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Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook 11M836 review: Cheap and functional

MediaTek-powered machine. A no-frills convertible Chromebook designed for grade schoolers, travel, or a secondary backup laptop. It's relatively sturdy if you can get past the chunky size.
Chromebook Touchscreen Convertible / 2-in-1

For about $200 to $300 USD, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook 11 is one of the least expensive Chromebook 2-in-1s in the market. The system is powered by the same octa-core MediaTek MT8183 SoC that powers the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 and 2019 Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet. All SKUs come with the MediaTek SoC, 4 GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 11.6-inch 768p touchscreen alongside 32 GB or 64 GB of non-removable eMMC storage.

Alternatives include the Acer Chromebook Spin 311, HP Chromebook x2 11, Lenovo IdeaPad Duet, or Asus Chromebook Flip.

More Lenovo reviews:

Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836 (Flex Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT8183 8 x 2 GHz, Cortex-A73/-A53
Graphics adapter
ARM Mali-G72 MP3
Memory
4 GB 
, LPDDR4X 1866 MHz
Display
11.60 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 135 PPI, Capacitive, IPS, glossy: yes, 60 Hz
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
Connections
2 USB 2.0, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm headset, Card Reader: MicroSD, Sensors: Accelerometer
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 17.5 x 285 x 202.7 ( = 0.69 x 11.22 x 7.98 in)
Battery
40.9 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Google Chrome OS
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.237 kg ( = 43.63 oz / 2.73 pounds), Power Supply: 267 g ( = 9.42 oz / 0.59 pounds)
Price
300 USD
Links
Lenovo homepage
Lenovo notebook section
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Potential Competitors in Comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
79.9 %
12/2021
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3		1.2 kg17.5 mm11.60"1366x768
79.5 %
10/2021
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
SD 7c, Adreno 618		583 g7.7 mm11.00"2160x1440
80.3 %
11/2021
Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Celeron N4120, UHD Graphics 600		1.2 kg20 mm11.60"1366x768
79 %
12/2020
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ
MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3		1.1 kg18.8 mm11.60"1366x768
86.2 %
04/2021
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620		1.4 kg16.8 mm13.50"2256x1504
82.3 %
12/2018
Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US
MT8173C, PowerVR GX6250		1.2 kg19.6 mm11.60"1366x768

Case

Build quality is better than expected when considering the inexpensive asking price. The main drawback, however, is that the system is larger and thus heavier for its size class. The Chromebook C330 and Chromebook Spin 311, for example, are both 13.3-inch Chromebooks and yet they each weigh nearly the same as our 11.6-inch Flex 3 and have just slightly thicker dimensions. Students may appreciate that the Flex 3 can take a bit of a beating, but travelers may want something lighter relative to the screen size.

Plastic chassis is sturdy for the price
Plastic chassis is sturdy for the price
Most of the chassis is smooth and matte for a higher-class feel
Most of the chassis is smooth and matte for a higher-class feel
Though the screen size is 11.6-inches, the system feels like a 13.3-inch laptop since its bezels are so thick
Though the screen size is 11.6-inches, the system feels like a 13.3-inch laptop since its bezels are so thick
Hinge rigidity is uniform and above average at all angles
Hinge rigidity is uniform and above average at all angles
Outer lid has two different textures that are purely superficial
Outer lid has two different textures that are purely superficial
Rounded edges and corners have no additional rubber protection against bumps or drops
Rounded edges and corners have no additional rubber protection against bumps or drops

Size Comparison

❌
301 mm / 11.9 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 16.8 mm / 0.661 inch 1.4 kg3.02 lbs296 mm / 11.7 inch 205 mm / 8.07 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.2 kg2.6 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 215.4 mm / 8.48 inch 19.6 mm / 0.772 inch 1.2 kg2.65 lbs290 mm / 11.4 inch 206 mm / 8.11 inch 18.8 mm / 0.74 inch 1.1 kg2.31 lbs285 mm / 11.2 inch 202.7 mm / 7.98 inch 17.5 mm / 0.689 inch 1.2 kg2.73 lbs252 mm / 9.92 inch 177 mm / 6.97 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 583 g1.285 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Port options are similar to the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. Keep in mind that there is no HDMI port and so any external monitors must be connected via the sole USB-C port. Make sure the external monitor supports USB-C charging passthrough or else you will not be able to both recharge the system and output to an external monitor simultaneously.

