This week, the rumor mill is swirling once again around a Google-made first-party laptop, one that’ll presumably run ChromeOS. Sources say that the company is committing to a new design, possibly emboldened by a new direction that more closely marries Chrome and Android. It’s an interesting possibility from many angles, but the one that I want to chew on is this: What could Google possibly do differently this time to make a laptop that people actually want to buy? Before I continue, I should point out that all of this is based entirely on speculation. Here’s a story about Google pushing hard on a new laptop design, and here’s a story about a new version of ChromeOS that’s heavily based on Android. That second factor would presumably power up ChromeOS to more effectively use Android apps, making it better able to compete with devices like the iPad Pro and Surface. So, let’s assume (and it is an assumption) that Google sees a rejuvenated ChromeOS as a good reason to dip its toes back into the laptop market. The company has an inglorious history there, which is worth looking at before we move on to considering the future. A history of laptop letdowns The original ChromeOS development device was the Cr-48, an interesting footnote. It was meant to be a sort of blueprint for the first generation of Chromebooks, but unlike the Nexus and Pixel phone lines, this one wasn’t sold at retailers. At the debut of ChromeOS in 2011, Google left that up to its OEM partners. But not for long. While companies like Acer, Lenovo, and HP pounced on ChromeOS as a way to sell tons of cheap laptops to those who needed a browser and not much else, Google wanted to show that Chromebooks could compete with higher-end machines like Apple’s MacBook and Dell’s XPS. And so the Chromebook Pixel debuted in 2013, notable for Google’s first use of “Pixel” as a brand name. The Chromebook Pixel was designed to be a flagship device, with the cheapest model coming in at $1,300. And for its specs, that was a fair price: a third-gen Intel Core i5, a high-resolution 3:2 touchscreen, and an attractive aluminum body. It was gorgeous, and I especially loved the four-color status panel that subtly hinted at Google branding. The laptop had a few ideas that we’re still pondering over, such as bucking the trend of 16:9 aspect ratios and going with 3:2. (Microsoft’s Surface Laptop series certainly took notice.) Google But ChromeOS was a very different beast over 10 years ago, and most laptop users weren’t in the always-online mindset that’s ubiquitous today. Though reviewers loved the hardware, they found the price far too high for an operating system that demanded constant connection to be useful and couldn’t run standalone apps or games. Even as someone who was obsessed with Android at the time, I couldn’t justify a four-figure laptop that couldn’t run Photoshop. The Chromebook Pixel was a curiosity that never seemed to catch the attention of the MacBook or XPS buyers that Google was gunning for. While inexpensive Chromebooks exploded in popularity as web-focused alternatives to the iPad and as thin client laptops for schools, Google failed to move its premium laptop design even after a refresh in 2015 with more powerful processors, more RAM, and USB-C. The Chromebook Pixel was quietly put out to pasture the following year, and Google executives tried to reframe the laptop as a “proof of concept” rather than a failure. But Google wasn’t ready to give up the dream of a premium flagship Chromebook. They went back to the drawing board and released the Pixelbook in early 2018. With a convertible two-in-one form factor and a lower $1,000 starting price — not to mention some big improvements in ChromeOS — it seemed like a much more palatable take on a more premium laptop design. Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry Reviewers praised the design and the compromises, but still noted that it was a very particular customer who would be attracted to a high-end laptop without Windows or macOS. While the Pixelbook was a noted improvement on the Chromebook Pixel, shoppers looking for a Chromebook still went with cheaper options, and shoppers with a $1,000+ budget for a laptop simply stuck to Windows. For the second time in a row, a Google-branded laptop was a flop. The Slate falls flat But the Pixelbook wasn’t a full-on failure. For that we need to look at the Pixel Slate, a full ChromeOS-powered tablet with powerful Intel hardware. It was the more capable, grown-up version of Google’s Nexus tablets that had been around for almost a decade. It really turned heads at the time for its convergent form factor that took on both the Microsoft Surface and the iPad Pro. Foundry But with a $600 starting price, not including