This $350 Lenovo Chromebook will change your mind about cheap laptops

When I used to be in faculty years in the past, I put my hard-earned, burger-flipping job {dollars} right into a Toshiba Chromebook 2. It had a beneficiant 13.3-inch show, value round $330, and appeared like a MacBook from afar. (I admit with embarrassment that the final bit was crucial to my shopping for determination.)

Also: This $180 Android pill is able to issues my iPad Pro can solely dream of

The laptop computer bought me by means of two semesters earlier than the battery began to empty itself with no regard for scholar life, the Wi-Fi would swap off at random intervals, and that MacBook-looking show would actually detach itself. My faculty funding was gone however not forgotten.

Fast ahead to this week, after I started testing Lenovo’s Flex 3i Chromebook, first introduced at CES in January. If you’ve got shopped within the sub-$350 market earlier than, then simply how tough it may be to discover a laptop computer that is really viable. Viewing angles are by no means splendid, urgent on the touchpad can really feel such as you’re breaking a toy, and basic compromises are felt greater than the rest.

But this $350 Chromebook from Lenovo adjustments all the pieces.

ZDNET RECOMMENDS

Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook

An reasonably priced touchscreen laptop computer that punches above its value class.

After spending the previous few days with Lenovo’s comparatively cheap laptop computer, I can not assist however envy faculty college students who’ve such competent computing choices on this value vary right this moment.

To put issues into perspective, ask your self this: What do you worth in a laptop computer? Do you need a high-resolution show? Does it have touchscreen help? What ports do you want? Does privateness matter to you?

Also: How to put in Android apps on your Chromebook

No matter the place your mind takes you, there’s an opportunity that this Lenovo Chromebook will meet your calls for. The Flex 3i has a 1920 x 1080 decision show that may be folded backward into tent mode and pill mode, a wealth of ports together with HDMI, USB-C, microSD, and a headphone jack, and even a privateness shutter for if you’re not utilizing the webcam — or if you wish to know for positive that you simply will not pop right into a video name trying all awkward.

Now, earlier than I gasoline you up with what looks like one of the best deal on the web since free TVs, let me make it clear that this Chromebook is not going to switch a MacBook or high-end Windows laptop computer. The Flex 3i can barely deal with a 1080p video edit, the trackpad, realistically, solely has room for one to 2 fingers at a time, and the construct high quality is an absolute grand slam if you happen to’re a fan of plastic and nothing but it surely. 

And whereas I’m at it, it would not assist that if you set the laptop computer in tent or pill mode, the top-firing audio system develop into back-firing audio system. It’s like listening to somebody speaking, however their again is going through you. I digress.

Also: The finest Android tablets you should purchase proper now

By and huge, the Lenovo Chromebook has greater than sufficient computing energy for many college students, distant staff, and informal customers alike, with 4GB of RAM and an Intel N100 processor. It’s within the extra conventional apps and companies the place the Flex 3i actually shines.

Things like on-line content material creation, streaming motion pictures and TV exhibits (or the NBA playoffs), and attending video conferences are dealt with with grace, and never as soon as did I hear any hissing noises or indicators of overheating. That’s greater than I might ask for from a $349 laptop computer.

Also: This reusable good pocket book is a visible learner’s dream device 

The portability of the Flex 3i is the cherry on high. Compared to the 16-inch MacBook Pro that I normally lug round, the Lenovo weighs lower than three kilos and it is as backpack-friendly as laptops come.

For $349, I problem you to discover a laptop computer with extra performance and advantages than the Lenovo Flex 3i Chromebook. I’m not saying that is one of the best laptop computer available on the market, however it could’ve simply been on the high of my shopping for checklist if I used to be nonetheless in faculty, and that is coming from somebody who’s had all of the experiences with shopping for $300 laptops.