Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Review UK 2026: Budget ChromeOS Done Right

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook has landed on my desk with a promise that’s almost too good to be true: a proper laptop experience for under £200. After years of testing budget machines that compromise on everything from display quality to build integrity, I approached this Chromebook with healthy scepticism. But after two weeks of daily use, I’m genuinely impressed by what Lenovo has managed at this price point.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook 14 Inch FHD Laptop - (MediaTek Kompanio 520, 8GB RAM, 128GB eMMC, ChromeOS) - Abyss Blue

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.4 (744 reviews)

£198.97

• Live life ethereally with this thin 18.6 mm and light around 1.3 kg Chromebook, solidly built without moving parts for holding and carrying
• Watch YouTube on the 14-inch FHD TN 250nits display, or listen to your favorite playlist on frontfacing speakers tuned by Waves Audio.
• WiFi 6 and Bluetooth connectivity as well as 13.5-hour battery life mean you can wander about all day while staying connected and productive
• Take care of your privacy with camera privacy shutter, mute mic key and Google Security Chip H1
• Connections for all your needs: USB 3.2 Gen 1, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer, Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.1a), microSD card reader, audio jack (3.5mm)

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Price checked: 11 Jan 2026 | Affiliate link

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This isn’t a powerhouse for video editing or gaming, but as a portable ChromeOS machine for students, remote workers, or anyone needing a reliable second laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook punches well above its weight class. Let’s dig into whether this budget Chromebook deserves a spot in your bag.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook Specs Overview

The spec sheet reads like typical budget Chromebook fare: MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage. On paper, it’s nothing special. But ChromeOS is brilliantly optimised for modest hardware, and this combination delivers a surprisingly snappy experience for everyday tasks.

What immediately stands out is the build quality. At 18.6mm thin and 1.3kg, this feels more premium than its price suggests. Lenovo has used plastic throughout, but it’s well-executed plastic with minimal flex and no creaking. The lack of moving parts (fanless design) means this is genuinely silent during operation.

Connectivity is solid for 2026: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort support, a full-size USB-A port, microSD card reader, and a proper 3.5mm headphone jack. I appreciate that Lenovo hasn’t skimped on ports to chase thinness.

Display Quality: Functional but Not Inspiring

Here’s where budget constraints show. The 14-inch FHD TN panel is the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook’s weakest link. At 250 nits maximum brightness, it’s usable indoors but struggles in bright environments. I found myself hunting for shade when working in coffee shops with large windows.

The TN technology means viewing angles are mediocre. Tilt the screen back more than 30 degrees and colours wash out noticeably. This isn’t a laptop for sharing content with someone sitting beside you. Colour accuracy is also limited, with only 62% sRGB coverage. If you’re editing photos or doing design work, look elsewhere.

That said, for web browsing, document editing, and video streaming, it’s perfectly serviceable. Text is sharp at 1920×1080 resolution, and the 16:9 aspect ratio gives decent vertical space for productivity. YouTube videos look fine, though you’ll notice the washed-out colours if you’re coming from a premium display.

The bezels are chunky by 2026 standards, particularly the bottom chin, but this keeps costs down and houses the webcam at the top where it belongs. I’ll take functional over fashionable at this price point.

Performance: ChromeOS Magic

The MediaTek Kompanio 520 isn’t going to win any benchmark wars, but ChromeOS’s lightweight nature means this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook feels responsive for typical tasks. Web browsing with 10-15 tabs open is smooth, Google Docs handles large documents without lag, and even light multitasking between apps works fine.

I tested it with my typical workflow: Gmail, Slack, Spotify, and multiple Chrome tabs. The 4GB RAM is the limiting factor here. Push beyond 20 tabs and you’ll notice tab reloading. For students writing essays or professionals working in web apps, this is perfectly adequate. For power users juggling dozens of tabs and Android apps, you’ll feel the constraints.

The eMMC storage clocks in at 285MB/s read speeds, which is slow by modern SSD standards but typical for budget Chromebooks. App launches take a second or two longer than premium machines, but it’s not frustrating. The microSD card slot lets you expand storage cheaply if needed.

What impressed me most is the fanless design. This machine is completely silent. No whirring fans, no thermal throttling under sustained load. The ARM-based processor stays cool even during extended use. After an hour of video calls, the bottom was barely warm to the touch.

If you’re considering alternatives, the ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 CX1505 offers more screen real estate but similar performance at a slightly higher price point.

Battery Life: The Star of the Show

This is where the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook absolutely shines. Lenovo claims 13.5 hours, and I consistently hit 10-12 hours in real-world mixed use. That’s a full workday without hunting for outlets.

My typical test involves web browsing, document editing, Spotify streaming, and video calls at 50% brightness. I started at 9am with a full charge and finished at 7pm with 15% remaining. For students attending lectures or remote workers bouncing between coffee shops, this battery life is liberating.

Video playback is even more impressive. I streamed YouTube at 720p with brightness at 60% and got 14 hours before the low battery warning. The efficient ARM processor and modest display combine beautifully for marathon viewing sessions.

Charging happens via USB-C with the included 45W adapter. A full charge takes about 2.5 hours. Fast charging gets you to 50% in roughly 45 minutes, which is handy for quick top-ups between classes or meetings.

