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Lenovo IdeaPad 730S review: Thinner, lighter MacBook Air alternative
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S review: Thinner, lighter MacBook Air alternative
At 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg) and 11.9 mm thick (0.5 inch), the 13.3-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 730S is lighter and thinner than the current MacBook Air. Its quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, faster 2,400MHz memory and speedy Samsung PCIe solid-state drive give it better performance than the Air, too. Plus, it's less expensive, starting at $825, although the configuration reviewed here is just $770 at the moment.
I know what you're thinking, though: There's no alternative to a MacBook Air (or any Apple computer for that matter) because the others don't run MacOS. That is certainly true, so if you're looking for an apples-to-apples alternative -- no pun intended -- this won't do the trick. Nor will any other Windows laptop, really.
However, if you're not tied to MacOS for one reason or another, the IdeaPad 730S with Windows 10 ($144 at Amazon) is one of the best alternatives to a MacBook Air you'll find.
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S (81JB0004US)
Price as reviewed
$999
Display size/resolution
13.3-inch 1,920x1,080-pixel display
CPU
1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8265U
PC memory
8GB DDR3 SDRAM 2,400MHz
Graphics
128MB Intel UHD Graphics 620
Storage
256GB PCIe SSD
Networking
802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless; Bluetooth 4.1
Operating system
Windows 10 Home (64-bit)
Clean and simple
The IdeaPad 730S started life back at IFA 2018 as the Yoga S730 as part of Lenovo switching its Yoga brand from strictly convertibles to being its premium line and adding an S and C to the names for "slim" clamshells and "convertible" two-in-ones. In fact, in the UK it's still the Yoga S730 and starts at £899. It's not currently available under either name in Australia.
That's the long way of saying the 730S has a more premium look and feel than Lenovo's entry-level IdeaPads. The iron-gray aluminum body is understated, as is the Lenovo branding, which is reduced to nothing more than a small tag on the lid's edge and a barely visible stamp at the bottom left of the bright and colorful full-HD display.
The keyboard is comfortable with a nice pop to the keys (and I doubt a little dust will shut it down). The silky-smooth touchpad is responsive as well without sending your cursor skittering across the screen from an errant palm. Even the speakers sound more full than you'll find on competing ultraportables due in part to the Dolby Atmos audio tuning. And despite the thin bezels around the display's top and sides, the webcam is above the display.
The 730S keyboard has two levels of backlighting.
Sarah Tew/CNET
It's all dongles these days
Like a lot of superslim laptops, the 730S only has a combo headphone jack and USB-C ports: two USB-C 3.1 Gen 2 (one with always-on charging) and one USB-C 3.1 Gen 1. Unfortunately that means you'll need to buy dongles or a dock if you need a USB-A port, a memory card reader, an external display or whatever else.
On the upside, you can charge the laptop through any of the USB-C ports. You can also enable Lenovo's Rapid Charge feature to get your battery up to 80 percent in an hour, which works and it's great. Battery life is overall good, too, coming in at 8 hours and 8 minutes in our streaming video test. This is where the Air comes out ahead, running for 10 hours and 46 minutes in the same test. But that comes at the cost of a less powerful processor.
Video playback battery drain test (streaming minutes)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2018)
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Highly portable productivity
Sarah Tew/CNET
The IdeaPad 730S isn't built for extreme performance and doesn't necessarily have the speed to handle everything. For everyday use for work and school, though, it doesn't disappoint for the price.
The 730S works fine for day-to-day tasks like web browsing, word processing and streaming video. Basic photo and video editing? Sure, no problem, but anything more demanding and you'll want discrete graphics, a faster processor and something with a more efficient cooling system.
To get this laptop so thin, Lenovo designed the cooling fan to pull air in through the keyboard. Under continued heavy load it struggled to stay cool even with the fan going full blast. But again, for basic use that's not really an issue and overall the design choice pays off.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 730S proves you don't need to spend more than $1,000 to get some of the benefits of an upscale ultraportable. Especially one that's light enough and small enough that you'll forget it's even in your bag.
Geekbench 4 (multicore)
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2018)
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
Cinebench R15 CPU (multicore)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2
Apple MacBook Air (13-inch, 2018)
Note:
Longer bars indicate better performance
System configurations
Lenovo IdeaPad 730S
Microsoft Windows 10 Home (64-bit); 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8265U; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 2,400MHz; 128MB dedicated Intel UHD Graphics 620; 256GB SSD
Asus db31 review asus db310 asus db31 review asus db3110 asus db31 review asus db31 00636a asus db31 review asus db31 connector asus db31 review asus db312a asus db31 review asus db31 00445b asus db31 review asus db31 00649c asus db31 review asus e210mao asus db31 review asus et12
Asus DB31 review: Asus DB31
Asus DB31 review: Asus DB31
The Asus Zenbook was one of the first entrants in the new ultrabook category when it launched in late 2011. We liked that original system, despite a few serious flaws, as the all-metal design marked it as a direct competitor to the MacBook Air.
Since then, ultrabooks have become both more common and less expensive. Asus now makes several UX variations, including three that we are reviewing, the UX31A, UX32A, and UX32VD. At $779, the Zenbook UX32A is the least expensive of the current crop, but for good reason.
