Gone are the times when your Chromebook was restricted in its performance. Due to the varied enhancements that Google has been making to the exterior show help, similar to supporting quicker refresh charges, you may flip your 11-inch Chromebook Duet 3 into a correct workstation.
How to make use of Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 with a monitor?
Whereas the unique Chromebook Duet continues to be touted as the most effective low-cost Chromebooks, the lone USB-C port is usually a supply of frustration. Fortunately, this was rectified with the Chromebook Duet 3, the place you will now discover a USB-C port on both aspect of the system. So you may plug in the most effective USB-C hubs or docking stations on one aspect whereas plugging in your charger on the opposite.
One thing to bear in mind in regards to the Duet 3 is that it makes use of USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports whereas supporting as much as two exterior displays at resolutions as much as 3840×2160 (4K UHD). Chances are high you will not be utilizing 5K displays with the Duet 3, however you will not have the ability to join greater than two 4K displays concurrently.
With that in thoughts, all you will have to stand up and operating is a suitable USB-C to HDMI cable and plug it proper into one of many Chromebook Duet 3’s ports. When you’re utilizing a docking station or USB-C hub, you will seemingly have the ability to use a conventional HDMI cable as a substitute. however it’ll all rely on what ports are at your disposal from the hub or docking station.
Modify the show settings
ChromeOS is fairly nice at recognizing the “default” settings everytime you join a Chromebook to a monitor. However as we touched on beforehand, you’ve gotten the choice to undergo and customise the totally different show settings.
1. Open the Settings app in your Duet 3.
2. Click on Machine within the sidebar.
3. Faucet Shows.
Right here, you are introduced with a number of extra choices in comparison with if you’re utilizing the Duet 3 with out an exterior monitor.
The Association part means that you can guarantee your Duet 3 is positioned appropriately in comparison with the exterior monitor. Setting the Duet 3 as a “secondary” monitor helps you drag apps to a different display screen with none confusion.
Transferring additional under, you will see two tabs: one to your built-in show and one other for the exterior monitor. When deciding on an exterior monitor, listed here are the totally different show settings you may change:
- Display: Prolonged show or Major show
- Show measurement: Make gadgets in your display screen smaller or bigger
- Decision: Determines sharpness of textual content and pictures
- Refresh Price: Determines the frequency that the display screen updates
- Overscan: Modify the boundaries of your desktop inside the show
- Evening Mild: Make it simpler to take a look at your display screen or learn in dim gentle
The choices for every of those sections are dependent upon the monitor that you’ve plugged into the Duet 3. For instance, you will not see a 4K decision choice out there in case your monitor is proscribed to 1080p. One setting you would possibly wish to change is the refresh price, relying on whether or not your monitor helps quicker refresh charges.
By default, ChromeOS and your Duet 3 use a 60Hz refresh price, but when your monitor helps it, a quicker refresh price leads to a smoother person expertise total.
It is price noting that altering the decision or refresh price will put extra strain in your Duet 3’s processor. And whereas the Duet 3 can be used with an exterior monitor, you would possibly run into random crashes relying in your actions. So if this occurs to you, simply shut your apps or home windows and dial down the settings a bit.
Mirror or prolong show
What if you wish to use your Chromebook Duet 3 in a “docked” mode with the display screen turned off? Nicely, you are able to do that too, however you will have to ensure that ChromeOS is about to reflect the Duet 3’s display screen on the exterior monitor.
1. Open the Settings app in your Chromebook.
2. Click on Machine within the sidebar.
3. Faucet Shows.
4. Underneath the Association part, faucet the checkbox subsequent to Mirror Constructed-in show.
When the checkbox is ticked, no matter you see in your Duet 3’s display screen will seem on the linked monitor. And if you wish to return to a dual-monitor setup, you may simply should observe the steps above once more and untick the checkbox.
Pairing your Duet 3 with a monitor is game-changing
As a part of our Chromebook Duet 3 evaluation, we have been capable of plug it right into a 27-inch QHD monitor, and located a way more pleasurable productiveness expertise. Whereas the 11-inch 2K show is superb, it does not take lengthy earlier than you begin feeling too cramped in the event you’re attempting to multitask or wish to use a number of home windows and apps concurrently. Whereas the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 won’t be probably the most highly effective chip available on the market, it is positively able to dealing with exterior displays with out skipping a beat.
King of the sofa
The Chromebook Duet 3 may be a bit bigger than its predecessor, nevertheless it nonetheless makes for an pleasurable expertise whether or not you wish to get work executed, or sit again and chill out on the sofa.
Starter 4K
There are many displays on the market to select from, however in the event you’re searching for an excellent starter monitor to pair along with your Chromebook, the LG 24UD58-B does not disappoint. It gives a 4K UHD decision, is suitable with VESA mounts, and has built-in software program for window administration.
Hyper HyperDrive USB-C Hub 5-in-1
Throw it in your bag
The USB-C Hub from HyperDrive is a implausible companion for the Chromebook Duet 3. It options two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, Ethernet, and one other USB-C port. It is also one of many few hubs to be licensed by Google’s “Works with Chromebook” program.
Baseus 16-in-1 USB-C Dock
Desktop docking station
USB-C Hubs can turn out to be useful, however if you would like a extra everlasting resolution, the Baseus USB-C dock is the way in which to go. It incorporates a complete of 16 ports with a number of HDMI and DisplayPort choices, together with sporting built-in microSD and SD card readers.