Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus evaluation: An inexpensive computer disguised as a top rate gem via NewsFlicks

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The Chromebook Plus line is a step above conventional Chromebooks, and the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is awesome even to its fellow Plus competition. This computer seems to be extra lavish than its somewhat inexpensive ticket would counsel, and it’s decked out with somewhat robust internals as well. 

That’s to not say this Chromebook is easiest — it’s no longer. On the other hand, the Flex 5i’s clean total efficiency, crisp and full-bodied audio system, spectacular battery lifestyles, and wholesome port variety a great deal overshadow the few tiny issues I didn’t love about this computer, like its show and webcam.

All in all, this computer has earned a forged position as one of the most easiest Chromebooks you’ll be able to purchase at the moment, nevertheless it does value just a little bit greater than price range choices you may see extra frequently.

This computer seems to be high-end.
Credit score: Ian Moore/Mashable composite; Sarah Chaney

Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus worth and specifications 

Chromebooks have come some distance since their conception in 2011, they usually’re no longer the wimpy, can-only-surf-the-web Chromebooks you may well be extra aware of. Particularly, Chromebook Plus fashions are assured to have sure somewhat robust specifications, together with: 

• No less than a Twelfth-generation Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 sequence processor (i.e., a CPU from 2022 or more recent)

• No less than 8GB of RAM

• No less than 128GB of garage

• A 1080p webcam with temporal noise aid

• An IPS show with a solution of no less than 1080p (Complete HD)

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is going past those minimal spec necessities, turning in a competent Chrome OS-powered software wrapped up in a stupendous bundle. Our evaluation unit is to be had for $599 at Costco, with the next specifications: 

• Intel Core i5-1334U

• Built-in Intel Iris Xe graphics

• 8GB RAM

• 256GB of SSD garage

• 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, IPS contact show

For a Chromebook Plus style, $599 is a somewhat steep worth, however in change, you get an impressive, simply transportable software with nice battery lifestyles and better-than-average port selection, audio system, and total construct high quality.

The lid is thankfully no longer a fingerprint magnet.
Credit score: Ian Moore/Mashable composite; Sarah Chaney

I really like when a computer seems to be far more dear than it’s

I might’ve guessed the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus was once a $1,000 computer if I didn’t already know its worth. The construct high quality is very good. The computer feels solidly built, with nearly no give when pushing at the chassis, robust hinges that don’t creak or stick, and a cool-to-the-touch aluminum lid that resists fingerprints properly. 

The aluminum lid includes a two-tone grey design, with a instantly line dividing a mild grey 3rd from the darker Typhoon Gray color that covers the remainder of the chassis. The ground a part of the chassis that properties the entire computer’s internals and the keyboard is made with plastic, so it’s no longer ready to stay greasy fingerprints at bay just like the lid, nevertheless it nonetheless seems to be and feels nice.

At 3.5 kilos, the Flex 5i isn’t the lightest Chromebook to be had, however its compact dimensions of 12.4 x 9 x 0.8 inches and its versatile 2-in-1 functions make it an simply transportable choice that’s nice for far off staff and scholars.

A simple outdated, first rate show

Lenovo’s Flex 5i Chromebook Plus includes a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200-pixel IPS shiny show, and it’s first rate. After analyzing a couple of film trailers on YouTube and the colours in my non-public Trello I exploit each day, I will hopefully say the show is sharp, however its colour vibrancy and distinction may each use some paintings.

What’s intended to be deep black comes throughout moderately grey, and hues that are supposed to be popping off the display screen are moderately muted. On height of muted colours, the show is capped at 60Hz. That mentioned, for casually gazing TV episodes and YouTube movies, this show was once completely OK.

Then, the computer’s touchscreen is very responsive, nevertheless it’s no longer tremendous clean whilst scrolling.

An ideal array of ports

Maximum Chromebooks be offering only one or two ports, however no longer the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. 

The left aspect ports.
Credit score: Ian Moore/Mashable composite; Sarah Chaney

At the left, you’ll to find: 

• 3.5mm audio jack

• microSD card reader

• USB-A three.2 Gen 1 port

• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2

The proper aspect ports
Credit score: Ian Moore/Mashable composite; Sarah Chaney

And at the proper: 

• USB-C 3.2 Gen 2

• Energy button

• Quantity rocker

• Kensington lock slot

The one port this computer lacks is an HDMI port, however at this worth, I’m by no means docking issues for that. The Flex 5i even manages double-sided USB-C ports for handy charging, a function that some dear laptops refuse to incorporate.

Refreshingly crisp, full-bodied audio

Pc audio system aren’t nice, and since Chromebooks are most often even inexpensive than low-end Home windows laptops, their audio system are in most cases worse than the ones on maximum laptops. Fortuitously, that’s no longer the case with the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus.