the crucial keyboard upgrade, not to mention poor battery life with its svelte build and powerful guts, the Pixel Slate was crushed in initial reviews and failed to find an audience. Once again, people looking for a high-end tablet just bought an iPad, people looking for a Surface bought a Surface, and people looking for a deal avoided it entirely. The Pixel Slate went on a fire sale soon thereafter, and Google wouldn’t try its hand at a new tablet for five years — and that one would notably run Android, not ChromeOS. There’s one last member of this family to mention, but sadly it’s a very familiar story. Google tried one last time with the Pixelbook Go in 2019, a Chromebook that seemed much more like, well, a Chromebook. This cheaper and more conventional laptop dispensed with the premium materials and the 2-in-1 form factor, trying to appeal to students and budget buyers. But with a starting price of $650, once again Google was undercut by its own Chromebook partners who sold tons of cheaper models that could do more or less the same thing for far less. IDG Google hasn’t tried to make a laptop or a 2-in-1 this decade, and the original hardware team has been disbanded. And after four straight high-profile disappointments — five if you count the Pixel C and its gorgeous tablet keyboard add-on — who could blame them? A budget blueprint from Lenovo In Google’s place, I’d focus on making ChromeOS more appealing to mainstream buyers and corporations who won’t settle for anything less than Windows. There’s plenty of ill will going Microsoft’s way that they could capitalize on. But that’s beyond the premise we’re working with here. Let’s simply take these rumors at face value and assume that Google wants to bring Chrome and Android closer together, presumably to better compete with devices like the iPad and iPad Pro (and avoid the disaster that was the Pixel Slate). I think Google already has a blueprint for such a device: the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. Google representatives have told me that across several generations, this cheap convertible tablet (which always comes with a keyboard in the box!) is the best-selling Chromebook on the planet. They went on to say that it does especially well in the education market, and that makes sense because more and more kids are growing up with a touchscreen as their primary mode of digital interaction. Michael Crider/Foundry The Lenovo Chromebook Duet isn’t perfect. It’s underpowered with Arm-based hardware, and its detachable keyboard and kickstand aren’t so elegant to juggle. It’s also a much better Chromebook than it is a tablet. Even though it feels pretty close to an iPad in the hand, ChromeOS just can’t run both its own tabs/apps and Android apps at the same time with anything approaching grace. But those drawbacks don’t really matter — or, at least, they’re minor enough to overlook for a $300-ish device that includes lots of accessories. The Duet is tiny and imminently portable, lasts a long time on a charge, and it includes everything you need in the box. The latest model is notably improved in both its screen and keyboard, and it even includes a second USB-C port for easy charging while using accessories. You can read my full review of it here. If Google wants a self-branded Chromebook that will actually appeal to people, there it is. — and that’s doubly true if future versions of ChromeOS do actually get a lot more chummy with Android, enough to run phone and tablet apps next to full-power browser tabs without any headaches. Give this theoretical neo-Chromebook some of the same understated charm as the Pixel phone line, and make sure it has access to the expanded capabilities of a Chromebook Plus (something that the Duet can’t manage with its low-power hardware). Michael Crider/Foundry Most of all, don’t repeat the mistakes of the Pixel Slate. Keep it small-ish, about the size of an 11-inch iPad Air at most. Keep the price low (preferably under $500) and include a stand and keyboard in the box. This might be the hardest thing for Google to achieve, who has yet to make a laptop that can truly compete on price. Maybe some close relationships with Arm-based chipmakers like MediaTek could help bridge that gap. If you want to really wow me, resurrect that wonderful wireless charging keyboard-and-case design from the Pixel C. I have yet to see a tablet keyboard so elegant. Will Google do it? Can Google do it? I have no idea. Probably not, to be honest. The rumors say that this new device is once again setting its sights on the over-$1,000 laptop market, something Google has failed at twice before. I’d love to be proven wrong… but in consumer tech, as in life, cynics are rarely disappointed. Read...