The UX32A still has a previous-generation Intel Core i5 CPU. That generation of chip is known by the code name Sandy Bridge, as opposed to the latest generation, released in the second half of 2012, and known as Ivy Bridge. The UX32A is also missing other Intel improvements, most notably the HD 4000 integrated graphics, which offer improved gaming performance in other notebooks.
By way of comparison, the 13-inch Asus Zenbook UX32VD comes alluringly close to being an ultrabook without compromise. For $1,299 it includes an Intel Core i7 CPU, a full HD 1,920x1,080-pixel-resolution display, and a discrete Nvida 620M GPU. That model is the closest hybrid of a 13-inch ultrabook and a full-power mainstream laptop to date, and easily my favorite of this collection of Zenbooks, despite its higher price.
The UX31A is a more upscale design variant, thinner with a more unibody chassis, which skips the GPU, but keeps the high-res screen and Ivy Bridge internal hardware. But at about $1,079, it doesn't make the most compelling value case.
If you just love the Zenbook look and feel, then this third version, the UX32A, is a way to get it for under $800, albeit with outdated components and some performance compromises. If your ultrabook needs are that basic, there are many other worthwhile options out there to consider at around the same price.
Asus Zenbook models compared
CPU
GPU
Storage
Display
Price
UX32VD
1.7GHz Core i7-3517U
Nvidia GeForce 620M
500GB HDD/24GB SSD
1,920x1,080
$1,299
UX32A
1.4GHz Intel i3-2367M
Intel HD 3000
320GB HDD/32GB SSD
1,333x768
$779
UX31A
1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Intel HD 4000
128GB SSD
1,920x1,080
$1,079
Asus Zenbook UX32A specs
Price as reviewed
$779
Processor
1.4GHz Intel Core i3-2367M
Memory
4GB, 1,333MHz DDR3
Hard drive
500GB 5,400rpm / 32GB SSD
Chipset
Intel HM76
Graphics
Intel HD 3000
Operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD)
12.8x8.8 inches
Height
0.2 - 0.7 inch
Screen size (diagonal)
13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter
3.3 pounds / 3.8 pounds
Category
13-inch
The look and feel of the Zenbook line has changed little since last year. The tapered aluminum design of the original Zenbook was both minimalist and the most Air-like of the early ultrabooks (at least until the Dell XPS 13 came around). But it also had a few design miscues. The lid on the original Zenbook was notoriously hard to open. That's been fixed in the UX32A, and the touch pad also feels more responsive than the older models', especially after a last-minute software update from Asus, although it's still one of the system's weak points.
The original Zenbook was thinner and lighter than this version, but both the more tapered Zenbooks (such as the current UX31A) and this one have a sharp front lip that can be murder on the heels of your hands, depending on your typing style. Ergonomics aside, the solid-feeling aluminum body is not as streamlined in its construction as a MacBook, but the parts fit together well, with minimal screws and seams.
The keyboard was a weak point on the original Zenbook, with shallow, clacky keys. The UX32A and UX32VD both have a slightly thicker and heavier body, and that extra depth lets the keyboard have a little more space. Keystrokes on the UX32A feel more like they do on a standard laptop than on the thinner, more tapered UX31A (which is more like the original 2011 Zenbook). The keyboard is also backlit, a must-have feature on any modern ultrabook.
The large but finicky clickpad on that original UX31 was one of our main problems. If you make sure to install the latest touch-pad drivers (version 1.0.26), which are available via Asus Live Update if not preinstalled on the system, the touch-pad experience is much improved, but it's still nowhere near as intuitive or responsive as a MacBook trackpad -- a Windows-wide problem. There is, however, a decent set of multitouch gestures, demoed and controlled by the Asus Smart Gesture software app. One nice feature is that you can set a two-finger tap to indicate a right-click, a very Mac-like move that I've seen popping up in a few Windows laptops lately.
In the UX32VD and UX31A models, the display has been upgraded to an IPS screen in full HD, with a 1,920x1,080-pixel native resolution. In this less-expensive model, you're still stuck with a 1,366x768 native resolution. Most 13-inch laptops, including some very expensive ones, have 1,366x768-pixel screens. That's fine for $800 or so, so it's not out of place in this configuration. That said, an upscale ultrabook could really benefit from at least a 1,600x900-pixel display, which feels to me like the sweet spot for a 13-inch laptop. The screen itself looked decent, and was thankfully not excessively glossy, which often causes annoying glare from nearby lights.
Audio through a speaker grille at the very top of the keyboard tray was predictably thin, despite the Bang & Olufsen ICE Power branding (which you'll find on all three Zenbooks). Audio volume controls are mapped to alternate F-key functions, so you'll need to hit, for example, Fn+F10 to mute the sound.
Asus Zenbook UX32A
Average for category [13-inch]
Video
HDMI, Mini-DisplayPort (plus VGA via dongle)
HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio
Stereo speakers, headphone jack
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data
3 USB 3.0, SD card slot
2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, SD card reader
Networking
Ethernet via dongle, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband
Optical drive
None
DVD burner
With dual video outputs and three USB 3.0 jacks, the UX32A makes good use of its slightly thicker body to fit in more ports. Going all-3.0 is especially impressive considering the $779 price (thank the Intel HM76 chipset). Ethernet is still relegated to an external dongle, but this system does include Intel's Wireless Display feature, which enables you to send the screen image to a TV or other monitor via a $99 sold-separately receiver box.
