Lenovo Chromebook 15.6" 14" Review

If you're looking for a cheap Chromebook for basic web browsing and schoolwork, this Lenovo 15.6-inch model is a common find. It's got a 1080p screen, a touchscreen, and even a backlit keyboard, which is rare at this price. But the specs tell a different story. With just 4GB of RAM and a MediaTek processor, this is a machine for very light tasks only. People searching for a 'budget Chromebook for students' or a 'cheap laptop for internet' will see this one pop up, and it's important to know what you're getting into.

Let's be real, this isn't a performance machine. The AMD MediaTek 8389 CPU lands in the 35th percentile, which means it's slower than most laptops out there. It's fine for having a few Chrome tabs open and streaming video, but try to do more than that and you'll feel it start to chug. The GPU is in the 55th percentile, which sounds okay, but it's a low bar for Chromebooks. You're not gaming on this thing. The 4GB of RAM is its biggest weakness, sitting in the 2nd percentile. That's barely enough for Chrome OS itself these days, so multitasking is basically off the table.

The price is all over the place, from $220 to a laughable $810. At the low end, around $220, it's a barebones option if your budget is rock-bottom and you just need a screen for the web. At anything near $810, it's a complete rip-off. For that kind of money, you could get a much more capable Windows laptop or a higher-end Chromebook. Always check the price. If it's not close to $220, walk away.

Compared to other Chromebooks in its class, like the Acer Chromebook 314 or the ASUS Chromebook Flip, this Lenovo offers a touchscreen but is held back by its paltry 4GB of RAM. Those competitors often come with 8GB, which makes a world of difference. It's not even in the same universe as the competitors listed, like the MacBook Pro or gaming laptops from MSI and Gigabyte. Those are for entirely different users and budgets. A more fair comparison is against other entry-level Chromebooks, and here, the RAM is a major disadvantage.

Should you buy this? Only under one very specific condition: if you find it for its absolute lowest price (around $220) and you need the absolute most basic computer possible for checking email, watching Netflix, and light homework. The 4GB of RAM is a deal-breaker for anyone who wants to have more than a couple of tabs open. For most people, spending a bit more for a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM is a much smarter investment that will last longer and be far less frustrating. This is a 'you get what you pay for' lesson in laptop form.