Lenovo 100S Chromebook

Updated on February 5, 2026

Note: This product has been discontinued and is no longer available for purchase new. Chrome OS support ended in September 2020. The information below is kept for historical reference.

The Lenovo 100S Chromebook arrived in late 2015 as one of the most affordable Chromebooks on the market, targeting students and budget-conscious buyers who needed a simple, reliable machine for web browsing and basic productivity. Powered by the Intel Celeron N2840 dual-core processor with just 2GB of RAM and 16GB of eMMC storage, this 11.6-inch notebook prioritized portability and battery life over raw computing power. At launch prices between $179.99 and $229.99 depending on configuration, the 100S represented Lenovo’s entry into the sub-$200 Chromebook market. With its Auto Update Expiration date of September 2020 long past, the Lenovo 100S Chromebook now serves as a historical example of early budget Chromebook design, showcasing how Chrome OS enabled capable, affordable laptops even on modest hardware.

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Lenovo 100S Chromebook Comparison Chart

	Lenovo 100S Chromebook
Price	List Price: $179.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Model number	80QN0009US
Performance Rating	1.9
Chromebook Plus	No
Processor	Dual-core 2.16 Ghz (max 2.58 Ghz) Intel Celeron N2840
RAM	2 GB
Internal Storage	16 GB eMMC
Screen Size	11.6"
Screen Resolution	1366x768
Screen Type	TN
Touch Screen	No
Stylus / Pen	No Stylus Support
Dimensions width x length x thickness	8.23 x 11.81 x 0.78 inches (209.04 x 299.97 x 19.81 mm)
Weight	2.6 lbs (1.18 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No
Webcam	1MP HD
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0
Ethernet	No
Cellular Modem	No
HDMI	Full-Size HDMI
USB Ports	1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3
Thunderbolt Ports	No
Card Reader	SD
Battery	Lithium-ion
Battery Life	8.0 hours
Fanless	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	September, 2020

A Look Back at the Lenovo 100S Chromebook

The Lenovo 100S Chromebook took a no-frills approach to Chromebook design, prioritizing the essentials over premium materials or features. The plastic chassis may not have impressed aesthetically, but Techaeris reviewer Jack Holt noted that “it felt pretty solid with a nice grip to the plastic chassis,” highlighting the reinforced hinges and corners that helped the device survive daily use. At just 2.52 pounds and measuring 11.81 x 8.23 x 0.78 inches, the 100S was genuinely portable for its time, easily slipping into backpacks and bags without adding significant weight.

The 11.6-inch display delivered serviceable image quality with its 1366x768 TN panel. Techaeris noted that “colors were vibrant and had enough of a punch” and “the only time I noticed the pixels were when I viewed the screen up close.” However, PocketNow reviewer Joe Levi found that “display brightness was mediocre with washed-out colors” and mentioned limited viewing angles, making this display suitable primarily for head-on viewing in typical indoor environments. For the sub-$200 price point, the display was considered acceptable, though it couldn’t compete with more expensive Chromebooks featuring IPS panels.

Connectivity options were reasonable for a budget Chromebook of its era. The 100S included a USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 port, full-size HDMI output, SD card reader, and a headphone/microphone combo jack. The dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 provided reliable wireless connectivity for its time, though users who needed a wired connection required a USB Ethernet adapter. The full-size HDMI port was a practical inclusion that allowed easy connection to external monitors and projectors for presentations, a feature that many competing budget Chromebooks lacked.

What Reviewers Said About the Lenovo 100S

Lon.TV’s Perspective

Lon Seidman on Lon.TV provided an in-depth hands-on review of the Lenovo 100S Chromebook, examining the device’s real-world performance and limitations. He tested various use cases including web browsing, document editing, and media playback, demonstrating how the Celeron N2840 processor handled typical Chromebook workloads. His review highlighted the trade-offs inherent in budget Chromebook design, noting that while the 100S performed adequately for basic tasks, users expecting more demanding performance would need to look elsewhere.

Techaeris’ Assessment

Techaeris reviewer Jack Holt offered a thoroughly positive assessment after extended testing. He found the keyboard particularly impressive, noting that “the keyboard has great travel and was a joy to type on” despite the compact 11.6-inch form factor. Battery life testing exceeded expectations, with Holt reporting “I achieved a little over eight hours of continued use.” He concluded that “at $199.99 or $229.99 with 4GB RAM, it’s a pretty good deal for those committed to Chrome OS,” positioning the 100S as a solid value for users with appropriate expectations.

The main caveat Techaeris emphasized was the base model’s 2GB RAM limitation. The reviewer strongly recommended the 4GB RAM configuration for anyone planning to multitask or keep more than a handful of tabs open simultaneously, as the 2GB model showed noticeable slowdowns with 10+ browser tabs active.

PocketNow’s Experience

PocketNow’s Joe Levi approached the review from a practical perspective, emphasizing Chrome OS’s browser-based nature and the implications for offline use. He achieved remarkable battery life results, reporting 11+ hours during testing, which significantly exceeded official estimates and made the 100S genuinely capable of lasting through multiple days of light use between charges. The keyboard received praise for its 2mm travel and tactile feedback.

However, Levi identified the touchpad as the 100S’s most significant weakness: “Poor touchpad with inconsistent click registration” made cursor control frustrating at times. He recommended understanding Chrome OS’s reliance on internet connectivity before purchasing, noting that “unlike traditional laptops…software isn’t something that’s necessarily ‘installed’ in Chrome OS. Most applications are web-based or packaged apps using HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS.”

Historical Perspective

The Lenovo 100S Chromebook delivered exactly what ultra-budget Chromebook buyers needed in 2015: reliable battery life, genuinely portable design, and capable performance for basic web tasks at an unprecedented price point. The Intel Celeron N2840 processor handled Chrome OS efficiently, and the fanless design meant completely silent operation whether in a classroom, library, or home office. For students who needed a device for research papers, note-taking, and web browsing without breaking the bank, the 100S served its purpose admirably.

Chrome OS made the 100S’s modest hardware feel more capable than comparable Windows laptops of the era. The lightweight operating system ran smoothly on 2GB RAM for basic browsing, and the eMMC storage provided quick boot times and responsive Chrome OS operation. Users who understood the cloud-centric nature of Chrome OS and kept their files in Google Drive found the 16GB storage adequate, while those who needed local storage for media or Android apps sometimes felt constrained.

The 100S represented an important moment in Chromebook evolution, demonstrating that Chrome OS could deliver a genuinely useful computing experience at rock-bottom prices. While the September 2020 Auto Update Expiration date means the device no longer receives Chrome OS updates or security patches, it served countless students and budget-conscious users well during its supported lifetime. For anyone curious about budget Chromebooks from this era, the Lenovo 100S remains a notable example of Chrome OS’s ability to enable capable, affordable computing.

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