[Review] Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US: You Get What You Pay For

Are you looking for a student-oriented low-cost laptop? If so, Lenovo's 14e Chromebook is a fast, secure, and reliable notebook that's perfect for students, teachers, writers, and users needing an easy-to-carry laptop with enough horse power to handle your run-of-the-mill basic everyday tasks.

Having said that, in this review of the Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US it's time for you to get to know in-depth everything there is to know about this highly-appraised 14-inch laptop that you can't go wrong with since it boasts a very affordable price tag despite offering some fairly interesting features.

Amongst its most outstanding features, the 81MH0006US comes with a sharp and colorful Full HD display, as well as a low-consumption AMD processor, long-lasting battery life, and, of course, the Chrome OS operating system.

Unlike the 2-in-1 convertible Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook 82QS0000US we've already reviewed, the Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US presents itself in the typical laptop form factor with a built-to-last matte-black chassis tested to withstand drops and bumps thanks to its it's MIL-SPEC certification.

Also, it's worth pointing out just how portable this computer is. Specifically, it features just 0.69 inches in thickness while weighing an incredibly light 3.27 pounds. Meaning you'll be able to carry it everywhere you go withe ease. And to enhance your productivity, it has a quiet fanless design coupled with two hinges that allow you to fold the screen up to 180°.

The jury is still out on just how useful that is in your everyday life but hey, it can't hurt.

As for the display, we've got a narrow-bezel anti-glare 14-inch Full HD TN screen offering excellent  picture quality with wide-angle viewing and decent brightness (up to 220 nits).

It should be pointed out over here that the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook 82QS0000US boasts a 400 nits display, meaning its roughly 75% brighter and therefore a better option for those planning to use their Chromebook outdoors. Just saying.

As for the keyboard, although it isn't backlit, the fact that it's water-resistant is something worth pointing out, especially if you're buying this Chromebook for a child.  

Overall, it is comfortable enough to type on for hours while providing a good feeling when navigating through the Chrome OS interface thanks to the built-in multi-gesture touchpad.

The Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US is powered by a low-consumption AMD A4-9120C processor with two cores, two threads, and 1 MB of cache memory, coupled with a non-upgradeable 4 GB of DDR4 RAM.

As for its graphic performance, the integrated GPU (Radeon R4 Graphics) is limited to basic multimedia tasks including streaming, and non-demanding gaming - basically limited to games that can be played on a smartphone -.

And like the already reviewed HP 11a-na0021nr, this model features a 32 GB eMMC flash storage that you can expand by using a Micro SD card or even an external SSD drive.

Ultimately, this is a laptop meant for very light daily use such as taking notes, writing essays, browsing the web, and watching videos; but if you need to do more demanding tasks such as video or photo editing, gaming, or running multiple apps at the same time, you will need to look for something else.

However, do keep in mind that this isn't a Windows laptop but rather a Chromebook. Meaning that, while this set of specs would be the definition of a paperweight on a Windows laptop that's not necessarily the case for a Chromebook.

ChromeOS is a very lightweight operating system that's been designed to run smoothly even on low-end hardware, and that's exactly what we see here, and many users can attest to this laptop's performance.

What are customers saying about the Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US? Based on customer reviews, the general sentiment is positive, with customers highlighting the laptop's affordability, portability, and suitability for basic tasks. Many users appreciate its lightweight design, quick startup time, and solid build quality.

Customers mention that the Chromebook is well-suited for light use, such as web browsing, emailing, and using Google Docs or Sheets. The laptop's performance is generally considered satisfactory for these tasks, but some users note that it can become slow when opening multiple tabs or playing high-quality YouTube videos.

The screen quality is praised, with users finding it bright and vibrant. The availability of USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity is mentioned as a positive feature, as is the excellent battery life, which allows for several hours of streaming or web browsing. Some customers mention minor issues, such as trackpad sensitivity or charger cord problems, but overall, the feedback is positive.

While the laptop may not meet the standards of users accustomed to more powerful machines or those in need of extensive multitasking capabilities, it is often described as a solid purchase for its price range. Customers appreciate its value, compact size, and functionality as a basic, portable device for everyday tasks.

Read All The Customer Reviews!

Connectivity-wise, the Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US has USB-A 3.1 and USB-C 3.2 ports on its right side as well as a Micro SD card reader, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a USB-3.1 input, and another USB-C 3.2 port on the left side. There's also an HD webcam for video calls and such.

Moreover, we've got Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 5 standards, so you'll be able to connect your wireless peripherals and web browse through 5 GHz networks which have higher transfer speeds and are less vulnerable to interferences.

This is a pretty decent connectivity suite and one we're not all that used to seeing on Chromebooks which generally opt for a more minimalistic approach when it comes to the use of ports. We particularly like the fact that it comes with a MicroSD card reader since it allows us to use it as a permanent external storage unit by inserting a MicroSD card. 

Moving onto the battery life of the Lenovo 14e Chromebook 81MH0006US, it's powered by a 57 Wh battery which offers over 9 hours of continuous movie streaming as many users can confirm. 

Verdict: Should you buy it?