Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" Review

Let's be clear from the start: this Lenovo Chromebook is a budget machine. Its 4GB of RAM puts it in the 2nd percentile, which is basically the bottom of the barrel. That means you're looking at a device built for one or two browser tabs at a time. But it does have a 1TB SSD, which lands in the 65th percentile for storage and is a massive amount of space for a Chromebook. For a very specific, lightweight user, that's the main draw here.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a dual-core Intel Celeron N4500 and 4GB of RAM. The CPU sits in the 36th percentile, so it's fine for basic web tasks, but don't expect to run anything demanding. The GPU is a bit better at the 42nd percentile, but with only 1GB of VRAM, it's not for gaming. The real story is the RAM. Being in the 2nd percentile means you'll feel that limitation constantly. It's the single biggest bottleneck. On the plus side, the 1TB SSD will make the ChromeOS experience feel snappy for basic operations, and WiFi 6 is a nice modern touch.

The price range is wild, from $249 to $679. At the $249 end, this Chromebook with its 1TB SSD is a genuinely interesting deal for someone who just needs a web terminal with lots of local file storage. At anything approaching $679, it's a complete rip-off. You could get a much more capable Windows laptop for that money. Always check the vendor, because the value proposition swings completely on that price tag.

Compared to other Chromebooks, its 1TB SSD is a standout feature most don't offer. But that's where the advantages end. Any modern laptop, even a budget Windows one, will have at least 8GB of RAM, making it far more usable. Looking at the listed 'competitors' like the MacBook Pro M4 Max is laughable—they're in a different universe. A fairer comparison would be against something like an Acer Chromebook 314 or Spin 311, where you'd trade the massive SSD for double the RAM and a better overall experience.

This is a niche device. If you find it for $249 and your computing needs are literally just browsing the web, checking email, and you need a ton of local storage for some reason, it's a consideration. For everyone else, the 4GB of RAM is a deal-breaker. It scores a 53/100 overall for a reason. It's best for a student on an extreme budget who doesn't multitask, and it's terrible for developers (40/100). Only buy this if the price is at the absolute bottom of its range and you know exactly what you're getting into.