2019 Lenovo 11.6" HD IPS Touchscreen 2-in-1 Chromebook review

OUR VERDICT

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 is an 11.6-inch convertible that lasts all day on a charge, but its performance isn't great.

FORLong battery life
Comfortable keyboard
Affordable price
Relatively rare HDMI port

excellent build quality
satin finish resists fingerprints
good screen with deep blacks
long battery run times
compact and lightweight
good performance for a budget Chromebook
excellent compatibility with Android apps
fanless design
excellent temperature management

AGAINSTDull, low-res display
Underwhelming performance

keyboard is mediocre
port selection is limited
no upgrades possible
Chrome OS is still limited compared to Windows, Mac, and Linux

Chromebooks are typically good budget options for those that can operate completely online. However, it seems that every Chromebook has a fatal flaw that cripples the entire experience. Either the processor is too weak, or the build is too cheap, or the screen is horrific. There hasn't yet been a Chromebook that balances build quality, performance, and price.

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 might just change that.

The C330 sits in a nice space in the Chromebook world, it is on the upper end of what we would consider a "budget" device. For that money, the C330 offers quite a bit, including excellent Android app compatibility thanks to its MediaTek SoC. In addition, most of its components are better than what can usually be found in a Chromebook.

Chromebooks targeted at consumers are beginning to become a rare breed, but there is still some competition for the Lenovo Chromebook C330. We will look at two of Dell's recent offerings, the Chromebook 11 3181 and Chromebook 11 3181 2-in-1. We will also compare Acer's Chromebook R13 and Chromebook R11 as well as Lenovo's older Flex 11 Chromebook.

Lenovo Chromebook C330-81HY0000US (Chromebook C330 Series)
Processor
Mediatek MT8173C
Graphics adapter
PowerVR GX6250, Core: 700 MHz
Memory
4096 MB

, LPDDR3 1866MHz
Display
11.6 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel 135 PPI, 10-point multitouch, IPS, glossy: yes
StorageeMMC Flash, 64 GB
Weight
1.2 kg ( = 42.33 oz / 2.65 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 is an 11-inch convertible that has a lot in common with its competition. That includes both its best feature -- nearly 10 hours of battery life -- and its worst -- an unimpressive low-res screen. We do like that it comes with an HDMI port, which is fairly unique in this price range, as well as the comfy keyboard, but you shouldn't expect the swiftest performance.

Lenovo Chromebook C330 price and configuration options

We tested the Lenovo Chromebook C330 with 32GB of internal storage, the only spec that differs from its other model. Both feature an 11.6-Inch, 1366 x 768-pixel display, the MediaTek MT8173C CPU and 4GB of RAM. The more premium Chromebook C330, bumps you up to 64GB of storage.

Design

Plastic through and through, the Lenovo Chromebook bears an off-white hue that reminds me of vanilla ice cream. Its chunky, glossy black bezels, though, aren't as comforting, reminding me of the ribbon-tape inside VHS cassettes.

At 0.8 inches thick and 2.8 pounds, the Lenovo Chromebook C330 is heavier than the Acer Chromebook 11 (0.7 inches, 2.4 pounds). The Dell Chromebook 5190 and the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 (both 0.8 inches, 2.9 pounds) weigh a hair more.

The Chromebook C330 may look a little cheap, but its display has no stability problems, staying in place throughout the standard four convertible modes (laptop, stand, tablet and display). The panel also rotates smoothly on its 360-degree hinge. The Dell Chromebook 5190 and HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 also convert between modes, while the Acer Chromebook is a standard laptop.

Durability and drop test

This is not a rugged laptop and it showed in our Chromebook drop test. A corner of the Chromebook C330 broke clear off when the laptop landed on its side onto concrete from 4.5 feet. The screen also separated from the lid and we weren't able to snap it back into place. Sadly, the laptop didn't survive the drop and shut down at random intervals.

Ports

Most of the Chromebook C330's ports are on its left side, including its USB Type-C port for charging, HDMI, USB 3.0 and SD memory reader.

I was a bit surprised to see an HDMI port on this cheap a machine, as none of the laptops I'm comparing it to offer that port.