This computer’s top-firing stereo audio system are optimized with Waves MaxxAudio, and in truth, they don’t sound a lot worse than my day by day driving force, the Yoga 9i’s fine quality rotating soundbar. 

I listened to MGK’s new album “Misplaced Americana” on repeat and forgot I wasn’t the usage of my devoted Bluetooth speaker a couple of instances. His vocals had been velvety and crisp, bass notes got here via to fill out every music, and I felt like I may pay attention each and every software and refined musical part.

My solely grievance with the Flex 5i’s audio system is that at 30 p.c quantity or beneath, they’re laughably quiet. The audio system do get moderately loud at complete quantity, however 40 p.c quantity sounds find it irresistible will have to be 20 p.c. 

A well-spaced, at ease keyboard

I’m in like with the Flex 5i’s keyboard. There’s a good quantity of shuttle, the keys are conveniently spaced, and typing total is a pleasantly bouncy enjoy. As a contract creator, I kind moderately just a little each day, and I loved the way in which my palms frivolously bounced from key to key and generated minimum mistakes in this keyboard. My solely minor grievance is that I want the keys had been moderately clackier for a greater sound. 

The Chromebook includes a at ease, usable keyboard.
Credit score: Ian Moore/Mashable composite; Sarah Chaney

I will’t specific the similar fondness for this computer’s trackpad. It’s a mylar trackpad, which is second-rate in comparison to glass trackpads, however makes whole sense on this Chromebook from a worth standpoint. Until I used to be the usage of the trackpad with an excellent gentle contact, my finger would stutter and skip when seeking to navigate. I’d suggest pairing a excellent wi-fi mouse with the Flex 5i as an alternative of the usage of the integrated trackpad.

The Flex 5i’s webcam is rather like maximum computer webcams 

After this computer stunned me with unbelievable speaker high quality and a pleasantly bouncy keyboard, I was hoping it’d have an above-average webcam, too. However, alas, the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus has a simple outdated 1080p webcam that delivers the similar disappointingly grainy image such a lot of different computer webcams do.

Not anything particular concerning the webcam.
Credit score: Sarah Chaney/Mashable

In its want, this webcam is somewhat sharp and color-accurate in the proper lighting fixtures, no less than in comparison to different computer webcams. Plus, it has a slidable privateness shutter, which I imagine a pleasing bonus function at its inexpensive $599 worth.

Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus benchmarks and function

There’s no denying the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus isn’t a top-performer amongst all laptops — MacBooks and gaming laptops would blow this little gadget out of the water. On the other hand, for a Chromebook, it delivered an outstanding Geekbench 6 ranking and real-world checking out effects. 

The Flex 5i Chromebook Plus earned a multi-core Geekbench 6 ranking of 7,024. On the time of checking out, there was once just one Chromebook that earned a better Geekbench 6 ranking: the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, which earned a ranking of 7,660. 

I used the Flex 5i as my day by day driving force for a couple of days, and it had no problems dealing with my conventional workload, which in most cases features a photo-editing program in Chrome, a couple of different Chrome tabs open for analysis, the Clock app to run a timer, and the Spotify app to play track. With a couple of tabs open, there was once no lag when operating in Google Medical doctors or loading new pages.

The Flex 5i’s lovers do a really perfect activity conserving the computer cool whilst operating, however they’re repeatedly working. The noise is gentle (and no longer noticeable in any respect with track enjoying), so it didn’t hassle me whilst checking out, however the fan noise is continuing, whether or not the computer is plugged in or no longer.

Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus battery lifestyles

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus lasted 12 hours and 13 mins in our battery take a look at, which comes to looping a 1080p model of Tears of Metal at 50 p.c brightness till the computer’s out of juice. This end result might light compared to MacBooks and fashionable Home windows laptops, however in comparison to our median Chromebook battery lifestyles on the time of writing, the Flex 5i carried out admirably, lasting more or less 30 p.c longer than the median.

Is the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus price it?

The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is for sure price it for someone on the lookout for a budget-friendly computer with superb battery lifestyles, a swish, simply transportable 2-in-1 design, and the power to hold out easy productiveness duties seamlessly. On height of the ones must-have options many of us glance to tick off a listing when buying groceries, the Flex 5i additionally has a couple of further perks, like an exquisite array of ports, a bouncy keyboard, and nice audio system.

Chromebooks was somewhat restricted in what they might do with ChromeOS, however now, a couple of apps have local choices, cloud gaming is extra out there, and Plus variants just like the Flex 5i be offering larger RAM and garage that spice up its longevity. 

That mentioned, the Flex 5i Chromebook Plus received’t be the easiest selection for everybody. I’d keep away from the Flex 5i when you plan to make use of your computer’s trackpad so much or when you’re on the lookout for a Chromebook to play video games on regularly, as this computer’s show is capped at 60Hz. As a substitute, I’d suggest the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, a gaming-forward computer that includes a big 16-inch show with a 120Hz refresh fee.