The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is a budget Chromebook. It's available with various Intel CPUs, up to an Intel Core i3-N305, a low-power processor with eight efficiency cores. You can configure the laptop with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage. For the display, you can choose between a 768p TN or a 1080p IPS panel; the latter is available with or without touch input. It has Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, a 1080p webcam, and a 56Wh battery. Ports include two USB-As, one USB-C with support for charging and video output, an HDMI 1.4, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
You can see our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section below.
Our Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is decent for general productivity. It's easy to carry, and its battery lasts easily through a typical workday. It has a sharp, bright display, an excellent 1080p webcam, and a spacious, albeit slightly mushy, keyboard. Its Intel CPU can easily handle general productivity tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations; however, you'll likely experience some slowdowns if you have many things running simultaneously. You can only use web apps and Android apps from the Google Play Store on Chrome OS, so it might not be suitable if your work requires specialized programs that only run on Windows or macOS.
- Easy to carry around.
- Long battery life.
- Sharp, bright display.
- Excellent 1080p webcam.
- Small touchpad with mediocre tracking.
- No Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is very good for media consumption. It's very portable, and its battery lasts over 12 hours of video playback, giving you plenty of time to get through multiple movies and TV show episodes. Its 1080p display looks sharp and gets bright enough to combat glare; however, its low contrast makes blacks look gray in dim settings. Unfortunately, while the speakers get very loud, they sound tinny and unnatural, with almost no bass.
- Easy to carry around.
- Long battery life.
- Sharp, bright display.
- Speakers get very loud.
- Blacks look gray in dim settings.
- Speakers sound tinny and unnatural, with no bass.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is bad for gaming. Not many games run natively on Chrome OS. You can play games from the Google Play Store, but some might not work properly, as they're designed for Android smartphones and tablets. Additionally, this laptop's low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle even moderately demanding games, and it's only available with slow 60Hz displays with no VRR support. On the upside, the laptop doesn't get hot or loud under load.
- Remains cool and quiet under load.
- CPU and GPU can't handle demanding workloads.
- 60Hz display with slow response time and no VRR.
- Limited game selection on Chrome OS.
- Slow storage drive.
- Soldered RAM and storage drive.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is bad for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks, and you can only get up to 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. Also, it runs Chrome OS, so you're limited to web-based apps and Android apps from the Google Play Store. On the bright side, it doesn't get hot or loud under load.
- Remains cool and quiet under load.
- CPU and GPU can't handle demanding workloads.
- Slow storage drive.
- Soldered RAM and storage drive.
- No Thunderbolt 4 or USB4.
Changelog
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Updated Oct 30, 2025:
We've updated text throughout the review after converting to Test Bench 0.9.
- Updated Oct 30, 2025: We've updated the review to Test Bench 0.9, which adds several test boxes in the performance section, including CPU/RAM Performance, Low Tier Graphics, High Tier Graphics, Professional 3D (GPU accelerated), CPU-Intensive Game Performance, GPU-Intensive Game Performance, and Ray Tracing Performance. See the 0.9 changelog here.
- Updated May 07, 2025: We've updated this review to Test Bench 0.8.3, which removes the viewing angle tests and adds a GPU Total Graphics Power comparison in the GPU section. The Pen Input test in the Extra Features section has also changed, as it now shows whether the laptop supports pen input rather than the inclusion of a stylus in the box. See the changelog for more details.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook (model 83BN0002US) with an FHD touch-sensitive display, an Intel Core i3-N305 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The screen, CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; the available options are in the table below.
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You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook is a good budget Chromebook. Its display gets brighter than most Chrome OS devices in its class, and its battery life is also among the best. However, like most budget Chromebooks, its limited performance makes it only suitable for those with a light workload.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best Chromebooks, the best student Chromebooks, and the best budget and cheap laptops.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) and the ASUS Chromebook Flip CX5 14 (2021) are both 14-inch laptops that provide a good user experience overall. The Lenovo has a brighter display, a better webcam, and a longer battery life; however, the ASUS has a sturdier build and a more responsive touchpad. You can get the Lenovo with a touch-sensitive display, but unlike the ASUS, it isn't a 2-in-1 convertible.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) and the Lenovo Chromebook C340 15 (2020) are both good budget Chromebooks. The C340 has a larger 15.6-inch screen and a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, and unlike the Slim 3i, it's a 2-in-1 convertible, so you can use it as a tablet. It also has a sturdier build and a better keyboard and touchpad. On the other hand, the Slim 3i has a brighter display, a better 1080p webcam, and a slightly longer battery life.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) is better than the HP Chromebook 14 (2021) for most uses. The Lenovo has a sturdier build, a brighter display, and a better 1080p webcam. It also has a wider port selection, a faster Wi-Fi 6E wireless adapter, and better CPU performance. However, the HP has a slightly better keyboard and touchpad, and its battery lasts almost three hours longer.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022) is much better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023). The Acer has a sturdier build, a more tactile keyboard, and a more responsive touchpad. It also has a better webcam and supports Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to transfer files quickly and connect two 4k displays with a single cable. The Acer is available with faster CPUs, so it can handle heavier multitasking and more intensive applications. Additionally, it's a 2-in-1 with stylus support, while the Lenovo is a more traditional clamshell model with touch input.
Test Results
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