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Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook Review

The ThinkPad-Yoga-Chromebook hybrid. What happens when you cross a Chromebook with both a ThinkPad and a Yoga? You get one of the most well-made and practical inexpensive multimode 11-inch Chromebooks in the market. We detail in this review how the ThinkPad Yoga 11e has instantly become one of our favorite Chromebooks as of 2014.

The ThinkPad Yoga 11e combines the best qualities of the ThinkPad and Yoga series into a small 11.6-inch package with a choice of either Chrome OS or Windows 8. Most core components such as the Celeron N2930 CPU, 1366 x 768 resolution IPS touchscreen displays and 4 GB DDR3L RAM remain the same across all configurations. The notable exception is the storage solution as the Windows 8 models include a removable 320 GB HDD while the Chrome OS versions use a sole 16 GB internal SSD.

Our review focuses on the Chromebook version of the ThinkPad Yoga 11e, which retails for around $450, or $150 less than the Windows 8 models. The aggressive sub-$500 price point is typical of Chromebooks and can be considered an important factor in their continuing growth ever since Google announced the project in 2011. With more support rallying every year, it looks like Chromebooks are growing outside of their niche appeal and into the multimode subnotebook territory.

We compare the Lenovo on hand to other reviewed Chromebooks below, such as the Asus C200, HP Chromebook 11Acer C720 and others. Of course, direct comparisons to standard notebooks are much more difficult as Windows-based benchmarks are incompatible with Chrome OS. Nonetheless, the ThinkPad Yoga 11e is one of the more impressive Chromebooks currently available.

Case

Chromebooks are meant to be carried and used on-the-go and should ideally have a strong chassis to reflect this purpose. Many competing Chromebooks seem to have lost sight of this as demonstrated by the thin plastic and sometimes frail materials that make up the Toshiba CB30, Samsung Series 3 XE303C12, and HP Pavilion 14-c010us. On the other hand, the ThinkPad Yoga 11e must live up to its ThinkPad name and is consequently thick, ruggedized, and MilSpec tested for humidity, vibration, shock, and other environmentally stressful factors.

The edges and corners of the base feel sturdy with very minimal twists and depressions while the lid is lined with rubber bumpers to absorb accidental impact. Pushing down on the center of the lid or keyboard does show some warping, but it is so minimal that users will not need to worry. The polycarbonate ABS and glass-fiber reinforced plastic makeup of the chassis result in a stiff display and the 360 degree hinges are equally rigid no matter the angle and will duly minimize display vibration while typing. It's not the fact that Lenovo has managed to produce one of the most well-constructed Chromebooks that has us surprised, but how the manufacturer was able to achieve the feat while remaining price-competitive against the competition. The model even carries a much more professional look compared to most subnotebooks and Chromebooks where glossy or cheap plastic colors can be a common sight, such as on the HP Chromebook 11.

The case is not perfect of course, as the smooth matte surfaces feel more in common with an inexpensive ThinkPad Edge than a proper ThinkPad T Series model. This means that the Yoga 11e omits a metal roll cage in favor of thicker plastic all around. Unsurprisingly, the weight (1.7 kg) and thickness (22.8 mm) of the Lenovo are heavier and not as thin as the competition as seen in the comparison plugin below. This can make tablet mode a bit more difficult to use, though this is a common disadvantage of multimode notebooks with displays that do not detach. In this case, however, we do feel that the increased weight and size for better durability is a fair trade on the Yoga 11e Chromebook. And as usual, expect fingerprints and grease to accumulate quickly, especially in the crevices between the rubber bumper and outer lid.

