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Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook review: OLED is now super affordable

Better display than most subnotebooks.

Most inexpensive Chromebooks come with average or subpar displays in order to keep costs low. The IdeaPad Duet 5 manages to include an AMOLED panel for superior colors and black levels while maintaining a competitive price.
Tablet Chromebook Touchscreen ARM

Whereas Ultrabooks and gaming laptops can differ substantially between models within their respective categories, Chromebooks tend to have far fewer differences between them especially in terms of display quality. The 13.3-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook 2-in-1 is one of the first to include a 1080p AMOLED touchscreen instead of the usual TN or IPS without needing to inflate prices. Assuming fairly similar prices, are there any reasons to consider an IPS alternative at all?

Competitors to the 13.3-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 detachable include other Chromebooks like the IdeaPad Flex 5, Acer Chromebook Spin 713, HP Chromebook x2 11, or the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5. However, none come with AMOLED options.

More Lenovo reviews:

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c 8 x 2.4 GHz, Cortex-A76 / A55 (Kryo 468)
Graphics adapter
Qualcomm Adreno 618
Memory
4 GB 
, LPDDR4X 2133 MHz
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, 10-point capacitive, native pen support, OLED, glossy: yes, detachable screen, 60 Hz
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 2 DisplayPort, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo, Sensors: Accelerometer
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 7.2 x 305.9 x 186.8 ( = 0.28 x 12.04 x 7.35 in)
Battery
42 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Google Chrome OS
Camera
Primary Camera: 8 MPix
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Quad 1 W speakers, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, Detachable keyboard, removable back cover, 12 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
715 g ( = 25.22 oz / 1.58 pounds), Power Supply: 89 g ( = 3.14 oz / 0.2 pounds)
Price
450 USD
Amazon
$268.52
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
Price
79.4 %
v7 (old)
01 / 2022
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
SD 7c, Adreno 618		715 g7.2 mm13.30"1920x1080
86.2 %
v7 (old)
04 / 2021
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620		1.4 kg16.8 mm13.50"2256x1504
79.5 %
v7 (old)
10 / 2021
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
SD 7c, Adreno 618		583 g7.7 mm11.00"2160x1440
80.3 %
v7 (old)
11 / 2021
Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Celeron N4120, UHD Graphics 600		1.2 kg20 mm11.60"1366x768
83.6 %
v7 (old)
09 / 2021
Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs		2 kg18.5 mm15.60"1920x1080
81.5 %
v6 (old)
06 / 2019
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500		1.5 kg18.3 mm14.00"1920x1080

Case

The tablet itself has a higher-end design than most other Chromebook tablets especially since its bezels are smaller for a higher screen-to-body ratio. Unfortunately, the unit flexes and even creaks more readily than we initially expected. Thus, we recommend keeping the magnetic back cover and keyboard base attached whenever possible to improve the overall rigidity of the unit and to prevent accidental damage.

The entire system weighs about 1.21 kg when both the back cover and keyboard base are attached.

Tablet Only715 g
Back Cover181 g
Keyboard Attachment320 g
USB-C AC Adapter89 g
Keyboard deck is smooth metal or plastic in contrast to the Alcantara deck of the Surface Pro series
Keyboard deck is smooth metal or plastic in contrast to the Alcantara deck of the Surface Pro series
Annoyingly, there is no "tablet mode" when the keyboard is attached since the keyboard base cannot flip behind the tablet without falling off
Annoyingly, there is no "tablet mode" when the keyboard is attached since the keyboard base cannot flip behind the tablet without falling off
Keyboard base can sit completely flat on the table
Keyboard base can sit completely flat on the table
Kickstand is firm and works well at most angles. However, the tablet tends to tip over if the angle is too small
Kickstand is firm and works well at most angles. However, the tablet tends to tip over if the angle is too small
Aluminum metal back with soft-touch coating along the top third
Aluminum metal back with soft-touch coating along the top third
Keyboard base attachment. The base includes no Bluetooth or backlight
Keyboard base attachment. The base includes no Bluetooth or backlight
Removable back cover and bottom of keyboard deck have the same roughened fabric texture
Removable back cover and bottom of keyboard deck have the same roughened fabric texture
Narrow display bezels than most Chromebooks on all four sides. The back cover attaches to the tablet magnetically
Narrow display bezels than most Chromebooks on all four sides. The back cover attaches to the tablet magnetically