Compared to Windows laptops at this price point, the battery life advantage is enormous. The HP Ryzen 3 Laptop I reviewed last month managed barely 6 hours under similar conditions.

Build Quality & Portability

At 1.3kg and 18.6mm thin, this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is genuinely portable. I carried it in my messenger bag alongside a notebook and water bottle without feeling weighed down. For students lugging textbooks or commuters with packed bags, this weight advantage matters.

The all-plastic construction initially worried me, but Lenovo has executed it well. The lid resists flex when you press the centre, and the keyboard deck doesn’t bow during aggressive typing. The textured finish on the lid helps hide fingerprints and minor scratches.

The hinge is adequate but not exceptional. It holds the screen at any angle without sagging, but there’s slight wobble when you’re typing on your lap. You’ll need two hands to open the laptop, as the hinge tension is too strong for one-handed operation.

I appreciate the practical design choices. Rubber feet keep the laptop stable on desks, and the fanless design means no intake vents to worry about blocking. The lack of moving parts should improve long-term reliability.

One thoughtful touch: the camera privacy shutter. Slide it across and a physical barrier covers the webcam. No tape or stickers needed. Combined with the mute mic key, Lenovo has addressed basic privacy concerns without adding cost.

Keyboard & Trackpad: Better Than Expected

The keyboard is a pleasant surprise. With 1.3mm key travel, it offers more feedback than many thin-and-light laptops costing twice as much. The keys have a slight curve that helps with finger positioning, and the spacing is generous enough to avoid frequent typos.

I typed this entire review on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook without wrist fatigue. The typing experience won’t rival mechanical keyboards or premium ThinkPad models, but it’s perfectly comfortable for extended writing sessions. The Enter and Shift keys are full-size, which I appreciate after suffering through cramped layouts on other budget laptops.

There’s no keyboard backlighting, which is the main compromise. If you work in dim environments, you’ll need decent ambient lighting. For students in well-lit lecture halls or office workers under fluorescent lights, it’s not an issue.

The trackpad measures 95mm wide, which is adequate but not generous. Two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom gestures work reliably. The plastic surface has a slight texture that provides decent glide, though it’s not as smooth as the glass trackpads on premium machines.

Clicking requires more force than I’d prefer, and there’s a hollow sound to the clicks. For occasional use it’s fine, but I found myself using tap-to-click after the first day. ChromeOS’s gesture support works well, making navigation intuitive even without a mouse.

If you’re coming from a MacBook or premium Windows laptop like the MacBook Air M4, the trackpad will feel like a downgrade. But compared to other budget Chromebooks, it’s competitive.

Webcam & Audio: Video Call Ready

The 720p webcam is typical budget fare. In good lighting, it produces acceptable image quality for video calls. Colleagues on Google Meet said I looked clear enough, though the image was noticeably softer than laptops with 1080p cameras.

Low light performance struggles. Work from a dimly lit room and you’ll look grainy and washed out. The sensor doesn’t handle mixed lighting well either. Sit with a window behind you and the camera exposes for the bright background, leaving your face in shadow.

The physical privacy shutter is a thoughtful inclusion. Slide it across and a plastic barrier physically blocks the lens. It’s more reassuring than software toggles and prevents accidental camera activation.

Microphone quality is surprisingly decent. The dual array mics pick up voice clearly without excessive background noise. I took calls from a busy coffee shop and participants said they could hear me well, though some ambient chatter came through. The dedicated mute key is handy for quick silencing during calls.

The front-firing stereo speakers are tuned by Waves Audio, which helps them sound slightly better than typical budget laptop speakers. They get reasonably loud at 78dB, enough to fill a small room.

Sound quality is thin and lacking bass, as expected from small laptop speakers. Mids are decent for voices, making podcasts and video calls sound clear. Highs are present but can get harsh at maximum volume. Music sounds acceptable for background listening but lacks depth.

The front-firing position is better than bottom-firing speakers, as sound projects toward you rather than bouncing off your desk. The 3.5mm headphone jack works well with my wired headphones, and Bluetooth audio has been reliable with my wireless earbuds.

For serious music listening or film watching, you’ll want external speakers or headphones. For video calls, YouTube videos, and background music while working, the built-in speakers are adequate.

Chromebook Alternatives Worth Considering

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook sits at the budget end of the Chromebook spectrum. The HP Chromebook 14 costs £50 more but offers a superior IPS display with better viewing angles and colour accuracy. If screen quality matters, that’s worth considering.

For larger screens, the ASUS Chromebook Plus 15 provides 15.6 inches of screen real estate and more powerful Intel Core i3 performance. It’s nearly double the price but better suited to productivity-focused users who need multiple windows open simultaneously.

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook2 360 is the premium option with a stunning QLED touchscreen and 2-in-1 convertible design. At £499, it’s for users who want the best ChromeOS experience and don’t mind paying for it.

For Windows alternatives at similar prices, check out the Blackview 2025 Laptop, though you’ll sacrifice battery life for Windows compatibility.

According to Notebookcheck’s Chromebook benchmarks, the MediaTek Kompanio 520 performs similarly to Intel Celeron N4500 processors, making it competitive in the budget segment. Lenovo’s official product page provides detailed specifications if you want to dig deeper into connectivity options.