Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" 3i Review

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Chromebook is a big-screen budget laptop. It's got a 15.6-inch touchscreen, 8GB of RAM, and runs Chrome OS, which is fine for web browsing and basic tasks. But you need to know what you're getting. The Intel N6000 processor is in the 7th percentile for speed, and the 128GB eMMC storage is painfully slow. This isn't a machine for heavy lifting.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a low-end Chromebook. The Intel N6000 CPU and 8GB of RAM are fine for having a dozen Chrome tabs open, but that's about it. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics can't handle gaming, scoring a 4.8 out of 100. The 128GB eMMC storage feels sluggish, and it's in the 7th percentile, so loading apps isn't snappy.

The value here is tricky because the price swings wildly from $365 to $768. At the low end, around $365, it's a passable deal for a big-screen Chromebook with a touchscreen and those freebies. But if you're looking at listings near $768, run. That's a terrible price for these specs. Always check the current price before you even think about it.

Compared to other Chromebooks, it's bigger and has a touchscreen, but its core components are weak. Against the laptops listed as competitors, like a MacBook Pro or a gaming laptop, there is no comparison. Those are powerful, expensive machines for totally different jobs. This Chromebook is for someone who only needs a web browser on a big screen and wants to spend as little as possible.

Buy this only if you find it for the absolute lowest price, need a big screen for basic web stuff, and don't care about speed or storage. It's a decent pick for a very specific, budget-conscious user. For anyone else, especially students or business users who need more power, there are much better options.