The Lenovo Flex 5 stands out in the crowd regarding versatile and affordable laptops. It’s a device that seamlessly blends performance, design, and functionality, making it an excellent choice for students, professionals, and casual users. Let’s dive into what makes this two-in-one laptop a standout option in its category.
TheTechBasic Verdict
The Lenovo Flex 5 (2023) comes at a reasonable price and looks stylish, but its performance is quite disappointing.
Pros
- Attractive price
- Elegant design
Cons
- Lackluster display
- Unresponsive keyboard
- Weak speakers
- Average performance
- Subpar battery life
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Technical Specifications
| Category | Specification |
| General | |
| Model | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 |
| Released | May, 2020 |
| Status | Available |
| Design | |
| Type | Bar |
| Dimensions | 35.56 cm |
| Weight | 1.6 kg / 3.6 lbs |
| Waterproof | No |
| Display | |
| Display Type | FHD |
| Size | 14 inches |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Display Colors | 16 Million Colors |
| Touch Screen | Yes |
| Display Protection | Yes |
| Features | 45% NTSC |
| Hardware | |
| GPU | AMD Integrated Graphics |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Internal Storage | 1 TB PCIe SSD M.2 / 512 GB QLC |
| Memory Card Slot | Yes, with microSD and microSDHC support |
| Sensors | Not Available |
| Software | |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| User Interface | Yes |
| Camera | |
| Rear Camera | No |
| Image | Not Available |
| Flash | No |
| Front Camera | HD 720p fixed focus |
| Network | |
| SIM | Standard SIM |
| Dual SIM | No |
| Connectivity | |
| Wi-Fi | 2×2 WIFI 5 802.11 ac |
| USB | 2 x USB 3.1 (Gen 1) / USB-C (Gen 1 with PD) |
| GPS | No |
| NFC | No |
| Wireless Charging | Yes |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
| Battery | |
| Capacity | Up to 12 hours, with Rapid Charge / Up to 13 hours of 1080p video playback. |
Wow, it took some effort to track down the exact model of the Lenovo Flex 5 we tested. Priced at $799 (though it was on sale for $699 when we wrote this), it features an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch 1200p display.
Design Of Lenovo Flex 5
One thing I appreciate about the Lenovo Flex 5 is its premium appearance. Unlike the typical black or silver laptops, the Flex 5 stands out with Lenovo’s distinctive Abyss Blue color on its metal hood. This unique hue gives it an elegant look that you don’t often see. Adding to its charm, the laptop features gently curved edges that enhance its sleek design. The neat Lenovo stamp on the top left corner is a subtle yet stylish touch, further emphasizing its sophisticated aesthetic. Overall, the combination of these design elements makes the Lenovo Flex 5 look far from cheap and rather quite impressive.
Inside, the design shifts to a plastic deck featuring a somewhat awkward-looking gray keyboard that probably would have looked better in black. There’s a good-sized touchpad, and a fingerprint reader conveniently located on the right side. The keyboard is flanked by top-firing speakers, providing decent sound. The display has relatively thin bezels, though the top bezel is a bit thicker to accommodate a lip for the webcam.
As a 2-in-1 device, the Flex 5 can bend back to 360 degrees, allowing you to use it in tent or tablet mode, giving you flexibility in how you use it.
Weighing in at 3.4 pounds and measuring 12.3 x 8.85 x 0.7 inches, the Flex 5 isn’t particularly slim or lightweight compared to other models. For instance, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-inch (Gen 8) weighs 4.6 pounds and measures 9.8 x 14.3 x 0.6 inches, making it heftier. Meanwhile, the Swift Go 14 by Acer, at 2.8 pounds and 8.6 x 12.3 x 0.6 inches, and the Asus ZenBook 14 OLED, at 3.1 pounds and 12.4 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches, are both lighter and more compact than the Flex 5.
Read Also: Review of Lenovo Legion 5- High-Performance Gaming Laptop with Radeon RX 6600M
Ports Of Lenovo Flex 5
The Lenovo Flex 5 comes equipped with a good variety of ports.
Turning our attention to the left side, we find the power jack, an HDMI port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and a headphone jack. On the right side, there are two USB Type-A ports, an SD card slot, and the power button.