MilSpec tested as expected from a ThinkPad model
MilSpec tested as expected from a ThinkPad model
Rubber absorption bumpers around the edges of the display
Rubber absorption bumpers around the edges of the display
One of the first multimode Chromebooks with 360 degree hinges
One of the first multimode Chromebooks with 360 degree hinges
The unique hinge does not allow any ports to be on the rear
The unique hinge does not allow any ports to be on the rear
Tablet mode can be tough to use due to the heavy weight
Tablet mode can be tough to use due to the heavy weight
The keyboard keys do not depress when in tablet mode, unlike on the Yoga 2 models
The keyboard keys do not depress when in tablet mode, unlike on the Yoga 2 models
346 mm / 13.6 inch 238 mm / 9.37 inch 25 mm / 0.984 inch 1.7 kg3.79 lbs329 mm / 13 inch 227 mm / 8.94 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.5 kg3.23 lbs294.64 mm / 11.6 inch 215.9 mm / 8.5 inch 22.86 mm / 0.9 inch 1.7 kg3.75 lbs297.7 mm / 11.7 inch 224.6 mm / 8.84 inch 16.2 mm / 0.638 inch 1.5 kg3.35 lbs295 mm / 11.6 inch 191 mm / 7.52 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1 kg2.3 lbs290 mm / 11.4 inch 209 mm / 8.23 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.1 kg2.43 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The Yoga 11e includes most of the physical ports that are commonly found on Chromebooks, including USB 3.0. It does exclude a couple of features such as Ethernet and DisplayPort as found on the HP Pavilion 14 and Google Pixel Chromebooks, respectively. The HP Chromebook 11 in particular uses a MicroUSB port for both charging and file transfers as opposed to a proprietary AC adapter as found on most notebooks. Nonetheless, the available ports on the Lenovo are easily accessible and uncrowded.

Note that the Windows version of the Yoga 11e includes a Gigabit Ethernet port, which suggests that the feature was removed on the Chromebook model to reduce costs.

Front: No connectivity
Front: No connectivity
Right: Power button, Volume rocker, 1x USB 3.0, HDMI-out, Kensington Lock
Right: Power button, Volume rocker, 1x USB 3.0, HDMI-out, Kensington Lock
Rear: No connectivity
Rear: No connectivity
Left: AC adapter, 1x USB 2.0, 3.5 mm headset, 4-in-1 card reader
Left: AC adapter, 1x USB 2.0, 3.5 mm headset, 4-in-1 card reader

Communication

Wireless-ac comes standard via the Intel 7260 mini PCIe module with integrated Bluetooth 4.0. The 2x2 card is capable of transfer rates up to a theoretical 867 Mbps, but is otherwise limited to 300 Mbps if connected to a wireless-n network. We experienced no random latency or dropping issues while connected to a standard WLAN.

The Yoga 11e unfortunately does not include any built-in WWAN or GPS functionality, which could have been a very useful feature considering its high mobility. A handful of other Chromebooks, such as the Pixel and Samsung Series 3 XE303C12, feature SIM slots to stay connected should WLAN services become unavailable.

Accessories

Add-ons are extremely limited as there are no dedicated docking ports and compatibility with generic docking stations are not guaranteed. With that said, Lenovo offers a number of compatible accessories such as mice, cases and USB optical drives for their Chromebook models.

Warranty

The standard one-year warranty applies to all new purchases and can be upgraded to 5-years with optional accidental damage protection and on-site services for up to $279.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The Chiclet keyboard (27 x 10.5 cm) provides the basic keys that all Chromebooks share with no other special keys. The lack of a NumPad may turn off Excel-heavy or spreadsheet users as data input can be much more difficult in comparison to full-size keyboards. In addition, the Arrow keys are small and the lack of a backlight is another cut feature to save on costs.

On the bright side, feedback and tactility of the keys are satisfying with ample travel and a good response. Typing feels even better than on some of Lenovo's more expensive models, such as the Y40 or Y50, where keys tend to feel too light with mushy feedback for reduced accuracy. The keyboard here is one of the better offerings currently available on a Chromebook.

Note that using the Chromebook in tablet mode will not automatically depress the keyboard keys. This was addressed in second generation Yoga models, but the less expensive Yoga 11e was unfortunately left out in the cold.

