Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Product Review

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Product Review
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Product Review

Overview

If you're in the market for a new laptop, you may have come across the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3. It's a hybrid laptop that can be used as either a tablet or a traditional laptop. But is it worth buying? Here's our review.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 is a 10-inch tablet with a detachable Bluetooth keyboard designed for people who are constantly on the go and want the flexibility of a tablet, but the practicality of a physical keyboard.

 

Features & Benefits

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 features a 10-inch HD touchscreen with a detachable keyboard that allows users to seamlessly switch between laptop and tablet mode.

This machine’s Intel Celeron N4020 processor will allow you to effortlessly complete tasks like word processing, video streaming and surfing the web.

The IdeaPad Duet 3i also features high resolution front and user-facing cameras that keep you looking professional in all of your zoom calls. In addition, a SIM card slot allows you to stay connected no matter where you are.

Windows 10 S is installed as standard. This OS is a version of Windows 10 that's streamlined for security and performance, while providing a familiar Windows experience. To increase security, it allows only apps from the Microsoft Store, and meaning Microsoft Edge is its standard browser.

 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • 10-inch HD touchscreen
  • High end processor and RAM resulting in outstanding performance
  • Detachable Bluetooth keyboard
  • Extremely useful kickstand that works well on any surface

Cons:

  • 9-hour battery life is fairly average
  • Compact keyboard can feel cramped during extended use
  • 2 ports only - both USB-C meaning when you are charging the device you will only have one port free

 

Key Specifications

Processor: Intel Celeron N4020

Operating System: Windows 10 Home in S mode

Display: 10-inch HD touchscreen with a resolution up to 1920 x 1200

Memory: 4 GB DDR4 RAM

Storage: 64 GB

Battery Life: 9 hours

Camera: 5 Megapixel (rear), 2 Megapixel (front)

Audio: 2 stereo Dolby Audio™ speakers and inbuilt microphone

 

Ports & Slots

The IdeaPad Duet 3 only has two ports both of which are USB-C. These allow you to charge the device and connect it to external devices such as external monitors.

It also has a:

  • 5mm jack input for combined headphones and microphones
  • SIM card slot (LTE models only) for connectivity when you are away from a Wi-Fi connection

 

Customer Reviews

Reviews of the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 are generally great. Users make particular note of its light and compact design which makes the Duet 3 super-portable for users that are constantly on the go.

Owners of the IdeaPad Duet 3 also love the 10-inch screen that is bright enough for most conditions. In addition, users have expressed surprise at the quality of the speakers for a device this small.

The compact size is undeniably handy for portability, but it does come with its down sides. The keyboard can be described as cramped when compared to full size keyboards, but the keys have a “springy” quality meaning feedback is good for a keyboard of this size.

Another bi-product of the Duet 3’s compact size is its 9-hour battery life with some users claiming this “could be better”.

At the time of writing the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 has 285 Google reviews as is rated 4.2/5.

 

USP’s

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 has outstanding build quality, and its powerful specs allow it to comfortably multitask over multiple tabs.

It’s size, weight and convertibility make the IdeaPad Duet 3 extremely portable, and its kickstand is incredibly helpful when you don’t have access to a desk. In addition, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3i has a mobile SIM card slot so that you can stay online even when you don’t have a WiFi connection.

 

Competitors

The closest competitor to the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 is the Microsoft Surface Go 2.

They are both ultraportable 2-in-1 laptops with kickstands and detachable keyboards. The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 boasts better range of ports, marginally longer battery life and a more powerful processor. Whereas the Surface Go 2 has better hardware including a slightly better performing keyboard, speaker system and webcam.

 

Evolution from Predecessor

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 has made significant updates since its previous generation the IdeaPad D330.

The main upgrade Lenovo made was to make the keyboard detachable that made the device much easier to handle when in its tablet format. The design is also much sleeker with smaller bezels and a handy kickstand. The IdeaPad Duet 3 is also significantly lighter – especially in tablet mode. Finally, as you would expect Lenovo upgraded the processor and memory making the machine considerably faster. This upgraded speed is particularly noticeable when multitasking.

 

Summary

This compact tablet can feel cramped during extended use but if you are looking for a flexible machine that can work as both a tablet and a laptop you can’t go far wrong with the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3. That said you might want to consider something more powerful if you want to complete tasks like gaming or video editing.

For full specs, price and availability, view the IdeaPad Duet 3 in our web shop.

For a wider look at Lenovo's range of tablets, see our Lenovo tablets buying guide.



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