We bought our new check instrument right through Black Friday on Amazon for an incredible US$110. Lately, the pc’s costs vary from US$200 to US$230 and it used to be the most affordable pc of December 2023. With a purpose to succeed in this low value, Lenovo has, as anticipated, needed to make somewhat a couple of financial savings. Within the Chromebook, you’ll in finding {hardware} most often recognized from smartphones, specifically a MediaTek-ARM SoC, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of sluggish eMMC flash garage. Because of its frugal ChromeOS, the {hardware} does not should be a dealbreaker.
Optionally, you’ll additionally get the Lenovo IdeaPad Narrow 3 Chromebook (14″ MediaTek) with 128 GB eMMC and an IPS touchscreen. The IPS panel’s higher viewing angles might turn out to be a in particular giant reason why to improve from our check instrument’s TN touchscreen. Alternatively, within the area by which this pc used to be examined (DACH area), this is not recently to be had. As an alternative, you’ll most effective in finding an Alder Lake-N-based type 14IAN8 with a Core i3-N305, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB flash garage. At over US$700, this can be a complete different value vary. Fortunately, you’ll in finding the type with an IPS panel in america. Right here, this model retails for roughly US$270.
Within the toughen space, Lenovo has additionally indexed this instrument because the “IP Narrow 3 Chrome 14M868 – Kind 82XJ”.
Visually, the MediaTek Chromebook’s plastic case feels higher high quality than its value would make you suppose. As it is usually used for a lot more dear units, you are going to very much have the benefit of this. The design is obviously impressed through Apple’s MacBook Air and appears nice due to its swish form. As a result of its tapered edges, the case seems slimmer than it in fact is. Sadly, the plastic used for this instrument is somewhat liable to attracting scratches. Regardless of being very cautious, we already spotted a couple of visual scratches at the most sensible a part of our check instrument’s case. In comparison to Apple’s aluminum circumstances, the IdeaPad won’t have the ability to stay up relating to haptics or steadiness, however particularly when allowing for its low value, we’re more than pleased with our check pattern’s case. One small weak spot is that you’ll pay attention a clicking noise when choosing the pc up through considered one of its corners, in addition to when the usage of the touchpad (even supposing it does not appear to use a real button click on). Additionally, our check instrument does not sit down completely flippantly on its two toes.
In comparison to its visible inspiration, the Apple MacBook Air, the IdeaPad Narrow 3 is significantly thicker and its dimensions sit down between the 13 and 15 inch fashions. Compared to the in a similar way affordable Asus Chromebook CM14, the IP Narrow 3 is just a little smaller.
Aside from a Kensington port at the appropriate aspect of the instrument, all its different ports are located at the left—sensible for right-handed other people. The USB-C port could also be used to provide the pc with energy, that means you’ll be reliant on a docking station from time to time to make use of it. Alternatively, like the opposite USB-A port, the Chromebook most effective helps USB 3.2 Gen 1 (prior to now USB 3.0 and due to this fact 5 Gbps = 400 MB/s). With its headset port and microSD slot, you’re in fact most effective lacking an HDMI port. Because the MediaTek chip’s video output is restricted to Complete HD, the similar restrictions follow to exterior displays, will have to you want to attach one.
The put in microSD card reader completed below-average leads to our benchmarks. In comparison to Asus’ introductory type, Lenovo has pulled the quick straw—then again, its efficiency is ok for every now and then moving footage and recordsdata. When used as a hard and fast garage medium, its knowledge charges are somewhat proscribing.
The built-in WiFi 6 modem (plugged-in M.2 2230 2×2 module Lenovo 5W11H85391) labored completely in our check, but it surely additionally did not reach any document speeds.
The put in webcam takes medium-quality photographs at 1280 x 960 pixels the usage of ChromeOS. If there may be sufficient mild, the digital camera is excellent sufficient for video meetings. The mechanical duvet located above the webcam means that you can manually block the lens.
The IdeaPad Narrow 3 CB most effective comes delivered with a small 45-watt USB-C charger in a field created from recycled cardboard. Alternatively, the pc is secured the usage of polystyrene.
The Chromebook can also be unfolded moderately simply by way of the ground. The quilt is hung on through 9 Torqx screws and a few plastic clips. Within, you’ll change out the WLAN card, screwed-in battery in addition to the audio system.