Touchpad

The relatively large (10 x 6 cm) matte touchpad is responsive and reliable with a smooth glide. It feels very similar to the touchpad on the much more costly X1 Carbon or T440 as opposed to the touchpad on the inexpensive Edge models, so it certainly adds a bit of class or professionalism to the Chromebook. Clicking provides excellent feedback and travel, but the auditory response could have been a bit softer. Oddly enough, while two-finger scrolling is supported, pinch-to-zoom is disabled on the touchpad by default but is enabled on the touchscreen.

TrackPoint fans will be disappointed to see that the Yoga 11e has dropped the iconic feature, which Lenovo attributes to customer feedback.

Large ThinkPad-class touchpad is a huge improvement over the Yoga 11 and Yoga 11S
Large ThinkPad-class touchpad is a huge improvement over the Yoga 11 and Yoga 11S
Individual keys feel small, but provide adequate feedback and travel
Individual keys feel small, but provide adequate feedback and travel

Display

The IPS touchscreen display of the Yoga 11e is one of its biggest advantages over other Chromebooks as most make use of budget TN panels to cut costs. Native resolution is still 1366 x 768 pixels, but colors and text appear much cleaner and more colorful on the Lenovo compared to other inexpensive Chromebooks. This is further strengthened by the panel's powerful 270 nit backlight and deep contrast levels that would be fit for notebooks much larger and pricier than the Yoga 11e.

The display panel is protected by scratch- and crack-resistant Dragontrail glass, which Lenovo advertises as tougher than both soda-lime glass and conventional glass. The display is quite glossy, however, so reflections can become bothersome at lower backlight brightness levels. A number of competing models offer matte panels, like the Samsung Series 3. Nonetheless, this is one of the very few Chromebooks with touchscreen capabilities and edge-to-edge glass protection, much less an IPS display.

263.4
cd/m²
274.8
cd/m²
262.6
cd/m²
277.3
cd/m²
289.8
cd/m²
275.6
cd/m²
296.8
cd/m²
276.8
cd/m²
282.8
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Basic Pro 2
Maximum: 296.8 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 277.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 289.8 cd/m²
Contrast: 1260:1 (Black: 0.23 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.46 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 5.73 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.4

Color accuracy isn't a huge factor on netbooks, let alone on Chromebooks. With that said, the IPS display of the Yoga 11e exhibits consistently accurate colors and grayscale, at least for a notebook this low of a price. Blue and to a lesser extent Magenta are generally more inaccurate across all tested saturation levels compared to other colors, but again this is not typically a concern to the target audience.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker
ColorChecker

Despite the relatively high brightness, the backlight is unable to overcome the reflections off of the glossy display when outdoors and from direct sunlight. To Lenovo's credit, all Chromebooks tend to have visibility issues under bright outdoor conditions. Working under shade is possible with the Lenovo, though a high brightness setting is recommended to avoid eyesore. Fortunately, maximum brightness does not drop if disconnected from mains, so users can take advantage of the 270 nit display on-the-go.

Glossy display under direct sunlight
Glossy display under direct sunlight
Display becomes washed out if not under shade
Display becomes washed out if not under shade
Viewing angles ThinkPad Yoga 11e
Viewing angles ThinkPad Yoga 11e

Viewing angles are very good due to the IPS panel, which is common amongst Yoga models. Colors and contrast do not shift significantly if viewing from extreme angles. Apparent brightness, however, will change noticeably if viewing horizontally from the sides or, in the case of tablet mode, vertically from the top or bottom. It's not an issue for the sole user, but the screen may appear dimmer to adjacent viewers than to the main viewer.

Performance

Lenovo offers the Yoga 11e with only a 1.83 GHz Celeron N2930 SoC and no other options. The quad-core processor is based on the Bay Trail-M platform and is very efficient with a TDP of just 7.5 Watts compared to 14 or 15 Watts on certain Celeron and Pentium models. Some competing Chromebooks, such as the HP Chromebook 11, offer ARM-based SoCs as alternatives to Intel. Though the N2930 processor is uncommon, it is roughly equivalent to a Pentium 3556U or Atom Z3795. Graphics is provided by an integrated Bay Trail HD Graphics, which is roughly equivalent to a Tegra 4.