On the right side, you've got a headphone jack, security lock slot and buttons for power and volume, because convertibles place those buttons on the edges for when you're in tablet, tent or display mode.

Display

The Lenovo Chromebook C330's display may rate well for a Chromebook, but you might be used to better color or brightness. Watching the Sonic trailer, I quickly saw the telltale signs of the C330's sub-full-HD panel, as the LED readout on a cop's speed-tracking radar gun looked far too pixely, with lots of artifacts. Unfortunately, 1366 x 768 screens are extremely common among 11.6-inch Chromebooks, as the HP Chromebook 11 G1, the Acer Chromebook 11 and the Dell Chromebook 5190 all suffer from these low-res displays.

While the divisive video game character rendered in a slightly-off blue, other items, such as the wood paneling and blue suits in a Pentagon office, looked faded. While these outputs were acceptable for a budget laptop, I was shocked to see the audio stutter repeatedly as I watched Super Mario 64 footage in a YouTube video by VideogameDunkey.

According to our testing, the Lenovo Chromebook C330 produces 75% of the sRGB color gamut, which is close to the 80% Chromebook average, the 73% rating from the Dell Chromebook 5190, the 79% from the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 and the 78% rating from the Acer Chromebook 11.

As far as Chromebooks go, color accuracy is excellent. Grays are extremely accurate (DelteE2000 of 1.6) and colors are close to professional-grade (DeltaE2000 of 3.24). Color temperature is also very close to ideal at 6553 K. That said, the color variance is fairly wide; blues, in particular, are much less accurate than other wavelengths (DeltaE2000 of 17.61).

2019 Lenovo 11.6" HD IPS Touchscreen 2-in-1 Chromebook review

The low backlight makes outdoor use difficult. Under shade, the screen is somewhat visible. Under the sun, the screen is unusable. The glossy finish does the screen no favors. Avoid direct light.

Display Response Times
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
↔ Response Time Black to White
30.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined ↗ 16.4 ms rise

↘ 14 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.8 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 76 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (24.9 ms).
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
43.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined ↗ 21.6 ms rise

↘ 21.6 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.9 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 62 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (39.6 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 51 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 13570 (minimum: 43 - maximum: 2500000) Hz was measured.

Due to its IPS panel, the display has wide viewing angles with no color shift or distortion. However, the screen visibly dims when viewed off angle (~50° or more). Once again, the weak backlight is the primary culprit.

The Chromebook C330 emits up to 250 nits of brightness, which narrowly tops the 233-nit category average. We saw a similar rating from the 258-nit Dell Chromebook 5190 and lower ratings from the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 (200 nits) and the Acer Chromebook 11 (223 nits). While its color output held up when I watched the Sonic trailer from 33 degrees to the left and right, its glossy screen picked up a lot of glare and reflection from our office's lighting.

The C330's touch screen accurately registered my taps and gestures as I navigated the desktop and web in Chrome. It also allowed for smooth scrolling.

Keyboard and touchpad

Lenovo understands that just because you've got a tight budget doesn't mean you should be stuck with a lousy typing experience. Testing the Chromebook C330 on the 10fastfingers typing test, I click-clacked my way to a rate of 70 words per minute. That's a bit down from my 80 words per minute average on mechanical keyboards, which I prefer and use more frequently.

The keys offer a good clicking feel, thanks to their 72 grams of required actuation force, which is more than the 60 gram rate we hope companies exceed. That makes up for the 1.2 millimeters of vertical travel in the keys, which is a bit shallow (we look for 1.5 to 2 millimeters).

The Chromebook C330's 4.1 x 2.4-inch touchpad tracked my taps correctly and I scrolled down web pages without a stutter. It also correctly recognized Chrome OS' three-finger navigation gestures.

Keyboard

The keyboard is passable but is not pleasant. The keycaps are made from cheap, thin plastic. This is fairly common for Chromebooks. The key travel is very shallow and feels similar to Apple's butterfly switches, but key response isn't as crisp as that of Apple's keyboards. Still, response is adequate. The keys are well-spaced and well-sized (1.6 cm2). We are able to type very accurately with minimal error, even at high rates (~100 WPM). The plastic keys have a fair amount of clatter.