Display Of Lenovo Flex 5
Wow, the 14-inch, 1920 x 1200 display on the Lenovo Flex 5, especially for a laptop under $1,000, was disappointing in every aspect.
I tuned in to Dimension 20’s A scenery & grass and noticed that the set’s greenery appeared lackluster and subdued. When the scene shifted to a dimly lit backdrop, it felt like watching the show in battery-saver mode, exacerbated by its glossy display. Despite this, the panel managed to sharply capture the intricate details of stones and grass.
Testing with our colorimeter revealed that the Lenovo Flex 5 covers only 41.2% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, significantly below the mainstream laptop average of 90.8%. In comparison, the Yoga 7i (44.8%), Swift Go 14 (176.7%), and ZenBook 14 (96.6%) outperformed the Lenovo by a significant margin.
Brightness-wise, the Lenovo Flex 5 measured at 287 nits, falling short of the 342-nit average. While it outshone the Yoga 7i (268 nits), it couldn’t match the Swift Go 14 (396 nits) and ZenBook 14 (374 nits).
Keyboard And Touchpad of Lenovo Flex 5
Typing on the Lenovo Flex 5 felt odd the keys were shallow and mushy, offering little in terms of tactile satisfaction.
Despite the odd feel, I managed to hit 84 words per minute on the typing test, surpassing my usual average of 79 wpm. The well-spaced keys, a common feature in Lenovo keyboards, likely contributed to my better performance. Still, I didn’t enjoy the experience.
The 4.9 x 2.9-inch touchpad, although smooth, also had shallow clicks similar to the keyboard. However, Windows gestures such as two-finger scrolling and three-finger tabbing worked smoothly.
Read Also: Review of Lenovo Legion Slim 7: Thin and High-Performance Gaming Laptop
Audio Of Lenovo Flex 5
I generally love top-firing speakers, but the ones in the Lenovo Flex 5 left much to be desired. The audio was faint and hollow, and the only positive thing I can say is that it was at least audible.
When I played “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran, the opening guitar riff sounded somewhat distorted. The vocals were clear when they came in, but the guitar in the background continued to sound noisy and even more hollow. The percussion was barely there, lacking any punch or bass. Although the different instruments were discernible, the overall sound quality was low and unfulfilling.
Lenovo includes the Dolby Access app, which offers settings for Movies, Music, and Games, but it doesn’t do much to enhance the audio experience.
Performance Of Lenovo Flex 5
Inside the chassis of the Lenovo Flex 5, you’ll find an Intel Core i5-1335U processor paired with 16GB of RAM. This combination proved to be quite capable, effortlessly handling the load of several dozen Google Chrome tabs alongside multiple YouTube videos. The performance was smooth and lag-free, demonstrating that the laptop could easily manage multitasking and resource-intensive tasks.
On the Geekbench 5.5 overall performance test, the Lenovo Flex 5 achieved a score of 8,340, which falls short of the mainstream laptop average of 9,064. It struggled to keep up with competitors, such as the Yoga 7i with its Core i7-1355U processor (8,563), the Swift Go 14 with a Core i7-13700H (11,715), and the ZenBook 14 with a Core i5-1240P (8,490).
In a 4K to 1080p video transcoding test, the Lenovo Flex 5 took 10 minutes and 41 seconds, again lagging behind the category average of 8 minutes and 30 seconds. It came in last compared to the Yoga 7i (11:12), Swift Go 14 (5:45), and ZenBook 14 (8:30).
|
Benchmarks |
|||
| Row 0 – Cell 0 | Geekbench (score) | HandBrake (time – lower is better) | SSD (MBps) |
| Flex | 8,340 | 10:41 | 789 |
| Yoga | 8,563 | 11:12 | 1,370 |
| Swift | 11,715 | 5:45 | 1,480 |
| ZenBook | 8,490 | 8:30 | 247 |
Lenovo’s 512GB SSD delivers a transfer rate of 789 megabytes per second, which is close to the mainstream laptop average of 823 MBps. It significantly outperformed the ZenBook 14’s 256GB SSD, which had a transfer rate of only 256 MBps. However, it fell short when compared to the impressive speeds of the 512GB SSDs found in the Yoga 7 (1,280 MBps) and the Swift Go 14 (1,381 MBps).
