Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review: Hitting that sweetspot

I’ve used dozens of Chromebooks over time, together with funds machines, high-end fashions, and even a gaming Chromebook. As somebody who works from residence, I’ve discovered there’s a lot to love about Chromebooks.

Chromebooks should not solely rather more inexpensive than equally spec’d Home windows machines or MacBooks, however additionally they are typically extra steady because of the simplified nature of Chrome OS. After I heard concerning the new Chromebook Plus initiative, it piqued my curiosity. After about two weeks of utilizing Lenovo’s new Chromebook Plus, I wished to share my impressions on this quick Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus assessment.

The Flex 5i is powered by a thirteenth gen Intel Core i3-1315U with Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage. It additionally incorporates a first rate vary of ports for a Chromebook, together with two USB-C ports, a single legacy USB port, and a microSD slot.

Moreover, it sports activities a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen IPS panel that appears nice, though it falls a bit quick on brightness for my liking. It features completely indoors however may battle in brighter circumstances. The 16:10 ratio additionally takes a bit to get used to, however it additionally makes you are feeling just like the display screen is even greater.

Whereas I used the 1080p webcam only some occasions throughout my testing, I discovered it to be a big enchancment over the usual 720p cameras discovered on most Chromebooks. I additionally appreciated the presence of OS-level digital camera controls for options like blur, noise discount, and extra.

Concerning the battery, Lenovo claims it will possibly present as much as 10 hours of battery life. This declare largely matched my expertise, though it drained noticeably sooner when dealing with extra demanding duties like Android and Linux gaming. Nonetheless, I persistently obtained at the very least eight hours of battery life, and on at some point of comparatively modest use, I managed to get a full 11 hours earlier than it ran out.

The most effective issues about Chromebooks is how shortly you will get began. Turning on the laptop computer for the primary time took simply ten seconds. As soon as I entered my Google Account, I used to be greeted with the primary desktop, and every thing was just about able to go. This not solely included lots of the Android apps I had put in on earlier Chromebooks, however it additionally carried over all my core Chrome browser settings from my fundamental (Home windows) laptop computer. Certain, I needed to enter a number of passwords right here and there, however the level is that the setup was lifeless easy.

To be honest, this has all the time been a energy of the Chrome OS platform, particularly with higher-end {hardware}. Nonetheless, I used to be impressed by how properly the Flex 5i carried out, contemplating its $500 worth.

Whereas my ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a superb machine, it typically struggles to deal with various dozen Chrome tabs with out some noticeable stuttering when operating it in decrease energy mode off the charger. I wished to see how the Flex 5i in contrast, so I loaded up each work-related tab I may consider.

I reached over forty tabs, and but it was nonetheless comparatively clean crusing. I even hopped into Fb and some gaming apps with out an excessive amount of slowdown. That mentioned, I observed it began to warmth up a bit, however not uncomfortably. It additionally remained comparatively quiet, regardless of the workload.

After some time, I forgot I used to be on a Chromebook, as this inexpensive machine flawlessly dealt with internet searching, WordPress, Adobe Categorical, and all the opposite instruments I wanted to do my job with no single hiccup. General, the expertise was simply pretty much as good as any higher-end Home windows machine when it got here to web-based actions.

When you want one thing for high-end gaming and different demanding duties like video modifying, Chromebooks nonetheless can’t sustain. Nevertheless, I discovered Adobe’s on-line instruments have been good for fundamental photograph modifying and different associated duties. It additionally dealt with fundamental Google Play video games and even some Steam video games with out a lot difficulty, which I’ll get to a bit extra later.

I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned at the way it carried out in comparison with many higher-end Chromebooks on the market. Late final 12 months, I had a number of weeks with the Acer Chromebook 516GE, one of many first gaming Chromebooks, and I’ve to say that the expertise right here was almost pretty much as good for non-gaming duties.

The Flex 5i was simply as speedy as Acer’s 516GE for Chrome searching and even appeared to load Android apps sooner. It’s additionally about $150 cheaper. Certain, you don’t get as excessive a decision show, and also you’re lacking the RGB lighting, however you do get a lovely machine that appears fairly high-end regardless of its plastic development and a stable keyboard, even when the keys are a bit shallow for my style.

One important benefit of the Flex 5i is its 2-in-1 design, which was fairly useful.

The Flex 5i boots into Chrome’s pill interface as quickly as you flip the hinge even slightly. Whereas I nonetheless want Android tablets, the interface was simple to make use of and ran Google Play apps surprisingly properly. I examined a number of video games like Name of Obligation Cellular and Minecraft, in addition to all my favourite social apps, streaming apps, and just about each app I take advantage of repeatedly on my telephone. Some labored a bit higher than others, however, for probably the most half, the expertise was corresponding to that of an Android pill.

I need to admit that it is a huge and considerably heavy laptop computer, so it may not be appropriate as a pill for everybody. The simplest method to make use of it this manner is to maintain the keyboard partially folded out, turning it right into a makeshift kickstand. I typically discovered myself watching streaming reveals or searching the net on my mattress on this method. I not often folded the machine utterly flat, although I let my youngsters mess around with it slightly, and that mode appeared extra pure to them.

One small gripe is the dearth of an included stylus. Whereas the Lenovo Flex 5i totally helps USI pen enter, it doesn’t include one. Then once more, this isn’t a characteristic everybody will use. When you don’t see your self utilizing it for drawing or taking notes, you in all probability received’t thoughts.

Whereas the Flex 5i isn’t an ideal pill substitute, it handles the job admirably, and I cherished having the 2-in-1 design as an choice for conditions the place I didn’t wish to use the machine in its default clamshell place.

As I mentioned, it is a nice gadget out of the field, however it may be even higher should you’re a tinkerer like me. Switching to the beta channel, I used to be capable of set up Steam, in addition to a number of Linux functions. As you may count on, there have been some hiccups. I examined a couple of dozen random Linux apps and a few simply plain refused to run correctly, however the overwhelming majority carried out as you’d count on. The identical goes for Steam.

Whilst you received’t be capable to deal with each Steam sport with out difficulty, I discovered many older and fewer demanding video games ran simply effective. In complete, I examined out about twelve Steam video games, all of which have been older, and only some formally optimized for Linux. Simply remember you could have restricted cupboard space, so that you’ll need to uninstall video games you aren’t utilizing to make room for extra.

Of all of the titles I examined, a couple of third refused to run utterly, whereas one other third ran with extraordinarily sluggish body charges. Video games like Grim Daybreak and Metropolis Skylines have been two examples of titles that performed surprisingly properly, although the latter title did require some tweaking within the settings earlier than it will play properly. Simply remember that Steam video games can take for much longer to load as they’ve to put in a number of workarounds to make them play properly with Chrome OS’s Linux core.

I actually wouldn’t substitute my gaming laptop computer with the Flex 5i, however it’s good to know you’ll be able to play “actual” non-mobile video games with the machine.

Other than Steam video games and Linux apps, it’s also possible to get sport streaming platforms like Xbox Recreation Cross up and operating with minimal hoops to leap by means of. I performed Starfield and some different video games and located the expertise labored simply as you’d count on.

When you’re searching for an important web-based productiveness machine that may double as a makeshift Chromebook pill, you’ll be able to’t go mistaken with the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i. Sure, there are Chromebooks on the market with much more energy on paper, however the precise efficiency is so shut I sincerely assume this may simply be the candy spot for Chromebook specs.

Not solely does it run almost in addition to Chromebooks that value lots of extra, however it even offers many Home windows machines a run for his or her cash — so long as you perceive that you just’ll be restricted to web-based apps and Google Play apps out of the field.