RAM is soldered onto the board and provides 4 GB of low-power DDR3L memory. This is twice as much as memory as many Chromebooks released earlier this year including the Toshiba CB30 and Samsung Series 3. Furthermore, the battery, WLAN card and system fan are easily accessible from underneath the notebook, which is another feature uncommon to Chromebooks.

Note that space for a 2.5-inch SATA HDD is available, but this is functionally inoperable as the connectors have been removed on the Chromebook version on the Yoga 11e. The Windows version of the same model will have this space occupied by a 320 GB HDD.

System Performance

Subjectively, performance feels quick and instantaneous for the most part. Instances with slowdown or stutters may occur when launching new or multiple applications at one time or when loading a large number of files from Google Drive. Even so, browsing is swift with multiple tabs and applications active simultaneously.

The system can both shut down and cold boot in just mere seconds with saved applications and instances. The wireless radio is a bit slower, however, as it takes an additional five to ten seconds before WLAN connection is reestablished from the Sleep state.

Browser-based benchmarks place the Yoga 11e squarely in the same territory as other Chromebooks as seen in the charts below. Peacekeeper, which analyzes HTML5 performance, favors the Toshiba CB30 and Google Pixel due to their more powerful Haswell- or Ivy bridge-based integrated GPUs. These alternatives may be preferable if graphics performance is more critical to the user.

Peacekeeper
Peacekeeper
Octane 2.0
Octane 2.0
WebXPRT
WebXPRT
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2930, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1292 Points
Google Chromebook Pixel
HD Graphics 4000, 3427U, 32 GB SSD
3613 Points +180%
Toshiba Chromebook CB30-102
HD Graphics (Haswell), 2955U, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2765 Points +114%
Samsung Chromebook XE303C12-A01US
Mali-T604 MP4, 5250 Dual, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1005 Points -22%
HP Pavilion 14-c010us
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) HD Graphics, 847, 16 GB SSD
1474 Points +14%
HP Chromebook 11
Mali-T604 MP4, 5250 Dual, 16 GB SSD
1069 Points -17%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1501 Points +16%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
1399 Points +8%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2930, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4664 ms *
Samsung Chromebook XE303C12-A01US
Mali-T604 MP4, 5250 Dual, 16 GB eMMC Flash
5476 ms * -17%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
4482 ms * +4%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2930, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7334 Points
Toshiba Chromebook CB30-102
HD Graphics (Haswell), 2955U, 16 GB eMMC Flash
8758 Points +19%
Samsung Chromebook XE303C12-A01US
Mali-T604 MP4, 5250 Dual, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4943 Points -33%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
7321 Points 0%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
7161 Points -2%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2930, 16 GB eMMC Flash
632 ms *
Toshiba Chromebook CB30-102
HD Graphics (Haswell), 2955U, 16 GB eMMC Flash
455.3 ms * +28%
Samsung Chromebook XE303C12-A01US
Mali-T604 MP4, 5250 Dual, 16 GB eMMC Flash
737 ms * -17%
HP Pavilion 14-c010us
Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) HD Graphics, 847, 16 GB SSD
552 ms * +13%
HP Chromebook 11
Mali-T604 MP4, 5250 Dual, 16 GB SSD
704 ms * -11%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
522 ms * +17%
Asus C200MA-KX003
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2830, 32 GB eMMC Flash
491 ms * +22%
WebXPRT 2013 - Overall (sort by value)
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), N2930, 16 GB eMMC Flash
286 Points

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices

The low prices and general reliance on Cloud storage for Chromebooks limit all models to very low capacity SSDs. Even the >$1000 Google Pixel comes with a small 32 GB or 64 GB SSD. The soldered eMMC drive on the Yoga 11e provides the standard 16 GB of storage, 10 GB of which is free. Users are encouraged to use Cloud services or USB drives for additional space. As previously mentioned, the 2.5-inch SATA interface underneath the notebook is disabled on the Yoga 11e Chromebook.

