The Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2020) is a budget 2-in-1 laptop that runs on Chrome OS. Its compact size is great for portability as it can easily fit into most bags, and its battery lasts nearly twelve hours of light productivity on a full charge. It has an ARM-based mobile SoC (System-on-Chip) that can handle simple tasks, but it's nowhere near powerful enough for demanding workloads. Also, you can't install x86 applications due to Chrome OS' limitations, which means you're limited to using web apps through the Chrome browser or Android and Linux apps. Unfortunately, the keyboard is tiring to type on, the touchpad is tiny, and the speakers sound bad. Also, it has a sub-par webcam and only a single USB-C port.
There are three models of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. They all have the same CPU, GPU, and memory configuration; the only differences are the storage sizes and whether or not a stylus pen is included. Our unit has 64GB of storage, which should be enough for most people, but if you want a bit more headroom or want to install games from the Google Play Store, you might want to opt for 128GB. Our unit doesn't include a stylus pen, but you can get a 64GB model that does, and the 128GB model includes one by default.
Our Verdict
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is okay for school use. Its compact size makes it easy to carry around, and its battery lasts well over a full day if you're mainly performing light tasks, like web browsing and text formatting. The screen is sharp but doesn't give a whole lot of space for multitasking. Unfortunately, the keyboard is tiring to type on, the touchpad is small and prone to accidental triggers, and it only has a single USB-C port.
- Very portable due to compact size.
- Excellent battery life.
- Only one USB-C port.
- Small keyboard is hard to type on.
- Webcam image is too dark.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is bad for gaming. It's a Chrome OS device that runs on a low-power ARM-based mobile SoC, so it can only run light Android games from the Google Play Store. Even then, some games aren't optimized for keyboard and touchpad input. Also, it has a 60Hz screen with no VRR support.
- Mobile SoC not powerful enough to handle demanding workloads.
- 60Hz screen with no VRR support.
- Can't run x86 applications.
- Hard to access internals for repairs; no user-upgradeable parts.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is decent for media consumption. It's very portable thanks to its compact size, and the battery life is excellent for video playback. The screen looks sharp and gets bright enough to combat glare in well-lit settings, but it isn't the best for dark rooms because it has a low contrast ratio that makes blacks appear grayish. It supports touch input so that you can watch in tablet mode without having to carry the keyboard around. The speakers sound pretty bad, and it also lacks a headphone jack. A USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter is included in the box, but since it only has a single USB-C port, you can't charge the device or connect an external display while using wired headphones.
- Very portable due to compact size.
- Screen produces a sharp image due to high pixel density.
- Speakers sound bad and don't get very loud.
- Low contrast not ideal for dark rooms.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is bad for use as a workstation. You can't install any x86 applications because it's a Chrome OS device with an ARM-based mobile SoC, and it doesn't have enough processing power to handle demanding tasks like video editing or 3D rendering. It has a slow eMMC storage drive, a single USB-C port, and you can't upgrade any of the components after purchase.
- Mobile SoC not powerful enough to handle demanding workloads.
- Only one USB-C port.
- Can't run x86 applications.
- Hard to access internals for repairs; no user-upgradeable parts.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is sub-par for business use. Although it's very portable, its small screen size might make some tasks quite hard, like split-screen multitasking or working in a spreadsheet. On top of that, it runs on Chrome OS, which means you can't install any x86 applications. The keyboard feels cramped even for people with small hands, and the tiny touchpad is prone to accidental triggers. The webcam's video quality is disappointing, and its single USB-C port can only output a 720p signal to an external display. On the bright side, the battery lasts almost twelve hours of light productivity on a full charge.
- Very portable due to compact size.
- Excellent battery life.
- Only one USB-C port.
- Small keyboard is hard to type on.
- Can't run x86 applications.
- Webcam image is too dark.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 01, 2023: Added mention of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (2022) as an alternative with better performance in the Geekbench 5 section.
- Updated Nov 01, 2021: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 10.1" Lenovo Chromebook Duet. The CPU, GPU, and memory aren't configurable. You can only choose between a model with 64GB or 128GB of storage. Our unit (part number ZA6F0031US) doesn't include a USI stylus, but you can get a 64GB model with one (part number ZA6F0072US), and the 128GB model (part number ZA6F0075US) includes one by default.
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Our display and performance results are only valid for the configuration that we tested. If you come across a different configuration option not listed above, or you have a similar Chromebook Duet that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it. Some tests, like black uniformity and color accuracy, may vary between individual units.
You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2020) and the Microsoft Surface Go 2 (2020) are both 2-in-1 ultraportable laptops with kickstands and detachable keyboards, but the Surface runs Windows, whereas the Lenovo uses Chrome OS. The Surface is better for most uses, with a better-feeling build, a display with more accurate colors, and a few more ports. Also, it has a better keyboard and touchpad, its speakers sound nicer, and its webcam and microphone are far superior. The Lenovo's battery lasts much longer, and although its MediaTek Heli P60T CPU performs better than the Pentium Gold on the Surface, you can get the Surface with a better-performing Intel m3 processor.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 (2021) and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2020) are both 2-in-1 convertible laptops that you can also use in tablet mode. However, the Acer uses a 360-degree hinge that lets you flip the screen around, whereas the Lenovo has a kickstand and detachable keyboard. While the Lenovo's screen is smaller, it looks significantly sharper, brighter, and more colorful. The Acer's keyboard doesn't feel as cramped as the Lenovo's and provides a better typing experience. The Acer also has a larger touchpad and better port selection. CPU and GPU performance is about the same on both laptops; however, the Acer has a much longer battery life due to its larger battery capacity.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2020) and the Samsung Chromebook 4 (2019) are both ultraportables with power-efficient CPUs running Chrome OS. The Lenovo has a tablet-like form factor with a kickstand and is better for multimedia viewing, whereas the Samsung has a traditional clamshell design and is better for business use. The Lenovo's IPS display has a much better resolution, gets far brighter, and displays far more accurate colors. On the other hand, the Samsung's keyboard and touchpad feel much better to use, while its speakers, webcam, and microphone are significantly better. It also has more ports.
The HP Stream 11 (2021) and the Lenovo Chromebook Duet (2020) are compact devices designed for light tasks like web browsing and media playback. However, the Stream 11 runs Windows, while the Chromebook Duet runs Chrome OS. The Duet is more versatile because it's a 2-in-1 convertible with a detachable keyboard. The Duet's screen is smaller, but it's much sharper, brighter, and more colorful, whereas the Stream 11's screen looks dim and dull. The Duet has better battery life for web browsing and video playback, but it doesn't last as long as the Stream 11 for gaming.
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