The other two Zenbook laptops we're reviewing for summer 2012 have made the jump to Intel's third-generation Core i-series processors, but not this one. That puts the UX32A at a considerable disadvantage. The $1,299 UX32VD has a 1.7GHz Intel Core i7-3517U along with a 500GB hard drive/24GB solid-state drive (SSD) combo drive, and Nvidia GeForce 620M graphics. The $779 UX32A has a previous-generation 1.4GHz Intel i3-2367M CPU, 320GB HDD/24GB SSD, and Intel HD 3000 graphics, and the $1,079 UX31A has a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U CPU, 128GB SSD, and Intel HD 4000 graphics, plus a slightly thinner body.
Of those three, the UX32VD is the most expensive, but also by far the most universally useful. It was also much faster at running our benchmark tests, beating out the other two Zenbooks, but falling behind an Intel Core i5 MacBook Air. In everyday use, I found all three to be more than responsive enough for common computer tasks, from social networking to working in Microsoft Office to running Photoshop. But there's definitely a difference between Sandy Bridge and Ivy Bridge performance.
If you're at all interested in gaming, the UX32VD is the Zenbook for you. Even then, the Nvidia GeForce 620M GPU is an entry-level part, and not great for high-detail settings at full 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution. The Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics in the UX32A ran our very forgiving Street Fighter IV test at 1,366x768 pixels and only 19.9 frames per second, making it not very well suited for anything beyond simple casual games and maybe a few vintage games.
All three of the Asus Zenbook models we tested had solid battery life, to varying degrees. The UX32A ran for 5 hours and 16 minutes -- decent if not spectacular -- in our video-playback battery drain test, while the UX31A ran for 6 hours and 16 minutes. The UX32VD has higher-end components, so it may be forgiven for only running for 5 hours and 13 minutes. Some other ultrabooks can run for 1 to 2 hours longer, but all these times should get you through a full day if you close the lid and put the laptop to sleep when not actively using it.
Asus offers a one-year mail-in warranty on each of these ultrabooks. The Asus Web site can get a little confusing to navigate, but 24-7 phone support is available at 888-678-3688. The simplest way to find the Asus support section for your specific model is to ignore the frustrating pop-up navigation menus and simply type the model number into the support page search box.
The Asus Zenbook UX32A shares a chassis with the UX32VD model we also reviewed, but little else. It's stuck with an older CPU, lacks the graphics and battery-life advantages of Intel's new Ivy Bridge platform, and has a lower-resolution screen. That said, if you love the look and feel, which is nicely MacBook-like, this model is about $500 less.
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations:
Asus Zenbook Prime UX32A Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.4GHz Intel Core i3-2367M; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Acer Aspire S5-391-9880 Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 128MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 256GB Lite-On IT SSD (2x RAID 0)
Asus Zenbook Prime UX32VD Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.9GHz Intel Core i7-3517U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 620M / 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch (Summer 2012) OS X 10.7.4 Lion; 1.8GHz Intel Core i5; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Apple SSD
Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Adata XM11 SSD
The best monitors according to the cnet staff who wears the best monitors according to the cnet staff who are served what are the best monitors for gaming the best monitors for computers who makes the best monitors the best monitors for babies the best monitors for pc the best man the best of me movie you are the best
The Best Monitors According to the CNET Staff Who Use Them
The Best Monitors According to the CNET Staff Who Use Them
Over the last few years, office workers across the world have found themselves having to work from their homes. While this has increased productivity and reduced a lot of stress for many, a lot of workers didn't have the right equipment to create a home office. Even here at CNET, we had to find new ways to make our space work.
Having a good monitor, or even two, makes working from home much easier, as being hunched over a laptop can cause severe back pain and stresses you might not notice right away. It's much better to spend your day looking at a big screen than a little one.
Read more: The Best Office Chairs According to the CNET Staff Who Use Them
The CNET team is full of diverse experts; people who spend their lives reviewing products and testing them, so we know how to pick a good product. We collected testimonials from the editorial staff and engineers about their favorite monitors and why you should buy one too.
Gigabyte
I got this Gigabyte monitor when I bought a new gaming desktop. I wanted a 27-inch screen with 1440p resolution and 144Hz refresh rate, and this was on offer for around $300 about a year ago. Never having heard of the brand, I took a punt on it.
I'm really happy with it. It looks great, day and night, with hardly any reflections. The bezel is super thin. It can be adjusted up and down, as well as tilted. And it has all the ports you'd probably need. The only thing I would change is that the power button is also a menu joystick and it's on the back, which is fiddly on the few occasions I need it.
-- Nick Hide, Managing copy editor
Asus
I love this monitor from Asus. Since I am a video editor by trade, who also edits a lot of photos in his spare time, having a monitor with excellent color rendition is super important, and this ProArt monitor does that really well.
It has a bit more resolution than a standard 1080p monitor which is fantastic as well, it adjusts easily into landscape and portrait mode, and it can move up and down for different desk setups.
But probably the biggest selling point is the price. It's more expensive than a standard monitor, but for what it delivers on picture and color quality, it's probably the most affordable monitor for professional photo and video folks. The ProArt is much more affordable than something from Apple.