Front: No ports
Front: No ports
Right: Power button, Volume buttons, Kensington lock
Right: Power button, Volume buttons, Kensington lock
Rear: No ports
Rear: No ports
Left: USB-C 2.0 (Power Delivery + DisplayPort 1.1), USB-A 2.0, 3.5 mm headset, MicroSD reader
Left: USB-C 2.0 (Power Delivery + DisplayPort 1.1), USB-A 2.0, 3.5 mm headset, MicroSD reader

SD Card Reader

The integrated MicroSD reader is quite slow. Moving 1 GB of pictures from our UHS-II card to the machine takes about 55 seconds compared to ~40 seconds on the Lenovo Chromebook C330 or Acer Chromebook Spin 511.

SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
57 MB/s +208%
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
  (Angelbird V60)
36.1 MB/s +95%
Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
  (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60)
33 MB/s +78%
Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
30.8 MB/s +66%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
  (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60)
18.5 MB/s

Communication

Transfer rates are steady but somewhat slow at just 263 Mbps download on average. Thankfully, this is more than enough for 720p or 1080p streaming.

Soldered Qualcomm QCA6174A Wi-Fi 5 module
Soldered Qualcomm QCA6174A Wi-Fi 5 module
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
371 MBit/s +169%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
138 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
437 MBit/s +66%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
263 MBit/s

Webcam

The webcam is the standard low quality 720p affair. A manual privacy shutter comes standard so users won't need to tape over the camera.

ColorChecker
4.3 ∆E
3.4 ∆E
4.6 ∆E
6.7 ∆E
7 ∆E
7.3 ∆E
7.5 ∆E
4.3 ∆E
8.9 ∆E
3.1 ∆E
3.5 ∆E
7.4 ∆E
3.9 ∆E
3.7 ∆E
11.1 ∆E
7 ∆E
9.3 ∆E
6 ∆E
4.3 ∆E
2.5 ∆E
6.2 ∆E
7.1 ∆E
4.4 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
ColorChecker Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836: 5.82 ∆E min: 2.46 - max: 11.08 ∆E

Maintenance

The bottom panel comes off fairly easily if you have a T5 Torx wrench. There won't be much to service beyond the battery, however.

Accessories and Warranty

There are no extras in the box other than the paperwork and AC adapter. The usual one-year limited warranty applies.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboards on most Chromebooks feel nearly identical to each other especially since Google has strict standards when it comes to the layout of the keys. There is unfortunately no backlight option.

Touchpad

The clickpad is small at 10.5 x 6.2 cm. Traction is smooth at medium-to-high speeds and relatively sticky at slower speeds. Meanwhile, clicking on the clickpad is on the shallower and spongy side.

Familiar Chromebook layout
Familiar Chromebook layout
Clickpad is somewhat spongy with unsatisfying feedback
Clickpad is somewhat spongy with unsatisfying feedback
Key clatter is relative soft, travel is shallow, and feedback is average and typical of an Ultrabook
Key clatter is relative soft, travel is shallow, and feedback is average and typical of an Ultrabook
Extended Shift key at the expense of full-size arrow keys
Extended Shift key at the expense of full-size arrow keys

Display

The low native resolution of 768p is typical of inexpensive 11.6-inch Chromebooks. Despite the limited screen real estate, contrast and response times are actually quite respectable for relatively deep blacks and reduced ghosting. Multimedia playback such as video and game streaming can therefore look decent on this cheap Chromebook.