Touchpad & Touchscreen

The touchpad, by contrast, is excellent. The slight texture across the touchpad's surface masks its plastic build. While it definitely does not feel like a premium glass touchpad, tracking is nonetheless smooth and accurate. The integrated clicking mechanism feels solid and responsive. Chrome OS gestures are recognized quickly and reliably. The touchscreen is equally excellent. Touch input registers accurately. Dragging and dropping is smooth.

Case

the Lenovo Chromebook C330 is made entirely of plastic. However, Lenovo seems to have put a bit more work than seen in most plastic laptops. The case is very solid; neither the keyboard deck nor the bottom panel flex, even under direct pressure. The thick lid can only be twisted slightly, but this requires intentional force. Warping the lid causes the screen to distort, but this is not a normal occurrence.

The hinge is sturdy and holds the display in place, but it is a bit stiff. Rotating the lid into tablet mode is fairly easy, and the hinge feels solid at every angle. For a plastic laptop, the C330 feels sturdy and well-built. We did not notice any unsightly gaps across the chassis, either. We do have one complaint: the hinge barrel itself feels loose and wiggles slightly when the laptop is closed.

Aesthetically, the satin white paint gives the device a nice, semi-premium look. There's no mistaking its plastic build from a cursory glance, but the matte finish is highly resistant to fingerprints and looks great. For a plastic laptop, the C330's appearance belies its relatively low cost. The Acer Chromebook R13 looks more premium at first glance with its aluminum shell, but we suspect the C330 will hold up better over time due to its thicker and more resilient case.Audio

Don't expect the Lenovo Chromebook C330 to replace your stereo. Listening to Carly Rae Jepsen's "Too Much" on the laptop, I liked that it provided enough sound to fill a medium-size conference room, but I was frustrated by how crunchy it made the song's smooth synths and how hollow the track's bass sounded.

Specs and performance

You don't get much multitasking prowess from the MediaTek MT8173C processor (with 4GB of RAM) in the Chromebook C330, as I heard the audio stutter when I split its screen between a 1080p video and five Chrome tabs.

That poor performance translated to a mediocre score of 2,934 on the Geekbench 4 general benchmark, which falls below the 4,536 Chromebook average and the 4,193 from the Dell Chromebook 5190 (Celeron N3450 CPU, 4GB of RAM). We found lower scores of 1,366 from the Acer Chromebook 11 (Celeron N3350; 4GB of RAM) and 1,339 from the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 (Intel Celeron N3350 CPU, 8GB of RAM).

On the Jetstream 2 test, which benchmarks Javascript performance online, the Lenovo Chromebook C330 earned a 31.32, which is less than the 52.6 Chromebook average.

The MediaTek MT8173C is a good match for low-cost Chromebooks. The SoC is more than adequate for web browsing, document management, and general office work. Web pages load smoothly, scrolling is fluid, and system navigation is responsive. There are some hiccups in loading heavier elements, such as some animations in the Chrome OS UI. For instance, loading the app tray from a cold boot presents stuttering, but the jerky animation smooths out over subsequent launches.

Compared to other Chromebooks, the C330 is a leader in the budget segment. Intel's Celeron CPUs are noticeably slower in heavier benchmarks like WebXPRT 2015. All said, the C330 offers a fluid web browsing experience and should be plenty fast enough for most Chromebook users.

Storage Devices

Local storage is relatively generous for a Chromebook. Lenovo sells two variants of the C330. The cheaper offers 32 GB of storage. nets 64 GB of total storage, which is worth the additional cost in our opinion. Storage is eMMC and is subsequently slow. Performance is about on par with a standard mechanical hard drive. Thankfully, most Chrome OS and Android apps are lightweight and load quickly. Some games that have load times (such as PUBG Mobile) may take require some patience to get up and running.