The IP Narrow 3 Chrome 14M868 is roofed through Lenovo’s restricted guaranty. This can also be seemed up for particular person merchandise the usage of their serial numbers by way of Lenovo’s site. Guaranty upgrades are to be had.
The IdeaPad’s keyboard options the usual format for ChromeOS laptops. The person chiclet keys are 15.5 x 15.2 mm in dimension and be offering a enough elevate of 1.4 mm. In case you don’t seem to be used to a Chromebook, then you may have to get used to the quick distance setting apart the Input and “#” keys. Aside from this, the format is relaxed. Haptically, the person keys really feel just a little affordable and have a tendency to rattle slightly. The writer of this text controlled to kind speedy in this keyboard (92 phrases consistent with minute) and with none errors.
The keys function white labelling which can also be learn simply, however they don’t seem to be backlit.
The put in clickpad is somewhat giant (12 cm diagonally) and regardless of its plastic floor, it feels great and clean. Moreover, the touchpad can also be pressed down through 0.7 mm at the backside 4/5 of its floor, which ends up in a pleasing and visually-noticeable click on impact.
Throughout the introductory type, the show’s most effective redeeming high quality is its answer. Its 1920 x 1080 pixels be offering great sharpness, specifically as a result of ChromeOS can scale the person interface neatly and depicts textual content well. Its most brightness of 281 cd/m² in the course of the display is shiny sufficient for indoor use, however even its matte show floor is not a lot lend a hand within the solar. Plus, it is not lit probably the most flippantly; the ground 3rd used to be just a little darker than the remaining. Its black worth is ok, leading to a distinction ratio of 624:1. With regards to colour depiction, the AUO 208D panel did not reach the most productive values. Its colour deviations of 12.4 (common DeltaE) go away so much to be desired. Every other giant drawback of the TN panel is its deficient viewing-angle steadiness. Even while you transfer your head a small quantity, you understand the display’s brightness various. Consequently, our photograph of the pc’s viewing angles presentations a development at the show. We have been satisfied to notice that Lenovo does not use PWM to dim the display. Sadly, it sort of feels that the panel is an affordable 6-bit panel, as we famous some Temporal Dithering when it got here to grey values in our slow-motion video.
A singular function is that the Lenovo Chromebook uses the affordable and moderately new MediaTek Kompanio 520 SoC. It’s in accordance with ARM and integrates a CPU and GPU from ARM. The SoC accesses 4 GB of soldered-on LPDDR4X-3600 RAM and is manufactured in 7nm.
As is same old for ChromeOS, there are not any choices to keep watch over the CPU/GPU efficiency. Information about the SoC also are slightly to be had. As Android and Linux run the usage of a digital system, those additionally do not make many main points to be had.
The processor section throughout the MediaTek Kompanio 520 is composed of 2 clusters and a complete of 8 ARM-based CPU cores. The efficiency cluster properties two larger ARM Cortex-A76 cores recognized from older smartphone processors such because the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. There are six small ARM Cortex-A55 cores throughout the potency cluster. All cores have a most clock price of 2 GHz.
Relating to CPU efficiency, the small ARM cores can most effective stay alongside of the previous Intel Pentium N5030 (Gemini Lake Quad-Core at max 3.1 GHz). The brand new Alder Lake N processors, such because the Intel N100, are significantly sooner. Our comparisons have been sadly limited to the previous Geekbench 5.5, because the more recent 6.2 ended in reproducible crashes.
The MediaTek device’s device efficiency could also be restricted to absolute introductory ranges. The Kompanio 520’s general CrossMark rating may just most effective stay alongside of the sluggish Celeron J4125, last some distance at the back of more recent CPUs. The Celeron N4020, regularly utilized in older introductory-level laptops, used to be left within the mud. Its CrXPRT 2 efficiency paints a identical image. The Kompanio got here simply at the back of a Celeron N4500, however forward of an AMD 3015Ce.
Those vulnerable benchmark effects can be felt in on a regular basis use. Loading internet sites is slightly laggy and pages load somewhat slightly slower than on sooner programs. As well as, observing YouTube movies at over 1080p ends up in dropped frames and lagging playback. Alternatively, because the Chromebook does not toughen output at over 1080p, this damaging level should not be too essential.
