It is powerful to search out an reasonably priced laptop computer that gives probably the most it may possibly in your cash, and whereas Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 tried to be that — this ain’t it.
For $799, this seems like a glossy machine on the surface, however when you take a better look you’ll quickly see this laptop computer isn’t value your time or cash. From its poor show and mushy keyboard to its middling efficiency and under common battery life, the Flex 5 can’t sustain with its opponents. It has actually fell from grace since its 2022 outing.
I can’t advocate the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 for our finest laptops or finest laptops below $1,000 pages, not to mention advocate buying it in any respect.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) value and configurations
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) specs
Value: $799
CPU: Intel Core i5-1335U
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Show: 14-inch, 1200p
Battery: 8:22
Dimension: 12.3 x 8.85 x 0.7 inches
Weight: 3.4 kilos
Oh boy, it was a journey to search out the mannequin of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 we reviewed. It prices $799 (on sale for $699 on the time of writing) and comes with an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch 1200p show. I discovered this model is accessible solely at Costco.
Nonetheless, there are different fashions obtainable elsewhere. There’s a $605 model on Lenovo’s web site that drops all the way down to 8GB of RAM. There’s additionally an AMD model that prices $829 at Lenovo, which comes with 8GB of RAM as properly and a AMD Ryzen 5 7530U processor.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a laptop computer much more reasonably priced, take a look at our finest low cost laptops web page.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) design
One factor I like concerning the IdeaPad Flex 5 is that it doesn’t look low cost. As an alternative of the standard black or silver, the Flex 5 sports activities Lenovo’s Abyss Blue shade over its metallic hood. That’s complemented by its curved edges and neat Lenovo stamp on the highest left nook.
The inside shifts to a plastic deck and an awkward-looking grey keyboard — it ought to have been black. There’s a decent-sized touchpad, and a fingerprint reader on the appropriate aspect. Surrounding the keyboard are top-firing audio system. The show sports activities comparatively skinny bezels, however the prime has a lip for the webcam.
It is a 2-in-1, so the Flex can actually flex all the way in which as much as 360 levels, which provides tent and pill positions so that you can experiment with.
At 3.4 kilos and 12.3 x 8.85 x 0.7 inches, the Flex 5 doesn’t get a lot slimmer or thinner in contrast with the competitors. Aside from the 16-inch Lenovo Yoga 7i (Gen 8) (4.5 kilos, 14.3 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches), the Acer Swift Go 14 (2.9 kilos, 12.3 x 8.6 x 0.6 inches) and Asus ZenBook 14 OLED (3.1 kilos, 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches) are lighter and never as extensive because the Flex 5.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) ports
There’s an honest variety of ports onboard the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5.
If we glance to the left, we see the facility jack, an HDMI port, one Thunderbolt 4 port, and a headphone jack, whereas the appropriate aspect holds room for 2 USB Sort-A ports, an SD card slot, and the facility button.
End up in want of extra ports? Take a look at our finest USB Sort-C hubs and finest laptop computer docking stations pages.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) show
Oof. Even for a sub-$1,000 laptop computer, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5’s 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 show carried out poorly throughout.
I watched Dimension 20’s A Court docket of Fey & Flowers, and the greenery that made up the set was uninteresting and muted. When the background switched to a dimly lit scenic view, it felt like I used to be watching the present in battery-saver mode, which was made all the more serious by its shiny panel. Regardless of that, the panel was sharp sufficient to seize the small print in Aabria Iyengar’s beautiful lashes.
Based on our colorimeter, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 coated a measly 42.2% of the DCI-P3 shade gamut, which is lower than half of the mainstream laptop computer common (91.8%). The Yoga 7i (45.8%), Swift Go 14 (175.7%), and ZenBook 14 (95.6%) destroyed the IdeaPad.
At 288 nits of brightness, IdeaPad Flex 5 couldn’t get previous the 341-nit common. It did finest the Yoga 7i (267 nits), however could not get close to the Swift Go 14 (395 nits) and ZenBook 14 (375 nits).
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) keyboard and touchpad
Typing away on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 felt bizarre — the keys had been shallow and mushy, and under no circumstances satisfying to make use of.
Nonetheless, I hit 83 phrases per minute on the 10fastfingers.com typing take a look at, which is above my 78-wpm common. The keys had been well-spaced, like most Lenovo keyboards, which is probably going why I did properly. However I didn’t prefer it.
The 4.9 x 2.9-inch touchpad is easy, however provides shallow clicks, like the remainder of the laptop computer. Nonetheless, Home windows gestures like two-finger scrolling and three-finger tabbing labored positive.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) audio
I like top-firing audio system, however not those within the IdeaPad Flex 5. The audio was low and hole, and the one praise I will pay it’s that it was audible.