Sharp RGB subpixel array
Sharp RGB subpixel array
Slight uneven backlight bleeding along the top and bottom edges
Slight uneven backlight bleeding along the top and bottom edges
Edge-to-edge glass with a very thick bottom display bezel
Edge-to-edge glass with a very thick bottom display bezel
Side bezels are thick by today's standards
Side bezels are thick by today's standards
282.3
cd/m²		306
cd/m²		304
cd/m²
276
cd/m²		302.1
cd/m²		296.5
cd/m²
263.9
cd/m²		301.5
cd/m²		278.3
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 306 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 290.1 cd/m² Minimum: 0.02 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 86 %
Center on Battery: 302.1 cd/m²
Contrast: 1162:1 (Black: 0.26 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.66 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 1.92
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
IPS, 1366x768, 11.60		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
IPS, 2160x1440, 11.00		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
IPS-Grade, 1366x768, 11.60		Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ
IPS, 1366x768, 11.60		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
IPS, 2256x1504, 13.50		Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US
IPS, 1366x768, 11.60
Response Times
-73%
-48%
-77%
-7%
-78%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
26 ?(12.4, 13.6)
46.4 ?(22.8, 23.6)
-78%
33 ?(15, 18)
-27%
45 ?(21, 24)
-73%
36 ?(10, 26)
-38%
43.2 ?(21.6, 21.6)
-66%
Response Time Black / White *
16 ?(15.2, 10.8)
26.8 ?(15.2, 11.6)
-68%
27 ?(14, 13)
-69%
29 ?(16, 13)
-81%
12 ?(3, 9)
25%
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
-90%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(90)
200 ?(40)
Screen
29%
12%
-0%
9%
13%
Brightness middle
302.1
447.8
48%
291
-4%
219
-28%
426
41%
198.9
-34%
Brightness
290
427
47%
271
-7%
214
-26%
388
34%
204
-30%
Brightness Distribution
86
88
2%
85
-1%
90
5%
85
-1%
95
10%
Black Level *
0.26
0.45
-73%
0.11
58%
0.21
19%
0.56
-115%
0.16
38%
Contrast
1162
995
-14%
2645
128%
1043
-10%
761
-35%
1243
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.66
1.48
78%
8.14
-22%
4.87
27%
2.25
66%
3.24
51%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
17.01
2.6
85%
19.9
-17%
18.57
-9%
5.29
69%
17.61
-4%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.2
1.9
55%
5.84
-39%
3.39
19%
3.53
16%
1.6
62%
Gamma
1.92 115%
2.08 106%
2.5 88%
2.61 84%
2.32 95%
2.311 95%
CCT
6122 106%
6624 98%
6761 96%
6941 94%
6368 102%
6553 99%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-22% / 8%
-18% / 0%
-39% / -16%
1% / 6%
-33% / -6%

* ... smaller is better

Color temperature is warmer than on most other laptops and RGB balance is somewhat poor.

Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker
ColorChecker

Display Response Times

ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
   ↔    Response Time Black to White
16 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15.2 ms rise
↘ 10.8 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 32 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
26 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 12.4 ms rise
↘ 13.6 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 30 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17903 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

Outdoor visibility is better than on the dimmer Acer Chromebook Spin 311 or Lenovo Chromebook C330 but worse than on the brighter HP Chromebook x2 and Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Expect some minor glare even at the best of conditions.

Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors under shade
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Outdoors on a bright cloudy day
Wide IPS viewing angles. Contrast and colors degrade if viewing from extreme angles
Wide IPS viewing angles. Contrast and colors degrade if viewing from extreme angles

Performance

Processor

Raw CPU performance is roughly 25 percent slower than the Exynos 9611 as found on last year's Galaxy Tab S6 Lite. The processor is unable to stream 4K video content at 60 FPS smoothly; our test with a one-minute 4K60 YouTube video would result in almost 1500 dropped frames. Navigating through Chrome OS is otherwise thankfully smooth and without any major performance issues.

Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
PCMark for Android: Work 3.0 | Storage 2.0
3DMark: 2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics | 2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics | 2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0
GFXBench: on screen Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen | 1920x1080 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen | on screen Car Chase Onscreen | 1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen
WebXPRT 3: Overall
Octane V2: Total Score
Mozilla Kraken 1.1: Total
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
3314 Points +265%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
2772 Points +205%
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
2500 Points +175%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (909 - 1430, n=5)
1208 Points +33%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
1207 Points +33%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
909 Points
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
1275 Points +390%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
1116 Points +329%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
949 Points +265%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
345 Points +33%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (260 - 305, n=5)
293 Points +13%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
260 Points
PCMark for Android / Work 3.0
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
6315 Points
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (5224 - 6716, n=4)
5900 Points -7%
PCMark for Android / Storage 2.0
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
20006 Points
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (6087 - 20006, n=2)
13047 Points -35%
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
5418 Points +111%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
3040 Points +19%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
2563 Points
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (1934 - 2818, n=7)
2495 Points -3%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
2199 Points -14%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
1184 Points -54%
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
10023 Points +681%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
5948 Points +364%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
2516 Points +96%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
2048 Points +60%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (1224 - 1503, n=7)
1387 Points +8%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
1283 Points
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
6636 Points +360%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
5821 Points +303%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
2088 Points +45%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
2013 Points +40%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (1391 - 1641, n=7)
1533 Points +6%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
1443 Points
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
37.01 fps +147%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
25 fps +67%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
15 fps
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
10 fps -33%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
9.7 fps -35%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (5.2 - 15, n=6)
8.23 fps -45%
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
62.4 fps +700%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
26 fps +233%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
10 fps +28%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
9.7 fps +24%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (7.6 - 8.2, n=6)
7.82 fps 0%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
7.8 fps
GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
31.72 fps +111%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
25 fps +67%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
15 fps
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
9.6 fps -36%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
8.8 fps -41%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (4.8 - 15, n=5)
8.34 fps -44%
GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
51.3 fps +603%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
24 fps +229%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
10 fps +37%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
8.4 fps +15%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (7.2 - 7.7, n=5)
7.4 fps +1%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
7.3 fps
WebXPRT 3 / Overall
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
203 Points +238%
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
203 Points +238%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
190 Points +217%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
166 Points +177%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
68 Points +13%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
60 Points
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (46 - 60, n=4)
54.3 Points -9%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
54 Points -10%
Octane V2 / Total Score
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
41604 Points +324%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
41443 Points +322%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
38722 Points +294%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
11461 Points +17%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
9822 Points
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (8665 - 10670, n=5)
9742 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
9415 Points -4%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 / Total
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
4872 ms * -22%
Average Mediatek MT8183
  (3957 - 4979, n=4)
4403 ms * -10%
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183
3986 ms *
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
3201 ms * +20%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
1067 ms * +73%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
1017 ms * +74%
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
757 ms * +81%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
653 ms * +84%

