The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i boasts distinctive features that cater to the needs of students, hybrid workers, and content creators, all at an appealing price point.
In the realm of Black Friday deals, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i stands out among the new Chromebook Plus models, priced just below $500. Its flexible hinge design and visually striking display make it particularly well-suited for digital content creators. However, it’s important to note that this mid-range system may not deliver the most immersive sound and optimal ventilation.
Introduced in early October, Google’s Chromebook Plus line presented a new generation of laptops with enhanced hardware and displays. Among these, the IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus from Lenovo stands out, offering unique advantages for photographers and content creators. Its 14-inch touchscreen display, capable of a 180-degree flip, provides a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200 pixels, making it one of the superior displays in this Chromebook Plus series. Notably, the inclusion of Google’s Magic Eraser editing tool enhances the device’s appeal for quick and effective on-the-fly image editing.
The Magic Eraser intelligently removes objects from images and seamlessly replaces them with the surrounding environment, a feature I found particularly useful during my testing of the IdeaPad Flex 5i. The 14-inch touchscreen further facilitates this editing process, distinguishing it from smaller devices like Google Pixel phones. Additionally, the presence of an SD card reader port allows for direct uploads of DSLR camera pictures to the computer.
Beyond its photographic capabilities, the IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is highly recommended for general use as a work and entertainment laptop. The comfortable keyboard and touchpad proportions contribute to a pleasant typing experience. Notably, the backlit keyboard spans almost the entire length, leaving minimal space for the speakers. While the audio quality is impressive for voices, music may lack depth due to a deficiency in bass. The plastic construction feels somewhat flimsy, though the back of the touchscreen is protected by aluminum. Despite its plastic composition, the laptop weighs around 3.5 pounds, making it relatively lightweight.
Battery life testing revealed that the IdeaPad Flex 5i can last about eight hours, slightly below Google’s reported 10-hour runtime. While this is respectable, the laptop tends to run warm, possibly due to the bottom-firing ventilation port limiting airflow. The device features a 13th Gen Intel Core i3-1315U processor, which, while not inherently heat-generating, may contribute to the warmth.
In conclusion.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a convertible laptop that provides affordability and versatility for students, hybrid workers, as well as content creators. Its characteristic details, among them a 14-inch touchscreen display at an angle of usage up to 180⁰, and the Magic Eraser editing tool by Google as well as an SD card reader port meet photography enthusiasts ‘ demands or content creators. Alternatively, the laptop comes with a decent keyboard and touchpad; however poor its audio quality may be since its construction of plastic feels slightly feeble.
However, the battery life is acceptable and it can get hot easily perhaps due to inadequate airflow with bottom firing ventilation port. In general, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a middle ground of functionality and execution that makes it an excellent option for people looking for an exceptional price/performance laptop.