-- Owen Poole, Video producer
LG
This Full HD monitor is intensely basic for the price, but it's so easy to use and has gotten me through some of the busiest pandemic news cycles. With two HDMI ports, one audio jack and a D-sub connector, I've been able to seamlessly connect its 24-inch glory to my work Mac (for editing and digital production), as well as my former Windows laptop and current personal desktop (for video games) with minimal interruptions to my productivity. It's 6.8 pounds, which might be heavy for a monitor -- I wouldn't know -- but I've also taken to carting it into other areas of my house without issue. And it has... screen tilt!
-- Dawnthea Price Lisco, Copy editor
Sceptre
When we set up our home office, my wife and I used these Sceptre curved displays for a long time. The curve is gentle enough not to strain your eyes, while also making you feel like you have a wrap-around experience. I eventually changed out my monitors for something more gaming focused, but my wife loves her Sceptre.
The color tone can be a little uneven and it took us a while to get them dialed in, but now that they are, they're worth the small cost. We ended up getting two for the full experience.
-- James Bricknell, Senior editor
HP
While I wanted to have good gaming monitors, I couldn't afford some of the bigger curved displays you see here. My gaming on a PC consists of 1080p resolution games anyway so 4K just wasn't needed.
I picked up two of these ultra-thin HP monitors as they have FreeSync for gaming, but are also low profile enough to leave room on my desk for the keyboards I test. Plus, the bezel-less display is fire.
-- James Bricknell, Senior editor
Lepow
For most of the pandemic, I couldn't work in the same spot in my house every day. Setting up a big monitor or even a regular desk to put one on was out of the question. Lepow's 15.6-inch portable monitor gave me just enough extra room to work, whether my "office" was in my dining room, living room or bedroom.
The display setup takes seconds with a single USB-C cable for both the picture and power though it does have an HDMI input if necessary. All the cables come in the box, too, along with a screen protector. It has a folio case that doubles as a stand (newer versions have a built-in kickstand for better positioning and use less desk space). It even has a headphone jack and basic built-in speakers so it can connect to a game console. When you're done for the day, it folds up and easily stores in a drawer or backpack. Easy.
-- Josh Goldman, Senior editor
LG
A few years ago I upgraded to the LG Ultragear ultrawide, and everything about it makes me extremely happy. Its 3440x1440 resolution is the sweet spot for a 34-inch gaming setup since it doesn't tax a GPU as hard as a 4k monitor. It's 144hz, with Gsync and VESA adaptive sync (freesync) support. I play Final Fantasy 14 and Destiny 2 on a custom-built gaming rig, and the frame rates are amazing.
Since I'm not even maxing out the specifications on this monitor -- a GPU upgrade in a year or two will let me max out the 144hz part of the monitor -- I'm going to be keeping this for a good long while.
-- Wesley Radcliffe, Engineering manager
CNET's Eric Franklin got me into ultrawide monitors, and for a long time I had an entry-level LG that did the job. When the pandemic hit though, I decided to go bigger and I'm so glad I did. I bought this one Used/Like New from Amazon, and it's been a dream to work with.
I bought the 120hz because I don't game at higher refresh rates anyway, and most of the time I was relying on this for work. I also found a monitor arm for it that cleans up my workspace really well.
Best chromebooks 2022 uk best chromebook for 2023 best chromebook for 2021 best printer for chromebook 2022 best chromebook for school best chromebook for home use best chromebook 2021 best chromebook 2023 best chromebook under 300 best chromebook tablet
Best Chromebook for 2022: 8 Chromebooks Starting at Under $300
Best Chromebook for 2022: 8 Chromebooks Starting at Under $300
In terms of cost, nothing beats a Chromebook, which is all you'll need if you're a student who requires a computer for the basics or someone who just wants something to browse the internet on after work. These laptops run on Google's Chrome OS and are renowned for their portability, long battery life and affordability. While it may be tempting to splurge on a high-end Apple or Windows laptop, a Chromebook is probably all you need to get the job done.
Plenty of manufacturers make Chromebooks, including Acer, HP, Samsung and Lenovo. There are basic models that are fine for email, online shopping and streaming movies and music typically priced at $400 or less. Premium models start around $500 and get you more RAM and storage, faster processors, higher-quality displays and better build quality. You'll also find features like touchscreens, backlit keyboards and USI pen support for notes or drawing.
Read more: The 7 Best Chromebook Deals for Students
The Chromebooks on this list were tested and reviewed by CNET's editors. While there should be a model here to meet your needs, if there's a specific must-have spec such as an Intel Core processor, an HDMI port or SD card slot or a particular screen size, you might want to dig deeper into a specific Chromebook on this list. Also, if you're considering an older or used model, be sure to check the auto-update expiration date for the model. The AUE is when ChromeOS stops receiving system updates and is typically eight years, but the date is not the same for every model
And if you're still not sure if this type of laptop is right for you, here's a breakdown of all that a Chromebook can and can't do compared with a traditional laptop. This list of the best Chromebook models is updated periodically.
