small two-in-one is far from the thick, plastic Chromebooks that were once the category standard. Its Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and speedy 256GB SSD give it fast performance. And it has nice extras like a fingerprint reader to unlock it, a backlit keyboard and one of Samsung's S Pens with 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt that stores in the body so you always have it handy.
The Galaxy Chromebook does get warm when you're working, so you might have to keep it off your lap. But battery life is its weakest link, reaching a little more than 7 hours on our streaming video test. However, it does charge quickly, so if you don't mind topping off your battery after a few hours of use, this is a good option for a small Chromebook with a lot of personality.
There’s a bang-up sale on the top configuration of the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook currently going on. And the deal is good all the way through January 24 at Costco.
Aside from getting 8 GB of memory, you also get the 128 GB storage configuration. Oh and that’s not the slower eMMC storage; it’s NVMe, which is much faster for moving data back and forth on the internal drive.
The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook has a solid 1080p touchscreen, measuring 13.3-inches, and getting a Core i3 processor is quite a value at this price.
Two USB Type-C (3.1), one USB Type-A (3.1),
headphone jack
Battery
Claimed run-time of up to 10 hours
Weight
2.97 pounds
Software
Chrome OS automatic software update
expiration: Jun 2028
As I said earlier this month, the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook should be capable of anything you can throw at it: basic browsing, online productivity apps, and games via streaming services or from the Google Play Store.
I’ve watched many streaming services on this device too: The IPS panel is quite good even though the brightness is average at 250 nits.
You’ll need to be a Costco member to buy at this price, else you pay a small premium. My advice? See if a friend or family member who belongs to Costco will order one if you think this is the Chromebook for you. By the way, Costco provides a second year on your warranty; another nice perk.
One complaint I’ve heard quite a few times about this device is worth a mention before you pull the trigger though.
Several commenters have noted that the plastic hinges have broken on this device. I haven’t experienced that with the Flex 5, nor any other Chromebook that uses plastic hinges. However, it should be noted that this issue has surfaced more than once.
We reviewed the Lenovo Legion 7i earlier this year and it ended up being one of our favorite gaming laptops of the year. However, a factor that made it out of reach for a large chunk of consumers was its price. Starting at Rs. 2 lakhs, the Legion 7i was a powerhouse for sure but not everyone can spend that sort of money on a laptop. Along with performance, one aspect of the Legion 7i that stood out to us was its design. While there obviously needs to be some compromise in performance to lower the price tag, Lenovo has launched the Legion 5 with almost the exact same design as the Legion 7i but for a fraction of its price.
We have been using the Lenovo Legion 5 laptop for the past few days and while we still need to test out aspects like thermals and sustained performance extensively, we have a few thoughts about the laptop that might help you make a purchase decision if you are an early adopter and you want to get your hands on the machine as soon as it is made available to purchase. While we are on the topic of purchase, let us get it out of the way that the Legion 5 will start at a price of Rs. 74,999 in India for the base configuration.
Design and Build
As we mentioned earlier, one of the highlights of the Legion 7i that we reviewed earlier apart from its performance was its design and construction. The same design philosophy has been implemented on the Legion 5 as well which makes it an attractive machine. The Legion 5 has a solid build and feels sturdy when held in hand. The exterior has a matte finish and does show fingerprints quite easily. The Legion branding sits on the top right of the front panel accompanied by the Lenovo branding on the bottom left.
The hinge mechanism of the Legion 5 makes it appear like a book when closed which looks neat. While we mentioned that the Legion 5 is sturdy and built very well, one factor that put us off is the weight of the laptop. The Legion 5 weighs in at 2.5Kg which when carried along with a generously large power brick will surely result in some uneasiness for your shoulders and spine. Given the powerful internals, weight is a factor that is very hard to tackle with gaming laptops so if you want something thin and light, you will have to compromise on the performance.
Ports and I/O
The Legion 5 is constructed out of polycarbonate and it seems like a logical choice given that metal would have added to the weight. Ports on the Legion 5i are abundant. You get 4 USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a USB-C port, an ethernet port, a full-size HDMI, a Kensington lock, a 3.5mm combo jack, and Lenovo’s proprietary charging port. The Legion 5 does not have a fingerprint scanner or facial recognition so you cannot use Windows Hello.
The Legion 5 has a full-size keyboard with a Numpad and the key travel seems good in our initial testing. The deck is comfortable to type on although there does seem to be a little flex when pressure is exerted. The keyboard is backlit with white light, unlike RGB lighting that is quite common on gaming laptops including Lenovo’s own Legion 7i. Lenovo says that they decided to go with white to give the Legion 5 a minimal aesthetic and to make sure it fits into any environment. The trackpad is slightly offset to the left and feels quite smooth and provides good feedback when clicked.
Display
The Legion 5 has a 15.6-inch Full HD display with an anti-glare coating and a refresh rate of 120Hz making it suitable for gamers. It is an IPS display with configurations going up to 144Hz and 100% sRGB coverage, <3ms response time, and support for Dolby Vision. The display looks sharp and the colors on it look bright and vivid. The anti-glare coating makes it easier to use the laptop near a window and the viewing angles are also good. The bezels surrounding the display are quite slim on three sides which gives it an immersive experience.
We will have more to say about the display in our full review which will come out after a few weeks of use. The media consumption experience in our initial impressions is good though and the Harman Kardon tuned speakers add to the overall package. There is a 720p webcam above the display that even has a privacy cover that is built into a slider, just like we saw on the Legion 7i.
Internals
Our unit of the Legion 5 comes equipped with the AMD Ryzen 5 4600H CPU clocked at 3GHz and this can be upgraded to a Ryzen 7 4800H at the time of purchase. This is accompanied by the GTX 1650Ti from Nvidia which also can be upgraded to the RTX 2060 on the maxed-out configuration. There is 8GB of 3200MHz DDR4 RAM on the base variant with an option to upgrade to 16GB. If you choose to go for the base variant, the RAM is user-upgradable too at a later stage.
Our unit has a 256GB PCIe SSD as the boot drive along with a 1TB 7200RPM mechanical drive. Lenovo could have done away with the HDD in favor of a larger capacity SSD which would have both increased the performance and shaved a few grams off of the weight. Along with Windows 10, you also get pre-installed Microsoft Office Student and Home Edition free with the laptop. You also get Lenovo Vantage that can be used to configure the performance of the laptop.
General performance seems fast and snappy just like you would expect from a laptop with these specs, but we need to spend more time with the machine to test the thermal performance and see if there are any signs of throttling with prolonged usage. We will test out some games and also try editing videos as such laptops tend to appeal to content creators as well apart from gamers due to their raw performance.
Battery
The Legion 5 has an 80Wh battery with a claimed battery life of 8 hours and while we have not been able to test the battery life extensively, the performance we have been getting from the Legion 5 is far from the claimed endurance. Just sitting in an idle state with the screen at 70% brightness, the Legion 5 lost about 20% in half an hour which is not very reassuring. Just like most gaming laptops, it is safe to say that being around wall outlets is your best bet with the Legion 5.
The Legion 5 from Lenovo seems like a solid option for anyone looking for an entry-level gaming laptop that does not break the bank. For a starting price of Rs. 74,990, the Legion 5 has a solid build with a sober design and has internals that looks promising on paper. If you are planning on getting yourself the Lenovo Legion 5, stay tuned for our full review wherein we will dive into all the nitty-gritty details of the laptop and answer the most obvious question – Is the Legion 5 the best laptop to buy under Rs. 75k?
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