One of our favourite tablets, Lenovo’s Duet 3 offers you a well-rounded expertise for each work and play at a really affordable value. It has a stable show and first rate efficiency for all of your tabs with the 8GB model, and it comes with a keyboard and kickstand within the field.
ForKeyboard and kickstand in field; stylus a lot cheaperLonger battery life & quicker charging2K displaySupport by means of 2029Versatile ChromeOS softwareAgainstSlower performanceHeavier design5MP selfie digital camera
Compared to the Ninth-gen iPad launched final yr, the 10th Gen iPad made main strides in such a short while, enhancing the show, design, cameras, and efficiency, amongst different issues. So lengthy as you do not want equipment or lots of storage, it is in all probability among the finest pill offers you could find.
ForBrighter, pixel-rich displayExceedingly quick performanceLighter, thinner designBetter camerasMore colour optionsAgainstShorter battery lifeSlower USB-C charging and knowledge transferMore costly equipment and storage
Outside of low-cost Amazon Fire tablets, most individuals flip to Apple’s iPads or Samsung’s Galaxy Tabs for a high quality pill expertise; they’re speedy and dependable, and so they have software program instruments like Stage Manager and DeX mode if you wish to use them as transportable laptops. But you should not sleep on Chrome OS tablets, which provide the identical portability and entry to cellular apps and streaming, however packaged with software program that is particularly designed for productiveness. So whereas the iPad vs. Galaxy Tab S8 pill showdown is the one most individuals take note of, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 completely must be included on this dialog, because it’s among the finest Chromebooks obtainable at this time. But must you truly purchase one over the brand new and revamped iPad? We’ll assist you resolve which will probably be extra helpful to your each day life, each for work and play.iPad (2022) vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: Design, show, and accessoriesWhy you possibly can belief Android Central
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you possibly can select the perfect for you. Find out extra about how we check.(Image credit score: Luke Filipowicz / iMore)It took ten generations of gadgets, however the Apple iPad (2022) left behind the thick, uneven bezels and bodily residence button of previous iPads. It appears and feels similar to an iPad Air, and whereas that change corresponds to a barely larger value, it is one most Apple customers will settle for for a design that appears much less old style. Best of all, the iPad switches to a USB-C port, although at simply 480Mbps knowledge switch pace, it is a far cry from the 5Gbps speeds that the Duet 3’s two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports provide. It additionally implies that the $99 Apple Pencil (1st Gen), which was designed for a Lightning port, requires a USB-C-to-Lightning dongle to cost. Apple may’ve made the iPad suitable with the $129 2nd-Gen mannequin (opens in new tab) with USB-C charging, however caught with the older pencil to focus on frugal buyers.With the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, you get a really normal pill design, with similarly-sized bezels to the iPad. It weighs about 1.4oz extra and measures simply 0.8mm thicker regardless of having the identical show measurement, which may make it barely much less snug to carry for lengthy durations. Inverting the iPad’s stylus problem, the Duet 3 solely works with USI 2.0 pens, which weren’t obtainable on the market when the pill launched. That new normal wasn’t obtainable for buy when the Duet 3 initially launched, however you should buy the Lenovo Digital Pen 2 for $35 now. The Duet 3 comes with a removable keyboard that connects through magnetic POGO pins, plus a magnetic cloth kickstand cowl. Lenovo apparently improved the magnets for the Duet 3 in comparison with the unique Duet, and our reviewer appreciated how straightforward it was to connect these equipment when switching from informal streaming to on-desk work. As for the typing expertise, he stated he “absolutely loves typing” on the keyboard, which comes with a full set of perform keys and trackpad.For comparability, Apple sells the Magic Keyboard Folio (opens in new tab) as a separate $200 accent. It has a two-piece design with each keyboard and trackpad, so you do not have to connect each without delay (just like Lenovo’s design), and the keyboard additionally has perform keys and a trackpad. iMore’s reviewer praised the keyboard, saying the “keys travel well and don’t feel mushy at all,” however did notice that the accent is simply “too damn expensive.”