Joshua Goldman/CNET
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is a 10-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard and touchpad. This Lenovo Chromebook's small size might be a little limiting as a primary Chrome OS device, though you can connect to an external display via its USB-C port. The Lenovo Duet is, however, a good pick if you're looking for an affordable Chromebook for pure mobility or as a secondary device that can be used in tablet mode. Its small size might be an issue, depending on what you're looking for, but the portability and the efficient Chrome OS make it worth considering. I wouldn't necessarily call it the best Chromebook on the market, but for the cost and convenience, it's not one to count out too quickly. An updated version, the Duet 3 Chromebook, came out in May. It features an 11-inch 2K-resolution touchscreen, faster Qualcomm processors, an improved keyboard (still included) and, unfortunately, a higher starting price of $400.
Read our Lenovo Chromebook Duet review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
This Lenovo 13-inch Chromebook two-in-one is a better bet than the Duet if you need a laptop for all-day use. It has a full HD display as well as excellent performance and battery life for the money, thanks to an Intel Core i3-10110U processor, 4GB RAM and a 64GB solid-state drive. The Lenovo Flex is not a great Chromebook choice for outdoor use, since the display is pretty dim.
If you're looking for even better performance, this Chrome OS Tablet was updated with Intel's 11th-gen Core i3 processor but still has great battery life at nearly 11 hours. Now called the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook, it costs a bit more starting at $475. Lenovo also added a privacy shutter on the webcam so you can physically block it when it's not in use. It is definitely one of the best Chromebook models for the price, power and size.
Read our Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
If you'd rather have a wider screen instead of a taller one like the Spin 713's (below), this HP Chromebook is the way to go. It's roughly 0.75 inch wider than a premium 13.3-inch model, but that extra width makes it easier to work in two side-by-side windows. The two-in-one design means you can use the HP Chromebook x360 as a tablet (though it's a bit heavy to use as a handheld device). You can also tent it, connect an external keyboard and mouse and use it as a small all-in-one computer.
The Core i3 processor and 8GB of memory in the model we tested kept this HP Chromebook running smoothly even with a couple dozen tabs open and streaming video in the background. The Chrome OS will handle typical usage seamlessly. And this Chromebook laptop has a long battery life, lasting 10 hours and 40 minutes in CNET's testing. This is a higher-end configuration, though, and its regular price is $699. This laptop regularly goes on sale for less than $500, but if you like the design and don't need its more powerful components, the Pentium Silver version is a bargain at closer to $300.
Josh Goldman/CNET
Acer's Spin 513 is an update of sorts to one of the best Chromebooks from 2021, the Spin 713. It's a two-in-one convertible Chromebook with a 13.5-inch display that has a 3:2 aspect ratio. The extra vertical space means less scrolling when you're working. The screen size is also close to that of letter-size paper, making it comfortable for notetaking in tablet mode with a USI pen. Compared to the 713, it drops a couple of noncritical features like an HDMI output in favor of a more affordable price. It has amazing battery life, though, and a sturdy fanless design, making it silent -- perfect for quiet classrooms, lectures or video calls. Also, be sure to get the latest version of the Spin 513, model CP513-2H, powered by a MediaTek Kompanio 1380 processor.
Juan Garzon/CNET
Just as Google's Pixel phones offer the best pure Android experience, the Google Pixelbook Go is built to deliver the best of Chrome OS. The premium Chromebook starts at $839, but fully loaded with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage and a 4K display, the total reaches a pricey $2,299. That's a lot, and more than most people need. Still, the Google Pixelbook Go is an excellent little Chromebook, especially for those who really want to explore all that Chrome can do, including Linux and Android app selections.
Read our Pixelbook Go review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
There are plenty of convertible Chromebook two-in-ones, where the screen rotates around to the back of the keyboard so you can use it as a tablet. But Chrome tablets with removable keyboards are still a rarity. That certainly helps the Chromebook x2 11 stand out, but it also deserves attention for its premium design and features. It offers long battery life and performance that rises (slightly) above the competition. The main downside is that it's expensive on its own. But in the year it's been available, both HP and Best Buy have offered significant discounts, so if you're interested make sure to wait for one of those deals.
Read our HP Chromebook x2 11 review.
Josh Goldman/CNET
The 317 is essentially a portable all-in-one Chrome OS desktop, otherwise known as a Chromebase. The big display makes multitasking a breeze. You can stream a YouTube video in the corner while you work on a presentation and keep an eye on email or chat -- all without overlapping windows. It is big and heavy compared with all the smaller Chromebooks here, so it's not a great option if mobility is a priority. But it's certainly small enough to move around the house, and with more than 10 hours of battery life according to my tests, you can work all day and still have time left for a video chat with family, gaming or streaming a movie.
Read the Acer Chromebook 317 review.
How we test computers
The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both those objective and subjective judgments.
The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra.
A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page.
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Living with Chromebook: Can you use it to actually get work done?
Living with Chromebook: Can you use it to actually get work done?
In the first part of our Living with Chromebook series, I outlined the initial hardware and account setup required to use a laptop running Google's Chrome OS. In this second installment, the focus is on productivity.
For my long-form Chromebook test-drive, I'm spending most of my computing time with the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook. Like the smaller 11- and 12-inch Chromebooks we've reviewed, it operates almost entirely within the Chrome Web browser, which looks and feels the same as the Chrome Web browser you may be using right now on your Windows or Mac OS computer.
That makes for a familiar experience in some ways, as many of us have already moved large swaths of our lives online, into Web-based tools such as Gmail, Facebook, and Netflix. More than most, I've embraced cloud services for as many things as possible, primarily because reviewing laptops means moving into a brand-new, fresh-from-the-box PC at least once or twice a week.
