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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i 12.2" FHD Intel N100 4GB 128GB eMMC Chromebook $379 + Shipping ($0 C&C) @ The Good Guys

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On 28th April, I purchased this device at The Good Guys for $429. The previous best price was $479 & usually it is listed at $629. At that time, TGG was the only retailer selling this product - apart from one Amazon AU store. It is slightly heavier than I would prefer @1.25 kg, but it has all the features I require. One feature not listed in the tech specs below is a backlit keyboard. TGG sales person told me it was not available on this device, but after unboxing, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the keyboard is backlit! Brightness can be adjusted with the Launcher + Brightness keys. I like the versatility of the device, including being able to read e-books. Overall performance is good, as is battery life. This is my first Chromebook which I purchased specifically for travel. For me, it is a much better option than a tablet (lacking rigid keyboard).

Specifications
Family: IdeaPad Flex 3i
Model Number: 82XH001XAU
Colour: Abyss Blue
Operating System: Chrome OS
Screen Size (Inches):12. 2"
Screen Type: IPS Touchscreen
Screen Resolution: WUXGA (1920x1200)
Windows Ink Capable: No
Pen in Box: No
Processor Specifications: Intel N100, 4 Cores, 0.8 - 3.4GHz Processor Speed
Memory: 4GB
Storage: 128GB eMMC
Graphics Processing Unit: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
Wired Connections: 1x HDMI 1.4, 2x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1), 1x USB-C (USB 10Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 2), with USB PD 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)
Wireless Connections: Wi-Fi 6, 11ax 2x2 + BT5.3, Bluetooth v5.3
Card Reader: MicroSD
Optical Drive: No
Webcam: HD 720p with Privacy Shutter
Cellular or Wi-Fi Only: Wi-Fi
Sound: Stereo speakers, 2W x2, optimised with Waves MaxxAudio, Amplifier
Battery: Up to 12 hours battery life
Weight (kg): 1.25
Product Height (mm): 18.4
Product Width (mm): 284
Product Depth (mm): 210
Additional Features: Camera Privacy Shutter
Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 Year

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closed Comments

  • +2

    For a chromebook for basic usage I guess its fine but be aware that N100 + eMMC + 4GB? Thats going to be a struggle with complex websites.

    • +2

      If you wish to provide a complex website example, I can test it for you.

      • Load up Facebook and scroll

        Go to https://earth.google.com/web/

        Also install some browser extensions.

        • Facebook scrolls very smoothly.

          Google Earth is as smooth in loading, searching & zooming as my Dell Inspiron 5409 (16 GB ram, Intel 5 11th Gen, iRis Xe).

          Chrome Browser settings from my Dell laptop are automatically imported to the Chromebook. I regularly use 7-8 browser extensions on the both the laptop & Chromebook. However, a mouse gesture extension doesn't work at all on the Chromebook.

          When opening a YouTube video, ads are skipped, which is surprising as I thought monetization would continue in Chrome OS.

          • +1

            @kusala: Chromebooks come with free 3 months of Youtube Premium, which is ad-free.

            I personally find paying for Youtube Premium Family is worthwhile. 6 members with Youtube without ads and Youtube Music (Spotify competitor).

            • @besttechadvisor: Thank you. I just checked and found I was eligible for only one month of free YouTube Premium as I had previously trialled the free version. On Google Play, I found an app called Revanced Tube which is completely ad free & can be installed on Chrome OS. One needs to search for content, but it's possible to import YouTube subscriptions if required.

    • nah mate. I've been through basic 4gb laptop. The N100 in this one is very decent. It can handle any website with ease.
      Plus this is Chromebook, there's no need to worry about all the bloatware typically come with Windows laptop.

      • My Duet 5 never drops below 3gb in use with nothing open so 4gb could become unusable pretty easily with a few things open.
        But maybe this device is different.

        • Chrome is Chrome even if its running on Linux/ChromeOS.

          There is no way 4GB is enough.

        • oh ok. Good to hear your perspective. I guess everyone's mileage is different. Guess to be safe, better invest a bit extra in a 8GB laptop.