GPU Performance & Gaming

The PowerVR GX6250 iGPU is good enough for light graphical loads. The GPU can easily handle video playback at 1080p. Higher resolutions will stutter. The C330 is able to stream online media at 1080p/60 fps. The GPU can also support a single external monitor at 4K/30 Hz, but the experience is not smooth. Full HD or lower is recommended.

On paper, the GX6250 is similar to Intel's HD Graphics 500, the iGPU used in Celeron-powered Chromebooks. In practice, the GX6250 is much better suited for gaming on a Chromebook. This is due in large part to better compatibility with Android applications. Since Intel's chips are based on an x86 architecture and Android applications are typically programmed for ARM chips, Celeron CPUs typically have problems gaming via Android. The GX6250 has no such issues thanks to its ARM architecture.

Most popular Android games are perfectly playable on the C330, and many apps (like Asphalt 8) offer keyboard controls by default. Even heavier titles like PUBG Mobile are playable, albeit at reduced settings. Keep in mind that the PowerVR GX6250 is now over four years old; as Android titles become more resource intensive, the limits of this GPU will become more noticeable in the near future.

Emissions

System Noise & Temperature

The Chromebook C330 is fanless and thus completely silent. Coil whine is imperceptible.

Despite its fanless design, the C330 manages heat very well. The low-powered MediaTek SoC is very efficient and generates little heat when compared to more power Intel-based Chromebooks. There is a hot spot on the bottom panel directly over the CPU, but this spot never exceeds 40°C, even under extended load (simultaneously streaming 1080p video in three separate tabs). In tablet mode, this hot spot is never touched by the user, which is another point in the C330's favor.

Connectivity

Port selection is adequate but may be lacking for some users. The C330 has both a Type-A and Type-C USB 3.0 port, but the Type-C connection is also used for charging. There is an HDMI 1.4 port, and the USB Type-C port can be used as a DisplayPort connection, but again, the Type-C port is the sole DC input. As such, connection options are limited when it comes time to charge the device. The inclusion of an SD card is welcome, but it is only a half-depth slot.

SD Card Reader

Speaking of the SD card reader, speeds are relatively slow. Transfer speeds using our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card hover at about 30 MB/s. This should be adequate for most users looking for a Chromebook but definitely leaves room for improvement.

Communication

As a Chromebook, the C330 is heavily reliant on its internet connection. To that end, the C330 doesn't disappoint. While we cannot accurately measure WiFi speeds, the device has so far impressed us with its reliable wireless connections. Even with multiple walls and ~75 feet between it and the router, the C330 maintains a strong internet connection with no drops or other noticeable interruptions.

Software

Chrome OS continues to improve every time we visit it, and the addition of the Google Play Store has only helped Chromebooks' usability. Suffice it to say that our experience has so far been smooth. Apps install without a hitch and run as expected considering the mid-range SoC. The Android side of Chrome OS is miles better on the C330 than it is on Intel-based Chromebooks, likely because of the ARM CPU powering the C330. During our review time, we did not encounter any compatibility issues.

Speakers

The C330's speakers are decent. They get fairly loud (~76 dB) and remain clear at all volume levels. Lower frequencies are thin, but mids and highs are loud and clear. The C330 isn't a media-centric machine by any measure, but music and videos are enjoyable. The down-firing speakers sound muffled when the device is in laptop mode, but they face the user in tablet or tent mode. Due to the taper of the case, the lid does not obscure the speakers in tablet mode.

Maintenance & Warranty

Upgrades are practically non-existent on the C330, but this is not unique to this device. In general, Chromebooks lack any kind of upgrade path. For those that want to open the C330, there are nine T6 Torx screws around the bottom panel and several stubborn plastic clips. We did not attempt to pry the C330 open during our testing period due to fear of cracking the case. There is little reason to open the C330 anyway; there are no fans to clean, and everything is soldered to the motherboard.

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 comes with a standard 12-month warranty. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties article for country-specific information.The Chromebook C330 again did poorly on the WebGL Aquarium test, rendering 500 fish at 25 frames per second, a rate that's slower than the 54 fps rate from the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 and the 46fps mark we saw from both the Dell Chromebook 5190 and the Acer Chromebook 11.

