The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook begins with an 11th-generation Intel Core i3, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC flash memory for storage when purchased directly from Lenovo. If you have an extra $100 to spend and a Costco membership, you should consider purchasing the version I tested, which combines the same Core i3 processor with 8GB of RAM and a larger, quicker 128GB SSD for storage.
The IdeaPad Flex 5i 13 retains the same design as its predecessor, albeit with a tougher aluminium top. The Flex 5i 13’s hinge feels fine and is flexible enough to be opened with one hand, but becomes a little rigid when it’s in the upright position to hold it in place in clamshell, tent, media, and tablet modes. Overall, the build quality of this IdeaPad exceeds its budget pricing. The 2-in-1 retains its Abyss Blue appearance, with a touch of chrome in the Lenovo logo on the lid and keyboard deck, in keeping with Lenovo’s minimalist approach to budget and midrange product designs. Like its predecessor, the IdeaPad Flex 5i 13 appears disproportionately huge.
It has tiny display bezels on the sides but thick ones at the top and bottom. This gives it a deeper appearance than is necessary. Additionally, it is relatively thin (0.67 inches) and light (2.97 pounds) Port selection is fantastic. There are two USB-C 3.1 gen 1 ports with support for Power Delivery 3.0 and Display Port 1.4, one on each side, in addition to a USB-A 3.1 gen 1 port on the left. Along the left edge of the Flex 5i are a microSD card slot and a headphone/microphone combination connector. On the right edge are a power button, volume control, and Kensington lock.
Every option of the Chromebook Flex 5 features a 1080p IPS touchscreen. This is one of the laptop’s greatest advantages. A 1080p display is not guaranteed at this budget point, but it’s a huge plus and separates the device from less appealing rivals such as the HP Chromebook x360 14a and entry-level Asus Chromebook Flip models. Want a laptop that excels at video conferencing? You should avoid purchasing the Flex 5. It has a basic 720p webcam that commits all laptop-typical flaws. In low light, the video quality is soft, blurry, grainy, washed out, and nearly useless. The microphone has a weak, dull sound, but it rejects extraneous noise reasonably well.
The configuration of the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 that I evaluated featured an Intel Pentium Gold 7505 dual-core CPU with four threads, a base clock speed of 2GHz, and a maximum Turbo Boost speed of 3.5GHz. Although labelled as a Pentium CPU, it shares the Tiger Lake architecture with 11th-generation Intel Core processors. The processor is complemented by 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage.
