Lenovo is a well-known and well-regarded manufacturer of laptops and other hardware. Lenovo released their first budget Chromebook in 2013, and this model is a sleek addition to their range. It's a good option for anyone on a budget.
The flexibility of the 2 in 1 feature, in particular, makes it a great choice for students, business usage, and many others.
This review of the Lenovo Chromebook C330 2 in 1 convertible laptop will look at every angle and unlock every secret for both potential buyers and technology fans.
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Pros & Cons Of The Lenovo Chromebook C330
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Unique Features Of The Lenovo Chromebook C330
Lenovo is a popular Chinese multinational company known for its reliable, good quality, and affordable hardware, including laptops, tablets, and phones. The Lenovo Chromebook C330 2 in 1 convertible laptop was released in 2018, and continues to be a good option for those looking for a Chromebook on a budget.
Sleek Design
Good design doesn’t guarantee good performance, but it definitely helps! The C330 looks good in almost every mode, with a minimalistic design and a thin size at nearly one inch thick.
Lightweight
A light laptop is ideal for school or work needs, especially if it’s needed in more than one location. The plastic casing makes the C330 a sturdy and lightweight laptop, weighing just 2.64 lbs.
360˚ Convertible Rotation
The C330 screen can rotate easily with its 360˚ hinge, allowing users a smooth transition from tablet to laptop mode.
This complete rotation also allows the laptop to be used in other modes like tent and display.
Mediatek Processor
While not as powerful as an Intel Core processor, the C330’s MediaTek MTK8173C Processor performs well considering the laptop’s price range. Multitasking may be a little shaky, but the laptop works quickly and reliably.
10-Point IPS Touchscreen
Capable of recognizing gestures, this screen promises clear displays, although some users find the finer details are lacking slightly in this model.
DDR3 Memory & Fast eMMC Storage
This laptop is available with either 32 or 64GB of eMMC storage, allowing lots of room to save work. An SD card allows you to add even more storage, and the laptop even comes with an extra 100GB Google Drive storage for two years.
USB-C, SD, HDMI & USB 3.0 Ports
This model comes with a good range of ports, with one of its most unique features being an HDMI port, which comes in very handy should you wish to add an external monitor. This type of port is rarely found in laptops of this price.
Lenovo Chromebook C330 2 In 1 Convertible Laptop Review
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Specifications
Operating System | Chrome OS |
Standing Screen Display Size | 11.6 inches |
Max Screen Resolution | 1366 x 768 pixels |
RAM | 4 GB LPDDR3 |
Memory Speed | 1600 MHz |
Hard Drive Capacity | 64 GB Flash Memory Solid State |
Ports | HDMI, USB C, USB 3.0 Type A |
Battery Life | 10 hours |
Dimensions | 11.5 x 0.77 x 8.48 inches |
The Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop is a solid machine. It works well and works reliably, but it is not truly outstanding. While its performance is better than many other models in its price bracket, compared to top-of-the-line Chromebooks and laptops, it doesn’t quite make the mark.
Design
The Lenovo Chromebook is unlikely to win any innovation awards. It has quite a simple yet sleek look, with a white body and black keys. While the white color is sure to be off-putting to some due to its nature of showing all blemishes, the build quality, in general, is high.
However, the large hinge that allows its full-screen rotation does look a little clunky in some modes, and its incredibly large bezels are rather unattractive.
The Lenovo isn’t as sturdy as some other Chromebooks, but it is reliable and works hard to prove its value. Its thin size does make it easy to transport, which is a big positive if you’re looking for a laptop for use at work and at home.
Display/Screen
Many aspects of the Lenovo Chromebook C330’s screen are good. Its touchscreen responds well and recognizes gestures.
Brightness and contrast are good enough, but some finer details may not be displayed as well as other laptops may be capable of.
Its resolution is pretty low at 1,366 by 768 pixels, which definitely shows. If you plan to do a lot of video or photo editing, then this is not the laptop for you.
Performance Features
The MediaTek CPU used by the C330 does not match up to the likes of Intel Core, but it will get the job done, providing your job doesn’t require intense gaming sessions. The CPU struggles with multitasking but does load up impressively quickly! Again, for its price range, the performance is more than decent.
There is a lot of room for storage with this Chromebook. As many others do, this comes with 100 GB of Google Drive storage for two years. There are two options for storage in the laptop itself - either 32 or 64 GB.
However, a hefty chunk of this is taken up with preinstalled apps. This model also comes with an SD card slot to boost your storage even further.
While obviously not the best in the business, Lenovo’s graphics, which are integrated into the processor instead of a separate GPU, are capable of handling some gaming. However, you should expect it to struggle with graphics-heavy games!
This model is not intended as a gaming laptop at all! It is also able to handle video streaming, but the visuals and audio definitely show this model’s budget nature. If you want a high-end gaming laptop, you can check out our reviews here.
Keyboard & Touchpad
While it is sadly not backlit, which is always a handy feature for a laptop, the Lenovo C330’s keyboard is a positive. With the standard Chromebook search key and browser navigation, getting around your laptop is a breeze.
The travel is pretty decent at 1.2 mm, and the keyboard is easy to type on.
Another positive is found in the touchpad, which is equally as smooth and easy to use and capable of recognizing common gestures.
