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CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
I Use This Affordable 2-in-1 Laptop for Both Work and Play, and It's One of the Best Laptop Deals I've Found
I've been testing tablets and laptops here at CNET for years, which means I've tried pretty much every size, shape and style of device you can imagine. I'm always on the lookout for a model that meets all of my daily needs in one package, including when I'm traveling or commuting. My search was essentially over when I found the incredibly inexpensive Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook, a CNET Editors' Choice Award winner. I've found that I turn to this two-in-one laptop for my personal, everyday use more than any other device I own. I especially appreciate the versatility of the Lenovo Duet 11 Chromebook. It has an 11-inch touchscreen paired with a detachable keyboard cover, a rear cover with a kickstand and, if you want, you can pair it with an active pen for drawing or writing on the screen. Better yet, at less than $400, it's one of the best laptop deals around. It's currently just $325 on Amazon. It's $379 at Lenovo, but if you're a first-time buyer, you can get a $100 discount with an email subscription, bringing the price down to $279. Why I like this tablet There are two main reasons this device works better for me than most standard laptops. First is its compact, lightweight size. Second is that it's multifunctional. Since I regularly commute to work by train, both of these factors make the Duet Chromebook especially convenient. On occasions when I do need a bigger screen or a wider keyboard for faster typing, I'll usually switch to my standard laptop. But the Duet 11, which functions both as a laptop and tablet, is the machine that fits my daily life the best and most often. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. On the surface, 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 sort of a mix between a traditional desktop OS, such as Windows or MacOS, and a mobile OS that your phone uses, such as Android. The combination makes it easier for me to get work done with a keyboard and trackpad or mouse, but it also uses apps from the Google Play Store, so it has a mobile device feel too. The only hiccup might be if your work or school relies on software available only for MacOS or Windows. That's never been an issue for me, as there's typically a web or mobile app I can use in its place. Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11 specs Price $399 Display size/resolution 11-inch 1,920x1,200-pixel, LCD touchscreen CPU 2.6GHz MediaTek Kompanio 838 Memory 8GB LPDDR4X Graphics Integrated graphics Storage 128GB eMMC Networking Intel Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 Ports USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (x2), 3.5mm combo audio jack Operating system ChromeOS The Duet 11 helps me stay busy during my train commute The Duet's size is really nice for my train commute, letting me easily edit docs or respond to emails on my way to work. It has a fantastic front-facing 5-megapixel camera, too, so I can use it for a Zoom chat when necessary, and the camera has a physical privacy shutter to block it out the rest of the time. I especially like its zippy performance. It wakes as soon as I drop the keyboard open, and I can quickly tether to my Pixel phone for an instant internet connection. Battery life is strong at up to 11 hours in my use of it. Using the Duet on your lap can be a little bit of a balancing act, but it's doable. Its compact size makes it ideal for cramped coffee shop tables and other places where a full-size laptop might be awkward. It weighs only about 2 pounds with all of its accessories. Read more: Why a Chromebook Is Probably All You Need Like a lot of people, I unwind on my commute home with some entertainment, and the Duet shines for that. Pop 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, which means that with a strong web connection, you can play all kinds of games. I love to play mobile games on it from the Play Store too. The Duet 11 also works as an e-reader In addition to being ideal for commuting and cramped 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, though I prefer Bluetooth headphones over the tablet's little speakers. While I mainly use it for travel and on my commute, the Duet is equally 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. The 11-inch touchscreen, while great-looking, is a little too small for all-day, everyday use. But as a secondary device to a larger, more powerful desktop or laptop, it's just about perfect. If you're interested in checking out more ChromeOS devices, here are CNET's top picks for the best Chromebooks on the market. And if you're curious about what other models you can grab on the cheap right now, don't miss our roundups of the best Chromebook deals and the best laptop deals.
CNET
04-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Best Buy Slashes $120 Off Our Top Two-in-One Chromebook for July 4th
Why choose between a laptop and a tablet when you can get the best of both worlds? The versatile Lenovo Duet is our favorite two-in-one Chromebook on the market, and you can grab one at an amazing price during Best Buy's Fourth of July sale. The tech retailer has reduced this basic model with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage to just $279, a $120 savings compared to the usual price. If you want some more advanced hardware, Lenovo also has a configuration with 8GB of RAM on sale for $350, which is a $50 discount. This 11-inch tablet has a 2K LCD touchscreen display, as well as a detachable magnetic keyboard, so it also doubles as a laptop. It's a Chromebook, so the hardware is pretty basic and designed primarily for web-based basics like checking emails and scrolling social media. However, it still has a 5MP front camera and an 8MP rear camera for video calls. It is highly portable, though, weighing just 510g and measuring 7.6mm thick for easy transport just about anywhere. We wouldn't recommend it as your primary laptop but if you're looking for a sleek and lightweight travel companion, it's a solid bargain. Best 4th of July Laptop Deals Ready for a laptop upgrade? Shop the best July 4th deals on laptops from Apple, Lenovo, Microsoft, Samsung and more before time runs out. See Now Why this deal matters Chromebooks are excellent for those on a tight budget who only need the basics and the Lenovo Duet is one of our favorite models on the market. It has a 2K touchscreen display and detachable keyboard, so it also doubles as a tablet -- and it's a pretty great value at more than $100 off. If it's not quite what you're looking for, there are tons of other excellent Fourth of July laptop deals you can also shop right now.
