Apparently, one of last month’s MWC announcements went under my radar. Not widely mentioned was news of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, a 15.6 budget convertible. This large laptop with an expected small price will be available in many global regions, including the U.S.
I found the specs and information on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 on the company’s own website. Not the consumer-facing version though. The details are available in Lenovo’s online database and show this Chromebook as a newly added model for April. I consider this an update to the 11.6-inch IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook with MediaTek processor from last year.
Since this is part of the IdeaPad 3 line, it’s definitely an entry-level, basic usage device. Still, seeing a 15.6-inch 1080p display for this type of machine is a nice surprise, as is the 300 nits of brightness and a pair of 2W speakers. There’s also mention of an NFC chip but I believe that is an error. I see no mention of NFC in the current user guide.
Here are all of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook specs I could glean:
| CPU | Dual-core (two-threads) Intel Celeron N4500 CPU (1.0 GHz / 2.8 GHz) |
| GPU | Intel Integrated UHD Graphics |
| Display | 15.6-inch IPS 1920 x 1080 touch display, glossy finish, 16:9 aspect ratio, 300 nits brightness |
| Memory | 4 GB LPDDR4x-2933 MHz memory |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC 5.1, microSD card reader |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6 (802.11ax – 2×2), Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Input | Non-backlit keyboard, numeric keypad, 720p with Camera Shutter, dual-array microphone |
| Ports | 2 USB Type-A 3.2, 1 USB Type-C 3.2, 1 HDMI, supporting power delivery, data, external monitor support, headphone/microphone combo jack |
| Weight | 4.19 pounds |
| Software | Chrome OS automatic updates through June 2029 |
While you’re getting a bright, high-resolution display on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3, you’re not getting a backlit keyboard. As with most entry-level devices, some desirable features are cut to meet a price point. Aside from that, however, this is more than I’d expect in any IdeaPad 3 device. The only other nit I could pick from the specs is that 4 GB of RAM is the only option, at least in the U.S.
Note that outside the U.S., the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook will be available with a higher-performing Celeron Silver N6000. That configuration will also support up to 8 GB of memory and 128 GB of eMMC 5.1 storage.
As of now, there’s no other public information on Lenovo’s site about the IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook. So I don’t know the price nor the release date. Since this device was just added to the company’s product database, I’d expect to hear more in the next month or two.
