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Chromebooks haven’t ever been my favourite laptops or tablets, as I’m precisely the kind of one that wants the total software assist of a Home windows of macOS system. Nonetheless, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 might have modified my thoughts.If all you want from a laptop computer is the flexibility to work with net purposes, significantly in Google’s software program suite, then Chromebooks provide the most effective efficiency on your cash. As a result of in case your on-line wants boil right down to basic net looking, net purposes, and e-mail, there’s no cause to spend money on a pricier Home windows laptop computer when a ChromOS machine just like the Chromebook Duet 11 can work simply as effectively.Google introduced the refreshed Chromebook Duet 11 in early October when the corporate rolled out a number of new AI options to all Chromebooks. Like all different Chromebooks, the Duet 11 options built-in Gemini assist, a Welcome Recap, a Focus function, and the flexibility to pin recordsdata to the house display screen for simpler entry.Beneath all these AI options, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 offers strong battery life, high-quality entrance and rear cameras, good efficiency for the value, and slick stylus and gesture controls. And at beneath $400, that’s laborious to argue with.Whereas the Chromebook Duet 11 suffers from a mushy folio keyboard and a few 4GB reminiscence bottlenecks, it has loads of redeeming qualities to counterbalance these shortcomings. Whereas the ultimate Laptop computer Magazine rating continues to be pending the completion of our lab testing, however after spending some high quality hands-on time with the Chromebook Duet 11, it’s already a contender for our greatest Chromebooks listing.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: SpecsSwipe to scroll horizontallyPrice:$359.99 beginning, $379 as reviewedCPU:MediaTek Kompanio 838GPU:MediaTek Mali-G57 MC3RAM:4GBStorage:128GB SSDDisplay:10.9-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) IPSBattery:9:47Dimensions:10.05 x 6.57 x 0.3 inches Weight:2.08 kilos (with case), 1.12 kilos (pill solely) Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Value and configurationsThere are two configurations of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9. The beginning configuration prices $359.99 and comes with a MediaTek Kompanio 838 Processor, built-in MediaTek Mali-G57 MC3 graphics, 4GB of reminiscence, 64GB of SSD storage, a ten.95-inch 60Hz WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) IPS show, a folio keyboard case, and Lenovo USI Pen 2.The Duet 11 Gen 9 may also be upgraded to a 128GB SSD for $399.99. Some retailers are providing the 128GB mannequin of Duet 11 for $379, although this model doesn’t include the Lenovo USI Pen 2. Laptop computer Magazine reviewed the $379 mannequin of Duet 11 for this story.Whereas these specs go well with an 11-inch ChromeOS pill, Should you’re in search of extra energy, see the most effective laptops beneath $1,000 and greatest tablets lists.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Design(Picture credit score: Future)The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 is an 11-inch pill with a Folio keyboard case and stand. A number of fashions additionally include the Lenovo USI Pen 2 within the field. The aluminum chassis is available in a Luna Grey colorway, and the show is made from Corning Glass. Whereas the bezels are maybe a bit thicker than some competitor tablets, the general design feels very protected and according to the design of different Lenovo merchandise.The included folio keyboard doesn’t change that, as it is usually darkish grey.In order for you a pill that gained’t make waves at work or college, that is positively the choice for you.So, in order for you a pill that gained’t make waves at work or college, that is positively the choice for you. The one actually intelligent function of the Duet 11 design is the pen notch constructed into the Folio case, which lets you carry a magnetic stylus with out the danger of dropping it.The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 is gentle and skinny, measuring simply 10.05 x 6.57 x 0.3 inches and weighing simply 2.08 kilos with the case (1.12 kilos with out). Whereas 0.3 inches might not make it the slimmest pill Laptop computer Magazine has reviewed, it is extremely modern for an 11-inch pill. Overlook needing a devoted laptop computer bag or laptop computer backpack; the Chromebook Duet 11 is small and lightweight sufficient to suit into a handbag or health club bag.We in contrast the Duet 11 Gen 9 to related Chromebooks and tablets just like the Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip, Apple iPad Air 13 (M2), and Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook.Swipe to scroll horizontallyLaptopDimensionsWeightLenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 910.05 x 6.57 x 0.32.08 kilos (with case), 1.12 kilos (pill solely)Apple iPad Air 13 (M2)11.04 x 8.5 x 0.24 inches1.36 kilos (pill solely)Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip12.8 x 8.9 x 0.7 inches3.44 poundsLenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook12 x 7.4 x 0.28 inches2.24 kilos (with case), 1.5 kilos (pill solely)Concerning weight, the Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 was the lightest of the bunch. Because the CM14 Flip is the one 2-in-1 clamshell laptop computer of the bunch, it is sensible that it weighs greater than twice as a lot because the Duet 11.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: PortsThe Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 has solely a handful of ports:Two USB-C with 5Gbps switch speeds3.5mm Audio Combo jackWhile most Chromebook customers don’t want extra ports than that, if you wish to run a full workstation together with your Chromebook, you’ll want to choose up a USB-C hub or laptop computer docking station.