At a lookProfessional’s Score
Execs
- Good efficiency
- Excessive construct high quality
- Glorious touchscreen with stylus
- Numerous storage
Cons
- Mediocre stylus efficiency
- Weak sound quantity
- Middling battery life
Our Verdict
Lenovo doesn’t make many errors right here. Just a few issues could possibly be higher, however not a lot as solely weak speaker quantity and mediocre battery life maintain it from full marks. That is merely a wonderful Chromebook that doesn’t skimp on high quality or options.
I actually like Google’s new Chromebook Plus idea launched this spring. Intel Core-class efficiency, good screens, good webcam, quick connectivity and another issues to tick off, which signifies that a Chromebook Plus can compete with an reasonably priced mid-range laptop computer, after which additionally get a bunch of options, primarily AI for picture and sound administration.
The Chromebook Pluses I’ve examined to this point have all met the minimal necessities, however Lenovo raises the bar with its Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5.
Design & Construct
This can be a sturdy little pc in a 14-inch format, with a better weight than many others of the identical measurement. That is partly because of a sturdy chassis with a brushed metallic exterior that provides a top quality really feel, and partly as a result of 360 diploma flip design of the display and the touchscreen with shiny glass in entrance. That at all times provides a number of grams to a laptop computer.
Skinny display edges make it smaller in width and top than many different 14-inch Chromebooks. Nevertheless, it’s undeniably a bit thicker. Not that I thoughts a lot, I’d reasonably take an additional millimeter so long as the chassis is simple to grip. And it’s, with rounded edges and funky, clean metallic surfaces in every single place.
Display screen
The display is a modern IPS panel with 1080p decision. At 14-inches, that makes it not fairly pixel-free, however virtually. And sharp sufficient for snug viewing of internet pages, paperwork and pictures. It handles completely different viewing angles completely, aside from the truth that shiny surfaces at all times have clear reflections at sharp angles.
The display isn’t notably vivid, touchdown at just below 300 nits, the place the very best flip display Chromebooks I’ve examined are near 400. That’s adequate indoors, however could be a drawback if you wish to work within the daytime outside.
Regardless of that and in addition reasonable color gamut, a bit under the total sRGB palette, the films I stream to the pc typically look good. There’s a crisp sharpness to the picture, thanks largely to good blacks and distinction.
At the least good for an IPS display. Nevertheless, it might be a good suggestion to sit down in a room with managed gentle and closed curtains, to get immersion and keep away from display reflections. There’s minimal danger of buffering, as you get Wi-Fi 6 help and good reception on each frequency bands.
Mattias Inghe
Keyboard, Trackpad, Audio system & Webcam
The sound from the built-in audio system can be of fine high quality. The utmost quantity is pretty low, barely sufficient to fill a room, however the sound is detailed and well-balanced, from treble to clear bass tones. If you would like extra, you possibly can join analogue headphones, USB audio by way of one USB-A, two USB-C or after all Bluetooth. On the facet of the Flex 5 you’ll additionally discover a slot for a microSD port. Simply in case the beneficiant storage isn’t sufficient.
Lenovo gives a well-built keyboard with backlit keys that gentle up routinely while you put your arms over them. The important thing journey is on the low facet, however there’s good suggestions within the keys and a top quality really feel. The mouse pad has a bit extra of a finances really feel, however offers respectable management.
You even have contact management on the display, and also you additionally get a well-built stylus in stable aluminium. You need to use it to navigate the display, scribble notes and attract drawing apps. The pen has some stress sensitivity and good precision, but it surely tends to have an excessive amount of friction with the display floor, so it feels virtually tough. Response can be noticeably sluggish.
The webcam seems to be good with nice gentle and little noise, but it surely lacks element so the enjoyment of getting a 1080p digital camera is misplaced. However, the microphone is great. It captures my voice with a nice tone and many element, and virtually no background noise. I really feel no must activate the built-in microphone noise discount in Chrome OS.
