This Lenovo Laptop Is My Favorite Go-Anywhere Technology, and It’s $110 Off on Black Friday
I’ve tested and used many different tablets over the years, but I’ve never fit one into my daily life. I use my phone or hop on my laptop when I need a bigger screen or a keyboard to type faster. But since I regularly travel to work by train, it is incredibly useful to have a device that is compact, light and versatile.
The Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook has this versatility and is currently on sale for Black Friday. It is an 11-inch tablet combined with a removable keyboard cover, a back cover with stand and, if you want, you can pair it with an active pen for drawing or writing on the screen. You can save $110 right now since it’s on sale $269 at Best Buy.
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At first glance, you might think it’s no different than an iPad or any number of Android tablets. But the big differences are the operating system, ChromeOS and its price. If you’ve never used ChromeOS, it’s kind of a mix between a traditional desktop operating system like Windows or MacOS and a mobile operating system that your phone uses. The combination makes it easier for me to get my work done with a keyboard and trackpad or mouse, but it also uses apps from the Google Play Store, so it feels like a mobile device too. The only problem may be that your work depends on software that is only available for MacOS or Windows. That’s never been an issue for me, as there’s usually a web or mobile app I can use instead.
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The Duet 11 helps me stay busy during my train journey
The Duet’s size is great for my commute, making it easy to edit documents or answer emails on the way to work. It also has a fantastic 5-megapixel camera on the front, so I can use it for a Zoom chat if necessary, and the camera has a physical privacy shutter to block it the rest of the time. I especially like the fast performance of the Duet 11. It wakes up as soon as I open the keyboard, and I can quickly connect to my Pixel phone for an instant internet connection. Battery life is also strong, up to 11 hours on my use of it.
It can be a bit of a balancing act to use the Duet on your lap, but it is doable. The compact size makes it ideal for tight coffee tables and other places where a full-size laptop can be inconvenient. It also only weighs about 2 pounds with all its accessories.
Read more: Why a Chromebook is probably all you need
Like many people, I relax on the way home with some entertainment, and the Duet excels at that. Take off the magnetically attached keyboard and ChromeOS switches to a more touch-friendly experience. The tablet supports cloud gaming services such as Xbox Game Pass and Nvidia GeForce Now, so you can play all kinds of games with a strong internet connection. I also like to play mobile games on it from the Play Store.
The versatility of the Duet makes it a great gift
In addition to being ideal for commuting and tight spaces, the Duet is also a good e-reader. I use it for reading manga with the Viz and Shonen Jump apps, and I regularly dip into my library’s collection of ebooks and magazines via the Libby app. The device is also good for streaming video and music, although I prefer Bluetooth headphones to the tablet’s small speakers.
Although I mainly use it for travel and commuting, the Duet is just as great around the house. I wouldn’t recommend the Duet as your only laptop unless you simply don’t need to do more than basic home office work and can connect to a larger display, keyboard and mouse. While the 11-inch touchscreen looks great, it’s a bit too small for all-day everyday use. But as a secondary device for a larger, more powerful desktop or laptop, it’s pretty much perfect.
Will the Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook be on sale during Black Friday and Cyber Monday?
The Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook is currently on sale and we expect it to remain on sale through the holidays.
For more gift ideas, here are the best tech gifts under $100. If you want to discover the best Chromebooks on the market, here are CNET’s top picks.
