The Lenovo C340: A Budget-Friendly 2-in-1 Chromebook?

As I've covered well over 100 Windows-based laptops on the channel, I must say that this is the first Chromebook I've ever tested, so I'm going into this as a first-time user of ChromeOS. My Lenovo C340 has a dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of local storage, which are significantly lower specs compared to most Windows laptops. This is one of the reasons the prices are much lower.

Fortunately, ChromeOS doesn't need much power to run. It's a lightweight Linux-based operating system from Google, so you log in with a Google account and get access to plenty of web-based applications in the cloud. However, you can also install Android apps through the Google Play store too. The hardware seems to be enough, as the overall experience was quite good. I didn't have any issues during normal use, swapping between multiple applications was fine, and video playback was smooth.

Lower hardware has the advantage of being able to fit into a smaller machine, and the C340 is definitely quite portable. It weighs 1.2kg or 1.5kg total with the 45-watt power brick and Type-C cable for charging. Battery life was also quite good given the size of the battery, and that's probably in part due to the lightweight operating system.

I've got the sand pink version here, but you can also get it in platinum grey. I found the build quality of the C340 quite good, despite the plastic exterior it felt quite solid, with minor flex to the keyboard as well as the screen. Although there's a little wobble when touching the screen, it's no more when compared to say a more expensive Microsoft Surface Book 3.

The 11.6-inch IPS touch screen has a 1366 x 768 resolution, and at this size I thought it looked okay. I could only start noticing the pixels if I got in closer than where I'd normally sit. The bezels around the sides are quite thick, though, but this has an advantage when using it in tablet mode. It's easy to hold without accidentally triggering clicks around the edges, something I've found with thinner bezel devices.

However, I found it a bit painful to hold in tablet mode as the corners near the hinges dig into your hands, but if you only hold it from the sides, or alternatively flip the whole thing the other way, it's fine. As a glossy screen, fingerprints will show up, but that's just the nature of a touchscreen. I thought it looked okay, but the 250 nits of brightness was a little dim.

The screen was surprisingly responsive when drawing, I've had more delay in some more expensive Windows machines. There's a 720p camera above the screen in the middle, which is what the camera and microphone look and sound like on the C340. I found the keyboard okay to type with, I thought the size and layout were fine given the smaller 11-inch size.

It's nothing special though and doesn't have any backlighting. The touchpad actually took me by surprise; I've had far more expensive Windows laptops that were worse. It clicks down anywhere, which is a nice feature for those who like a responsive typing experience.

With the rise of cloud computing and gaming services like Google's Stadia, you're able to get more and more done with lower-tier hardware as time goes on. Ultimately, the reason I personally didn't go with a Chromebook was that I was happy to pay more money for an even smaller and lighter machine with the option of Windows should I need to run other programs.

