Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Review

Worth When Reviewed

$319

Greatest Costs Right now: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook

$249.00

Ah, Chromebooks. What an ever-evolving journey we’ve seen to date. Once they first got here into existence, Chromebooks had been a preferred possibility for college students on account of their sturdy frames and reasonably priced value 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 types of Chromebooks, from fashionable 2-in-1s to machines fabricated from recycled materials, this time I’m reviewing the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook. Lenovo’s newest providing is certainly a extra conservative strategy, however that isn’t essentially a foul 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 incredible too, making it possibility for younger professionals or faculty college students. You possibly can’t actually beat the worth, both.

The factor is, the specs aren’t all that spectacular. That stated, I don’t imagine it’s honest to dock it for its {hardware}. It is a Chromebook, in spite of everything, and it’s solely able to a lot. This clamshell could be removed from reinventing the wheel, but it surely doesn’t need to. Why mess with the system if it really works? You’ll discover nothing however the fundamentals right here. Learn on to be taught extra.

Design & construct

My first impression of each laptop computer I evaluation begins with the second I slide or carry it out of the field. Once I first held the IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook in my arms, 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 communicate to the expertise of taking it with me on the subway. That stated, as a full-time distant employee, toting the Slim 3 round my home was each straightforward and easy.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The design is refined and complex – one thing of a quiet magnificence. I’m particularly keen on the textured end on the lid. Should you run your hand throughout the lid, you’ll discover one facet is clean 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 gadget. The “Abyss Blue” color scheme can also be fairly beautiful. The color isn’t distracting in any respect, and it appears to be like tremendous glossy below the precise lights.

Keyboard & trackpad

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

I didn’t battle a lot with the keyboard or trackpad, as they’re fairly much 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 (most likely why I typically expertise muscle soreness.)

This place makes it very tough to efficiently use a laptop computer keyboard. Nonetheless, when sitting up like a traditional 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 straightforward to get accustomed to. It sits within the centre of the keyboard deck, which is what I desire. There’s nothing extra aggravating than an off-centre trackpad. Some of us like them, however they actually smash my day.

As for utilizing the trackpad, it registered my faucets and swipes simply fantastic. The floor felt actually clean, virtually prefer it was made out of glass (despite the fact that it isn’t). There have been only some 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 ok for on a regular basis duties like electronic mail and looking the net. 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 Categorical constructing had been crisp.

The bezels are comparatively skinny as properly, which provides you extra display area. The utmost brightness stage is round 300 nits. It’s fantastic for indoor use, however you received’t have the ability to see a lot on the display in the event you resolve to take this machine exterior.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The audio system sound respectable. 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 area that stems off of my kitchen.

The audio system use Waves Max Audio, which is meant to reinforce the general audio efficiency. The audio system are fantastic for enjoying 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 each 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 house, I’d desire to look as crisp as attainable throughout videoconferencing calls.

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

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

Connectivity

The port choice is ok, 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 individual, as some of us desire plugging into an exterior monitor or mouse. It’s good to have choices, proper? You most likely don’t must convey an adapter with you.

Efficiency

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

Should you’re utilizing the gadget for general-use functions (looking social media, checking electronic mail, and so forth), then it’s solely serviceable. Something extra demanding than that and also you’ll possible 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 recent web page or navigating to a different open tab. That’s not stunning, as there’s solely 4GB of RAM. RAM instantly impacts net looking velocity, which is why I like to recommend a minimum of 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 outfitted with an AMD processor, which is extra highly effective than the Slim’s MediaTek Kompanio 520.

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

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

Battery life

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

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

Verdict

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a wonderfully serviceable Chromebook. Though it’s not essentially the most revolutionary laptop computer I’ve ever labored with, it’s nonetheless 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 characteristic to have on a laptop computer that prices simply $319/£249.

Efficiency might be a contact snappier, however that’s to be anticipated at this value. You’ll must taper your expectations some, particularly as this machine has solely 4GB of RAM.

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

Specs

Listed here are the precise 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 evaluation was initially revealed on PCWorld.