Size Comparison

❌
357 mm / 14.1 in 240 mm / 9.45 in 18.5 mm / 0.728 in 2 kg4.3 lbs337 mm / 13.3 in 226 mm / 8.9 in 18.3 mm / 0.72 in 1.5 kg3.4 lbs301 mm / 11.9 in 235 mm / 9.25 in 16.8 mm / 0.661 in 1.4 kg3.02 lbs296 mm / 11.7 in 205 mm / 8.07 in 20 mm / 0.787 in 1.2 kg2.6 lbs305.9 mm / 12 in 186.8 mm / 7.35 in 7.2 mm / 0.2835 in 715 g1.576 lbs252 mm / 9.92 in 177 mm / 6.97 in 7.7 mm / 0.3031 in 583 g1.285 lbs297 mm / 11.7 in 210 mm / 8.27 in 1 mm / 0.03937 in 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The tablet comes with two USB-C ports each capable of charging and video-out. Keep in mind that there is no 3.5 mm audio jack and so you will need to rely on a USB-C adapter or a Bluetooth-enabled headset instead for audio output.

Top: Volume buttons
Top: Volume buttons
Right: USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 + Power Delivery + DisplayPort
Right: USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 + Power Delivery + DisplayPort
Bottom: Keyboard base attachment pins
Bottom: Keyboard base attachment pins
Left: USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 + Power Delivery + DisplayPort, Power button
Left: USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 + Power Delivery + DisplayPort, Power button

Communication

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
371 MBit/s +14%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
325 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
437 MBit/s +37%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
319 MBit/s

Webcam

The rear 8 MP camera takes clear images even if colors are not as accurate. There is no camera flash.

ColorChecker
19.1 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
20.7 ∆E
24.4 ∆E
23.2 ∆E
17.2 ∆E
13.6 ∆E
15.2 ∆E
16.9 ∆E
14.6 ∆E
13.1 ∆E
19.2 ∆E
2.7 ∆E
9 ∆E
6.8 ∆E
6.4 ∆E
15.2 ∆E
17 ∆E
4.5 ∆E
3.4 ∆E
6.3 ∆E
4.5 ∆E
6.3 ∆E
9.9 ∆E
ColorChecker Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook: 12.59 ∆E min: 2.72 - max: 24.36 ∆E

Accessories and Warranty

The retail box includes the magnetic back cover, keyboard base attachment, and USB-C AC adapter. The standard one-year limited warranty applies.

Input Devices

Keyboard

One of the biggest problems with the keyboard attachment for the HP Chromebook x2 11 is that it would never sit completely flat on the table and so the entire deck would flex or teeter with almost every push of a key. Fortunately for Lenovo, the keyboard attachment on the IdeaPad Duet 5 doesn't suffer from the same issue for a firmer and more uniform typing experience. Its keys are still shallower and softer than on most laptop keyboards, however. We would love to see clickier backlit keys on future revisions.

Touchpad

The clickpad is slightly smaller than the one on the HP Chromebook x2 11 (10.5 x 6.2 vs. 11 x 6 cm). Feedback is loud but also spongier than we would like. It's possible to push down on the clickpad surface without the system registering a click which makes drag-and-drop actions more difficult than they need to be.

Standard Chromebook layout with no backlight
Standard Chromebook layout with no backlight
Clickpad is smooth at medium-to-high speeds but sticky at slower speeds
Clickpad is smooth at medium-to-high speeds but sticky at slower speeds
Flat keyboard base cannot be angled unlike on the Surface Pro keyboard or HP Chromebook x2 11 keyboard
Flat keyboard base cannot be angled unlike on the Surface Pro keyboard or HP Chromebook x2 11 keyboard
Enter key feels light and with unsatisfying feedback
Enter key feels light and with unsatisfying feedback

Display

The AMOLED touchscreen is no doubt the best aspect of the IdeaPad Duet 5. When compared to IPS, AMOLED will almost always offer superior black-white and gray-gray response times, deeper and more accurate colors, better brightness uniformity, and much higher black levels for more vivid content. The wide gamut and fast response times are particularly noteworthy as many other Chromebooks typically have cheaper panels with noticeably shallower colors and significant ghosting. The panel here is relatively bright at ~360 nits, though there are Chromebooks with brighter IPS displays available such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 or HP Chromebook x2 11.