Connectivity
One of the truly outstanding features of the C330 is its inclusion of an HDMI port, which is unusual in this price bracket. This is great should you need to link it up to an external monitor, allowing your USB-C and USB-A ports to stay clear for other uses, such as the USB-C for your charging cable.
Battery Life & Energy Consumption
With a battery life of between 9 - 11 hours, the C330 plays that little bit harder than its competitors. It will last for a standard work or school day with light use.
The laptop is charged via the USB-C port. Even with many browser tabs open, brightness turned up to 50%, and the laptop being fully engaged in work, the battery life still holds out. Even at full brightness, this laptop is capable of maintaining a charge for over seven hours.
Audio
One of the most disappointing elements of this laptop is its speakers. The speakers remain muffled even at high volumes, with bass almost non-existent. This may be partly due to their placement on the bottom of the laptop, which is a pretty odd place to put speakers!
The sound is a little clearer when the C330 is used in tent mode. A better experience is also found when using headphones, and luckily there is a handy audio jack for that very purpose.
Accessories
Other 2-in-1 convertible laptops offer stylus pens for use on their touchscreens, but the Lenovo C330 is not one of them, sadly. However, you can purchase a stylus that will work with this model. This laptop does come with a webcam. The pictures it takes aren't incredible, and at 1,280 by 720 pixels, perhaps that’s to be expected.
Warranty
There’s no clear information about warranties for the Lenovo Chromebook C330 on either Amazon or Lenovo’s website. The Amazon product page includes a link to a long and confusing warranty document that seems to suggest it might consider the lifetime of this product to be around four years.
Price
The Lenovo Chromebook is fantastic value for money at under $300. Certain online offers could take it as low as $200. It's a good deal cheaper than top-of-the-line models, which are priced around $600, yet still offers a decent and reliable performance.
For those looking for an alternative to IOS and Windows laptops without breaking the bank, this is a very solid option.
Who is the Lenovo Chromebook C330 best suited for?
This is an excellent laptop for small business owners, students, and commuters. For those needing to use it for light tasks such as answering emails, writing and researching articles and essays, or tracking spreadsheets, the C330 is a solid, budget-friendly option.
Who is it not suitable for?
This is not the laptop for anyone wishing to use it for gaming, creating art, or any other high-powered pursuits. You can find our favorite budget gaming laptops here.
Comparing With Other 2-In-1 Laptops (Is The Lenovo C330 Good?)
Lenovo Chromebook C330 Vs C340
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With a price difference of close to $200, there's a fair bit of difference between these two 2-in-1 laptops from Lenovo. The C340 has a much superior Intel Core i3 processor, a bigger screen, and similar storage options.
Unlike the C330, the C340 does not have an HDMI port but instead two USB C ports. Should you have a little extra cash to spare, the C340 is a slight upgrade from the C330.
Lenovo Chromebook C330 Vs Acer Spin 311 Chromebook
- Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Chromebook runs on Chrome OS - An operating...
- All the Google apps you know and love come...
- Get access to more than 2 million Android...
The Acer Convertible Chromebook is in the same price bracket as the C330, again with similar storage options, but the slightly superior Intel Celeron processor.
This laptop has many of the same Chromebook and 2-in-1 perks promised by the Lenovo C330, and even boasts of a 10-hour battery life. It even features similarly chunky bezels!
Lenovo Chromebook C330 Vs HP Convertible Chromebook
- Intel Quad-Core Pentium Silver N...
- 14inch Diagonal HD Multi-Touchscreen (1366 x...
- 2x USB 3.1 Type-C, 1 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1x...
- Intel Wireless-AC 9560 802.11a/b/g/n/ac(2x...
The HP Convertible Chromebook is priced at around $340, which is a small step up from the C330. It has a bigger screen, an Intel processor, 128 GB of hard disk storage, yet the same screen resolution, and no HDMI port.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
How old is the Lenovo Chromebook C330?
The Lenovo Chromebook C330 was released on October 21st, 2019.
How long will Lenovo C330 be supported?
Google plans to support and provide updates for the Lenovo Chromebook until June 2025. Past this date, the laptop will no longer receive updates.
How many years does a Lenovo Chromebook last?
Chromebooks should last around seven or eight years, providing Google offers support for that particular model for that period of time.
Can you install android apps on the Lenovo Chromebook C330?
You can install android apps on the Lenovo Chromebook C330 through the Play Store.
Does the Lenovo Chromebook C330 have a backlit keyboard?
Unfortunately, the Lenovo Chromebook C330's keyboard is not backlit.
Conclusion
With laptops, it's always important to make sure you are getting good quality and value for your money. The Lenovo Chromebook C330 is definitely good value for money, performing well or better compared to many similar models, although of course not quite matching up to the top-of-the-range Chromebooks.
It’s not the best laptop out there, but it will certainly get the job done. Its accessible price is great for anyone on a budget, and you can be assured of a reliable, functioning laptop with an admirable battery life.
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Holly Curell is a US-based freelance writer & editor extraordinaire. With over a decade of writing technical manuals, blog articles, & even company communications, Holly has a passion for providing value to readers on everything she knows about tech-related topics. When she’s not writing, Holly enjoys reading, hiking, wine, & wandering the aisles of Trader Joe’s. Holly is currently based out of North Carolina, where she lives with her husband Ken & their three children.