I listened to Honey Revenge’s “Airhead,” and the opening guitar sounded a bit distorted. When the vocals took over, they had been clear, however the guitar within the background remained noisy, if no more hole. The percussion was low and couldn’t catch a bass. The devices had been distinguishable from each other, however total, the sound was low and unfulfilling.
Whereas Lenovo packs within the Dolby Entry app, with settings for Motion pictures, Music and Video games, there’s not way more that the app can do to assist the audio.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) efficiency
Tucked within the chassis of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 lies an Intel Core i5-1335U with 16GB of RAM. It had no bother working by a pair dozen Google Chrome tabs and a handful of YouTube movies.
On the Geekbench 5.5 total efficiency take a look at, the IdeaPad Flex 5 scored 8,440, which doesn’t fairly make the mainstream laptop computer common (9,064). It faltered in opposition to the Yoga 7i’s Core i7-1355U (8,663), the Swift Go 14’s Core i7-13700H (11,815), and the ZenBook 14’s Core i5-1240P (8,590) processors.
The IdeaPad Flex 5 transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in 11 minutes and 41 seconds, as soon as once more dropping wanting the class common (8:10). It fell into final place in opposition to the Yoga 7i (10:12), Swift Go 14 (5:35), and ZenBook 14 (8:40).
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Geekbench (rating) | HandBrake (time – decrease is best) | SSD (MBps) |
| Flex | 8,440 | 11:41 | 788 |
| Yoga | 8,663 | 10:12 | 1,380 |
| Swift | 11,815 | 5:35 | 1,481 |
| ZenBook | 8,590 | 8:40 | 246 |
Lenovo’s 512GB SSD sports activities a switch price of 788 megabytes per second, which isn’t too removed from the typical mainstream laptop computer (833 MBps). It crushed the ZenBook 14’s 256GB SSD (246 MBps), nevertheless it acquired nowhere close to the 512GB SSDs within the Yoga 7 (1,380 MBps) and the Swift Go 14 (1,481 MBps).
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) graphics
The Flex 5 isn’t providing something particular by way of graphics, sticking with its normal Intel Iris Xe Graphics chip similar to its opponents.
But, it by some means ended up final once more on the 3DMark Fireplace Strike synthetics graphics benchmark. The IdeaPad Flex 5 scored 3,936, slowing down in opposition to the typical mainstream laptop computer (5,073) in addition to the Yoga 7i (5,027), Swift Go 14 (5,533), and ZenBook 14 (4,048).
On the Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm (Medium, 1080p) benchmark, nevertheless, it scored 28 frames per second, which could not be playable (30-fps), nevertheless it averaged higher than the Yoga 7i (25 fps), Swift Go 14 (27 fps), and ZenBook 14 (21 fps).
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) battery life
It may very well be worse, nevertheless it may very well be higher. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 lasted 8 hours and 22 minutes on the Laptop computer Magazine battery take a look at, falling under the mainstream laptop computer common (9:54). It survived the Swift Go 14 (8:05), however died earlier than it may see the Yoga 7i (12:04) and ZenBook 14 (10:52) succeed.
Final 12 months’s mannequin lasted 14 hours and 16 minutes. A large step down.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) webcam
I like to recommend the IdeaPad Flex 5’s 1080p webcam when you really feel like being humbled.
The colourful posters that adorned the wall behind me had been muted and light, like I threw them within the washer for a dozen cycles. When it comes to distinction — no, the window behind me was washed out and begging for assist. In the meantime, my face appeared like a grainy mess. I like to recommend selecting up considered one of our finest webcams.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) warmth
Poetry — the IdeaPad Flex 5’s lack of energy helps it stay comparatively cool. It measured 98 levels Fahrenheit on the underside, which is simply barely above our 95-degree consolation threshold. In the meantime, the middle of the keyboard and touchpad attain 93 and 80 levels, respectively. The most well liked that the machine acquired was 101 levels on the underside, close to the hinge.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 (2023) software program and guarantee
In the event you’ve ever had a Lenovo laptop computer, you recognize that the corporate packs all of its helpful programs within the Lenovo Vantage app. This allows you to get hold of details about your system and guarantee, and allows you to regulate settings for energy, audio, show and extra.
There’s some bloatware onboard, like Spotify, WhatsApp, and Solitaire.
The IdeaPad Flex 5 has a one-year restricted guarantee. See how Lenovo carried out on our Tech Assist Showdown and Finest and Worst Manufacturers rating.
Backside line
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 falters in additional methods than one. Regardless of its reasonably priced value and its neat design, all the pieces below and across the hood discovered itself means under the standard we count on from a laptop computer at this value.
For instance, the Asus Zenbook 14 (Q409ZA) OLED is $749 and provides a vibrant, sharp show, higher battery life, and higher efficiency regardless of its missing elements.
We can’t in good conscience advocate buying the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5. There are higher choices on the market for higher costs.
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