Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 review: Refresh keeps same great features, but stick with AMD for best performance
Source: Windows Cardinal
Lenovo's IdeaPad Flex is a mid-range convertible PC that accommodates those who demand solid blueprint, battery life, and performance without overspending. Its convertible nature and inking capabilities provide it with enough of flexibility, and the 14-inch display is a nice finish between 13 and fifteen inches for anyone who needs a chip more screen space without sacrificing portability.
I reviewed final year'south IdeaPad Flex 5 14 with AMD hardware and came abroad impressed cheers to strong performance from AMD Ryzen chip, all-day battery life, and practiced typing. I now have here the Flex 5i model with Intel hardware, refreshed for 2022. I've been using it for the past week to run into what it'due south all virtually and whether or not it'due south worth your money.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14
Bottom line: Intel performance in the Flex 5i xiv isn't peculiarly exciting and the display is still underwhelming. But the characteristic fix — including speakers, ports, keyboard, camera shutter, fingerprint reader, and battery life — is well appreciated at this price. Check out AMD Ryzen models if yous need top functioning for less money.
Pros
- First-class top-firing speakers
- Comfy keyboard, sizable touchpad
- Fingerprint reader and privacy shutter
- ix+ hours bombardment life
- Sharp design
Cons
- Functioning is OK
- Below-average display
- Touchpad however has a slight rattle
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i fourteen: Price, availability, and specs
Lenovo supplied Windows Primal with a review unit of the IdeaPad Flex 5i 14. Information technology has inside an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor (CPU), 16GB of DDR4 RAM that is soldered to the board, 512GB M.2 storage, and a 14-inch FHD affect display. A model with these same specs though with a drop down to 8GB of RAM costs about $900 at Lenovo.
A model with 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD is besides available from Amazon for well-nigh $505. Best Buy besides has a Cadre i3 version with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for about $680.
Following are the exact specs constitute in my review unit of measurement.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| Os | Windows 10 Dwelling house |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Cadre i5-1135G7 |
| RAM | 16GB DDR4-3200 Soldered |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Integrated |
| Storage | 512GB K.2 PCIe three.0 SSD Upgradeable |
| Display | 14 inches 1920x1080 (FHD) 16:9 aspect ratio Bear upon, IPS 250 nits |
| Active pen | Lenovo Digital Pen (Optional) |
| Ports | Two USB-A 3.two (Gen 1) USB-C 3.2 (Gen 1) HDMI i.4b SD bill of fare reader 3.5mm audio |
| Audio | Dual 2W speakers Pinnacle-firing |
| Connectivity | Intel AX201 Wi-Fi six Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Camera | Front-facing 720p |
| Security | Fingerprint reader Camera shutter |
| Bombardment | 52.5Wh Fast Charge |
| Dimensions | 12.65 x viii.56 x 0.lxx-0.fourscore inches (321.5mm x 217.5mm 10 17.nine-20.4mm) |
| Weight | 3.iii pounds (one.5kg) |
| Color | Graphite Grey |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i fourteen: What I like
Source: Windows Primal
The Flex 5i 14's speakers are way above average for a laptop in this price range.
This yr's Flex 5i fourteen is about physically identical to the model I reviewed a year agone. The height cover, instead of plastic, is now aluminum. It provides ameliorate rigidity for the brandish, important when you're oft twisting information technology around for tent, stand, and tablet modes. The bottom portion of the chassis is still a polycarbonate with glass fiber woven in. There's a bit of flex due to the plastic, but overall the laptop feels rigid. Weighing in at about iii.3 pounds (1.5kg) information technology is certainly portable. The soft terminate has a bit of texture with a nice experience, and y'all can get it in three different colors: Abyss Blue, Graphite Grey, or Platinum Grey. I have the Graphite model for review.
Ports remain the same as final yr, with a single USB-C, two USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm audio, and an SD card reader. It's plenty for easy concrete connectivity, and I dearest the removable storage option for swapping photos and files. Wi-Fi 6 is included for faster, more reliable internet, and it's paired up with Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless accessories. The forepart-facing 720p photographic camera is good enough for video conferencing, and there's a physical camera shutter for additional privacy. A fingerprint reader built into the correct-mitt palm rest works flawlessly.
A convertible PC is oftentimes used for media — the stand or tent modes go far quite easy — so the speakers need to exist able to continue up. At that place is a single 2W speaker on either side of the keyboard for unmuffled sound when the PC is on your lap. It's going to confront abroad from you if yous're using the Flex 5i every bit a tablet, but the sound is good enough that it shouldn't affair. The speakers get loud, they remain clear, and in that location's no buzzing. I listened to music and watched Telly without issue.
The keyboard itself is as good as ever at this cost. Key travel isn't as deep as you'll discover on a ThinkPad, only typing is notwithstanding comfortable during long stints. Large keycaps, clear font, and a backlight all contribute. One thing to note is the doubling up of navigation keys with arrow keys; if y'all desire to use Home, Pg, or End yous will have to hit the Fn key shortcut. The Precision touchpad makes adept utilize of the available space below the keys. It has plenty of infinite for gestures and clicks are satisfying. Some of the wobble I noticed in last twelvemonth'due south model is still here, simply it's a common condition across laptops in this cost range.