Unfortunately, pulse-width modulation is present on all brightness levels here meaning users sensitive to onscreen flickering may want to avoid using the IdeaPad Duet 5 for long periods.

Edge-to-edge glass protection
Edge-to-edge glass protection
Lenovo says its OLED panel is able to reduce the frequency of blue light to limit its harmful effects to the eye
Lenovo says its OLED panel is able to reduce the frequency of blue light to limit its harmful effects to the eye
Sharp AMOLED subpixel arrangement differs greatly from regular OLED or IPS
Sharp AMOLED subpixel arrangement differs greatly from regular OLED or IPS
Absolutely no backlight bleeding since this is an OLED panel
Absolutely no backlight bleeding since this is an OLED panel
369.3
cd/m²		366.7
cd/m²		368
cd/m²
367.7
cd/m²		358
cd/m²		367.8
cd/m²
366.8
cd/m²		358.6
cd/m²		368
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 369.3 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 365.7 cd/m² Minimum: 0.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 97 %
Center on Battery: 358 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.93 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.88
ΔE Greyscale 1.6 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
Gamma: 2.22
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
OLED, 1920x1080, 13.3"		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
IPS, 2256x1504, 13.5"		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
IPS, 2160x1440, 11"		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
IPS-Grade, 1366x768, 11.6"		Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"		HP Chromebook 14 G5
IPS, 1920x1080, 14"
Response Times
-532%
-1424%
-237%
-1180%
-499%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
2.3 ?(1.1, 1.2)
36 ?(10, 26)
-1465%
46.4 ?(22.8, 23.6)
-1917%
33 ?(15, 18)
-1335%
35 ?(16, 19)
-1422%
44 ?(23, 21)
-1813%
Response Time Black / White *
2.6 ?(1.2, 1.4)
12 ?(3, 9)
-362%
26.8 ?(15.2, 11.6)
-931%
27 ?(14, 13)
-938%
27 ?(15, 12)
-938%
35 ?(20, 15)
-1246%
PWM Frequency
60.2 ?(100)
200 ?(40)
232%
1000 ?(90)
1561%
1000 ?(90)
1561%
Screen
-23%
14%
-160%
-86%
-42%
Brightness middle
358
426
19%
447.8
25%
291
-19%
282
-21%
253
-29%
Brightness
366
388
6%
427
17%
271
-26%
259
-29%
232
-37%
Brightness Distribution
97
85
-12%
88
-9%
85
-12%
84
-13%
87
-10%
Black Level *
0.56
0.45
0.11
0.15
0.15
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.93
2.25
-17%
1.48
23%
8.14
-322%
5.55
-188%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.78
5.29
-11%
2.6
46%
19.9
-316%
7.46
-56%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.6
3.53
-121%
1.9
-19%
5.84
-265%
4.97
-211%
3.04
-90%
Gamma
2.22 99%
2.32 95%
2.08 106%
2.5 88%
2.41 91%
2.21 100%
CCT
6238 104%
6368 102%
6624 98%
6761 96%
6473 100%
7015 93%
Contrast
761
995
2645
1880
1687
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-278% / -192%
-705% / -346%
-199% / -186%
-633% / -360%
-271% / -238%

* ... smaller is better

The display is well-calibrated when up against the DCI-P3 standard. Average grayscale and color deltaE values are only 1.6 and 1.93, respectively, to be one of the most color-accurate Chromebook tablets we've seen.

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
2.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 1.2 ms rise
↘ 1.4 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 11 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms).
   ↔    Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
2.3 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 1.1 ms rise
↘ 1.2 ms fall
The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.5 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 detected 60.2 Hz ≤ 100 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 60.2 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 60.2 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8529 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured.