As a garage instrument, the Lenovo Chromebook depends on sluggish eMMC 5.1 chips which can be soldered on. The introductory type has 64 GB, of which most effective 46 GB are loose to make use of. An extra 10 GB might be wanted for Crostini, which truly does not go away a lot area for Android and Linux apps or in your personal footage and movies.
The MediaTek Kompanio 520’s graphics card is the small ARM Mali-G52MP2 iGPU. Customers have get right of entry to to just two of its conceivable six cores and this iGPU is regularly utilized in older smartphone SoCs. Its efficiency (e.g. in GFXBench Aztec ruins Customary Offscreen) is similar to the smartphone variants and has a identical velocity to a UHD Graphics 600 within the Celeron N4000 (e.g. Lenovo Chromebook S340). All the way through the DMark Wild Lifestyles tension check, we did not see any indicators that the GPU used to be throttled. Alternatively, the Tension Take a look at app published that the CPU used to be somewhat throttled and below longer NPU load, it used to be throttled extra significantly.
The vulnerable graphics unit is most effective appropriate for a handful of easy Android video games. PUBG, for instance, did not run easily in any respect right through our check—even on the lowest element atmosphere—whilst Asphalt 8 might be performed neatly. Roblox completed between 20 and 40fps, relying at the recreation. The newest model of Steam wasn’t to be had on our check instrument.
Because the small MediaTek processor is cooled passively, the Lenovo Chromebook stays silent even below complete load.
Regardless of the SoC’s passive cooling, the pc’s floor temperatures stay very low. We measured a hotspot of most effective 33°C at the backside of the instrument after longer 3-D graphics load.
The pc’s two 2-watt stereo audio system are most effective appropriate for easy makes use of comparable to taking note of podcasts or YouTube movies. Song is not extraordinarily relaxing. We might suggest the usage of the built-in headset port (which, sadly, additionally does not ship the most productive high quality, but it surely a minimum of does not produce any audible background noise).
The vulnerable ARM SoC no longer most effective has some benefits relating to temperatures, however its energy intake values also are a large plus for the Chromebook. Nonetheless, in comparison to the remainder of the category that includes a Snapdragon 7c or a Celeron N4500, the values do not in particular stand out.
The Kompanio is a superb significant other relating to runtimes, too. Lenovo controlled to squeeze 14.5 hours out of its 46-Wh battery right through our check at 150-nit brightness, and simply over 11 hours at complete brightness. This implies a complete running day will have to be no drawback with out the ability provide. This additionally beats the Asus Chromebook CM14 with the similar SoC however just a 42-Wh battery.
The Chromebook takes about 2 hours for its battery to be totally replenished. At 50 watts, it fees in no time right through the primary 45 mins, then it temporarily sinks all the way down to 30 watts, adopted through it regularly nearing 0 from the one-hour-and-ten-minute mark.
In our check, the Lenovo IdeaPad Narrow 3 Chromebook proved to be one of the crucial most cost-effective laptops recently in the marketplace. Visually, the instrument inspired us with its high quality really feel. In regards to its value, the pc is constructed neatly and its number of fabrics is excellent, then again, the highest case may be very delicate to scratches. Because of its vulnerable {hardware} configuration, you’ll have to make somewhat a couple of compromises in the way it operates. For lesser tough duties comparable to browsing the internet and for administrative center makes use of, its efficiency is sufficient. Alternatively, the SoC temporarily nears its limits when taking part in extra tough video games downloaded from the Play Retailer. Its smaller and slower eMMC garage additionally limits your use somewhat slightly. As well as, the pc’s audio system can most effective be classed as introductory and are slightly appropriate for taking note of tune.
Fortunately, the Lenovo IdeaPad Narrow 3 Chromebook’s lengthy runtimes—plus its silent and funky operation—discuss for the instrument. It masters this even below load.
Its Complete-HD panel sadly suffers from very deficient viewing angles on account of the TN era used. Its colour depiction is not all too nice both. Nonetheless, it’s undoubtedly excellent sufficient for easy administrative center duties and because of its 1920×1080-pixel answer, its depiction is sweet and sharp.
One giant merit is the pc’s assured replace toughen till June 2033 and ChromeOS’s safety choices.
We were given our IdeaPad Narrow 3 CB right through Black Friday on Amazon for an unbeatable US$110. Lately, you’ll in finding it for roughly US$230. The model with an IPS touchscreen is recently on be offering for US$220.
Allow 48h for review and removal.