But that’s not all. Lenovo also plans to introduce the Lenovo N23 Chromebook next month followed by the Lenovo N23 Yoga Chromebook in April, and then the Lenovo N24 laptop later this year. However, as shown in the table below, Lenovo’s new Chromebooks targeting the educational sector will still be a cheaper option than the Windows 10 units on the pricing front. Whether or not that rumored Windows 10 licensing fee reduction applied to these laptops is unknown for now.
| Windows 10 | Chrome OS | |
| ThinkPad 11e: | February Starting @ $519 ($419 for Shape the Future) |
May Starting @ $369 |
| ThinkPad 11e Yoga: | February Starting @ $599 ($499 for Shape the Future) |
May Starting @ $449 |
| Lenovo N24: | Mid 2017 Pricing unknown |
N/A |
| Lenovo N23: | N/A | February Starting @ $199 |
| Lenovo N23 Yoga: | N/A | April Starting @ $279 |
Despite the announcement, Lenovo didn’t provide any hardware details regarding the upcoming laptops, nor have the units appeared on the company’s website. All we currently have to go on is a general list of features for each until the products show up online.
For starters, the following table shows the ThinkPad 11e laptops with Windows and Chrome OS that Lenovo plans to replace next month. There’s really no difference between the “vanilla” clamshell models and the convertible “Yoga” units save for the obvious screen flexibility with the Yoga models, and the added Windows 7 Pro option for the clamshell models.
| ThinkPad 11e Windows |
ThinkPad 11e Chrome OS |
|
| Form factor: | Clamshell Convertible (Yoga only) |
Clamshell Convertible (Yoga only) |
| Operating system: | Windows 10 Home Windows 10 Pro Windows 7 Pro |
Chrome OS |
| Screen size: | 11.6 inches | 11.6 inches |
| Resolution: | 1,366 x 768 | 1,366 x 768 |
| Processor: | Intel Core i3-6100U Intel Celeron N3150 Intel Pentium 4405U |
Intel Celeron N3150 |
| Graphics: | Up to Intel HD 520 | Integrated Intel graphics |
| Memory: | Up to 8GB DDR3L @ 1,600MHz |
Up to 4GB DDR3L @ 1,600MHz |
| Storage: | 128GB SSD 192GB SSD 256GB SSD |
16GB eMMC |
| Connectivity: | Wireless N Bluetooth 4.0 |
Wireless N Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Battery: | 42 Watt hour | 42 Watt hour |
| Webcam: | 720p | 720p |
| Ports: | 1x HDMI 1.4 2x USB 3.0 1x SD card reader 1x Ethernet port |
1x HDMI 1.4 2x USB 3.0 1x SD card reader |
| Size: | 11.81 x 8.27 x 0.88 inches | 11.81 x 8.27 x 0.88 inches |
| Weight: | Starting at 3.3 pounds | Starting at 3.3 pounds |
As for what the new ThinkPad 11e and ThinkPad Yoga 11e models will provide, here is what Lenovo offers in the details department:
- The latest Intel processors.
- Brighter screens.
- Gorilla glass protection.
- A water-resistant keyboard.
- New and improved mechanically anchored keys.
- Up to 10 hours of battery life.
- Yoga 11e comes with a pen supporting Windows Ink.
Next, we have the upcoming N23 Chromebooks that will be served up in traditional clamshell and convertible “Yoga” flavors. Lenovo said the N23 Yoga Chromebook will be the company’s very first Chromebook with an ARM-based processor. That means the device will be optimized for Android apps sold in the Google Play Store even though all Chromebooks launching in 2017 and thereafter will work just fine with Android apps.
“Simple to set-up and manage, both N23 Chromebooks offer students a personalized user experience simply by signing in with their Google Chrome ID while teachers and IT administrators have peace of mind and ultimate flexibility with a web-based management console,” Lenovo said.
Here are the N23 Chromebook highlights:
- Traditional clamshell and Yoga flavors.
- Reinforced ports and hinges.
- Mechanically anchored keys.
- Water-resistant keyboard.
- 10 hours of battery life.
Finally, we have the Lenovo N24 convertible notebook based on Windows 10. Given it won’t be made available until sometime around this summer, the company revealed very little about its details. However, what we know is that it will sport an 11.6-inch IPS screen that can rotate a full 360 degrees. This screen will support 10-point touch input and Lenovo’s Active Pen when the Lenovo N24 arrives later this year.
