Lenovo Chromebook Duet 10.9" Gen 9 2024, MediaTek Kompanio 838, 8GB, 128GB eMMC, Luna Grey

The most portable device in our database at 0.51kg, but that's where the wins end. The CPU sits in the 14th percentile and the GPU in the 6th, making this a browsing-only machine. At CAD 690, you're paying a premium for portability and not much else.

Let's be real about what this chip can do. The MediaTek Kompanio 838 runs at 2.6GHz across 8 cores, but it sits in the 14th percentile for CPU performance. That's not a typo. For everyday ChromeOS tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video streaming, it'll get the job done without too much stuttering. But push it with multiple tabs, Android apps, or anything resembling heavy lifting, and you'll feel the ceiling fast.

The ARM Mali-G57 MC3 GPU is even rougher, landing in the 6th percentile. Gaming scored a 1.4 out of 100, which is one of the worst we've seen. Don't expect to run anything beyond casual 2D titles or basic Android games. The 8GB of RAM helps keep things smooth for basic multitasking, but it's still only in the 20th percentile. This is a machine for light, portable work, not a performance tool.

Stacked against the competition, the Duet Gen 9 is playing a completely different game. The Apple MacBook Pro M5 and ASUS ProArt PX13 are performance machines that cost significantly more but deliver in every category. The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro both offer better displays, faster processors, and more storage while still being reasonably portable. What none of them can match is the Duet's 0.51kg weight and 100th percentile compactness. But that's the only category where this thing wins. In CPU, GPU, storage, RAM, and port selection, it's at or near the bottom of our database. If you need a real laptop, look at the OmniBook or Galaxy Book5 Pro. If you need a featherweight companion device for light browsing, the Duet is the only one in this group that fits that bill.

At CAD 690 from the single Canadian listing we found, this is a tough sell. The affordability score lands in the 65th percentile, which sounds okay until you realize what you're getting. For that money, you're buying portability above all else. The 128GB eMMC storage is in the 5th percentile, the CPU is in the 14th, and the GPU is in the 6th. You can find Chromebooks with better internals for less money, but none of them will be this light. If portability is your absolute top priority and you're willing to sacrifice everything else for it, the price is defensible. Otherwise, it's hard to justify.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 is the most compact device in our entire database, sitting at the 100th percentile for portability. At 0.51kg with a 10.9-inch detachable design, it's basically a tablet that thinks it's a laptop. But that portability comes with some serious compromises, and the numbers tell a pretty clear story here.

Inside you get a MediaTek Kompanio 838 octa-core chip, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage. The 1920x1200 IPS display hits 400 nits, which is solid for the price. But the CPU lands in the 14th percentile and the GPU is down at the 6th percentile. This thing is built for browsing and light work, not much else.

Skip this if you need any real computing power. The 14th percentile CPU and 6th percentile GPU mean this thing will choke on anything beyond basic browsing and document editing. If you plan to run Linux apps, do photo editing, or keep more than a handful of tabs open, look elsewhere. The 128GB eMMC storage in the 5th percentile is also a dealbreaker if you want to install many Android apps or keep files locally. And with only 2 USB-C ports in the 25th percentile, you'll need dongles for everything. This is a secondary device for light use, not a primary machine.

The Lenovo Chromebook Duet Gen 9 is a one-trick pony, but it's a really good trick. The 100th percentile compactness and 0.51kg weight make it the most portable device we've tested, and the 400-nit display is genuinely nice for the price. But the 14th percentile CPU, 6th percentile GPU, and 5th percentile storage mean you're making massive sacrifices for that portability. The 3.9 out of 5 rating from just 3 reviews doesn't give us much confidence either. If you need a lightweight secondary device for browsing, email, and media consumption, this works. If you need anything more, spend your CAD 690 elsewhere.