Graphics Of Lenovo Flex 5
The Flex 5 doesn’t bring anything distinctive to the table in terms of graphics, opting instead for the standard Intel Iris Xe Graphics chip, much like its rival models.
However, it still lagged in the 3DMark Fire Strike synthetic graphics benchmark, where the Lenovo Flex 5 achieved a score of 3,836. This placed it below the average for mainstream laptops (5,083) as well as competitors like the Yoga 7i (5,127), Swift Go 14 (5,433), and ZenBook 14 (4,148).
In contrast, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark at medium settings and 1080p resolution, it managed 29 frames per second. While just shy of the playable threshold of 31 fps, this performance was better than that of the Yoga 7i (26 fps), Swift Go 14 (28 fps), and ZenBook 14 (22 fps).
Battery Life Of Lenovo Flex 5
The Lenovo Flex 5’s battery performance leaves something to be desired, it lasted 8 hours and 24 minutes on the Thetechbasic battery test, which is shorter than the mainstream laptop average of 9 hours and 56 minutes. While it outlasted the Swift Go 14 (8 hours and 4 minutes), it fell short compared to the impressive durations of the Yoga 7i (12 hours and 3 minutes) and ZenBook 14 (10 hours and 51 minutes).
This year’s model represents a significant decline from its predecessor, which boasted an impressive battery life of 14 hours and 17 minutes.
Webcam Of Lenovo Flex 5
If you’re in the mood to be humbled, I suggest trying out the Lenovo Flex 5’s 1080p webcam.
The colorful posters on the wall behind me appeared muted and faded as if they had been through a dozen washing machine cycles. The contrast was lacking even the window behind me seemed washed out and desperately in need of assistance. Meanwhile, my face appeared grainy and unclear. If you’re looking to upgrade, I’d recommend considering one of our top-rated webcams.
Read Also: Review of Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon: A Feather-Light Powerhouse
Heat Of Lenovo Flex 5
In terms of temperature management, the Lenovo Flex 5 manages to keep its cool, despite its modest performance. On the underside, it registered a temperature of 97 degrees Fahrenheit, only slightly surpassing our comfort threshold of 96 degrees. The center of the keyboard reached 92 degrees, while the touchpad remained a comfortable 81 degrees. The hottest spot, near the hinge on the underside, peaked at 102 degrees.
This thermal performance is commendable considering the laptop’s limitations in power. It reflects Lenovo’s effective thermal design, which balances performance and heat dissipation to maintain user comfort during extended use. Whether you’re typing away or navigating with the touchpad, the Lenovo Flex 5 remains relatively cool to the touch, mitigating concerns about discomfort or overheating. For users prioritizing a balanced thermal profile alongside everyday performance, this cooling efficiency enhances the overall usability and reliability of the laptop, ensuring a comfortable experience even during more demanding tasks.
Software And Warranty of Lenovo Flex 5
Lenovo laptops are renowned for bundling all essential functionalities into the Lenovo Vantage app, a hub for accessing system information, warranty details, and settings adjustments for power management, audio configurations, display preferences, and more.
However, the Lenovo Flex 5 does come with some pre-installed software that may be considered bloatware, such as Spotify, WhatsApp, and Solitaire.
In terms of warranty coverage, the Lenovo Flex 5 is backed by a standard one-year limited warranty. For insights into Lenovo’s customer support performance, you can consult our Tech Support Showdown and Best and Worst Brands rankings to see how they fare in helping and overall customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
In the bottom line, the Lenovo Flex 5 emerges as a competent choice for users seeking a flexible and affordable convertible laptop. Its design facilitates seamless transitions between productivity and entertainment modes, supported by adequate performance for everyday tasks. While its display and input options are generally satisfactory, and its battery life is decent, potential buyers should consider its limitations in graphical performance and the presence of bloatware.
For students, professionals, and casual users looking for a versatile device without breaking the bank, the Lenovo Flex 5 offers a compelling balance of features and affordability. Its solid build quality and thoughtful design make it a worthy contender in the competitive mid-range convertible laptop market. However, those with more intensive graphical or processing needs may need to look towards higher-end models or configurations with dedicated graphics cards.
Ultimately, the Lenovo Flex 5 stands as a testament to Lenovo’s commitment to delivering value and functionality in a portable and adaptable package, making it a suitable companion for various computing needs in today’s dynamic digital landscape.