Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Review: Versatile Value for Everyday Users
As someone who’s tested dozens of budget laptops, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus stands out as a smart, no-fuss 2-in-1 that’s perfect for students, remote workers, or anyone needing a reliable Chrome OS device without breaking the bank. Priced around $499 (often dipping to $359 on sales), this 14-inch convertible punches above its weight with solid performance, AI-enhanced features, and a design that feels more premium than its cost suggests. I’ve used it for a week of note-taking, video calls, light editing, and streaming—here’s the full breakdown.
Design and Build: Sturdy but Not Ultralight
The Flex 5i sports a sleek Storm Grey aluminum lid with a subtle accent stripe, paired with a soft-touch plastic chassis that’s surprisingly rigid for the price. At 3.57 pounds and 0.72 inches thick, it’s portable enough for a backpack but noticeably heavier than slimmer Chromebooks like the Acer Spin 714—don’t expect it to feel like a featherweight tablet in tent mode. The 360-degree hinge is smooth and durable, flipping effortlessly between laptop, stand, and tablet orientations without wobbling.
Ports are generous: two USB-C (with Power Delivery and DisplayPort), one USB-A, a microSD reader, and a headphone jack. No Thunderbolt, but that’s par for the course here. The backlit keyboard is a highlight—chiclet-style keys with good travel and a satisfying click, making long typing sessions (like essays or emails) comfortable. The 5.5-inch touchpad is responsive, and the FHD webcam with privacy shutter delivers sharp, noise-reduced video for Zoom classes or meetings. Overall, it’s built to last through daily school or home use, though the plastic deck shows fingerprints easily.
Display and Audio: Bright Enough for Indoors
The 14-inch FHD+ (1920×1200) IPS touchscreen shines with a 16:10 aspect ratio, giving extra vertical space for browsing or docs—ideal for students juggling Google Workspace apps. It’s touch-responsive and supports USI stylus pens (not included, but compatible for ~$20 add-ons), making it great for annotations or sketching. Brightness tops out at around 300 nits, which is fine for indoor use but washes out in direct sunlight. Colors are vibrant for media, though it lacks the punch of OLED panels on pricier models.
Audio comes from dual 2-watt upward-firing speakers with solid stereo separation—crisp for podcasts or YouTube, but bass is weak for music lovers. It’s better than most budget Chromebooks, but pair it with headphones for immersion.
Performance and Software: Snappy for the Essentials
Powered by an Intel Core i3-1315U (6 cores, up to 4.5GHz), 8GB LPDDR4x RAM, and 256GB storage (a mix of eMMC and SD in some configs), this Chromebook flies through everyday tasks. Web browsing with 20+ tabs? No sweat. Google Docs editing or light Photoshop in the browser? Smooth. Even Android apps like Duet Display or casual games via Google Play run well, thanks to Chrome OS’s efficiency. Benchmarks put it ahead of non-Plus Chromebooks, often matching $700 Windows convertibles in multi-tab scenarios.
As a Chromebook Plus, it unlocks Google AI goodies: Gemini integration in Gmail/Docs for smarter summaries, Magic Editor for photo tweaks, and 12 months of Google One (2TB cloud storage + Gemini Advanced). Chrome OS is lightweight and secure, with auto-updates until June 2032. It’s not a powerhouse for heavy video editing or AAA gaming, but for home/student use, it’s “perky” and future-proofed.
Battery Life: All-Day Reliability
Expect 9-10 hours of mixed use (web, docs, streaming at 50% brightness), or about 11 hours of video playback. It’s solid for a school day or work shift but trails ultra-efficient rivals like the HP Dragonfly Pro. Fast charging via USB-C gets you 2-3 hours from 15 minutes—handy for quick top-ups.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent value at sub-$500 | Heavier than some 2-in-1s (3.57 lbs) |
| Smooth performance for web/Android apps | Display dims in bright light |
| Versatile 2-in-1 design with stylus support | No included pen; storage is eMMC (slower than SSD) |
| AI features + 2TB cloud storage trial | Speakers lack deep bass |
| Comfortable backlit keyboard and sharp FHD cam | Fan noise under load |
Who It’s For (and Verdict)
This is a winner for students drafting papers, parents handling family schedules, or casual users who want a touchscreen Chromebook that “just works” without Windows bloat. If you need more power, look at the Acer Spin 714 (~$530 on sale); for lighter weight, the Asus CX34 Flip. But at this price, the Flex 5i delivers 90% of premium features for half the cost—it’s boringly reliable in the best way.
Rating: 4.5/5 – The best mid-range Chromebook for versatility and smarts. Grab it on sale for unbeatable bang-for-buck.
