Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 evaluation: A radically pleasant AI Chromebook

I’ve used a number of Chromebooks through the years, and most of them are inclined to fall into one among two classes: both very inexpensive and generally forgettable or tremendous premium with a price ticket to match. The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 needs to land someplace within the center. It’s acquired an OLED show, a model new MediaTek chip with AI capabilities, and a design that’s refined and understated. 

So I spent per week utilizing it for work and play to see if it really holds up and I’ve acquired ideas. Let’s get into it.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Specs

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is available in two configurations. Each embrace the brand new MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910 chip and UFS storage, however the base mannequin provides 12GB of RAM and a non-touch OLED show, whereas the upgraded model (the one we reviewed) bumps that as much as 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. It additionally provides touchscreen assist. Whereas the $649 beginning value could seem steep, it’s a great worth for what you’re getting. Most Chromebooks, as an illustration, include solely 8GB of RAM, and UFS storage is quicker than eMMC. It’s additionally future proof because of Wi-Fi 7.

However the true standout is the 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen show. You don’t see many laptops with OLED panels (contact or not) at this value.

• Mannequin quantity: 83MY0000US
• CPU: MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910
• GPU: Immortalis-G925
• RAM: 16GB RAM
• Storage: 256GB UFS
• Show: 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED touchscreen, 16:10, DCI-P3
• Ports: 2 USB 3.2 Gen1 Sort-C, 1 USB 3.2 Gen1 Sort-A, 1 audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7
• Dimensions: 12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62
• Weight: 2.78 kilos
• Worth: $649

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Unboxing

The unboxing expertise can set the tone if finished properly. Although I’d wish to see fewer packaging supplies (I’m a stickler for sustainability), the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 made it clear from the beginning: this can be a extra premium system, the place design and person expertise matter. 

The field jogged my memory a little bit of those Google PixelBooks normally are available. It’s largely white with lilac-purple borders, giving it a clear and easy look. Inside you’ll discover the laptop computer securely tucked into place. There’s additionally a separate compartment containing a visible overview of the scale and port varieties. 

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Unique new ChromeOS AI options

Ah, AI. Hey once more, previous buddy? Nemesis? 

Because the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is the primary Chromebook to function a processor with an NPU, I needed to give the brand new ChromeOS AI includes a strive. That stated, I targeted on options I’d really use, beginning with Dwell Captions. I used this function throughout a gathering I used to be main and located it useful, particularly when the landscapers had been exterior my window and the roar of their leaf blowers often drowned out what my colleagues had been saying. Having the phrases pop up on display in actual time helped me keep on monitor and never miss something necessary.

I additionally tried Sensible Grouping, which organizes your tabs and apps for you in a digital desktop. Once more, this is likely one of the extra helpful AI options. The concept is to scale back visible litter so that you don’t have to pull issues round your self or go looking for a tab you possibly can’t discover. Admittedly, it was form of good having an invisible assistant that tidied up my private open tab chaos.

The Fast Insert button, which replaces the Caps Lock key, brings up a device that allows you to drop AI-generated photos into no matter you’re engaged on. It additionally provides writing strategies, so if you wish to sound extra formal or shorten a sentence, you are able to do that with this device. I performed round with it some, however there was no place for it in my day-to-day workflow. Native AI is a cool addition, however many of the options felt extra like bonuses somewhat than must-haves.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Design, construct high quality

The design is strictly the kind of minimalism I gravitate in the direction of, so it’s incomes main brownie factors from me. Lenovo calls the colorway “Seashell” and it’s genuinely distinctive—it adjustments barely relying on the lighting. At first look, it seems commonplace silver, which is okay, however it’s nothing distinctive. It wasn’t till I used to be wanting on the lid close to an open window that I observed the gold undertone within the chassis. It’s delicate, however it’s there and it’s actually lovely. However probably the most attention-grabbing factor about this design is just not on the highest of the laptop computer, however on the underside.

Beneath the laptop computer you’ll discover a 3D wave corrugated sample, which feels good to run your fingers alongside–I’m a giant textures particular person. It seems cool, however it’s additionally useful: the design helps you get a greater grip on the laptop computer. That is nice, as a result of there’s nothing fairly just like the horror of dropping a laptop computer onto the ground.

The steel construct high quality feels robust, too. You possibly can inform right away that it’s made from aluminum. The display hardly had any flex once I gave it a delicate twist and the keyboard deck didn’t creak or groan once I pressed my arms down on it. That is precisely what I anticipated from a Chromebook on this class and it positively lives as much as these increased requirements. 

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Keyboard, touchpad

The keyboard feels good to kind on for prolonged intervals, and I discovered that I adjusted to it shortly. Nonetheless, in comparison with my common laptop computer, this one skews just a little extra to the correct, which threw me off at first. Whereas the typing expertise is unquestionably snug, I had a number of tiny gripes with the keys themselves.

Why are the operate keys (F1 to F12) so itty bitty? I imply, they’re actually small in comparison with the opposite keys. Any time I used them, I needed to lean ahead and squint a bit to see the icons on them. I’d additionally often fats finger them due to their dimension. My different gripe is that the keys themselves entice some smudges. That is minor, because it’s nothing a microfiber fabric can’t repair. 

I appreciated the touchpad rather a lot. Not solely did it really feel good and easy, like glass, beneath my fingertips, however it additionally shortly registered all my faucets and swipes. I tailored to it fairly immediately and I don’t suppose I ever by accident triggered it with my palms. 

