Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Review

Value When Reviewed

$319

Greatest Costs Right now: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook

$249.00

Ah, Chromebooks. What an ever-evolving journey we’ve seen thus far. After they first got here into existence, Chromebooks had been a preferred choice for college students resulting from their sturdy frames and inexpensive worth factors. They had been (and nonetheless are) designed to be on a regular basis machines.

These days, there are even cloud-ready gaming Chromebooks, one thing I by no means thought I’d see. Whereas we’ve evaluated all kinds of Chromebooks, from fashionable 2-in-1s to machines manufactured from recycled materials, this time I’m reviewing the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook. Lenovo’s newest providing is unquestionably a extra conservative strategy, however that isn’t essentially a nasty factor.

The IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is an honest worth purchase. The design is straightforward but efficient, the body feels sturdy and well-built, and efficiency is dependable, particularly throughout day-to-day duties. Battery life is unbelievable too, making it a great choice for younger professionals or faculty college students. You’ll be able to’t actually beat the value, both.

The factor is, the specs aren’t all that spectacular. That mentioned, I don’t imagine it’s truthful to dock it for its {hardware}. This can be a Chromebook, in any case, and it’s solely able to a lot. This clamshell may be removed from reinventing the wheel, but it surely doesn’t must. Why mess with the formulation if it really works? You’ll discover nothing however the fundamentals right here. Learn on to study extra.

Design & construct

My first impression of each laptop computer I overview begins with the second I slide or raise it out of the field. Once I first held the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook in my fingers, I used to be happy with how mild it felt. It weighs round 1.3kg, which slots it within the ultraportable class.

I don’t commute to work, so I can’t converse to the expertise of taking it with me on the subway. That mentioned, as a full-time distant employee, toting the Slim 3 round my home was each simple and easy.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

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The design is refined and complicated – one thing of a quiet magnificence. I’m particularly keen on the textured end on the lid. When you run your hand throughout the lid, you’ll discover one aspect is easy whereas the opposite has little raised bumps. It’s a minuscule element, but it surely provides a little bit of a lot wanted luxurious to the general system. The “Abyss Blue” color scheme can be fairly pretty. The color isn’t distracting in any respect, and it appears tremendous glossy underneath the suitable lights.

Keyboard & trackpad

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

I didn’t battle a lot with the keyboard or trackpad, as they’re fairly just like my private Chromebook. I have a tendency to sit down folded up like origami once I’m in mattress, typically with my laptop computer precariously balanced on my legs (in all probability why I typically expertise muscle soreness.)

This place makes it very tough to efficiently use a laptop computer keyboard. Nevertheless, when sitting up like a standard human being and utilizing the Slim 3 at a desk, I loved the typing expertise. The keys felt springy and typos had been a uncommon phenomenon.

The trackpad was equally simple to get accustomed to. It sits within the centre of the keyboard deck, which is what I favor. There’s nothing extra aggravating than an off-centre trackpad. Some people like them, however they actually destroy my day.

As for utilizing the trackpad, it registered my faucets and swipes simply wonderful. The floor felt actually easy, virtually prefer it was made out of glass (regardless that it isn’t). There have been just a few misfires right here and there.

Show & audio

I used to be stunned by the standard of the Slim 3’s contact show.

It measures 14 inches and has a decision of 1920×1080, which is okay for on a regular basis duties like e mail and shopping the online. Once I watched the primary episode of the brand new Futurama sequence, colors seemed good and smaller particulars like the ins and outs contained in the present’s Planet Specific constructing had been crisp.

The bezels are comparatively skinny as nicely, which supplies you extra display screen house. The utmost brightness degree is round 300 nits. It’s wonderful for indoor use, however you received’t be capable to see a lot on the display screen in the event you resolve to take this machine exterior.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

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The audio system sound first rate. It’s a user-facing speaker system, so the sound is coming proper at you. Once I performed certainly one of my favorite Lofi channels on YouTube, it was loud sufficient to fill my eating room, which is a medium-sized house that stems off of my kitchen.

The audio system use Waves Max Audio, which is meant to boost the general audio efficiency. The audio system are wonderful for taking part in music and whatnot, however I wasn’t tremendous blown away. It’s positively not like being in an IMAX theatre.

