Review - Lenovo Chromebook Duet CT-X636F

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a peculiar but very affordable device. At first glance, it looks like a tablet with an optional keyboard accessory, but Lenovo says that it’s actually a Chromebook with a detachable keyboard. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter what the name is as the Duet can be used as either a Chromebook or a slate-style tablet when the keyboard is detached.  

It’s clear from the convertible design that Lenovo has made the Chromebook Duet for those who like having options. If you can’t or don’t want to commit to one type of computing device on the go, this machine should satisfy your cravings. Want a Chromebook but would also like a tablet? Then this is the perfect device for you.  

Half the Duet appears to be slate with just a screen and some button/ports. There is an included keyboard accessory that snaps into the bottom edge and makes the device act more like a Chromebook. We know many people who would like using a transformative device to work during the day and then lay on the bed at night. Plus, if you’re strapped for cash, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet isn’t going to make a hole in your pocket. In fact, this device gives huge bang for your buck.  

Specifications 

Processor	Mediatek P60T Helio Octa-Core / 2.0GHz
Display	10.1-inch Full HD IPS Display (1920 x 1200) Resolution
RAM	4 GB
Storage	64 GB eMMC
Graphics	ARM G72 MP3
Operating System	Chrome OS

Design 

On its own, one would find the Lenovo Chromebook Duet as an unassuming tablet with thick bezels. On the back, there’s a two-colour scheme of grey and light blue with an unflashy Chrome logo. A prominent 8 megapixel rear camera sits on the top-right corner.  

The top of the tablet has dual speakers and mics, while the bottom features pogo pins for keyboard attachment. There’s also a 2MP front-facing camera on the top bezel.  

The tablet attracts fingerprints, so we’d recommend keeping the magnetic kickstand cover snapped on in order to avoid smudges. We found that the kickstand cover has the look and feel of a twill business suit, giving the Duet a professional aesthetic.  

The kickstand cover can be used to prop up the tablet. You’ll find yourself with a mini laptop after snapping on the dark grey keyboard. The laptop can also be folded into a book-like form, making it look like as if you’re holding a little notebook.  

As for the size, we’re pleased to write that the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a featherweight device that will comfortably fit in one of your travel totes. If we include both the stand cover and keyboard, the machine weighs only 2 pounds.  

Keyboard and Touchpad 

There’s no need to worry about the detachable keyboard as it snaps into place with complete ease, while its keys have a satisfying and clicky tactile response.  

However, the keyboard can only be best described as compromised. We at Five Tech are not picky about keyboards, even as professional writers. The most important thing for us is space, which unfortunately the Duet’s keyboard lacks. The overall size of the keyboard is almost three-quarters the size of a full laptop keyboard.  

We generally found the key shape, travel, and action to be good when it comes to the letter and number keys. But the punctuation keys were abbreviated, making it harder to use accurately.  

Display 

The Duet has a 10.1-inch screen that has 1920x1200 pixels for a 16:10 aspect ratio. This IPS LCD screen has 400 nits of brightness with a 70% colour gamut. We ourselves found the screen to be very bright and sharp for a display of this size. We enjoyed writing this review on it and found it easy to use in both indoors and outdoors. Watching movies from Netflix and Disney Plus on the screen was an enjoyable experience. The display is also quite good for word processing and spreadsheets.  

Performance 

Even though the Lenovo Chromebook Duet is equipped with a MediaTek Helio P60T CPU and 4 GB RAM, we didn’t go easy on it as we opened up to 24 Google Chrome tabs. We had a tab that played 1080p Youtube videos and opened up Google Docs as well. Surprisingly, we didn’t see any noticeable lag or delay while writing paragraph after paragraph.  

In short, the Duet was able to handle basic tasks without a hitch, but serious gaming or video editing is obviously out of the question on a machine this small.  

Battery Life 

The Duet has outstanding battery life. Its 7000mAh power cell was able to run for up to 11 hours, one hour more than what Lenovo promised! This puts it ahead of most tablets and Chromebooks, especially in this price range. The 10W charger was a little slow as it only filled 25% of the battery after one hour. You’ll have to charge it for hours to fill the battery.  

Lenovo V15 Laptop

Verdict 

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a steal at this price point. Most Chromebooks near this price range are clunky 14-inchers that have little to no flexibility. This one has a great display, an enormous battery life, and a compact design that easily converts from a laptop to tablet. For people short on cash, this Chromebook is a no-brainer.  

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