Working in the cloud If you're anywhere near as invested in cloud services as I am, then the transition to a Chromebook should hypothetically be fairly painless. Most of the things you want to do -- send e-mail, share via social-networking services, stream online video -- are available on a Chrome OS device, and largely work the same way as on a traditional OS.
That said, there's still a natural resistance to this type of Web-only setup. Maybe the idea that in a traditional PC there's a desktop lying underneath it all is a comforting one. Perhaps traditional folders-and-file systems are a security blanket, because despite having used Chromebooks before this, I found being locked into a browser-only world still felt confining, especially for office work -- documents, spreadsheets, and folders of files nestled within each other.
That's no doubt why the Chrome OS now has a more pronounced (if still rudimentary) file system than the very first Chromebooks did, making it possible to save and easily access files. This Hewlett-Packard model only includes 16GB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage, but Acer's C7 Chromebook includes a standard 320GB platter hard drive. In either case, photo, music, and video files can all be stored and sorted there, by downloading online or sideloading from a USB drive or SD card. Consider it all to be backups for the versions "in the cloud," for those times when you can't get online.
Image and video files on the Chrome OS hard drive.
Do you need always-on Internet? While the original pitch for the Chromebook was that this would be an always-on device, connected to either Wi-Fi or mobile broadband, that idea seems to have fallen by the wayside. The HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook, for example, does not include a 3G antenna, something found in the original Google Chromebook, as well as the Samsung Chromebook Series 5 550. Google's high-end Pixel model even offers a 4G LTE version. But the bundled wireless service always comes with an asterisk; in the case of the 4G Pixel -- which is $250 more than the Wi-Fi-only version -- it's this: 100MB per month for two years of mobile broadband from Verizon Wireless. In other words, it's way too paltry to do anything substantive.
Perhaps sensing that always-on broadband isn't going to always work for sub-$400 laptops, Google now emphasizes the offline capabilities of Chrome, which are largely tied in to the offline modes that have been built into Google's various tools, such as Google Docs, over the years.
The offline-ready apps in the Chrome Web Store.
A few other Chrome-compatible Web tools also work offline, and Google has set aside a section of its Chrome Web Store (really just a dressed-up set of links to Chrome OS versions of web sites) to make them easier to find.
Google Drive as office suite I'll let you in on a little secret. I've been using Google Drive (nee "Google Docs") as my main word processor for a few years now, and it's such a useful, well-maintained online tool that the benefits far outweigh a few significant shortcomings. For that reason, using Google Drive on a Chromebook was a natural transition for me, and one of the elements of Chromebook use that felt the most comparable to using a non-Chrome OS laptop.
Like nearly all writers, I spent years using Microsoft Word on both Windows and OS X systems. It's still the default for word processing, and DOC and DOCX are still universal file formats (fortunately, Google Drive allows you to open and export these formats).
But, reviewing new laptops all the time, I was setting up a new system once or twice a week at least, which often made using these new laptops for writing a pain. Microsoft now has an ad-supported "free" version of Word that comes preinstalled on some (but not all) laptops, but previously, if you were lucky you had a trial version, or else nothing at all. Very often, I ended up either installing OpenOffice (a free, if clunky, office suite), or digging up an old install disc for Office 2003. Even under the best of circumstances, I had to remember to e-mail myself the latest version of my Word doc, or sneakernet it around on a USB stick. (Nowadays, I'd store the documents on Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, or the like, but I'd still be stuck installing the word processing software itself.)
So many of the work tools we use now are online and collaborative that it's hard to remember when that wasn't the norm, but when I started using Google Drive in earnest in 2009 it was a major change to my workflow. Even now, on the HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook, I can open any document I've been working on from another laptop, add some text, and then seamlessly switch back to the first laptop at any point. It's also easy to share docs with anyone else via a few button clicks -- and multiple authorized users can access and edit a document in real time (which is something you may or may not want).
Working on a document in Google Docs.
Google Drive works best for simple text-based documents with minimal formatting. You can add images, tables, and other design elements, but these are not as full-featured as in Microsoft Office, and don't always translate as one might expect when exporting to a DOC file.
Another thing that drives me crazy about Google Drive is the lack of a "show hidden characters" command in its word processor. That's not something everyone uses, but for writers, especially those who got their start in print publishing, being able to see every tab, paragraph break, and even the spaces between characters is important. I've learned to live without it, but it's still my least favorite part of the Google Drive experience.
The presentation and spreadsheet apps included with Google Drive are somewhat less successful. My needs for XLS files are limited, but even then I've run out of available columns and been forced to start a new tab in a spreadsheet. In fact, all the Google Drive apps have size and complexity limitations, and you can find more details about that here. Those are limitations to the actual Google Drive platform, not something specific to Chrome OS or the Chromebook.
Another option for Microsoft Office purists is Office 365, the cloud-based version of Office. It's a paid service, not all features work in Chrome OS, and it doesn't facilitate the easy sharing that Google Docs does with anyone who has a free Gmail account.
It may be something you'll need to use every day, but I've had good luck exporting Google Docs files into the PDF format (it's a setting built right in to Google Docs under File > Download as), and the file browser in Chrome OS can open PDF files for easy reading.
