Lenovo’s latest Chromebooks for the education market range from the entry-level Lenovo 100e Chromebook Gen 4 with a MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor and an 11.6 inch HD display to higher-performance models like the 12.2 inch Lenovo 500e Yoga Chromebook Gen 4 convertible notebook with an FHD display, Intel Alder Lake-N processor, and support for pen and touch input.
There’s also a new 14 inch Lenovo 14e Chromebook Gen 2Â that’s one of the first laptops to support up to a 15-watt Intel Core i3-N305 octa-core processor. Lenovo says it will begin offering four new Chromebooks for education in the first quarter of 2023.
All of the new laptops support WiFi 6 connectivity, with some models also offering support for WiFi 6E and/or 4G LTE. They all have webcams with privacy shutters, and Yoga-branded models with 360-degree hinges also offer an optional 5MP “world-facing” camera above the keyboard, allowing students to snap pictures or shoot video when the screens are flipped over for use in tablet mode.
While Lenovo’s new Chromebooks are designed for use in the classroom, the company also has a history of selling some of its education-oriented computers to the general public, so don’t be surprised if these Chrome OS laptops are eventually available from Lenovo and other retailers.
Here’s an overview of key specs for Lenovo’s 2023 Chromebook for education lineup:
| Lenovo 100e Chromebook Gen 4 | Lenovo 300e Yoga Chromebook Gen 4 | Lenovo 500e Yoga Chromebook Gen 4 | Lenovo 14e Chromebook Gen 2 | |
| Display | 11.6 inches 1366 x 768 pixels TN 250 nits | 11.6 inches 1366 x 768 pixels IPS LCD 250 nits Touchscreen Garaged USI 2.0 stylus (optional) Corning Gorilla Glass 360-degree hinge | 12.2 inches 1920 x 1200 pixels IPS LCD 300 nits Touchscreen Garaged USI 2.0 stylus (optional) Corning Gorilla Glass 360-degree hinge | 14 HD TN non-touch (250 nits) 14 inch FHD IPS non-touch (300 nits) 14 inch IPS touch (300 nits) |
| Processor | MediaTek Kompanio 520 | MediaTek Kompanio 500 series | Up to Intel Processor N200 | Intel Processor N100 Intel Processor N200 Intel Core i3-N305 |
| RAM | 4GB or 8GB LPDDR4x (soldered) | Up to 8GB LPDDR5 memory (soldered) | ||
| Storage | 32GB or 64GB eMMC (soldered) | Up to 128GB eMMC (soldered) | ||
| Ports | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C 1 x HDMI 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 x 3.5mm audio | 1 x USB Type-C (full function) 1 x HDMI 1.4 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 x 3.5mm audio | 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x 3.5mm audio 1 x SD card reader | |
| Wireless | WiFi 6 (MT7921) 4G LTE Cat 6 (optional) | WiFi 6 (MT7921) | WiFi 6/6E 4G LTE Cat 6 with eSIM | WiFi 6/6E |
| Webcam | 720p webcam w/privacy shutter | 720p front-facing camera w/privacy shutter 5MP world-facing camera (optional) | 720p or 1080p front-facing camera w/privacy shutter 5MP world-facing camera (optional) | 1080p front-facing camera w/privacy shutter |
| Battery | 47 Wh | 57 Wh | ||
| Charging | 45W or 65W | |||
| Dimensions | 287 x 200 x 18.6mm (11.3″ x 7.9″ x 0.73″) | 287 x 200 x 18.6mm (11.3″ x 7.9″ x 0.73″) | 287 x 208 x 18.9mm (11.3″ X 8.2″ X 0.74″) | 324.4x 216.2 x 16.9mm (12.8″ x 8.5″ x 0.67″) |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.71 pounds) | 1.3 kg (2.9 pounds) | 1.31 kg (2.89 pounds) | 1.45 kg (6W) or 1.5 kg (15w) (3.2 / 3.31 pounds) |
Chrome, why won’t you die?
Why should it? There are thousands and thousands of computer users (even in non-educational settings) who don’t use anything but their browser. ChromeOS is fine for them… and probably a safer option than Windows. They’re also good as secondary or travel devices for another set of computer buyers.
I’ve had good luck with Lenovo’s education Chromebook models in the past. Heck, this reminded me that I have an N21 sitting in a drawer. It was a solid little machine… nice and rugged and it even has that rubber carrying handle. I should dig it out and see how GalliumOS runs on it.
Arguably because in principle people arguably shouldn’t deserve to have everything they do logged by a single entity whose business is arguably trying to get them to do what their customers pay them to get people to do.
And because operating systems arguably shouldn’t be inseparable from the hardware you can buy.
But aside from that, I also get annoyed by people constantly showing off products I don’t want to buy. It eventually gives the impression that others want you to do it, or that you won’t fit in or even be hated if you don’t.