Lenovo announced a plethora of new devices at MWC 2022, and among them is the IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook, the successor to the 2020 Chromebook Duet 3/Chromebook Duet/IdeaPad Duet. The new Chrome OS tablet boasts multiple new features, but are they significant enough to warrant an upgrade from its predecessor? In the second half of 2021, Lenovo announced the Chromebook Duet 5, a 13-inch Chrome OS tablet that was originally thought to be the successor to the Chromebook Duet 3. The 13-inch model comes with an OLED display, a Snapdragon processor, and a detachable keyboard.
Chrome OS tablets are great alternatives to iPads, Android, and Windows tablets. They can easily switch to a desktop mode when a keyboard is attached, allowing for more productive work to be done. Other than Lenovo, there are other brands that also make Chrome OS tablets. In 2021, HP announced the Chromebook x2 11, an 11-inch 2-in-1 laptop with a detachable keyboard. ASUS also has the Chromebook Detachable CM3 and a rugged version called the Chromebook Detachable CZ1 that is designed for students.
There are a number of design changes that the IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook brings, but the most notable one is the bigger display. The screen has uniform bezels around it and the edges of the frame are rounded. Lenovo has switched the position of the power button — now on the left when in landscape mode — while the volume buttons are at the top. On the left and right sides of the tablet are a USB-C port and a speaker grill for each of the dual speakers. Lenovo is sticking to the same dual-tone design that has become a signature look for its tablets, but the colors are different this time. Buyers will be able to pick it up in Misty Blue or Storm Gray hues and it will ship with a detachable spill-resistant and pry-proof keyboard in the box.
IdeaPad Duet 3 Vs. Chromebook Duet 3
The IdeaPad Duet 3 has an 11-inch 2K LCD display with stylus support, which is bigger than the 10.1-inch FHD IPS screen of the Chromebook Duet. The larger screen means apps and windows get a bit more space and don't look cramped, especially when in split-screen mode. The new tablet comes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 chipset, the same one inside the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5. The chipset is more powerful than the MediaTek Helio P60T a.k.a. Kompanio 500 inside its predecessor. It also comes with up to 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and up to 256GB of eMMC storage. The Chromebook Duet is only available with 4GB of RAM with the option to purchase it in 64GB or 128GB variants. Unfortunately, there is still no support for storage expansion on the new model.
Video calls should also be better on the IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook as the front-facing camera is a 5MP sensor compared to the 2MP camera of the Chromebook Duet. However, the 8MP rear camera has been carried over from the 2020 model. There is Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 5 and the two USB-C ports mean users can connect peripherals to one port and charge with the other. In contrast, the Chromebook Duet has Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 5, and a single USB-C port. Lenovo says the IdeaPad Duet 3 has a battery life of up to 12 hours, more than the 10 hours advertised for its predecessor. Nevertheless, users may get more usage out of it considering the Chromebook Duet is known to last more than 10 hours. The spec sheet also mentions support for 45W Quick Charge on the IdeaPad Duet 3 which is way faster than the Chromebook Duet's 18W fast charging.
The bigger display, more powerful processor, extra USB-C port, and the option for more RAM and storage are all worthy upgrades for the IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook when compared to the Chromebook Duet 3. However, these upgrades bring an increase in price. Lenovo says the tablet will start at €349 (~$390) when it is available in May 2022. However, like Lenovo's other Chrome OS tablets it is expected to make its way to the United States under a different name since Lenovo doesn't use the “IdeaPad” brand in the U.S.
Source: Lenovo