Most of us are used to buying large, powerful laptops, packed with all kinds of features. Most affordable laptops on the other hand ship with low-end specifications, and sluggish performance but is that really a hurdle? Most of us use laptops for a few specific purposes, such as browsing the web, checking e-mails, working on spreadsheets and documents, chatting, streaming music, TV shows and movies. Turns out you do not really need all that performance and hardware, and a Chromebook might be perfect for such use cases. Chromebooks are affordable; they offer the similar set of functionalities. Lenovo has a history of making great laptops and they have launched a new laptop built as a Chromebook, called the IdeaPad Slim 3i.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i runs Chrome OS, an operating system based the Google Chrome web browser. You may think that you can only use it for web apps, when you are connected to the web, but many Chrome OS apps also work offline, and you can use the local storage to work on projects. Chrome OS is simple to use, especially for first time laptop users. If you are already an Android device user, you should find yourself at home. All the Google services ensure your data is streamlined and seamlessly available on all devices. The look and way you interact mimics a lot of how we use Android smartphones and tablets.
The IdeaPad Slim 3i is powered by an Intel Celeron N4020, which is a dual-core processor clocked at 1.10 GHz, but with a burst frequency of up to 2.8 GHz. The laptop also comes with 4 GB of RAM, which is enough for most tasks. The integrated graphics solution is the Intel UHD Graphics 600.
If you love watching movies, then the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is a wonderful choice, as it comes with a decent 14-inch, full HD display running a 1920 x 1080 resolution. That is quite dense, detailed and this kind of setup until lately was seen only in laptops priced at about Rs. 40,000. The increased resolution makes it easier to multitask between software, text is more legible, smoother, and content looks detailed. The display is not the only impressive thing, there are also good two 2W stereo speakers that can be used for listening to music, podcasts, or watching YouTube videos. The laptop also has a built-in 720p web cam that is useful for making video calls over the web.
The laptop comes with a 64 GB eMMC storage, which means booting it up and resuming work from sleep mode, takes moments. There is an USB port for connecting traditional external hard drives if you need more storage, or if you need to work on large projects. Lenovo has also built a microSD card reader into the laptop, if you prefer installing a permanent large capacity, microSD card as additional storage. Further flexibility is available in the form of USB Type-C ports, one of which is meant for the power input and the other can be used for other peripherals. There is also a headphone jack so you can plug in your favourite headphones or earphones. Bluetooth 4.2 is also present, if you want to connect to Bluetooth audio solutions. All-in-all, this is a solution that is more natural in its approach of delivering convenience, than traditional laptops.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is quite a compact laptop too, weighing just 1.54 kg. It is quite slim, at just 1.88 cm thick. The laptop ships with a 45W charger that helps charge the laptop’s 3-cell battery. Lenovo claims the IdeaPad Slim 3i should run up to 10 hours, according to their test setup.
The IdeaPad Slim 3i runs Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, which is one of the newer standards of Wi-Fi. Streaming content over the network and the internet is no issue. It also comes with two USB ports, which is great, considering you can connect two USB devices to the laptop at the same time. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is stylish too, with a compact, but sturdy body. It comes in two attractive colours, Abyss Blue and Platinum Grey.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is an excellent choice. It is a capable machine, with a great display for its price, decent performance and it is easy to carry around owing to its light weight and compact design. There are few reasons to dislike it, and it even makes a great gift for someone who is beginning to use computers. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is now available at Rs. 25,990*, at your nearest Reliance Digital store where you can check it out for yourself. If you prefer ordering it online, you can do it at reliancedigital.in, where we offer some prompt deliveries options.
Note: Prices are subject to change. Please refer to the product page for the latest details, prices, and availability.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i – Chromebook power at work