Emissions

System Noise

Small system fan
Small system fan

The Yoga 11e carries a single system fan that sits adjacent to the ventilation grilles on the rear of the unit. It's true that a handful of Chromebooks are fanless, including Lenovo's own N20p Chromebook, but the fan on the Yoga 11e is as silent as they come that users will not even notice.

The fan is idle when the system is idle or under light to medium loads, so our microphone recorded only the background noise of about 33 dB(A). Surprisingly, running three simultaneous 720p YouTube videos and the Peacekeeper benchmark to simulate system stress resulted in the same decibel measurement of around 33 dB(A). Only when we positioned the microphone right next to the vent was it able to detect a rise of volume. Active cooling on Chromebooks is generally reticent, but it's safe to say this is one of the quietest fans on a notebook we've encountered thus far.

Noise Level

Idle
33.3 / 33.4 / 33.6 dB(A)
Load
33.4 / 33.4 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Idling surface temperatures are flat across the board on both the keyboard and bottom sides of the notebook. To simulate high processing loads, we ran multiple 1080p Youtube videos simultaneously on repeat for about an hour, which resulted in a hot spot of only 37 degrees C near the rear right corner of the notebook. This is cooler than fanless Chromebook models like the HP Chromebook 11 and Samsung Series 3 and remains comfortable to use even under high loads. 

Max. Load
 33.6 °C
92 F
35 °C
95 F
36.2 °C
97 F
 
 32.8 °C
91 F
33.2 °C
92 F
35.8 °C
96 F
 
 30.4 °C
87 F
30.6 °C
87 F
30.8 °C
87 F
 
Maximum: 36.2 °C = 97 F
Average: 33.2 °C = 92 F
37 °C
99 F
36.4 °C
98 F
35.6 °C
96 F
35.8 °C
96 F
34.6 °C
94 F
34.2 °C
94 F
34 °C
93 F
33.6 °C
92 F
32.6 °C
91 F
Maximum: 37 °C = 99 F
Average: 34.9 °C = 95 F
Power Supply (max.)  43.6 °C = 110 F | Room Temperature 26 °C = 79 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.2 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 29.8 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Netbook.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36.2 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 33.1 °C / 92 F, ranging from 21.6 to 53.2 °C for the class Netbook.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37 °C / 99 F, compared to the average of 36.6 °C / 98 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32 °C / 90 F, compared to the device average of 29.8 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 30.8 °C / 87.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 29.3 °C / 84.7 F (-1.5 °C / -2.7 F).

Speakers

Audio is emitted from a set of two speaker grilles located right above the keyboard for stereo sound. We found ourselves almost always on a very high volume setting as maximum volume can be a bit on the soft side. Sounds lack bass and depth, so music and movies are best enjoyed with external 3.5 mm or Miracast solutions. 

Battery Life

Power is provided by a 34 Wh, 7.4 V Li-polymer module that is mounted behind the maintenance panel via a set of Philips screws. This makes battery swapping possible, though not particularly user-friendly. No other capacities are available either, but 34 Wh is in the same ballpark as many other Chromebooks such as the HP Chromebook 11 (30 Wh) and Samsung Series 3 (30 Wh). With that said, a few models do include slightly higher capacities including the Asus C200 (48 Wh), Acer C720 (45 Wh).

Unsurprisingly, battery runtimes are similar to other Chromebooks, which should be taken as a compliment as average battery life is generally longer than a similarly-sized Windows notebook. A solid 6.5 hours of constant use with active WLAN and a brightness setting of 12/16 is just enough to last for a standard work day. Longer runtimes can be found on the Acer C720 and Asus C200, both of which can last for a few hours longer than the Lenovo under similar conditions.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
10h 33min
WiFi Surfing
6h 29min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 24min

Verdict

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook

Without a doubt, the ThinkPad Yoga 11e is one of our favorite Chromebooks. It looks and feels much more professional than the the typical cheap plastic surfaces that compose most other Chromebooks in the market. The chassis can take more of a beating when traveling and both the keyboard and touchpad are comfortable to use despite the confines of the notebook size. The crisp IPS touchscreen panel, edge-to-edge glass protection, and tablet mode are features that are almost nonexistent in the Chromebook world; Only the $1300 Google Pixel can overshadow this Lenovo.

