The priciest laptops are worth spending on, especially if you’re a pro gamer or a creative professional using graphics-heavy tools like Photoshop or After Effects. Most people don’t need all that power in a PC. Sometimes, all you need is an affordable, portable, and can handle basic tasks – that’s exactly what you’re getting with Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook.
The IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is a good choice for the masses as it lets you perform day-to-day tasks like checking emails, surfing the web, and connecting with colleagues over Zoom calls without breaking the bank. As ever, Chromebooks are not perfect alternatives to Windows laptops, but if your needs don’t dictate that you run Windows on your machine of choice, Chromebooks are hard to beat in both form and function.
Since this is a budget model from Lenovo, you can be sure to see it on sale often—discounted for students mostly—and that will probably swing your buying decision. It does have a chic design that I don’t regularly see on budget laptops, and the almost full-day battery life is spectacular. For better or worse, this is essentially the Honda Civic of budget Chromebooks with an Abyss Blue sheen.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook Specs
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4500
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 64GB eMMC
- Display: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080
- Webcam: 720p with privacy shutter
- Weight: 3.48 pounds
- Size: 14.25 x 9.57 x 0.75 inches
Design and Features
The IdeaPad 3i sports a simple yet functional design. Its chassis, primarily plastic, feels sturdy for its price range, and the Abyss Blue colorway makes it look more premium than it costs. Measuring 14.25 x 9.57 x 0.75 inches and weighing 3.48 pounds, this IdeaPad is lightweight and portable, making it suitable for travel or daily commutes.
Lenovo is known for delivering laptops with solid build quality, and the same is replicated on the IdeaPad 1i, offering robust screen hinges and a durable outer casing. If you’re buying it for your school or college students, you don’t have to worry about it falling apart in a few days at college.
While the IdeaPad 3i Chromebook doesn’t offer a full-sized keyboard with a number pad, it still manages to deliver an excellent typing experience: the key presses feel soft but with good travel, the keys are well spaced, and it offers the usual array of shortcuts on the function keys at the top. There’s no keyboard backlighting, but it’s something you don’t expect at this price point, and while the trackpad is small, it feels substantial and responsive.
The 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display offers a 1920 x 1080 resolution, adequate for most basic tasks. However, with a peak brightness of 288 nits and 56% sRGB color coverage, the screen may appear dim and less vibrant compared to premium models. Still, this is a budget Chromebook through and through, and the fact that it manages to pack a Full HD display and 720p camera adds to an overall impressive computing experience.
Port selection is decent, with one of each USB 3.2 and Type-C, alongside HDMI 1.4B, a card reader, a headphone/microphone combo jack, and a power connector. Wireless connectivity comes in the way of Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
Performance
With an Intel Celeron N4500 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC flash storage, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is only cut for basic everyday multitasking. The Intel Celeron N4500 is a dual-core SoC in the Jasper Lake series that was released in early 2021 and targeted for inexpensive laptops and Chromebooks.
It closely compares with the Intel Celeron N5100 and has a Geekbench 5 score of 584 against the N5100’s 620 on single-core tests and 1081 against the N5100’s 1656 in multi-core tests. The biggest advantage of the Celeron N4500 is support for up to 32GB DDR4 RAM, which is not possible with most budget laptops.
For daily tasks like watching 1080p YouTube videos, typing college assignments, or finishing an official report, it gets the job done. However, the IdeaPad 3i lacks the firepower to load more demanding tasks, with notable hiccups when you attempt to overload it with tasks in the background. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics card used here offers enough power to play web games, and that’s all.
In general usage, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i can run a single light task at a time. Flipping between multiple tasks tends to cause some occasional pauses, and clicking on a dormant web tab will lead to another wait as the content loads back, a little more memory can smooth things over, that’s for sure, but such is the way with cheap laptops.
On battery life, the IdeaPad 3i stacks up well against competitors, lasting up to 10 hours on a single charge. That’s almost an entire day at school or work and some more; we’ve seen some Windows laptops like the Acer Aspire 3 last that much, though.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook Review: Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is a solid choice for users who prioritize affordability over premium features. Despite being an affordable piece of kit, it sports a sturdy design that’s typical of Lenovo machines, no matter the price point. Granted, it has a few flaws, like limited storage and the obvious limitations of Chrome OS, but it nonetheless remains a great value laptop for everyday use.
Sure, you’ll spend more for a laptop with a sharper, brighter screen and more powerful components, but when it comes to value for money, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is one of the best you can find around. Overall, it’s money well spent.
Recommended Configuration
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook, 15.6” FHD Display, Intel Celeron N4500, 8GB RAM, 64GB
$149.99 in stock
29 used from $118.49
The Review
Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is a budget-friendly laptop that’s designed for students and remote workers who need basic performance for little money.
PROS
- Very affordable
- Good for day-to-day tasks
- 720p webcam with privacy shutter
- Decent battery life
CONS
- Low screen brightness
Review Breakdown
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RS SCORE
