Granted, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is no powerhouse. That should get you through a day of occasional browsing, but it's on the low end for a modern Chromebook. It’s all too simple to accidentally bump it when switching between tablet and laptop modes. On our theoretical benchmarks, the Flex 3 performs about as expected for an entry to midrange Chromebook. You want a flexible 2-in-1 device If you can overlook this—perhaps you plan to keep your Flex 3 connected to an external monitor most of the time—it's worth a close look. In tablet mode, the touchscreen functionality is fairly slick, with only occasional stuttering from the interface when swiping or scrolling. It’s solidly executed and marks a literal and metaphorical turning point around which the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook transitions to its strengths. Storage: 64GB eMMC SSD Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The general theme in that class of Chromebook involves low-power processing and limited storage. It can even be used as a tablet PC of sorts, with its keyboard folded completely underneath the screen. Receive news and offers from our other brands? Cutting edge, the Flex 3 is not. But the core functionality is all present. A minor detail, perhaps, but you’ll occasionally be very thankful for it. Most Chromebooks have cramped internal drives, and the 64GB of eMMC flash storage in the Flex 3 is no exception. New York, The Flex 3 is also decked out with impressive connectivity. There's no support for the latest Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) wireless standard. There's even a volume rocker on the right edge, and Lenovo has replaced the traditional Chromebook power button in the upper right with a key that locks the screen. It lasted for a bit more than 10 hours in our video rundown test, which involves playing a locally stored video file with Wi-Fi turned off. Meanwhile, wireless connections include 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. You value sleek, contemporary design That sense of engineering quality extends to the keyboard, which has plenty of keystroke and a really solid base. As a hardware analyst, Tom tests and reviews laptops, peripherals, and much more at PC Labs in New York City. The charts show results on two categories of tests. © That’s a dual-core chip derived from Intel’s low-power and low-cost Atom line of processors, rather than the premium high performance Core family. Lenovo’s 2-in-1 Chromebook looks old school, but it’s built to last, both physically and in terms of battery life. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Not only is the Flex 3 sturdy and good-looking, but it’s also without unnecessary heft and size. There are extra-large Ctrl and Alt keys to make up for the lack of Windows or Command keys, and the top function row contains dedicated buttons for navigating back and forth between pages in the Chrome web browser. Weight: 2.64 pounds ( 1.2kg) Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook proves that as long as you're willing to overlook a small, dim display, you can have an otherwise excellent 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook for less than $350. Both sides of the chassis sport USB-C and USB-A sockets, which are complimented on the left by a micoSD card reader and headphone jack on the left and a volume rocker and power switch on the right. With a generous range of ports, it should also appeal to people who plan to supplement their Chromebook's internal storage and perhaps connect an external keyboard and mouse.