At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Robust build quality Attractive OLED display Good wired and wireless connectivity Snapdragon X Plus performs well (for the price) Cons Design fails to stand out Disappointing 3D graphics performance Battery life is a tad less than average Our Verdict The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 delivers good bang for the buck. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Budget Snapdragon X Plus PCs are here, and Lenovo’s IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is among the affordable options landing on store shelves. Priced at $850, this 2-in-1 provides a good mix of features and performance but falls behind some competitors in 3D performance and battery life.  Further reading: Best laptops 2024: Premium, budget, gaming, 2-in-1s, and more Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Specs and features The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is one of several budget PCs to equip Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Plus X1P-42-100. This is the least powerful version of Snapdragon X, with 8 processor cores (down from up to 12 in Snapdragon X Elite) and a clock speed of 3.4GHz.  CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus X1P-42-100 Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno NPU: Qualcomm Hexagon (up to 45 TOPs) Display: 14-inch 16:10 1,920 x 1,200 OLED touchscreen Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 solid state storage Webcam: 1080p with physical privacy shutter Connectivity: HDMI 2.1 (up to 4K@30Hz), 2x USB-C 3.0 (10Gbps) with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4, 1x headphone/microphone jack, 1x microSD card reader, 2x USB-A 3.0 (5Gbps) Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 Biometrics: Fingerprint reader, facial recognition  Battery capacity: 57 watt-hours Dimensions: 12.32 x 8.94 x 0.68 Weight: 3.28 pounds MSRP: $849.99 MSRP  Given the 2-in-1’s $850 MSRP, though, a less impressive chip is to be expected. It’s flanked by a respectable 16GB of RAM and 1TB of solid-state storage. While neither specification is unusual for a budget Windows laptop, it’s still good to see Lenovo did not skimp on either. It’s also worth knowing that this configuration is the only model Lenovo currently has listed for the North American market—is what you’re going to get if you buy an IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is just $850, but the quality of the display nearly rivals the most expensive laptops on the planet.  Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Design and build quality IDG / Matthew Smith The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is a subdued, workmanlike PC. Its only notable design quirk is Lenovo’s camera hump at the top of the display. Though it might look a bit odd, provides an easy way to open the display lid. Otherwise, there’s not much to make the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 stand out from the competition. There’s nothing that will offend, either. The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 isn’t a “professional” machine, exactly, but its dark gray exterior and beveled edges come together for a handsome, cohesive design.  It’s screwed together tight, too. Opening the display lid reveals close to zero flex and the lower chassis doesn’t wobble when the laptop is handled from an edge or corner. In this respect the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 punches above its weight, as it rivals the build quality of more expensive machines like the Acer Swift 14 AI and HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14.  As its name suggests, the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 has a 360-degree hinge that lets you push the display back until the laptop becomes a tablet. However, the 2-in-1 weighs in at 3.28 pounds and measures about 0.68 inches thick, which means it’s not comfortable to use as a tablet.  To be fair, the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is not heavier than competitors like the Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1, which weighs 3.77 pounds—but that won’t save you from a black eye if you accidentally drop the IdeaPad on your face while trying to surf the web in bed. Shoppers who really want to get the most out of a touchscreen need to look at smaller, thinner, more expensive options like the Microsoft Surface Pro.  Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Keyboard, trackpad IDG / Matthew Smith Lenovo keeps up its reputation for good keyboards with the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. It has a spacious layout and most keys are large, with only the arrow keys noticeably downsized compared to a conventional desktop keyboard.  Key feel is a bit muted, however. While key travel is respectable, each key activates with a soft, easy action. I prefer a keyboard with a more definitive tactile click and some audible feedback. Still, it’s pleasant enough for a budget 2-in-1, and I had no problem with typing speed or accuracy.  The touchpad is fine. It measures roughly five inches wide and three inches deep, which is typical for a 14-inch machine in this price bracket. The touchpad surface feels responsive and is large enough for most situations, but some multi-touch gestures can feel a bit cramped.  Of course, the 2-in-1 has a touchscreen, and it provides added flexibility. The touchscreen is useful when using the 2-in-1 in as a tablet, of course, but also handy in cramped or awkward situations. For example, I like using “tent mode,” which uses the keyboard like a kickstand, when I watch YouTube videos over breakfast. I can still move between videos with the touchscreen but don’t have to worry about dropping crumbs on the keyboard.  Silly as it might sound, that sort of practical flexibility will come in handy if the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 will be your only computer.  Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Display, audio IDG / Matthew Smith Every Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 has a 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. This turns out to be among the machine’s best features. OLED has a great reputation, for good reason. It provides a richer, deeper, more immersive image than a typical LCD display. Colors look incredibly vibrant and dark scenes look outstanding. That’s good news for any laptop but especially excellent for a budget machine like the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. Why? Because all OLED panels for laptops come from a handful of suppliers and deliver similar image quality. The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is just $850, but the quality of the display nearly rivals the most expensive laptops on the planet.  I say “nearly” for two reasons: resolution and refresh rate. 1920×1200 resolution looks plenty sharp on a 14-inch display, but it’s not going to beat competitors with 2880×1800 resolution (which are common). The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 also sticks with a 60Hz refresh rate, while more expensive OLED displays tend to offer a smoother 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate.  