Will the new 13-inch Chromebook Duet 5 tempt you to ditch your iPad or Android tablet? If not, Lenovo’s new Tab P12 Pro runs Android 11 and can also serve as a display for a synced Windows PC.
Deciding between an Android tablet or one that runs on Google’s Chrome operating system is about to get a bit easier, following Wednesday’s launch of a new $430 Chromebook from Lenovo that’s actually a tablet. The Chromebook Duet 5 uses the operating system that Google designed for inexpensive always-connected laptops, although it’s more akin to a Microsoft Surface Pro or Apple iPad than a Chromebook. The Duet 5 has a 13-inch touch screen, but it lacks a built-in keyboard like a traditional laptop. Instead, you can connect the included fabric-covered case and magnetic keyboard cover when you need to spend a significant amount of time typing or using it on your desk. When you’re on the go, just detach the tablet and tap on it as you would a phone or an iPad. The fabric case comes in either Storm Grey or Abyss Blue and also functions as a kickstand to prop the Duet 5 up on your desk. The Duet 5 is a souped-up version of last year’s Chromebook Duet, an even cheaper $300 detachable Chrome tablet that picked up a PCMag Editors’ Choice award for its blend of value and flexibility. While the original Duet has a bare-bones MediaTek processor and a slightly more cramped 10-inch screen, the larger Duet 5 boasts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor, up to 8GB of memory, and as much as 256GB of solid-state storage.