(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)In phrases of your visible expertise, the iPad 2022 has the leg up with its 2360×1640 decision, hitting 264 pixels per inch (PPI) to the Duet 3’s 213ppi and 500 nits of brightness to the Duet 3’s 400 nits. Both tablets hit simply 60Hz for his or her refresh charges. At 2000×1200, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 has the perfect visible high quality of the Duet lineup, beating the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 and proving a “joy to use” for streaming in response to our reviewer. But even with a 2K display screen, it may possibly’t fairly stay as much as the iPad with its True Tone show. Of course, Luke Filipowicz at iMore did notice some points with the iPad’s show design. It lacks an anti-reflective coating or laminate, which implies it makes a hole sound while you faucet on the show that you do not hear with the iPad Pro. But if these have been the one cost-cutting measures Apple needed to make, they are not tough trade-offs to just accept. iPad (2022) vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: Hardware and battery life(Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)Whichever pill you select between the Apple iPad and Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, you may have to just accept some compromises. The iPad is way improved from the 2021 model, but it surely’s nonetheless a lesser product than the iPad Air and iPad Pro. And whereas most Chromebooks are designed to be reasonably priced, the Chromebook Duet 3’s {hardware} is tailor-made to the budget-conscious and transportable. For one thing extra highly effective, you’d have to just accept utilizing a heavier Chromebook in pill mode. Below, we have rounded up all the data on how these two tablets evaluate to at least one one other. Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryApple iPad (2022)Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3CPU/ GPUA14 BionicSnapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform; Adreno GraphicsMemory4GB (rumored)4-8 GB LPDDR4X-2133MHzStorage64GB or 256GB SSD128GB eMMCDisplay10.9-inch Liquid Retina show (60Hz), 2360×164010.95-inch IPS touchscreen; 2000x1200px; 400 nitsCameras12MP Wide (Rear); 12MP UW (Front)8MP Auto Focus (Rear); 5MP Fixed Focus (Front)BatteryUp to 10 hours, 20W chargingUp to 12 hours, 45W chargingAudioStereo speakersStereo speakersConnectivityWi-Fi 6, 5G (optionally available), Bluetooth 5.2WiFi 5 802.11AC (2 x 2), Bluetooth 5.1Ports1x USB-C 2.02x USB-C 3.2AccessoriesSupports Apple Pencil (1st Gen)Pre-bundled keyboard and kickstand; optionally available stylusAUE dateN/AJun 2029Weight477g/ 1.05lbs516g / 1.14lbsDimensions9.79″ x 7.07″ 0.28″10.15″ x 6.47″ x 0.31″ColorsSilver, Pink, Blue, YellowStorm Gray64GB is not sufficient storage for most individuals, however iPad consumers must spend an additional $150 to improve to 256 GB. That offers the Duet 3 an edge because it begins at 128GB; it additionally apparently has a 256GB mannequin, although it would not look like on sale in the mean time. The good thing about the iPad is that it comes with SSD storage as a substitute of eMMC, which is mostly slower; you possibly can see Windows Central’s eMMC vs. SSD information (opens in new tab) for more information. Neither pill has a microSD card slot. Lenovo’s pill has serviceable cameras that’ll work in a pinch, although the 5MP selfie digital camera is disappointing for making video calls with coworkers or household. On that entrance, the iPad is the higher alternative with its 12MP ultrawide digital camera and Center Stage tech, which retains your face in focus routinely. And whereas I’m undecided how usually folks take images with their tablets, the brand new 12MP rear digital camera helps the iPad “take some lovely photos when the lighting conditions are right,” in response to iMore.(Image credit score: Luke Filipowicz / iMore)Apple gave its 10th-gen iPad newer Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, however simply the one USB-C port with the aforementioned gradual knowledge switch and simply 20W charging. That, mixed with a battery that’ll final “about 8-10 hours if you’re heavily using it nonstop,” means you may should cost it pretty usually and it will take awhile to recharge it.One small notice: solely the iPad (2022) has the choice for mobile connectivity, although that, too, will value you an additional $150. Augmenting your “affordable” iPad will begin to add up in case you’re not cautious!As a combo laptop-tablet, the Duet 3 acquired two USB-C ports, each of which cost at the next 45W pace. It’s rated to final 12 hours per cost and constantly hits that mark in our expertise (in contrast to the iPad, which may’t usually hit its 10-hour mark with any reliability).Lastly, neither pill will win any awards for audio high quality. Both do at the very least have twin stereo audio system, however lots of the finest tablets have quad audio system rated for Dolby Atmos soundtracks. You will not get the facility or constancy you may want right here; specifically, the Duet 3 cannot have the speaker high quality you may get in a standard laptop computer as a result of, nicely, it may possibly’t match audio system that measurement in pill type!iPad (2022) vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: EfficiencyAttempting to