Lastly, the Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5 has a quick and flawless in-built fingerprint scanner on one facet in entrance of the keyboard.
Mattias Inghe
Specs & Efficiency
You get the identical processor as in Asus’s and Acer’s Chromebook Plus, the Intel Core i3-1215U with six cores and steady workplace efficiency. And even right here there may be 8GB ram reminiscence. Truly, on paper it’s a bit worse because it’s of the DDR4 sort as an alternative of DDR5, but it surely doesn’t appear to have an effect on the efficiency very a lot.
Extra reminiscence is a lift in most conditions, even when the pace is decrease. You additionally get each extra and quicker storage, 256GB as an alternative of 128GB, and it’s stated to be actual M.2 SSD as an alternative of UFS-based flash reminiscence.
A 64GB and a 128GB mannequin are stated to have eMMC storage, so go for the bigger one I’ve examined right here if you happen to can. It’s value it. It’s not vastly quicker, however the distinction in loading a bigger put in recreation from the Google Play retailer, for instance, remains to be noticeable. And with the Core processor’s acceptably quick graphics, it may be fascinating to have the ability to do this.
Within the UK, you can too get a Core i5 mannequin with a 512GB SSD.
Mattias Inghe
Battery Life
The battery life doesn’t provide any surprises, however seven hours of video streaming at full brightness and 10 hours of shopping at medium brightness is kind of what I anticipated. Perhaps much less, however then now we have to have in mind that contact layers in a display at all times draw battery energy and it turns into extra noticeable in an in any other case power-efficient pc like this one. If I dim the lights utterly and solely make easy offline notes, the battery lasts all day.
The low-power expertise of those computer systems can be cool, and the pc not often wants lively cooling. When it does begin up after steady processor stress, the mechanics could whine a bit, but it surely’s by no means very loud. Even the weak audio system can drown it out so it’s not noticeable.
Worth & Availability
The Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5 isn’t out there from the official Lenovo retailer on the time of writing however you should buy it from Currys.
The Core i3 model with a 256GB SSD is £499 and the Core i5 with double that storage is £599, although each are discounted on the time of writing.
Try our round-up of the very best Chromebooks for extra choices.
Do you have to purchase the Lenovo Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5?
In 2021, I named that yr’s version of the Idepad Flex 5 the very best Chromebook of the yr. And now its as soon as once more holding that title on the finish of 2023. It’s not 100% flawless, however not laptop computer is for this worth.
In brief, this can be a well-built, trendy and full Chromebook that delivers a number of performance for the cash. With the suitable {hardware}, it permits you to reap the benefits of all the probabilities of the platform in a wonderful approach.
Specs
Processor: Intel Core i3-1215U, 2pcs P-core 1.2-4.4 GHz + 4pcs E-core 0.9 GHz
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 64 EU
Reminiscence: 8 GB DDR4
Storage: 256 GB m.2 ssd, house for micro-sd
Show: 14 inch shiny ips, 1920×1200 pixels, multitouch
Webcam: 1080p
Connections: 2 pcs usb 3 gen 2 sort c with displayport, usb 3 gen 1 sort a, headset
Wi-fi: Wifi 6, bluetooth 4.2
Working system: Chrome OS
Different: 360-degree display, stylus, fingerprint reader
Noise stage: 0-36 dBa
Battery life: 7h 30 min on-line video (max brightness), approx 10h combined use (low brightness)
Measurement: 31.55 x 22.9 x 1.98cm
Weight: 1,58kg
Guarantee: 2 years
Efficiency
Speedometer, internet efficiency: 286.6 factors
Geekbench6, cpu single core: 1,795 factors
Geekbench 6, cpu all cores: 4,903 factors
Geekbench 6, gpu compute: 7,666 factors
GFX Bench Manhattan 1080p: 84 fps
Disk, learn: 1,608 MB/s
Disk, write: 516 MB/s
This evaluate initially appeared on PC for Alla.