However, I'd argue most of what people do these days takes place through the browser or apps that are available in the store, so a Chromebook will do well for less money. Anyway, let me know what you think about the C340 and Chromebooks in general down in the comments, I'm interested to hear how popular they are with my laptop audience, and if you're new to the channel then don't forget to subscribe for more tech reviews like this one.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enThis is the Lenovo C340, a $300 2-in-1 Chromebook,but is it something you should consider buying?I’ve covered well over 100 Windows basedlaptops on the channel, but this is the firstChromebook I’ve ever tested, so I’m goinginto this as a first time user of ChromeOS.My C340 has a dual core processor, 4gb ofRAM and 64gb of local storage, so definitelysignificantly lower specs to what you’dsee compared to most Windows laptops, andthis is one of the reasons the prices aremuch lower.Fortunately, ChromeOS doesn’t need muchpower to run.It’s a lightweight Linux based operatingsystem from Google, so you log in with a Googleaccount and get access to plenty of web basedapplications in the cloud, however you canalso install Android apps through the GooglePlay store too.In any case the hardware seems to be enough,as the overall experience was quite good.I didn’t have any issues during normal use,swapping between multiple applications wasfine and video playback was smooth.Lower hardware has the advantage of beingable to fit into a smaller machine, and theC340 is definitely quite portable.It’s 1.2kg, or 1.5kg total with the 45 wattpower brick and Type-C cable for charging.Battery life was also quite good given thesize of the battery, and that’s probablyin part due to the lightweight operating system.I’ve got the sand pink version here, butyou can also get it in platinum grey.I found the build quality of the C340 quitegood, despite the plastic exterior it feltquite solid, with minor flex to the keyboardas well as the screen.Although there’s a little wobble when touchingthe screen, it’s no more when compared tosay a more expensive Microsoft Surface Book3.The 11.6” IPS touch screen has a 1366 by768 resolution, and at this size I thoughtit looked ok, I could only start noticingthe pixels if I got in closer than where I’dnormally sit.The bezels around the sides are quite thickthough, but this has an advantage.When using it in tablet mode it’s easy tohold without accidentally triggering clicksaround the edges, something I’ve found withthinner bezel devices.I found it a bit painful to hold in tabletmode as the corners near the hinges dig intoyour hands, but if you only hold it from thesides, or alternatively flip the whole thingthe other way it’s fine.As a glossy screen fingerprints will showup, but that’s just the nature of a touchscreen, I thought it looked ok, but the 250nits of brightness was a little dim.The screen was surprisingly responsive whendrawing, I’ve had more delay in some farmore expensive Windows machines.There’s a 720p camera above the screen inthe middleThis is what the camera and microphone lookand sound like on the C340.I found the keyboard ok to type with, I thoughtthe size and layout were fine given the smaller11” size.It’s nothing special though and doesn’thave any backlighting.The touchpad actually took me by surprise,I’ve had far more expensive Windows laptopsthat were worse.It clicks down anywhere and works well.On the left from the back we’ve got a USB3.1 Gen1 Type-C port, 3.1 Gen1 Type-A port,MicroSD card slot, and 3.5mm audio combo jack.On the right from the front there’s thepower button, volume up and down control forwhen in tablet mode, another 3.1 Gen1 Type-Aand C port and lock slot.The C340 uses Type-C charging, and you cancharge from either the left or right side,and both of these ports also offer displayoutput.The top lid has Chrome and Lenovo badges,and the bottom just has the speakers towardsthe front.They sound ok, nothing special, but I didn’tthink they were as terrible as others weremaking out.Even in tablet mode, they’re blocked behindthe screen, but still usable.The rubber feet on the bottom panel weren’tvery grippy, so it was pretty easy to slidearound on a desk with minimal amount of force.You can get inside easily by removing 9 TR6screws, but there’s not really any realreason to, memory is soldered to the boardand only the WiFi 5 card appears to be userreplaceable.Honestly at the end of the day, I could easilyuse this device as my daily driver while travelling,you know, once that’s allowed again.I use Google Docs to script my videos, GoogleDrive to store files, Gmail for email, andobviously YouTube to manage this channel,so for short trips where I still want to getsome work done but don’t want to take alarger and heavier more capable laptop withme, this is seriously looking like a goodoption with a much smaller price tag.It really comes down to your workload anduse case though, if you need some applicationslike say Adobe Premiere for video editing,well you’re probably going to want to stickto a fully fledged Windows or MacOS machinewith higher tier specs to do that sort ofheavy lifting, but for what I personally dowhen travelling, a Chromebook like the C340would easily have me covered.This is why Chromebooks are so popular inschools, they’re offering core functionalityat a much lower price point.With the rise of cloud computing and gamingservices like Google’s stadia, you’reable to get more and more done with lowertier hardware as time goes on.Ultimately the reason I personally didn’tgo with a Chromebook was that I was happyto pay more money for an even smaller andlighter machine with the option of Windowsshould I need to run other programs, but that’sjust me.I’d argue most of what people do these daystakes place through the browser or apps thatare available in the store, so a Chromebookwill do well for less money.Anyway let me know what you think about theC340 and Chromebooks in general down in thecomments, I’m interested to hear how popularthey are with my laptop audience, and if you’renew to the channel then don’t forget tosubscribe for more tech reviews like thisone.\n"