Battery Life

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 can last longer than an average work day, with slightly better battery life than we expect from a Chromebook. The Laptop Mag Battery Test (web surfing at 150 nits) drained the Chromebook C330 in 9 hours and 51 minutes, which is longer than the 9:10 Chromebook average and the 9:20 from the Acer Chromebook 11. The Dell Chromebook 5190 (9:50) and the HP Chromebook x360 11 G1 posted nearly identical times.

Battery life is decent for a Chromebook, if a bit on the short side. The 45 Wh battery is an average size for a compact laptop. The machine manages about 10-11 hours in our WiFi v1.3 battery test (screen set to 150 nits, loading a new web page every 30-40 seconds) and should easily last a full day at work or school. The included 45 Wh adapter can fully charge the battery in about 1.5-2 hours.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Due to its low-powered ARM SoC, the C330 is very power efficient. When idle, the system pulls 5 Watts, which is about average for a Chromebook. Under load, the C330 draws less than 8 Watts, about 25-30% less than similar Intel-based Chromebooks. If low power draw is a priority, the C330 fits the bill.

Webcam

The 0.9 megapixel webcam is the kind of boring, pedestrian sensor that laptop reviewers expect. The camera is so sensitive to lighting that small changes can create wildly varied photos: My best advice is to have light (natural, if possible) in front of you and as little light as possible behind you.

Knowing that allowed me to accurately capture my skin tone, the greens of office plants and my trolling colleague Gia, in the background. But even with that knowledge, the photos I took featured a dearth of detail in my face and hair, with only the largest features getting much definition. The glass window behind me looks blown out because of a reflection of light bouncing in from outside.

Heat

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 is one cool customer. After we streamed 15 minutes of HD video on the notebook, our heat gun registered the temperatures on its touchpad (75.5 degrees Fahrenheit), G&H keys (79 degrees) and underside (82 degrees). All of those readings fall under our 95-degree comfort threshold.

Software

When it comes to pre-loaded software, most Chromebooks are the same, and that's good, thanks to the complete lack of bloatware (which still plagues some Windows laptops).

Updates to Chrome OS eliminated its dependence on the Chrome Web Store, allowing Android-app emulation from the Google Play Store. Linux app support will soon be available "out of the box" for Chromebooks.

Bottom Line

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 offers tons of endurance and its keyboard enables comfortable typing. Unfortunately, the C330's performance is mediocre and its low-res display does not impress.

For faster performance, you can get the Dell Chromebook 5190, . But if you want your Chromebook to have an HDMI port along with long battery life, the Chromebook C330 is well worth a look.

Operating System

Chrome OS

Display

11.6 inches (1366 x 768)
250 nits brightness
IPS touchscreen

Processor

MediaTek MT8173C

Memory

4GB LPDDR3

Storage

64GB eMMc

Expandable Storage

microSD card

Connectivity

Wi-Fi 802.11ac
Bluetooth 4.1

Ports

1x USB-C USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2
1x USB-A USB 3.1 Gen 1
HDMI 1.4

Audio

2W stereo speakers
Headphone / microphone combo jack

Battery

Li-Ion 45Wh (10 hours)
45W USB-C AC adapter

Dimensions

292 x 215 x 19.6 mm
(11.50" x 8.46" x 0.77")

Weight

2.64 lbs (1.2kg)

Colors

Blizzard White

TECH SPECS

Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.1

Brand Lenovo

CPU MediaTek MT8173C CPU

Card Slots SD memory reader

Display Size 11.6

Hard Drive Size 32GB

Hard Drive Type eMMC

Highest Available Resolution 1366 x 768

Native Resolution 1136 x 768

Operating System Google Chrome

Ports (excluding USB) USB Type-C, USB 3.0

RAM 4GB

Size 11.4 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches

Touchpad Size 4.1 x 2.4 inches

USB Ports 2

Weight 2.82 pounds

Wi-Fi 802.11ac

Wi-Fi Model Lenovo Wireless AC (2 x 2)
2019 Lenovo 11.6" HD IPS Touchscreen 2-in-1 Chromebook review