Webcam

I’m of the thoughts that every one laptops ought to include 1080p webcams, as distant work is extra frequent lately. Sadly, the Slim 3’s 720p webcam is an actual sticking level for me. As somebody who works from dwelling, I’d favor to look as crisp as doable throughout videoconferencing calls.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

Once I recorded a video of myself typing away on the keyboard, I used to be disillusioned within the high quality of the image. The straps of my purple gown seemed washed out and background particulars such the swaying tree exterior my window appeared a bit fuzzy. That mentioned, you might at all times decide up an exterior webcam.

Connectivity

The port choice is okay, however nothing actually noteworthy. You’re getting one Kensington lock slot, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, one headphone/microphone jack, and one microSD card reader.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

It’s sufficient for the on a regular basis particular person, as some people favor plugging into an exterior monitor or mouse. It’s good to have choices, proper? You in all probability don’t have to deliver an adapter with you.

Efficiency

Look, I’m going to degree with you right here. The Slim 3 isn’t probably the most highly effective laptop computer I’ve ever examined, however that’s not what it was designed for.

When you’re utilizing the system for general-use functions (shopping social media, checking e mail, and so forth), then it’s fully serviceable. Something extra demanding than that and also you’ll probably see a little bit of a slowdown.

Once I had a bunch of tabs open in my browser, I did discover a slight slowdown when loading up a contemporary web page or navigating to a different open tab. That’s not shocking, as there’s solely 4GB of RAM. RAM instantly impacts internet shopping pace, which is why I like to recommend at the least 8GB for informal use.

Right here’s how the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook carried out in our browser-based benchmarks:

• CrXPRT 2: 73
• Speedometer: 29.6
• Basemark Internet 3.0: 302.97
• Kraken: 2137.8ms
• Jetstream 2: 74.077

In comparison with Chromebooks with Intel or AMD processors, the Slim 3 falls behind (however not by a lot). The Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip, for instance, had a CrXPRT 2 rating of 148 and a Speedometer rating of 73.7. The Flip got here geared up with an AMD processor, which is extra highly effective than the Slim’s MediaTek Kompanio 520.

That mentioned, MediaTek CPUs are designed to suit inside mild and moveable laptops, which the Slim 3 positively is. So, you’ve bought to select your poison right here. Both you go together with a barely slower however extra moveable laptop computer or a heavier one with zippier efficiency.

By the way in which, the CrXPRT 2 efficiency benchmark measures issues comparable to how briskly your Chromebook completes duties and the Speedometer benchmark captures the responsiveness of the online functions. These benchmarks are good indicators of how a Chromebook will carry out underneath totally different hundreds. It also needs to be famous that as a result of Chromebooks get up to date each six weeks, the take a look at outcomes aren’t at all times going to line up completely.

Battery life

The Slim 3’s 47 watt-hour battery kicked some severe butt. Once I ran the battery benchmark, which cycles by way of numerous duties till the laptop computer dies, the Chromebook breathed its final metaphorical breath on the 16 hour mark.

That’s an ideal end result, particularly in the event you plan on taking this laptop computer in all places with you. Nevertheless, typically talking, Chromebooks are likely to have nice battery life, so I’m not stunned by the end result.

Verdict

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a wonderfully serviceable Chromebook. Though it’s not probably the most modern laptop computer I’ve ever labored with, it’s nonetheless a great worth purchase, particularly in the event you’re a pupil or younger skilled.

It has sufficient energy for mild use, whereas the battery will preserve you going lengthy after your workday ends. Additionally, the inclusion of a 1080p contact show is a pleasant function to have on a laptop computer that prices simply $319/£249.

Efficiency may very well be a contact snappier, however that’s to be anticipated at this worth. You’ll have to taper your expectations some, particularly as this machine has solely 4GB of RAM.

However in the event you want a cheap on a regular basis machine, then the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is value your hard-earned money.

Specs

Listed here are the particular specs for the mannequin examined:

• CPU: MediaTek Kompanio 520
• GPU: ARM Mali-G52 2EE MC2
• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 64GB eMMC
• Ports: 1 USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, 1 microSD card reader, 1 headphone/microphone combo jack
• Digital camera: 720p with privateness shutter
• Audio: 2W x2 stereo audio system
• Battery: 47 watt-hour
• Dimensions: 12.83 x 8.73 x 0.73 inches
• Weight: 1.3kg

This overview was initially printed on PCWorld.