* ... smaller is better

Emissions

Temperature

AC adapter after an hour of heavy use where hot spots can reach up to 42 C
AC adapter after an hour of heavy use where hot spots can reach up to 42 C

Surface temperatures are always warmest on the left half. Hot spots can reach over 41 C on the top and bottom hot spots compared to just 31 C on the Chromebook Spin 311.

Max. Load
 19 °C
66 F		41.4 °C
107 F		31 °C
88 F		 
 22 °C
72 F		32.8 °C
91 F		31.2 °C
88 F		 
 22.2 °C
72 F		22.4 °C
72 F		22.4 °C
72 F		 
Maximum: 41.4 °C = 107 F
Average: 27.2 °C = 81 F
21.2 °C
70 F		33.8 °C
93 F		41 °C
106 F
22.4 °C
72 F		32.8 °C
91 F		37.2 °C
99 F
21 °C
70 F		23 °C
73 F		22.2 °C
72 F
Maximum: 41 °C = 106 F
Average: 28.3 °C = 83 F
Power Supply (max.)  23.4 °C = 74 F | Room Temperature 19 °C = 66 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 27.2 °C / 81 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.4 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 18.8 °C / 66 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 22.4 °C / 72.3 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (+5.7 °C / 10.3 F).
System idle (top)
System idle (top)
System idle (bottom)
System idle (bottom)
Heavy usage (top)
Heavy usage (top)
Heavy usage (bottom)
Heavy usage (bottom)
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
Mediatek MT8183, ARM Mali-G72 MP3		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, Qualcomm Adreno 618		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Intel Celeron N4120, Intel UHD Graphics 600		Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ
Mediatek MT8183, ARM Mali-G72 MP3		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620		Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US
Mediatek MT8173C, PowerVR GX6250
Heat
-11%
-3%
16%
6%
-1%
Maximum Upper Side *
41.4
38
8%
42.6
-3%
27.6
33%
31.8
23%
34.4
17%
Maximum Bottom *
41
42.4
-3%
43.2
-5%
28
32%
36
12%
38
7%
Idle Upper Side *
21
28
-33%
23.3
-11%
22.6
-8%
24.1
-15%
26
-24%
Idle Bottom *
25.4
29
-14%
23.9
6%
23.4
8%
24.6
3%
26.4
-4%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

Pink noise at maximum volume shows poor bass reproduction. Maximum volume is decent for a small 11.6-inch screen size
Pink noise at maximum volume shows poor bass reproduction. Maximum volume is decent for a small 11.6-inch screen size
Stereo speakers are above the first row of keyboard keys unlike on many other laptops
Stereo speakers are above the first row of keyboard keys unlike on many other laptops
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.134.834.1252726.8273123.82223.84022.621.522.65025.624.125.66323.331.723.38019.621.419.610015.918.615.912516.719.916.716022.214.622.220032.113.632.125043.714.443.731550.212.750.24005711.35750063.310.663.36306910.16980072.79.872.7100070.49.970.41250689.868160069.71069.7200069.710.469.7250068.310.768.3315066.61166.6400066.311.366.3500066.211.666.2630063.711.763.7800062.812.162.81000060.211.960.21250054.913.254.916000471247SPL79.823.279.8N450.445median 63.3median 11.6median 63.3Delta121.61235.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.8 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 33.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.7% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (24.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 72% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 20% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 72% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 22% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Maximum power consumption of almost 9 W when the CPU is at 100 percent utilization
Maximum power consumption of almost 9 W when the CPU is at 100 percent utilization

Idling on desktop at the lowest brightness level setting draws just 0.8 W. If set to maximum brightness, consumption would jump by 3 W. Video streaming draws about 5.4 W while a maximum of 8.9 W can be reached when running CPU benchmarks. Results are similar to what we recorded on the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 which has both the same 11.6-inch screen size and MediaTek SoC as our Lenovo.

