Skip to main content

New Lenovo IdeaPads look like the Chromebooks to beat

Mobile World Congress 2024
Read our complete coverage of Mobile World Congress

Lenovo unveiled a number of new Chromebooks as part of the Mobile World Congress event. The devices include the IdeaPad Flex 5i and 3i and the IdeaPad Duet 3.

The IdeaPad 5i and 3i have 14-inch and 15-inch displays, respectively. They both have a FHD IPS panel with 400-nit peak brightness. Both of these Chromebooks are 2-in-1 convertibles. Aside from that and the screen quality, though, the two devices are actually quite different.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i with the lid open.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The IdeaPad 5i is the more premium of the two, but both devices are on the higher end in terms of screen quality on Chromebooks, which tend to be lower resolution and often have TN panels. The 5i can run an Intel Pentium 8505, an Intel Core i3-1215U, or an Intel Core i5-1235U.

Recommended Videos

The 5i can also be equipped with 4GB/8GB LPDDR4X memory and a 256/512GB SSD, and it includes two USB-C ports, a USB-A port, a microSD slot, and a Kensington Nano Security slot.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i laid out flat.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The IdeaPad 3i is notably less powerful and clearly aimed at students or younger users. It will run an Intel Celeron N4500 or Pentium N6000 with 4/8GB LPDDR4X memory. The 3i is limited to eMMC storage, and you can get from 32GB all the way to 128GB. It only has one USB-C port and one USB-A port, but switches out the Kensington slot for an HDMI port.

Please enable Javascript to view this content
Stay informed with the upcoming release, click the Add to Calendar button below to add this event to your personal calendar.

The IdeaPad Flex 3i will start at $399 and will be available in May. The IdeaPad Flex 5i with an Intel processor will retail starting at $499 and launch in June.

The front and back of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 tablet.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lenovo also unveiled the IdeaPad Duet 3. This is the latest in the Duet lineup, which regularly appeared on our list of the best Chromebooks you can buy. The Duet 5 earned our Recommended Product award when we reviewed it. The new 2-in-1 will be powered by a Snapdragon 7c and have 4/8GB of RAM. Its eMMC flash storage starts at 64GB and maxes out at 256GB.

It has an impressive 11-inch 2K display with touch and stylus support. The keyboard is also detachable, making it a tablet and Chromebook in one.

The IdeaPad Duet 3 starts at $399 and will be available in May.

These Chromebooks are just a sliver of the bevy of announcements Lenovo made at the MWC.

Caleb Clark
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Caleb Clark is a full-time writer that primarily covers consumer tech and gaming. He also writes frequently on Medium about…
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i hands-on: One-upping the Surface Pro
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i tablet.

Microsoft's Surface Pro 8 might be the best Windows 2-in-1 you can buy, but companies like Lenovo are using the base design of the device to try new things with the form factor. The ThinkPad X12 detachable is a good example of this, but Lenovo is now going after the Surface again with the new IdeaPad Duet 5i.

I got to try it ahead of Mobile World Congress and quickly found out that this new Windows tablet can do one thing that a Surface Pro or Surface Go can't -- and it's all thanks to the keyboard.

Read more
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 hands-on review: Gaming on the cheap
The white 15-inch IdeaPad Gaming 3 is placed on a seating area near a large window.

Lenovo is sprinkling its entry-level gaming systems with design and functions typically reserved for its premium Legion brand laptops. The IdeaPad Gaming 3 and 3i laptops will be available in AMD and Intel Core processor configurations respectively and 15-and 16-inch displays options but will get a real taste of Lenovo's high-end gaming features for the first time.

The biggest upgrades on the IdeaPad Gaming 3 are the major ports are set up at the rear of the system. This is a direct trickle-down feature from the Legion brand design to the entry-level laptops. These models also include USB ports on either side for functions such as mouse peripherals or USB sticks, which users can plugin quickly. In comparison, the previous IdeaPad Gaming 3 generation featured all of its ports on its sides.

Read more
Lenovo enhances ThinkPad X1 line with audio, video, and security updates
Lenovo ThinkPad announcement featured image.

Lenovo has introduced several new ThinkPad models at CES 2022, with features aimed at improving the experience of hybrid workers. Common to all models is a new "communications bar" that houses a Full HD (1920 x 1080) webcam and infrared camera for improved video quality and security, along with 360-degree far-field quad array microphones for enhanced Dolby audio.

The communications bar also provides something to grab onto when opening the lid. Also new is the improved Computer Vision (CV) technology that enhances the ThinkShield security by improving user presence detection for smarter privacy, more convenient login, and better energy management. Finally, ThinkPad X1 models now support Tile's full suite of location features, allowing users to find their PCs for up to 14 days even when it's shut down.
ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 Image used with permission by copyright holder

Read more