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: SecurityThe Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 may be configured with a safety PIN and password. The pill additionally has a front-facing webcam with a bodily privateness shutter to forestall any potential peeping Toms.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Show(Picture credit score: Future)Chromebooks aren’t precisely identified for having the very best shows, particularly when laptops and tablets beneath $400. That stated, the shiny IPS panel on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is fairly attractive. It might simply be an FHD+ (1,920 x 1,200) show, but it surely’s vibrant and shiny sufficient to make most content material look implausible.To check the Duet 11’s show, I booted up the trailer for Common Photos’ upcoming motion movie Love Hurts. The trailer covers a variety of photographs, between inside scenes of Ke Huy Quan’s mild-mannered realtor Marvin Gable exhibiting off properties to attractive sundown landscapes, and the Chromebook Duet 11 didn’t miss a beat. The show had sufficient vibrancy to seize the Milwaukee suburbs’ glory whereas maintaining with the fast motion scenes.(Picture credit score: Future)Our lab assessments helped again up my hands-on expertise, because the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 lined 83% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with a Delta-E accuracy of 0.33. Solely the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook had a extra vibrant show, overlaying 85.2% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with an accuracy of 0.22. The iPad Air M2 (78.6%) and Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip (40.7%) had been a lot much less vibrant than the Chromebook Duet 11.Swipe to scroll horizontallyLaptopDisplay common brightness (nits)DCI-P3 colour gamut (%)Delta-E colour accuracy (smaller quantity is best)Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 940283.00percent0.33Apple iPad Air 13 (M2)57278.60percent0.27Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip26240.70percent0.17Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook36185.20percent0.22As for brightness, whereas the gloss panel on the Chromebook Duet 11 can choose up the occasional overhead glare, with a median peak brightness of 402 nits, you gained’t run into a lot hassle utilizing the pill in shiny environments. Solely the Apple iPad Air M2 was brighter, with a median brightness of 572 nits. The Chromebook CM14 Flip (262 nits) and IdeaPad Duet 5 (361 nits) had been a lot dimmer.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Keyboard and touchpad(Picture credit score: Future)The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 does include a keyboard case designed particularly to suit the pill. Whereas that type of comfort is at all times useful, pill case keyboards are usually not essentially the most satisfying typing expertise. The keys are shallow with a mushy activation, however there may be some tactile suggestions on the backside of the important thing to make the expertise a bit higher than an ultrathin keyboard or typing on the pill itself.On the 10fastfingers superior typing check, I averaged a rating of 88 phrases per minute, which completely matches my 88 WPM common on my Apple MacBook Professional 14 M1 Professional keyboard. So, regardless of my emotions, the keyboard is completely usable, even when it isn’t significantly noteworthy.As a result of the keyboard and touchpad are a part of a pill case, the touchpad is on the smaller aspect. It is sufficient to get by scrolling on the 11-inch Duet show, however choosing a stylus or Bluetooth mouse is vital should you want extra nuanced controls.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Audio(Picture credit score: Future)The Chromebook Duet 11 incorporates a twin 1W speaker array by SmartAMP, tuned by Waves Audio.I examined the Chromebook Duet 11’s audio with a private throwback favourite, Thrice’s “Picture of the Invisible.” The Duet 11 had surprisingly good audio high quality, crisp highs, and driving bass. Nonetheless, the best quantity gained’t be sufficient to fill a room.So, if you wish to use the Duet 11 on your subsequent film stream session, chances are you’ll wish to go for the most effective pc audio system for immersive sound. (Or spend money on headphones.)Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Efficiency(Picture credit score: Future)Chromebook efficiency may be difficult to guage, as they’re web-based methods. Nonetheless, the Intel Core i3-n305 processor within the x360 dealt with over ten Chrome tabs, streaming movies, and music utilizing YouTube and working web-app video games with no issue.As a result of the Chromebook Duet 11 has solely 4GB of reminiscence, we couldn’t run Geekbench 6 throughout testing. A rep from Lenovo tells Laptop computer Magazine, “The present OS model with Duet 11 is model 129, which can not run Geek Bench 6 check with 4GB reminiscence. Later variations like 130/131 needs to be OK. Model 130 needs to be out there round November 10.” So, we count on to replace this evaluate as soon as we’ve the finalized benchmarks.The Apple iPad Air 13’s M2 processor carried out exceptionally effectively on the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, with a single-core common of two,600 and a multicore rating of 10,066.We had been capable of run the older CPU benchmark Geekbench 5 on the Chromebook Duet 11, which helps for comparisons in opposition to the Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook. The Duet 11’s MediaTek Kompanio 838 processor leveraged a Geekbench 5 single-core rating of 775 and a multicore common of two,025.The IdeaPad Duet 5 with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor carried out worse on each metrics, with a single-core rating of 619 and a multicore rating of 1,727. Lastly, the MediaTek Kompanio 520-powered Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip fell effectively behind each Lenovo Chromebooks with a single-core common of 496 and a multicore rating of 1,449.Swipe to scroll horizontallyLaptopGeekbench 