The small (~9.2 x 3.9 x 2.9 cm) 45 W AC adapter provides more than enough power for the Lenovo Chromebook. This adapter can also be used to charge other USB-C devices and laptops.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.4 / 0.56 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.8 / 3.8 / 3.9 Watt
Load midlight 5.4 / 8.9 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3, 64 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 1366x768, 11.60		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
SD 7c, Adreno 618, 128 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 2160x1440, 11.00		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Celeron N4120, UHD Graphics 600, , IPS-Grade, 1366x768, 11.60		Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ
MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3, 64 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 1366x768, 11.60		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix BC501 HFM128GDJTNG-831, IPS, 2256x1504, 13.50		Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US
MT8173C, PowerVR GX6250, , IPS, 1366x768, 11.60
Power Consumption
-44%
-55%
-20%
-204%
-24%
Idle Minimum *
0.8
1.7
-113%
1.9
-138%
1.7
-113%
2.7
-238%
1.4
-75%
Idle Average *
3.8
5.2
-37%
4.1
-8%
3.6
5%
5.5
-45%
4.9
-29%
Idle Maximum *
3.9
5.3
-36%
4.2
-8%
3.7
5%
6.7
-72%
5
-28%
Load Average *
5.4
6.1
-13%
7.8
-44%
5.5
-2%
25
-363%
5.3
2%
Load Maximum *
8.9
10.6
-19%
15.7
-76%
8.3
7%
36
-304%
7.9
11%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Users can expect over 13 hours of real-world browsing before needing to recharge. Thankfully, the system can support most any USB-C charger and so users won't need to worry about any proprietary barrel adapters.

The recharge rate from empty to full capacity is fast at about 90 minutes with the included USB-C AC adapter.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
13h 15min
Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836
MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3, 40.9 Wh		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
SD 7c, Adreno 618, 32 Wh		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Celeron N4120, UHD Graphics 600, 41 Wh		Acer Chromebook Spin 311 CP311-3H-K2RJ
MT8183, Mali-G72 MP3, 36.5 Wh		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, 50.3 Wh		Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US
MT8173C, PowerVR GX6250, 45 Wh
Battery Runtime
-29%
-38%
-2%
-22%
-12%
WiFi v1.3
795
563
-29%
489
-38%
781
-2%
619
-22%
698
-12%
Reader / Idle
562
Load
187

Pros

+ relatively fast response times and high contrast
+ relatively strong chassis
+ USB-C charging
+ fanless design
+ inexpensive

Cons

- thick and heavy for a subnotebook
- poor 4K video playback at 60 FPS
- no integrated HDMI port
- no keyboard backlight

Verdict

In review: Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836. Test unit provided by MediaTek
In review: Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836. Test unit provided by MediaTek

The Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome is a better Chromebook than the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. Its display is brighter and with faster response times while the chassis integrates a MicroSD reader for those who need it. Its thick-skinned design allows for more bumps and bruises than your typical thinner Ultrabook or tablet like the HP Chromebook x2.

The bulky design is the main disadvantage of the Flex 3 Chrome. Though this is an 11.6-inch laptop, the thick bezels make the system feel like a 13.3-inch laptop instead. This may be acceptable for students and some travelers, but something lighter like the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet or aforementioned HP Chromebook x2 may be preferable in certain situations even if they are more fragile.

Price and Availability

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 11 11M836 with Mediatek MT8183 SoC can be difficult to find on store shelves. Amazon has the Intel Celeron version on sale for $150 USD while our MediaTek version with half the storage capacity can be found on Newegg for $200 USD.

Lenovo Flex 3 Chrome 11M836 - 01/31/2022 v7
Allen Ngo

Chassis
76 / 98 → 77%
Keyboard
79%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
43 / 75 → 57%
Weight
72 / 20-75 → 95%
Battery
90%
Display
76%
Games Performance
11 / 78 → 14%
Application Performance
49 / 85 → 58%
Temperature
95%
Noise
100%
Audio
71 / 91 → 78%
Camera
43 / 85 → 50%
Average
69%
80%
Convertible - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo Flex 3 Chromebook 11M836 review: Cheap and functional
Allen Ngo, 2021-12-23 (Update: 2022-01-31)