If the discounted Acer Chromebook Spin 13 for $599.99 or Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 at $379.99 is too much for your budget, check out the Lenovo Chromebook S330 at $144.99. That’s a steep discount from the $249.99 for this entry-level device directly from Lenovo.
Just keep in mind the key part of that phrase: This is an entry-level Chromebook. You can tell that by some of these specifications as well as Lenovo’s tagline of “Fast and simple, for daily computing”:
- MediaTek MTK8173C Processor
- 14-inch 1366 x 768 anti-glare display
- 4 GB of RAM
- 32 GB of eMMC storage with SD card expansion
- 720p front webcam
- A USB Type-C port for power and Display Port out
- A USB Type-A port
- Full-sized HDMI jack
- Expected 10-hour battery life
- Weight of 3.5 pounds
Compared to most mid-level Chromebooks costing $300 to $400, you can see some corners are cut here. Another USB port would be nice to have, as would a backlit keyboard. And 1366 x 768 resolution isn’t the sharpest, particularly on a large display like this.
Lenovo does address the relatively low-resolution screen with a 279.99, but that’s not part of Amazon’s Prime Day deal. The hinge on the Lenovo Chromebook S330 only folds 180-degrees as well; a 2-in-1 this isn’t due to the hinge and a lack of touch support on the screen.
And unlike most of the Chromebooks available today, the Chromebook S330 doesn’t use an Intel processor as Lenovo opted for an ARM-based chip from MediaTek. From a performance standpoint, I’d expect this chip to be roughly in line with a current Intel Celeron processor. Again, entry-level is the key here.
But sometimes that’s all people need: A device that boots quickly, runs all day on a charge, has a basic display and can handle browsing or web apps. The Lenovo Chromebook S330 meets those requirements and at $145, won’t bust your budget.