One handy thing to keep in mind is that most Google Drive files can be accessed even when your Chromebook (or other PC) is offline. But, you have to set up the offline mode for your account first by following the instructions here. Gmail also has an offline mode, and you can find more apps and features that work on an offline Chromebook in this special section of the Chrome Web Store (of course, you'll have to be online to see this list).
Using a mouse, printer, and other peripherals One of the big problems I had with the less-expensive Chromebooks from Samsung and Acer has been the terrible touch pads built into those systems. I don't care if your laptop cost less than $200, if the touch pad is unusable, you're just not going to be productive on it.
The touch pad on the $329 HP Pavilion 14 Chromebook is a bit better, but still not even as good as the touch pads found on budget Windows laptops. It was passable for basic Web surfing, but if you plan on using your Chromebook for more than a couple of hours at a time, an external mouse is recommended.
Fortunately, despite not having any way to install drivers or dive into the deeper functions of pointing devices, I had good luck getting external devices to work. Both the wireless Microsoft mouse and the external Logitech touch pad I tried worked instantly, both via USB dongle (a second wireless mouse, from Targus, did not work).
Printing is a little more complicated. You'll need to use a service Google calls Cloud Print. That works one of two ways. The less likely scenario is that you already own one of a handful of Cloud-Print-ready printers, in which case you should be able to connect easily if you're on the same network. More likely, you have what Google generously refers to as a "classic printer," in which case, you have to run a Cloud Print app on a separate Windows or OS X machine, and from there, connect to your Chromebook.
This is about as far from the simple, stripped-down appeal of Chromebooks and the Chrome OS as one could imagine.
That said, when I followed the steps outlined in this support doc from Google, the Cloud Print feature worked the first time I tried it.
Workaround apps If your job involves only e-mail, text documents, and simple spreadsheets, moving to a Chromebook may well be a very simple transition for you, especially if you already make use of Google's online tools.
If, however, you have occasional need for programs such as Photoshop, you're going to have to find a workaround. There actually are a few basic image-editing features built into Chrome OS, but if you need to do more than adjust the rotation or brightness and contrast of an image, you'll hit a wall very quickly.
I've always used a Web-based tool named Pixlr for emergency photo edits. It's a cloud-based image editor that looks and feels a lot like Photoshop. You upload an image, edit it, then download the resulting file. It works well enough in a pinch, although if you're a heavy Photoshop user, a Chromebook just isn't for you.
I found Pixlr listed in the Chrome Web Store, but "installing" the app really just takes you to the Pixlr Web site. Similar online tools, including some basic video editors, can be found in the Creative Tools section of the Chrome Web Store. One caveat, especially if you're working with big images: remember that you'll have to both upload and redownload the image file, so make sure you have the time and bandwidth to work that way before you count on an online app such as Pixlr.
You can be productive on a Chromebook, sometimes As an on-the-go system for catching up on e-mail (especially if you use Gmail or Google's corporate e-mail services), and creating or editing basic office documents, a Chromebook works, and works well considering the less-than-$250 investment (for the Samsung Chromebook Series 3, the most affordable Chromebook CNET can recommend).
That said, it does not excel in any particular area, and even a budget Windows laptop offers more flexibility and the ability to run more software. Even if you only need a particular app once in a great while, unless there's an online version that works in the Chrome browser, you're out of luck.
Here's what worked:
Google Drive/Google Docs works the same as it does on non-Chrome PCs
Having cloud-based documents makes it easy to share and access documents on multiple PCs
Many mice and other accessories are plug-and-play
Offline access to some features helps the Chromebook be more universally useful
Here's what didn't:
You're stuck with second-rate online alternatives to programs such as Photoshop
Setting up a printer is a hassle
Google Docs lacks many of the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office
In the next Living with Chromebook installment, we'll look at entertainment options in Chrome OS, from streaming video to games.
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Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini mesh router review: Too inconsistent to recommend
Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini mesh router review: Too inconsistent to recommend
With multiple devices relaying a stronger, more reliable signal from room to room, mesh routers promise a better Wi-Fi experience at home, and you've got a lot of new options available that support 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6, the newest and fastest generation of Wi-Fi. One of those the Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini, an attractive, compact system that sells in a three-pack for $280.
A smaller, less powerful, less expensive version of one of our favorite Wi-Fi 6 mesh routers, the ZenWiFi AX Mini is designed to bring your home network up to speed without taking up too much room on the shelf. Available in black, white, or a fancy woodgrain variant, the cube-shaped, minimalist design looks great, and with a cost that's less than you'd spend for a three-pack of Google's Nest Wifi mesh router, which doesn't support Wi-Fi 6 at all, the price seems right, too.
Ry Crist/CNET
All of that said, I'd recommend looking elsewhere for your next home networking upgrade. In my at-home tests, the ZenWiFi AX Mini was all over the map, with strange performance drop-offs that affected multiple devices and a mesh that routed my connection through the extender when it shouldn't have, causing speeds to come crashing down even at close range. This is an attractive little mesh router, but you'll find better performance at a better price if you shop around.
Ry Crist/CNET
A good first impression
There are lots of routers that take a minimalist approach to design, but that approach often leaves you with a bland, cheap-looking gadget. The ZenWiFi AX Mini steers clear of this trap with a quality build that looks great without commanding much attention. It's not the router for you if you want a full array of LED indicator lights or a lot of spare ports to play with, but if you just want something simple and elegant that doesn't take up much space, then you'll likely be happy with what you get here.
