Here come the 12th-generation Intel-powered Chromebooks. Last week, we saw orders open for the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook at a discount and this week the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook is available. The model you can order today has similar specs to the HP but at a much lower cost of $1,049. Shipping times are currently about 7-9 business days.
I know, I know: Many of you already saying “More than a grand for a Chromebook?” The Lenovo ThinkPad C14 is mainly aimed at enterprises, although people like me who want a high-end, powerful Chromebook for coding and other activities are interested too. Don’t worry, there are plenty of great Chromebooks that can be had for $400 or less. The Lenovo 3i Chromebook is currently on sale for $339.99, for example.
Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook specs
So what do you get for $1,049 in the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook? An awful lot of the same hardware components that would cost you $1,554 if you bought the most similar HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook configuration:
| CPU | 12th-gen Intel Core i5-1245U Processor with vPro, up to 4.4 GHz, 10 cores / 12 threads |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe |
| Display | 14-inch IPS 1920 x 1080 display, anti-glare finish, 16:9 aspect ratio, 250/300 nits brightness (depending on model), external monitor support at 4k at 60Hz over HDMI / 5K at 60Hz over USB Type-C |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4x-4266 MHz memory |
| Storage | 256 GB NVMe M.2 storage, microSD card reader |
| Connectivity | 802.11ax (2×2) WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Input | Backlit keyboard, multitouch trackpad, ThinkPad pointing nub, 1080p FHD RGB webcam, with privacy shutter, Dual-array microphones |
| Ports | 2 USB Type-C 3.2 / Thunderbolt 4 ports, 2 USB Type-A, HDMI output, headphone/microphone jack |
| Battery | 57 WHr battery with Rapid Charge, expected run-time up to 11 hours |
| Weight | 3.44 pounds |
| Software | Chrome OS automatic updates through June 2030 |
Yup, that’s a pretty similar package to what HP is offering for a good deal less. Note that the HP includes a haptic trackpad, which isn’t an option on the Lenovo ThinkPad C14 Chromebook. There is an optional fingerprint sensor available.
Multiple high-end Chromebook options soon
With Lenovo outing the availability of its 12th-gen, high-end Chromebook, it’s only a short matter of time before Acer does the same with its Chromebook Spin 714. And it will have an even lower starting price of $749.
We’ll have to see what hardware and features you get for that price to understand the value proposition. Either way, if you’re like me and want one of the highest-performing Chromebooks of 2022, you’ll have several options to choose from!