A few items remain on our wishlist, namely integrated WWAN connectivity. Such a feature would propel the Yoga 11e even further against the competition and expand its usability in situations where WLAN may be unavailable. A keyboard backlight would also make the device an even bigger bang-for-the-buck while a brighter display backlight would have allowed for more comfortable outdoor use.

The solid construction and features come at the price of a slightly thicker and heavier package. At $450, the model is also $100 to $200 more than competing 11.6-inch Chromebooks like the HP Chromebook 11, Acer C720 or the recently released Asus C200. Even so, we find these disadvantages justifiable as any serious Chromebook buyer should definitely consider the ThinkPad Yoga 11e for its superior longevity and exceptional display for the price.

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In Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook
In Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook

Specifications

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e (ThinkPad Yoga 11e Series)
Processor
Intel Celeron N2930 4 x 1.8 - 2.2 GHz, Bay Trail-M
Memory
4 GB 
, DDR3-1600
Display
11.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel, Capacitive multitouch, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Valleyview SoC - HD Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Card Reader: 4-in-1 card reader, Sensors: Accelerometer
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 22.86 x 294.64 x 215.9 ( = 0.9 x 11.6 x 8.5 in)
Battery
34 Wh Lithium-Polymer, 7.4 V
Operating System
Google Chrome OS
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.7 kg ( = 59.97 oz / 3.75 pounds), Power Supply: 250 g ( = 8.82 oz / 0.55 pounds)
Price
350 Euro

 

Starting at around $450, the Yoga 11e is just marginally more expensive than other Chromebooks the market
Starting at around $450, the Yoga 11e is just marginally more expensive than other Chromebooks the market
Despite sharing the same name as the Yoga 11 and Yoga 11S, the ThinkPad Yoga 11e includes noticeable differences
Despite sharing the same name as the Yoga 11 and Yoga 11S, the ThinkPad Yoga 11e includes noticeable differences
Rubber bumper protects the outer edges and corners
Rubber bumper protects the outer edges and corners
Chassis is made from polycarbonate ABS and glass-fiber reinforced plastic
Chassis is made from polycarbonate ABS and glass-fiber reinforced plastic
Texture is smooth, rigid and quite tough to the touch
Texture is smooth, rigid and quite tough to the touch
Green WiFi light on the outer lid
Green WiFi light on the outer lid
The rubberized or brushed metal look of the other Yoga 11 models have been replaced with flat matte finishing
The rubberized or brushed metal look of the other Yoga 11 models have been replaced with flat matte finishing
The smooth surfaces are prone to fingerprints and grease
The smooth surfaces are prone to fingerprints and grease
As usual, the ThinkPad logo will light red when in use or in Sleep mode
As usual, the ThinkPad logo will light red when in use or in Sleep mode
The space between the rubber bumper and outer lid can collect dust that can be difficult to remove
The space between the rubber bumper and outer lid can collect dust that can be difficult to remove
The reinforced plastic chassis is noticeably stronger than other inexpensive Chromebooks in the market
The reinforced plastic chassis is noticeably stronger than other inexpensive Chromebooks in the market
Unlike the HP Chromebook 11 or Samsung Series 3 Chromebook, this Lenovo has a more professional look and feel
Unlike the HP Chromebook 11 or Samsung Series 3 Chromebook, this Lenovo has a more professional look and feel
Scratch- and crack-resistant edge-to-edge glass display
Scratch- and crack-resistant edge-to-edge glass display
Hinges are rigid at all angles
Hinges are rigid at all angles
Palm rests remain cool even at high processing loads
Palm rests remain cool even at high processing loads
Corners are thicker than other notebooks of this size with no creaking or gaps
Corners are thicker than other notebooks of this size with no creaking or gaps
Chiclet keyboard keys are firm with better feedback than many Yoga models
Chiclet keyboard keys are firm with better feedback than many Yoga models
Like most other touchscreen notebooks, the screen is limited to a glossy surface only
Like most other touchscreen notebooks, the screen is limited to a glossy surface only
Handling the notebook in tablet mode can be awkward due to the tactile keys and touchpad on the back
Handling the notebook in tablet mode can be awkward due to the tactile keys and touchpad on the back
IPS panel allows the display to be viewed on any orientation
IPS panel allows the display to be viewed on any orientation
The bottom panel can be easily removed via just a few Philips screws
The bottom panel can be easily removed via just a few Philips screws
Ports are close to the back of the notebook and away from the front
Ports are close to the back of the notebook and away from the front
Unlike on many other Chromebooks, the bottom panel is removable for direct access to some system components
Unlike on many other Chromebooks, the bottom panel is removable for direct access to some system components
Empty 2.5-inch caddy with no connections - likely a leftover component from the Yoga 11e Windows models
Empty 2.5-inch caddy with no connections - likely a leftover component from the Yoga 11e Windows models
Intel Dual-Band 7260 Mini PCIe card with wireless-ac support comes standard
Intel Dual-Band 7260 Mini PCIe card with wireless-ac support comes standard
The 34 Wh, 7.4 V internal battery is removable, but certainly not quickly swappable
The 34 Wh, 7.4 V internal battery is removable, but certainly not quickly swappable