play GTA: San Andreas on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 (Image credit score: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)What makes the higher-end iPads so compelling is that they use Apple’s M1 laptop computer chip, providing laptop-quality efficiency as a substitute of cellular flagship efficiency. But in contrast to the iPad Air M1, the iPad (2022) makes use of the identical A14 Bionic chip discovered within the iPhone 12. That, paired with its alleged 4GB of RAM, makes the iPad very quick in comparison with most price range tablets operating on a Snapdragon chip, although not overwhelmingly so.In observe, our colleague Luke Filipowicz at iMore stated the 10th-Gen iPad “seemed to handle everything I threw at it relatively easily, with no discernible dip in performance as I played several graphics-heavy games, sketched in my favorite drawing apps, surfed the web with many tabs open, and did some really extensive photo editing.” The pill does run hotter than the M1-powered iPad Air with demanding use, however in any other case will probably be greater than sufficient for “90% of iPad users.”With the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3, you get the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2, one other system-on-a-chip somewhat than a standard laptop computer chip. Our reviewer Andrew Myrick acquired the 4GB model to check, somewhat than the 8GB model that prices $60 extra. While he discovered that “switching between apps, responding to messages, or just hanging out resulted in an enjoyable experience,” he did discover that the chip “started to really struggle” when gaming or performing extra demanding duties. Considering the 8GB/128GB Duet 3 prices barely lower than the 64GB iPad 2022, that is the mannequin we would advocate shopping for in case you do select the Chrome OS pill. According to the Future Labs workforce, Lenovo’s 8GB pill hits 625/1731 in Geekbench 5 testing, whereas the iPad simply wins at 1580/4040. That’s a fairly substantial hole, however benchmarks solely inform a part of the story; the software program backing that efficiency issues, too.iPad (2022) vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: SoftwareEven if the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 is way slower than the iPad for sure duties, you must have in mind the truth that iPadOS is not essentially designed for productiveness. Especially on the bottom iPad, which will not assist Stage Manager just like the M1 iPads. Stage Manager is a revamped multitasking software for iPads that makes it simpler to make use of a number of apps without delay in your display screen, in addition to to increase your iPad show by connecting it to an exterior monitor. While this will likely sound promising, it is notoriously buggy, to the purpose that our Tablets Editor Andrew Myrick determined he was performed with the iPad till Apple fastened the software program. So in idea, you may be nice with Apple not together with Stage Manager on the iPad; but when Apple does repair its points, you’ll miss out on the multitasking instruments that Chrome and Android tablets provide.Meanwhile, the Duet 3 has ChromeOS, which works in pill type however was designed for productiveness and laptops. It supplies “a bit more oomph than Android tablets,” in response to our reviewer, and it is particularly pure to make use of the Duet 3 with the included keyboard with trackpad. iPad (2022) vs Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: Which must you purchase?Purely on specs, the Apple iPad is superior to the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3. It runs demanding apps and video games quicker, has superior cameras, and sports activities a stunning show. The downside is that Apple nickel-and-dimes you for issues that the Duet 3 offers you out of the field. If you improve to 256GB of storage and pay for a keyboard and stylus, the iPad will immediately value you at the very least $400 greater than the Duet 3. So in order for you an informal streaming and looking pill and do not want any equipment, the iPad is the clear alternative. But in case you’re planning on utilizing it as each a streaming gadget and a secondary work gadget, the Duet 3 is the higher choice. Instead, it’s best to take into account the Duet 3 vs. Duet 5, because the latter offers you a bigger OLED show, quad audio system, and a good higher battery for near the identical value; it is simply not as transportable.
Choose the Duet 3 in order for you a productiveness gadget and informal streaming gadget rolled into one, with all of the equipment you want both within the field or at an inexpensive value. Don’t select it in order for you highly effective audio system or the very best efficiency.
Choose the iPad 10th Generation mannequin in order for you a well-rounded pill that is nicely suited to at-home duties like streaming, video calling household, gaming, and photograph enhancing. Don’t select it for hardcore productiveness except you are keen to spend a bunch extra for equipment.