Yet neither is really a problem. It’s just the reality of budget hardware. Overall, the OLED display gives the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 a big advantage against competitors that stick with LCD (and many do).  The 2-in-1’s audio performance is less impressive, though still alright. Lenovo provides upward-firing speakers that provide reasonable volume and clarity but lack the low end required to make music and movies sound great. They also frame the keyboard, which is great when using the machine as a laptop but makes the audio experience more muted when using it as a tablet (as, in that situation, the keyboard is pointed away from you).   Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Webcam, microphone, biometrics The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 offers a decent 1080p webcam and dual-array microphone. They capture acceptable video and listenable audio that’s well-suited to video calls on Zoom or Google Chat. A physical privacy shutter is included to cover the camera, as well. All of this is good but typical for a budget Windows laptop.  Biometric login is available with a fingerprint reader on the lower right side of the laptop. This is less common, though not unique, for a budget 2-in-1. The fingerprint reader has the same strengths and weaknesses as those on competitive laptops. It works well in most situations, but a thin layer of dust or a slightly damp fingertip can fool it—so don’t take a swig of your Mountain Dew before you log in.  Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Connectivity IDG / Matthew Smith Connectivity is a perk for the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1, as it provides a good range of modern and legacy connectivity.  On the left side you’ll find two USB-C ports, both of which support DisplayPort for connecting a USB-C monitor and Power Delivery for charging the laptop (the included 65-watt charger uses USB-C). On the right you’ll see two USB-A ports, so you can add an older wired keyboard and mouse without issue. An HDMI 2.1 port, 3.5mm combo audio port, and microSD card reader round out the options. While this is a good set of options, I have a few nitpicks. The HDMI 2.1 is listed to support only 4K at 30Hz which, frankly, is ridiculous for any laptop sold today. The USB ports also deliver low data speeds (10Gbps and 5Gbps respectively). However, that is also true of most budget Windows laptops.  Wireless connectivity, meanwhile, is excellent. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4; both are the latest versions of each wireless standard. Neither is broadly adopted yet, so I expect these wireless standards will remain adequate for a good decade, or more.  Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Performance The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is intriguing to run through benchmarks, though not because it’s fast but, rather, because it’s (relatively) slow. Every IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 has Snapdragon’s X Plus X1P-42-100 chip, which has eight cores (down from 10 or 12 in the high-end Snapdragon chips). The laptop also has 16GB of memory and a 1TB solid state drive. None of this looks amazing on paper—but remember, this is an $850 laptop. And it turns out that slowest Snapdragon X Plus is competitive with the mid-range Intel Core Series 5 and AMD Ryzen 7 chips typically available in this price bracket.  IDG / Matthew Smith The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 got off to a good start in Cinebench 2024, a moderate duration, heavily multithreaded CPU benchmark. This benchmark is Arm native, so it doesn’t encounter a performance penalty from running the app through emulation. Here, the IdeaPad managed to beat other laptops with Snapdragon X Plus chips by a hair and defeated the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition with Intel Core Series Ultra 256V. IDG / Matthew Smith Handbrake, on the other hand, is a long-duration multithreaded CPU benchmark that is not Arm native, which has a stark effect on what the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 can achieve. Its performance falls far short of laptops with similar hardware. This is to be expected, given that the app is not making the best use of the Qualcomm hardware—but it’s a reality people who rely on apps that haven’t made the leap to Arm must consider.   IDG / Matthew Smith The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 can perform well in Arm native apps that rely heavily on the CPU. The integrated GPU, on the other hand, is underwhelming. 3DMark Night Raid, an Arm-native 3D benchmark, spat out a score of just 16,399. While that puts the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 ahead of other Snapdragon X Plus devices PC World has reviewed, it’s way behind the Intel Arc 140V integrated graphics in Intel’s Core Ultra 256V. There’s also a severe lack of Arm-native games on Windows. When those factors are combined, it’s clear that gamers should avoid the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 like the plague.  Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Battery life You might expect, given its use of Qualcomm’s least performant Snapdragon X Plus chip, that the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 will ace battery tests. That’s not the case, though it still does well enough.  IDG / Matthew Smith I measured roughly 14 and a half hours of battery life in our standard test, which loops a 4K file of the short film Tears of Steel. This is a light-load test that generally shows what the laptop can reach in less demanding situations.  Make no mistake: 14 and a half hours is a long time, and in general owners will be happy with the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1’s endurance. Still, the graph makes it clear that competitors offer superior endurance.  That probably has less to do with the Qualcomm chip than the laptop’s battery and display. The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1’s 57 watt-hour battery isn’t tiny, but many 14-inch machines have a battery in the 65 to 75 watt-hour range. I’ve also found that laptops with OLED displays seem to need a bit more power than those with LCD displays, and that’s certainly true for the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1. Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1: Conclusion The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is a fine choice if you’re looking for an affordable 14-inch laptop or 2-in-1 that has an alluring OLED touchscreen and good connectivity. It falls behind in 3D performance and battery life, but those downsides are easier to overlook at $850. Shoppers who want a Windows machine that’s enjoyable for basic day-to-day tasks and office productivity should give the IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 a look. Read...

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