5 single-coreGeekbench 5 multicoreGeekbench 6 single-coreGeekbench 6 multicoreJetstream 2CrXPRT 2Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 97752,025N/AN/A114.301106Apple iPad Air 13 (M2)N/AN/A2,60010,066337.419N/AAsus Chromebook CM14 Flip4961,449N/AN/A74.49975Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook6191,727N/AN/A70.05955We examined the default browser for all 4 computer systems on the Jetstream 2 net browser benchmark.The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 scored 114.301 factors utilizing Google Chrome, which is effectively above the Chromebook CM14 Flip (74.499) and IdeaPad Duet 5 (70.059). The Apple iPad Air 13 outperformed all three Chromebooks and scored 337.419 factors on the Safari browser.We additionally put all three Chromebooks by means of the CrXPRT 2 basic efficiency benchmark, which runs by means of numerous on a regular basis duties like making use of picture results, figuring out faces, taking offline notes, calculating a inventory portfolio, producing 3D shapes, and processing eight DNA sequences for open studying. The Chromebook Duet 11 scored 106 factors on CrXPRT 2, effectively above the Chromebook CM14 Flip (75) and IdeaPad Duet 5 (55). As CrXPRT 2 is a ChromeOS software, we couldn’t run the benchmark on the iPad Air.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Battery life(Picture credit score: Future)I may simply get by means of my day while not having to discover a charger for the Duet.Battery life is commonly the most important promoting level for Chromebooks. As gentle, economical gadgets, working untethered from retailers for a complete workday or extra is crucial. I took the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 for a spin, utilizing it as a companion gadget throughout my work day and as an leisure gadget at house.Regardless of utilizing each cameras, streaming a film on Netflix, browsing the online, and enjoying an informal sport or two, I may simply get by means of my day while not having to discover a charger for the Duet.On the Laptop computer Magazine battery check, which units the laptop computer to 150 nits and repeatedly surfs the online, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 lasted 9 hours and 47 minutes.Swipe to scroll horizontallyLaptopBattery life (net browsing hh:mm)Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 909:47Apple iPad Air 13 (M2)11:30Asus Chromebook CM14 Flip10:14Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook13:31The Apple iPad Air 13 and IdeaPad Duet 5 surpassed the Duet 11 by a large margin. Nonetheless, all three of the comparability items had bigger chassis and bigger batteries. So the Duet 11’s 9:47 time is a little more spectacular than it appears primarily based on the competitors.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Cameras(Picture credit score: Future)The 5MP front-facing webcam has first rate high quality, and the AI-enhanced zoom will get you spectacular readability. I’ve by no means had a Chromebook webcam give me anxiousness concerning the state of my pores earlier than, however I suppose there’s a primary for all the pieces. That stated, it does have some colour distortion and bleed.Nonetheless, if it is advisable to do a whole lot of shows and video calls, I like to recommend utilizing one among our greatest webcams as an alternative for higher colour constancy.The 8MP rear-facing digicam won’t win any awards both, but it surely is much better than it actually has any proper to be. It struggles a bit with low-light and night time pictures, however it’s in any other case good for taking a fast snap or two so as to add to a presentation or e-mail.Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Warmth(Picture credit score: Future)Whereas the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 is a pill, we nonetheless ran it by means of our commonplace warmth check of streaming a 4K YouTube video for at the least quarter-hour. The most popular level on the Duet 11 was proper above the pen icon on the highest again of the pill, which hit a excessive of 88 levels Fahrenheit.That is effectively under the Laptop computer Magazine consolation threshold of 95 levels, so that you shouldn’t have any issues holding a maintain of the Duet 11 pill even after sustained utilization.Swipe to scroll horizontallyLaptopHottest floor & temperatureLenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 988 levels, proper above the pen icon on the highest again of tabletApple iPad Air 13 (M2)N/AAsus Chromebook CM14 Flip104.5, Rear underside on the leftmost labelLenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 ChromebookN/ALenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9: Software program and warrantyLike all Chromebooks, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 Gen 9 is pre-loaded with Google’s ChromeOS and its commonplace suite of software program, together with Chrome, Google Gemini, the Google Play Retailer, and Clip Studio.The Chromebook Duet 11 comes with a one-year Courier or Carry-in guarantee. To see how Lenovo customer support scored in our annual rating, try our Tech Assist Showdown.Backside line(Picture credit score: Future)I’m unsure I’d have the ability to change my laptop computer with a Chromebook full-time, however as a pill, the Chromebook Duet 11 affords unimaginable worth. Beginning at simply $359 you get strong efficiency, good battery life, a powerful show, first rate audio, and high quality cameras.With the highest spec coming in at beneath $400, the Chromebook Duet 11 is difficult to argue in opposition to. Certain, it could have some reminiscence bottlenecks as a result of solely having 4GB of RAM, and the folio keyboard might really feel a bit mushy, however the Duet 11 greater than makes up for these faults.Whereas our closing rating continues to be pending, I really feel it’s protected to say that the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 has made me a believer within the worth of a very good Chromebook.
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