Lenovo Duet 3 Chromebook is one of my favorite Chromebooks of 2022

You can finally order an 8 GB Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

Since it’s debut a few months back the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 has been my recommendation for a small ChromeOS tablet. I found the device more capable than I expected during my review period. And at a $399 MSRP, along with many sales over time, it’s a great value. But some folks wanted the 8 GB version that Lenovo announced in January so they waited. Well, the wait is over: You can finally order an 8 GB Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3.

Chrome Unboxed spotted the new configuration listing on Lenovo’s site earlier this week, along with a $429.99 price tag. Aside from doubling up on the storage and the inclusion of a Lenovo USI 2.0 stylus, this is the same great tablet that’s been available since May.

Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook display
The Lenovo Duet 5 performs solidly with a Snapdragon 7c Gen 2

That means it still has the 2nd-gen Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor, 128 GB of eMMC storage and the crisp, bright 10.9-inch 2000 x 1200 resolution touch display. Of course, the detachable keyboard is also included as is the magnetic kickstand accessory.

The only caveat I have about recommending the purchase is exactly what said when I reviewed the 4 GB model. I was concerned about pricing for the 8 GB configuration compared to the similarly equipped, but larger, Duet 5 Chromebook:

I’d rather see it at $349 with 4 GB of memory and see an 8 GB model at that $399.99 price point in the U.S. The main reason? If the 8 GB model is priced at $449 or so (that’s just my expectation), it’s awfully close to the $499 Lenovo Duet 5 Chromebook price point. And that has a much better OLED display, albeit bigger, and likely typing experience due to the keyboard size.

I was close on my price guess for the 8 GB Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3. And I’m glad I was on the high side by $20. But the argument still holds: For not much more, if not less when on sale, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5, is a compelling choice.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 side
Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 3 side view

Now that argument loses some merit if the 8 GB Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 shows up at a discount for $379 or so. In fact, I almost expect it to. Lenovo’s direct prices are generally higher than resellers such as Best Buy. So you may want to keep an eye out for this device from a third-party retailer.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed my time with this small ChromeOS tablet. For content consumption and general web usage at home or on the go, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 packs a small but powerful punch. And if you’re looking for more of a tablet experience, I think it’s a better one than the Duet 5. Keep that in mind if you’re debating between the two.

About the author

Kevin C. Tofel has covered technology since 2004. He's used ChromeOS since Google debuted the CR-48 in 2010, reviewing dozens of Chromebooks since then. He worked for Google's Chrome Enterprise team from 2016 to 2017, supporting the launch of Android app support. In his free time, he uses Chromebooks to learn software engineering at Launch School. In 2019, Kevin joined the CS Curriculum Committee at his local community college.

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