PWM frequency changes to 480.8 Hz when brightness is at 50 percent or lower
PWM frequency changes to 480.8 Hz when brightness is at 50 percent or lower
0% brightness (0/16)
0% brightness (0/16)
25% brightness (4/16)
25% brightness (4/16)
50% brightness (8/16)
50% brightness (8/16)
75% brightness (12/16)
75% brightness (12/16)
100% brightness (16/16)
100% brightness (16/16)
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under shade. Content is comfortable for viewing when under shade, but some glare will almost always be present
Outdoors under shade. Content is comfortable for viewing when under shade, but some glare will almost always be present
Outdoors under sunlight
Outdoors under sunlight
Wide OLED viewing angles. Colors have a rainbow effect if viewing from extreme angles which is a unique attribute of OLED
Wide OLED viewing angles. Colors have a rainbow effect if viewing from extreme angles which is a unique attribute of OLED

Performance

Processor

CPU performance is consistently above the midrange Samsung Exynos 9611. Interestingly, the Windows-powered Acer Aspire 1 A114-61-S58J is able to outperform our Lenovo Chromebook by wide margins even though both come with the same 1st gen Snapdragon 7c CPU.

4K video playback at 60 FPS is supported. We're only able to record just 5 dropped frames during our minute-long 4K60 video test.

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 Aspire 1 A114-61-S58J
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
3323 Points +93%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
3314 Points +92%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
2772 Points +61%
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
2500 Points +45%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (1687 - 3323, n=3)
2245 Points +30%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
1725 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
1207 Points -30%
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
1275 Points +106%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
1116 Points +80%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
949 Points +53%
Acer Aspire 1 A114-61-S58J
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
882 Points +42%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (597 - 882, n=3)
700 Points +13%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
620 Points
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
345 Points -44%
PCMark for Android / Work 3.0
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
9644 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (8837 - 9644, n=2)
9241 Points -4%
PCMark for Android / Storage 2.0
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
19557 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (n=1)
19557 Points 0%
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
5418 Points +56%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
3464 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (3390 - 3464, n=2)
3427 Points -1%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
3040 Points -12%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
2199 Points -37%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
1184 Points -66%
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
10023 Points +231%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
5948 Points +96%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
3030 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (2720 - 3030, n=2)
2875 Points -5%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
2516 Points -17%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
2048 Points -32%
3DMark / Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
6636 Points +113%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
5821 Points +87%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
3117 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (2845 - 3117, n=2)
2981 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
2088 Points -33%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
2013 Points -35%
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Onscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
37.01 fps +85%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
25 fps +25%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
20 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (n=1)
20 fps 0%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
10 fps -50%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
9.7 fps -51%
GFXBench / Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
62.4 fps +212%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
26 fps +30%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
20 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (n=1)
20 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
10 fps -50%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
9.7 fps -51%
GFXBench / Car Chase Onscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
31.72 fps +98%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
25 fps +56%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
16 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (n=1)
16 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
9.6 fps -40%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
8.8 fps -45%
GFXBench / Car Chase Offscreen
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
51.3 fps +221%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
24 fps +50%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
16 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (n=1)
16 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
10 fps -37%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
8.4 fps -47%
WebXPRT 3 / Overall
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
203 Points +128%
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
203 Points +128%
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
190 Points +113%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
166 Points +87%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
89 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (78 - 89, n=2)
83.5 Points -6%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
68 Points -24%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
54 Points -39%
Octane V2 / Total Score
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
41604 Points +63%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
41443 Points +62%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
38722 Points +51%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
25578 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (20009 - 25578, n=3)
22703 Points -11%
Acer Aspire 1 A114-61-S58J
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
20009 Points -22%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
11461 Points -55%
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
9415 Points -63%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 / Total
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite
Samsung Exynos 9611
4872 ms * -172%
HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350
3201 ms * -79%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
  (1792 - 2050, n=3)
1881 ms * -5%
Acer Aspire 1 A114-61-S58J
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
1800 ms * -0%
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c
1792 ms *
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U
1067 ms * +40%
HP Chromebook x360 14 G1
Intel Core i5-8350U
1017 ms * +43%
Lenovo ThinkBook 14 G2 ITL 20VDS02G00
Intel Core i3-1115G4
757 ms * +58%
Apple iPad 10.2 2020
Apple A12 Bionic
653 ms * +64%

* ... smaller is better

Emissions

Temperature

The temperature maps clearly show the positioning of the motherboard along the top edge of the unit. Hot spots can reach up to 35 C and 42 C on the front and back, respectively, which is not far off from what we recorded on the HP Chromebook x2 11.

