I’ve examined and owned a number of tablets and laptops over time. The Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook, which features each as a laptop computer and pill, is the one I exploit probably the most and suits my every day life completely. If I want a much bigger display screen or a wider keyboard for sooner typing, I’ll step as much as my commonplace laptop computer. But as a result of I recurrently commute to work on the prepare, I like having a smaller system that is compact, light-weight and multitalented.
I significantly like the flexibility of the Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook. It has an 11-inch touchscreen paired with a removable keyboard cowl, a rear cowl with a kickstand and, if you would like, you may pair it with an energetic pen for writing or drawing on the display screen. Right now the Duet is marked right down to $249 throughout Best Buy’s Presidents Day sale, which is a fairly candy deal on an already reasonably priced 2-in-1 system.
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Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Specs
| Price | $249 |
|---|---|
| Display measurement/decision | 11-inch 1,920 x 1,200 contact LCD |
| CPU | 2.6GHz MediaTek Kompanio 838 |
| Memory | 8GB LPDDR4X |
| Graphics | Integrated graphics |
| Storage | 128GB eMMC |
| Networking | Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (x2), 3.5mm combo audio jack |
| Operating system | ChromeOS |
Why I like this pill
On the floor, you may assume it is no completely different than an iPad or any variety of Android tablets. But the massive variations are the working system, ChromeOS, and its value. If you’ve got by no means used ChromeOS, it is form of a mixture between a conventional desktop OS like Windows or MacOS and a cell OS that your cellphone makes use of. The mixture makes it simpler for me to get work achieved with a keyboard and trackpad or mouse, however it additionally makes use of apps from the Google Play Store, so it has a cell system really feel too. The solely hiccup may be in case your work depends on software program out there just for MacOS or Windows. That’s by no means been a problem for me, as there’s usually an internet or cell app I can use as a replacement.
The Duet 11 helps me keep busy throughout my prepare commute
The Duet’s measurement is very nice for my prepare commute, letting me simply edit docs or reply to emails on my technique to work. It has a unbelievable front-facing 5-megapixel digicam, too, so I can use it for a Zoom chat when mandatory, and the digicam has a bodily privateness shutter to dam it out the remainder of the time. I particularly just like the Duet 11’s zippy efficiency. It wakes as quickly as I drop the keyboard open, and I can shortly tether to my Pixel cellphone for an prompt web connection. Battery life is robust, too, at as much as 11 hours in my use of it.
Using the Duet in your lap generally is a little little bit of a balancing act, however it’s doable. Its compact measurement makes it superb for cramped espresso store tables and different locations the place a full-size laptop computer may be awkward. It additionally weighs solely about 2 kilos with all of its equipment.
Read extra: Why a Chromebook Is Probably All You Need
Like lots of people, I unwind on my commute dwelling with some leisure, and the Duet additionally shines for that. Pop off the magnetically hooked up keyboard and ChromeOS switches to a extra touch-friendly expertise. The pill helps cloud gaming companies similar to Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now, which implies that with a robust net connection, you may play every kind of video games. I like to play cell video games on it from the Play Store too.
The Duet’s additionally an e-reader
In addition to being superb for commuting and cramped areas, the Duet can be a great e-reader. I exploit it for studying manga with the Viz and Shonen Jump apps, and I recurrently dip into my library’s assortment of ebooks and magazines through the Libby app. The system is nice for streaming video and music too, although I want Bluetooth headphones over the pill’s little audio system.
While I primarily use it for journey and on my commute, the Duet is equally nice round the home. I would not advocate the Duet as your solely laptop computer except you merely need not do greater than fundamental dwelling workplace work and may connect with a bigger show, keyboard and mouse. The 11-inch touchscreen, whereas great-looking, is slightly too small for all-day, on a regular basis use. But as a secondary system to a bigger, extra highly effective desktop or laptop computer, it is nearly excellent.
If you are available in the market for extra reasonably priced tech, we have rounded up all the most effective offers for Presidents Day. Also, listed here are CNET’s high picks for the greatest Chromebooks available on the market.