Similar Laptops

Similar devices from a different Manufacturer

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Asus X200MA Netbook Review
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Celeron N2830
Dell Chromebook 11 (3120) Review
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Celeron N2840
Acer Aspire ES1-111-C56A Netbook Review
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Celeron N2840
Acer Chromebook 11 CB3-111 Review
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Celeron N2840
Lenovo S20-30 Netbook Review
HD Graphics (Bay Trail), Celeron N2830

Links

  • Manufacturer's information

Compare Prices

Pros

+IPS touchscreen panel with edge-to-edge glass
+MilSpec tested, rugged glass-fiber plastic and polycarbonate chassis
+Maintenance panel for direct access to battery, WLAN module, and system fan
+Great colors and contrast
+Responsive keyboard and large touchpad
+Tablet mode
+Good battery life
+Quiet fan
 

Cons

-Glossy display difficult to see outdoors
-No integrated WWAN or GPS options
-Thicker and heavier than other 11.6-inch Chromebooks
-A bit more expensive than competing models
-Battery not easily replaceable
-No DisplayPort or Ethernet ports
-Fingerprint magnet
-No keyboard backlight
-Soft speakers

Shortcut

What we like

Strong hardware and impressive display for the price. This ThinkPad Chromebook offers much more than competing models.

What we'd like to see

Removable battery, brighter backlight, keyboard backlight, and WWAN capabilities especially would make this notebook even better outdoors. Some users may miss the TrackPoint.

What surprises us

Amazing bang for the buck for a Chromebook. IPS touchscreen, chassis, keyboard, and general longevity are steps ahead of the competition.

The competition

Acer C720

Asus C200MA

Google Pixel

HP Chromebook 11

Samsung Series 3 XE303C12

Toshiba CB30

Rating

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e - 09/10/2014 v4(old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
84 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
85%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
55 / 80 → 69%
Weight
67 / 35-78 → 74%
Battery
90%
Display
81%
Games Performance
47 / 68 → 69%
Application Performance
47 / 87 → 53%
Temperature
90 / 91 → 99%
Noise
95%
Audio
60 / 91 → 66%
Camera
60 / 85 → 71%
Average
73%
81%
Netbook - Weighted Average
Allen Ngo, 2014-08-31 (Update: 2019-04-30)