System idle (front)
System idle (front)
System idle (back)
System idle (back)
CPU stress test (front)
CPU stress test (front)
CPU stress test (back)
CPU stress test (back)
Max. Load
 23.6 °C
74 F		34.6 °C
94 F		29.4 °C
85 F		 
 23 °C
73 F		26 °C
79 F		23.2 °C
74 F		 
 23.6 °C
74 F		23.6 °C
74 F		23.4 °C
74 F		 
Maximum: 34.6 °C = 94 F
Average: 25.6 °C = 78 F
30.6 °C
87 F		41.6 °C
107 F		33.6 °C
92 F
26.4 °C
80 F		26.8 °C
80 F		26.2 °C
79 F
26 °C
79 F		26.2 °C
79 F		26.2 °C
79 F
Maximum: 41.6 °C = 107 F
Average: 29.3 °C = 85 F
Room Temperature 19 °C = 66 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 25.6 °C / 78 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 34.6 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 60 °C for the class Convertible.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41.6 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 21.2 °C / 70 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 23.6 °C / 74.5 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28 °C / 82.4 F (+4.4 °C / 7.9 F).
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, Qualcomm Adreno 618		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
Intel Core i5-10210U, Intel UHD Graphics 620		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c, Qualcomm Adreno 618		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Intel Celeron N4120, Intel UHD Graphics 600		Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs		HP Chromebook 14 G5
Intel Celeron N3350, Intel HD Graphics 500
Heat
5%
-12%
-6%
-6%
-5%
Maximum Upper Side *
34.6
31.8
8%
38
-10%
42.6
-23%
36.9
-7%
33
5%
Maximum Bottom *
41.6
36
13%
42.4
-2%
43.2
-4%
41.4
-0%
48.8
-17%
Idle Upper Side *
22.4
24.1
-8%
28
-25%
23.3
-4%
25.4
-13%
24
-7%
Idle Bottom *
26.2
24.6
6%
29
-11%
23.9
9%
26.9
-3%
26.2
-0%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

Pink noise at maximum volume. The four 1 W speakers aid in creating a louder audio experience, but balance is relatively poor
Pink noise at maximum volume. The four 1 W speakers aid in creating a louder audio experience, but balance is relatively poor
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.534.333.52529.224.629.23123.920.123.94027.319.427.35027.520.727.56330.826.530.88033.321.333.310036.319.236.31253919.63916045.213.845.220046.314.946.325051.813.551.831556.914.256.940060.312.160.35006512.36563067.510.367.580066.29.466.2100066.39.666.3125065.59.665.5160063.69.663.6200064.71064.7250066.110.266.1315075.310.675.3400083.210.983.2500080.411.380.4630066.111.366.1800061.311.861.31000055.413.555.41250054.316.754.3160004513.545SPL8723.487N57.80.557.8median 63.6median 11.8median 63.6Delta5.61.85.626.325.821.422.12624.925.127.622.532.523.448.72655.818.860.922.167.2267019.372.317.674.217.774.319.575.31571.711.871.311.27410.574.21072.710.17210.67210.97511.374.811.671.71269.71269.612.371.112.669.61270.111.269.824.784.70.666.6median 12median 71.73.42.2hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseLenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 ChromebookApple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.7% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (3.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 9.1% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (12.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 42% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 40% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 52% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (4.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 0% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Idling on desktop draws between 1 W and 7 W depending on the brightness level, color, and wireless activity. Since this is an OLED panel, the color white will draw significantly more power than other colors whereas the colors on an IPS panel are more relatively equal in terms of power consumption. Thus, websites that are predominately dark in color can help extend the battery life of the Duet 5.

Day-to-day browsing draws about 9 W up to a maximum of 12 W from the small (~5.2 x 2.8 x 4.2 cm) 30 W USB-C AC adapter.