Roughly the size of a Rubik's Cube, each ZenWiFi AX Mini node is a dual-band AX1800 device, which means that it supports 802.11ax, or W-Fi 6, and that the top wireless speeds of the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands add up to approximately 1,800 megabits per second (1.8 gigabits per second). You can only connect to one of those bands at a time, so the true top speed is 1,200Mbps, which is the top speed on the faster 5GHz band.
Packed inside each pint-size device is a pair of internal antennas, as well as 256MB of Flash memory and 256MB of RAM. That's pretty much on par with other entry-level mesh routers, and less horsepower than you'll find in fancier gaming routers or tri-band systems.
The Asus Router app will walk you through the setup process.
Screenshots by Ry Crist/CNET
Ease of setup
Unlike some mesh routers, where every device in the system is fully interchangeable, the ZenWiFi AX Mini features a designated router with the Ethernet WAN port that connects to your modem and a spare Ethernet LAN port. The other two devices look identical, but they lack the WAN port. Asus helps avoid confusion by wrapping the main router device in a plastic band that says "Start to setup," complete with a QR code that links to the router's Wi-Fi network. Just plug the router into your modem and into power, wait a bit for it to boot up, and scan the code to connect to its network.
From there, you'll want to use the Asus Router app on your Android or iOS device to finish setting things up. You'll pick your network's name and password, you'll establish your admin credentials with Asus, and you'll wait a few minutes for the system to optimize. Then you'll plug the satellite nodes in and wait for them to automatically join the mesh. It's all very easy, but I'd caution that the Asus app isn't quite as streamlined as similar apps from names like Eero, TP-Link or Nest, all of which do a slightly better job of idiot-proofing the setup process.
The ZenWiFi AX Mini (purple) wasn't a performance standout, with average speeds that lagged behind much of the competition.
Ry Crist/CNET
Scatterbrained performance
I spent a few days taking the ZenWiFi AX Mini for a test drive at my home in Louisville, Kentucky, a 1,300-square-foot shotgun-style house with a 300Mbps fiber connection where I've been testing home networking gear for the past few years (you can read all about how we test Wi-Fi routers here). The system held up fine for regular usage, but a close look at the speed test results reveals that the router was selling my connection short.
For starters, the system struggled with the same "sticky client" issues that I've seen plague a number of mesh routers, including other, similar dual-band Wi-Fi 6 models like the Eero 6 and the Netgear Nighthawk AX1800. In simpler terms, the mesh didn't do a great job of routing my signal. If I moved from the front of my house where the router sits to the back of my house, it would recognize the change and begin routing my connection through the extender, which is fine. However, if I connected to the network in the back of the house and then moved to the front, the system would often fail to stop routing my connection through the extender even though it wasn't necessary anymore. My laptop was "stuck" to the extender, or at least, its connection was.
Each dot in this chart is an individual speed test result for the ZenWiFi AX Mini. Ideally, you'd see lots of overlapping dots as high on the chart as possible, but persistent slowdowns and mesh issues made for a more chaotic result.
Ry Crist/CNET
Connecting through the extender means that your Wi-Fi signal is making an additional jump on its way to the cloud, which slows things down. In my case, speeds up close to the router in the living room fell from a near-perfect average of 297Mbps when I connected in the living room to an average of 252Mbps when I connected in the back of the house and then moved to the living room.
The ZenWiFi AX Mini's average speeds also suffered from strange slowdowns that affected multiple devices at multiple points during my tests. For every router I test, I run full sets of speed tests throughout my home in the morning, afternoon and evening hours. The morning tests were normal, but by afternoon, something had changed, and I was seeing speeds no higher than 180Mbps or so in my living room, where I can usually connect at speeds slightly above my ISP limit of 300Mbps.
The slowdown persisted throughout the whole home, and on multiple devices, and didn't seem to be a larger issue with the network, so I rebooted the router. That fixed things -- but when the time came for my evening tests, the slowdown was back and I needed to reboot the router again. I ran some additional speed tests during subsequent days of tests and noticed additional slowdowns, as well.
None of those slowdowns cut my connection outright -- I was always able to browse, stream and surf on the network without interruption. Though I can't be entirely sure at this point, it seems like the sort of slowdown that you'd see with a sticky client issue, albeit a more dramatic and annoying one than I've seen with other mesh routers.
Ry Crist/CNET
The verdict
At $280, the Asus ZenWiFi AX Mini did an acceptable job of spreading a usable signal throughout my home, but issues with the mesh compromised my speeds, and that makes it tough to recommend. Even though it only comes with two devices instead of three, I'd still much rather have the TP-Link Deco W7200 running my network. That one adds in a tri-band design, which is key for optimizing mesh router performance, it boasts faster top speeds than the Asus and it essentially aced my performance tests, all while costing $50 less than the ZenWiFi AX Mini.
If you're fixated on going with a ZenWiFi router, Asus has a tri-band version of its own called the ZenWiFi XT8 that also performed significantly better in our tests, as well as a more powerful dual-band model called the ZenWiFi XD6. Both of those would be a worthy step up from the mini-size XD4 system reviewed here.