Source: Windows Central
Functioning in last yr'south Ryzen configuration is what really impressed me, and so I was eager to see how the Intel model compares. The Core i5-1135G7 is unfortunately a bit underpowered on the multi-cadre front, equally you can run across in benchmarks below. The single-core score is still solid.
I had no issue using the laptop for word processing, heavy spider web browsing, streaming, and Photoshop, merely if you want to squeeze the almost power out of your PC, I would stick with AMD. Lenovo has upgraded to the awesome AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile CPUs if y'all go that road.
One affair Intel configs have is an optional NVIDIA MX450 discrete GPU. It's not currently listed on Lenovo's website for the U.S., simply yous might be able to runway 1 down depending on region. This would give a overnice boost to operation, particularly if you're leaning more toward a chip of specialized piece of work.
Battery life is excellent. With Windows 10's ability plan set up to "Better Performance" and the screen set to well-nigh 75% effulgence, the Flex 5i 14 lasted just more than nine hours in PCMark 10'due south Modern Office bombardment rundown. If you need an affordable laptop with performance to hands handle productivity work and a battery that can concluding through a workday, the Flex 5i xiv is yet a worthwhile option despite some of its shortcomings.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14: What I don't similar
Source: Windows Central
The Flex 5i xiv's operation is a bit underwhelming, at least compared to other laptops we've tested. Still, it's perfectly workable and I saw no major hiccups while using it for all piece of work tasks.
My biggest complaint about the laptop remains the display. Information technology still suffers from poor color reproduction and not a whole lot of effulgence. I tested with a SpyderX Pro colorimeter and got dorsum but 66% sRGB, 49% AdobeRGB, and 49% DCI-P3 colour reproduction. These are unimpressive results, and y'all will notice if yous're doing any sort of color-sensitive work (like editing). Contrast is good so the display doesn't announced done out, and if y'all're merely using the laptop for general productivity it will become the job done. Brightness hit about 280 nits at max; with the glossy finish y'all will accept problems with glare if y'all're working outdoors.
Source: Windows Central
I'm hoping Lenovo gives the IdeaPad Flex line the aspect ratio handling in a most-futurity generation. The bump upwards to xvi:x would make a huge deviation, even if colour and brightness were nonetheless defective.
The Flex 5i 14 has an optional agile pen for inking. Information technology has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection is good. It will be great for jotting down notes of sketching graphs, but don't expect it to handle any sort of major artwork. The pen comes with a prune to attach it to the USB-A port. It'southward inelegant but it's better than nothing.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14: Contest
Source: Windows Central
The Flex 5i 14 has some standout design choices that I love. The elevation-firing speakers, the camera shutter, fingerprint reader, and keyboard are all excellent. If you lot also like the feature set just need as much performance as possible, the Flex 5 xiv with AMD Ryzen 5000 Mobile CPUs will no doubt be a improve bet. Models start at near $495.
If you're looking for a more premium 14-inch convertible, the HP Spectre x360 14 is an incredible PC that does nearly everything right. Bear on display with iii:2 aspect ratio, splendid speakers, stiff performance and bombardment life, and much more are available. Models start at about $ane,170.
For something just a bit smaller that holds onto the convertible form factor, check out the HP Green-eyed x360 13. AMD Ryzen 4000 Mobile models start at near $750. Information technology has a better brandish, good keyboard and touchpad, and an active pen for inking is included.
Exist sure to have a wait at our collection of the best Windows laptops for many more than options.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i fourteen: Should you lot buy it?
Source: Windows Central
You should purchase this if ...
- You lot demand a 14-inch convertible laptop
- Yous want to spend between $500 and $700
- Yous want first-class audio from superlative-firing speakers
- You demand to stick with Intel
Y'all shouldn't purchase this if ...
- Yous need the best functioning possible
- You can't stand a display without good colour reproduction
- You lot accept around $ane,000 to spend on a laptop
This year's soft refresh for the IdeaPad Flex 5i xiv brings 11th Gen Intel Cadre CPUs, new case textile, and not a whole lot else. That means that most of the issues I had with last year'southward model are still present. The display, while completely usable for anything but specialized piece of work, doesn't have corking color reproduction, and the sleeky finish combined with maximum 280 nits will cause some glare issues nether the correct conditions. Nonetheless, an active pen is included, and it offers a solid inking experience.
Operation, which was excellent with terminal yr's Ryzen model, is a chip lacking with 11th Gen Intel chips. Thankfully, y'all can even so become AMD models with the latest Ryzen 5000 CPUs if yous're not tied to Squad Blue. That'south a good thing, because I exercise like many of the features on offer. The top-firing audio is excellent, there'south decent port choice, the camera shutter provides privacy, and the fingerprint reader adds security. I had no bug with the keyboard, and though the touchpad is a bit loose it tracks well and has a smooth stop.
Overall, the IdeaPad Flex 5i xiv is however a well-rounded entry in the mid range. Battery life lasts more nine hours, and information technology's perfectly capable of handling productivity piece of work. My recommendation is still to check out the AMD models for a better overall value.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14
The IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 for 2022 withal suffers from the same drawbacks as concluding year'southward model, including underwhelming display, but it has a strong feature set and a value toll. Cheque out AMD Ryzen models if yous want top operation.
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