Maximum brightness setting on an all black screen from 0s to 10s and maximum brightness on an all white screen from 10s and onward. The system demands 4 W more just from displaying an all white image
Maximum brightness setting on an all black screen from 0s to 10s and maximum brightness on an all white screen from 10s and onward. The system demands 4 W more just from displaying an all white image
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.19 / 0.41 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.96 / 6.7 / 6.8 Watt
Load midlight 9 / 11.4 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
SD 7c, Adreno 618, 64 GB eMMC Flash, OLED, 1920x1080, 13.3"		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix BC501 HFM128GDJTNG-831, IPS, 2256x1504, 13.5"		HP Chromebook x2 11-da0023dx
SD 7c, Adreno 618, 128 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 2160x1440, 11"		Acer Chromebook Spin 511 R752T-C26N
Celeron N4120, UHD Graphics 600, , IPS-Grade, 1366x768, 11.6"		Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, , IPS, 1920x1080, 15.6"		HP Chromebook 14 G5
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 32 GB eMMC Flash, IPS, 1920x1080, 14"
Power Consumption
-111%
1%
-9%
-94%
-68%
Idle Minimum *
0.96
2.7
-181%
1.7
-77%
1.9
-98%
3.4
-254%
3.1
-223%
Idle Average *
6.7
5.5
18%
5.2
22%
4.1
39%
6.5
3%
6.2
7%
Idle Maximum *
6.8
6.7
1%
5.3
22%
4.2
38%
7.8
-15%
8.7
-28%
Load Average *
9
25
-178%
6.1
32%
7.8
13%
12.5
-39%
14
-56%
Load Maximum *
11.4
36
-216%
10.6
7%
15.7
-38%
30.1
-164%
16.1
-41%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Though Lenovo advertises 15 hours of battery life, we're only able to record about 11 hours of real-world web browsing at 150 nit brightness (or setting 11/16). Charging from empty to full is disappointingly slow at over 4 hours compared to less than 2 hours on most laptops.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
11h 00min
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
SD 7c, Adreno 618, 42 Wh		Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W-560V
i5-10210U, UHD Graphics 620, 50.3 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		Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 CX5500FEA
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 57 Wh		HP Chromebook 14 G5
Celeron N3350, HD Graphics 500, 47.36 Wh
Battery Runtime
-6%
-15%
-26%
-15%
0%
WiFi v1.3
660
619
-6%
563
-15%
489
-26%
561
-15%
661
0%
Reader / Idle
562
Load
187

Pros

+ full DCI-P3 coverage with deep black levels
+ high screen-to-body ratio; lightweight
+ loud internal speakers
+ fanless

Cons

- relatively soft keyboard keys and clickpad
- tablet flexes and twists somewhat easily
- PWM at all brightness levels
- slow recharge rate

Verdict

In review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook 13Q7C6. Test unit provided by Lenovo
In review: Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook 13Q7C6. Test unit provided by Lenovo

If you're sick of settling for subpar displays or are in need of more accurate colors out of your next Chromebook, then the IdeaPad Duet 5 makes strong arguments for switching to AMOLED. Its viewing experience is not just measurably better, but it is a noticeable improvement to the naked eye when compared to most any IPS-based Chromebook.

For maximum brightness, however, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 and HP Chromebook x2 11 have brighter displays than our Lenovo to be easier on the eyes when outdoors. IPS panels are less likely to exhibit PWM or screen flickering as well. They are also just slightly sharper than AMOLED due to their advantages in subpixel arrangement, but this will be difficult to notice in practice on such a small 13.3-inch display.

Users interested in the IdeaPad Duet 5 will want to keep in mind that it is somewhat susceptible to twisting and damage if its removable covers are off. The very slow recharge rate can also be a problem for constant travelers and the lack of an integrated MicroSD reader limits local storage options.

Price and Availability

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is now available on Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $429, $469, and $449 USD, respectively. The Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy version comes with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB eMMC, 4 GB RAM and 128 GB eMMC, and 8 GB RAM and 126 GB eMMC, respectively.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook - 08/30/2022 v7 (old)
Allen Ngo

Chassis
64 / 98 → 65%
Keyboard
64%
Pointing Device
77%
Connectivity
51 / 75 → 69%
Weight
80 / 20-75 → 100%
Battery
89%
Display
87%
Games Performance
24 / 78 → 31%
Application Performance
55 / 85 → 65%
Temperature
95%
Noise
100%
Audio
76 / 91 → 84%
Camera
55 / 85 → 65%
Average
71%
79%
Convertible - Weighted Average

Price comparison

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook review: OLED is now super affordable
Allen Ngo, 2022-01-13 (Update: 2022-01-20)