Lenovo recently sent out its Flex 3 Chromebook, also marketed as the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, for review. The average rating for this product is 3.9/5, compared to an average rating of 4.0/5 for other products in the same category for all reviews. (Image credit: Future) Likewise, there's Linux support if you want it. Combine that with the low resolution, and you've got a recipe for eye strain. Thanks to excellent battery life, a decent keyboard, and an attractive styling, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook offers impressive value for money, as long as you don’t need a high-resolution screen or powerful computing components. However, few are as modest as Lenovo's $250 Ideapad 3 14-inch Chromebook. Given its cost, size, and build, this makes an excellent option for consumers who are looking to outfit a student or two with something for the school year. For a closer look at the IdeaPad 3’s performance, I ran a few browser-based and standalone benchmarks, including WebXPRT, CrXPRT, JetStream. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. The IdeaPad 3 comes with a non-backlit keyboard in the standard Chrome OS layout. From the outside, the Platinum Gray IdeaPad 3 isn’t gorgeous, but it does appear sleek and modern. The 768p LCD with TN technology is not pleasant to look at. Not so with the attractive, solidly built Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook ($249.99). The lower chin, in particular, is enormous. The included USB-C charger juices the Ideapad 3 at 45W, the same as some high-end laptops. The IdeaPad 3 is relatively light for a 14-inch laptop, though it’s a bit on the bulky side. The IPS technology in most modern LCDs has better viewing angles, brightness, contrast, and color accuracy compared to TN. This bargain laptop achieves its low price by compromising in a few sensible areas, such as screen resolution and memory quantity. The speakers are on two upward-angled fascets on the underside, and the audio quality is predictably poor. The Lenovo Chromebook 3 14 inch comes with two USB-C 3.2 (Gen 1) and USB-A (Gen 1) ports, plus an audio jack. The build is a bit on the thick side with a matte plastic chassis that tapers slightly toward the front. TN panels are cheap to source, and Lenovo appears to have reinvested the savings in other parts of the IdeaPad 3. Should customers be notified when an app or extension is under new ownership? The big 720p camera is a throwback to a few years ago, before the first millimeter webcams and ultra-thin screen borders started showing up on laptops at diverse price points. This offers adequate speed and reliability today, but the next-generation 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standard provides better future-proofing. As a hardware analyst, Tom tests and reviews laptops, peripherals, and much more at PC Labs in New York City. In normal times, they’re typically used for taking notes in crowded, power-outlet-deficient classrooms, or being shuttled from meeting to meeting. In fact, the Control and Alt keys seem a little oversized on the bottom row. Chromebooks are everywhere nowadays, and we … I prefer this design, but the trackpad itself could stand to be a little larger. I wouldn't expect a top-tier display for $250 either, but the IdeaPad 3's display is disappointing regardless. Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook proves that as long as you're willing to overlook a small, dim display, you can have an otherwise excellent 2-in-1 convertible Chromebook for less than $350. The keyboard is not backlit, which may be a deal-breaker for people who need to type in low-light conditions.