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Show, audio system

The 14-inch 1920×1200 OLED show produces a luscious-looking image that blew my socks off. It’s not completely surprising, although, as OLED panels produce deeper blacks and richer colours. The Chromebook Plus 14’s OLED show additionally provides 100% DCI-P3 colour accuracy, which means extra saturated colours, particularly reds and greens. Once I re-watched Netflix’s Titan documentary, I used to be impressed by the depth (ugh, sorry) of distinction within the many darkish scenes—unsurprising in a documentary a couple of submersible. Picture editors would love this display.

I’m additionally loving the 16:10 facet ratio, which this Chromebook has. It’s far superior to the same old 16:9 and I’m not afraid to shout it from the rooftops. The additional vertical area makes an enormous distinction as a result of you possibly can see extra of a webpage or extra of a doc with out scrolling. That is particularly helpful for somebody like me, who writes and edits on the every day.

The 5MP RGB webcam is good, too. I’ve acquired very reasonable pores and skin, so I normally seem lifeless—or so pale I glow—on video, however that wasn’t the case right here. I used the webcam for a piece assembly and I used to be shocked at how heat (colour temperature, not physique temperature) the image regarded. It made me look extra pure and in no way like some sun-starved vampire.

The Dolby-certified audio system are shockingly loud and punchy. Once I performed Jack White’s Archbishop Harold Holmes, his edgy guitar enjoying sounded incredible. I didn’t should crank up the amount a lot–I might nonetheless hear the music from a room or two away. What can I say? Upward-firing audio system simply sound higher than the downward-firing type.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Connectivity

I’m so glad there’s USB-C ports on ether facet of the laptop computer (a hot-button matter right here at PCWorld). They each assist charging, too–this could all the time be the usual. Lenovo even managed to incorporate USB-A, which is spectacular given how slim and light-weight this system is at simply 2.78 kilos! I all the time wish to see extra port selection, however that is effective for an on a regular basis machine. 

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Efficiency

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 is likely one of the first Chromebooks to rock MediaTek’s new Kompanio Extremely chip. It’s constructed on Arm’s environment friendly structure, so it will possibly run full steam forward while not having any followers. Beneath the hood, you’ve acquired an 8-core CPU with high-performance Cortex-X929 cores and an 11-core Immortalis-G925 GPU that may deal with ray tracing. There’s additionally a Neural Processing Unit (or NPU) packed in there delivering 50 TOPS of AI energy — the important thing to unlocking the particular AI options I discussed above.

I positively had excessive (however not unrealistic) expectations of the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14. Fortunately, it met them with actual aplomb. Once I ran the CrXPRT benchmark, which measures how briskly the machine handles on a regular basis duties, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14 turned in a rating of 199. That’s about 17 % sooner than the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, which comes with an Intel Core i5-13335U chip and presently ranks as our high decide for Chromebooks. 

I’ll say that it’s a lot sooner than the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, which sports activities an older MediaTek Kompanio 838 chip. The Basemark Net 3.0 rating of 1,151 completely crushes the Duet’s rating of 502.99–a benchmark that measures total internet efficiency. This implies it’s greater than twice as quick because the Duet. That’s a giant soar in efficiency between the 2 chips.

The one factor that’s giving me pause is the considerably low Speedometer 3.1 rating of 25.2. That’s effective for informal and day-to-day productiveness, however the machine would possibly wrestle a bit with heavy-duty multitasking. That stated, the Chromebook Plus 14 felt snappy, even with a bunch of tabs open. 

• CrXPRT 2: 199
• Speedometer 3.1: 25.2
• Basemark Net 3.0: 1151
• Kraken: 407.0ms
• Jetstream 2: 344.875

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Gaming

I had a chat with my coworker Michael Crider (you would possibly know him!) about enjoying Minecraft on this system even earlier than I acquired the unit. He’d been hands-on with the laptop computer and noticed Google demo Minecraft operating on it, which acquired us curious, particularly since he struggled to run Android video games on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. So naturally, the very first thing I did once I turned on the machine was load up Minecraft to see if this new MediaTek chip might run Android-based video games higher.

Fortuitously, it does!

I recorded a fast video of my Minecraft session so others might see how easy the gameplay is on this Chromebook. You possibly can see me flying round in Inventive Mode with none lag or stuttering. Within the background, you’ll additionally hear ABBA enjoying, which wasn’t intentional, however who doesn’t love jamming out to Swedish pop stars whereas enjoying Minecraft? The entire thing felt informal and straightforward.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Battery life

Lenovo says the Chromebook Plus 14 will get round 17 hours of battery life, however I clocked it at 19 hours utilizing CrXPRT 2’s battery benchmark. That’s an exceptional consequence and one which strains up with different Arm-based machines. To be truthful, that was with the display brightness turned down. If you happen to crank the brightness as much as max, you’ll doubtless see a bit much less, however that’s anticipated (as brightness all the time impacts the battery life). When it comes to utilizing it unplugged, I by no means felt like I needed to dash for an outlet stat.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14: Conclusion

After spending per week with the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, I can confidently say it’s the most effective Chromebooks I’ve used. It’s quick, the design is gorgeous, and that OLED display? Nonetheless can’t recover from how good it seems, particularly on a tool below $750. Battery life is superb as properly–it simply retains on chugging alongside. Yeah, the AI options are nice-to-have greater than must-have, and the tiny operate keys take some getting used to, however these are small complaints in an in any other case killer package deal.

Lenovo crushed it. This Chromebook hits onerous on efficiency, show, and battery life. It additionally simply feels nice to make use of day in and time out. If you happen to’re purchasing for a Chromebook, this one needs to be on the high of your record. That Editors’ Alternative badge up high? It’s well-earned.