  • This seems worse value than the lenovo chromebook someone posted yesterday and that one was already bad value.

  • N100 is decent. But any advantages getting Intel?
    Wouldn't an ARM be better for Android compatibility?

    • +1

      ChromeOS is processor agnostic, runs well in either ARM and x86. But most Android apps are optimised for ARM.

      The main issue though is that most cheap ARM Chromebooks are usually fairly low end anyway and come with some budget MediaTek or Rockchip that is much worse than the Intel N100.

      You'll notice most of the 'premium' Chromebooks are either Intel or AMD Ryzen.

    • The gpu will be a lot better with the n100.

      My duet 5 can't play anything above 1080p which is really annoying when I have 4k files I want to watch.

  • plus $95 for a sham product for existing legal protection

    You done goofed. Never buy the additional warranty, especially not when it's an additional 25% of the purchase price.

    • It offers replacement over three years for any issue at all (except misuse or accident, of course). If a faulty device has been superseded, the purchase price is credited. It also has $180 store cash distributed in $20 installents over 3 years with 90 days expiry each time. Not so useful. I'll probably use it to buy replacement ink for my sister's printer.

      • Any issue not misuse or accident should be covered by ACL. 3yr is a reasonable expected lifespan for a laptop.

        • +1

          That's true, although I don't know if ACL can provide replacements into the third year. I was researching Chromebooks for 2 months before finally deciding to buy this device when the price dropped to $429 (previous best price $479). At the same time I was given a $50 gift voucher, so the warranty (in my mind, at least 🙂) was only an extra $45.

          • +1

            @kusala: I wish you the best of luck & that you don't need either your warranty or ACL rights.

  • Decent review of smaller storage model here:

    https://www.google.com/search?q=Lenovo+IdeaPad+Flex+3i+12.2&…

    Cheers

  • -2

    This would have horrible performance. Better to buy a used laptop with better specs

    • The only performance issue I've had so far is that the launcher (icon display) is a bit laggy in tablet mode. I've tried a few Android launchers, but these don't work well with Chrome OS.

  • +1

    I have the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 2-in-1 Chromebook 10" its ok but found 4gb ram a huge drawback and struggles alot, i also have the Lenovo 13" IdeaPad Duet 5 which has a much better processor and 8gb and runs very well but the the form factor of 13" isnt the best especially on the go, desktop use is great

    My issue is ChromeOS is just not sufficient enough for, i found myself either using android apps mostly or linux alternatives for windows apps and not really utilising ChromeOS

    Recently I purchased a Chuwi MiniBook X
    https://www.chuwi.com/product/items/chuwi-minibook-x-n100.ht…

    This thing is amazing and ticks all boxes for me, very well built, has the N100 chipset like this, and with 12gb ram 512ssd, it absolutely kills everything i have thrown at it, can even do some light gaming, 10.5" is perfect size i can carry around in my cross body sling bag and is decent on battery life
    Its a windows 11 machine so dont need to find alternatives for the apps i use, plus can run some android apps that use regularly (for now at least cause microsoft is ended android on windows)

    Cost me about $400 landed from AliExpress and have seen it cheaper after i purchased it in a few AliExpress sales

    Honestly for me ChromeOS couldnt completely replace my windows needs, so Mini Book X was a definate winner, need to get rid of my ChromeOS devices as i really have no need for them now, yes media on the Duet 5 is amazing with the OLED screen but its just not portable enough for me

    PS if anyone does decide to go for the MIniBook X dont waste your time and money with the compatible pen, just couldnt find decent use for it, probably more on windows side not optimising good usage of pen, or perhaps im too used samsung phones and s pens

  • Thank you for sharing. I was very interested in the Chuwi MiniBook X (for its size, weight & performance) before deciding to buy a Chromebook, but reports of short battery life (4 hours?) dampened my enthusiasm. How many hours are you getting?

  • +1

    tbh i havent timed the usage im getting, initially SoC was dropping rapidly but maybe the battery cells werent balanced, after a few charges it is much more linear

    Also i dont charge to 100%, i go up to 70-80% and use till it get to about 10% but again i havent actually timed how many hours im getting

  • Thank you 🙏

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