Lenovo Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5 review

Worth When Reviewed

From £499

Finest Costs Right this moment: Lenovo Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5

£349.00

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 implies 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 date have all met the minimal necessities, however Lenovo raises the bar with its Chromebook Plus IdeaPad Flex 5.

Design & Construct

It is a sturdy little laptop in a 14-inch format, with the next weight than many others of the identical dimension. That is partly because of a sturdy chassis with a brushed steel 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 peak than many different 14-inch Chromebooks. Nevertheless, it’s undeniably a bit thicker. Not that I thoughts a lot, I’d somewhat take an additional millimeter so long as the chassis is straightforward to grip. And it’s, with rounded edges and funky, clean steel surfaces in all places.

Display screen

The display is a smooth IPS panel with 1080p decision. At 14-inches, that makes it not fairly pixel-free, however nearly. And sharp sufficient for snug viewing of net pages, paperwork and pictures. It handles totally different viewing angles completely, apart from the truth that shiny surfaces at all times have clear reflections at sharp angles.

The display isn’t significantly vivid, touchdown at slightly below 300 nits, the place one of the best flip display Chromebooks I’ve examined are near 400. That’s ok indoors, however could be a downside if you wish to work within the daytime outside.

Regardless of that and in addition reasonable color gamut, a bit beneath the complete sRGB palette, the films I stream to the pc usually look good. There’s a crisp sharpness to the picture, thanks largely to good blacks and distinction.

No less than 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 an excellent immersion and keep away from display reflections. There may be minimal threat 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 also 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. In order for you extra, you may join analogue headphones, USB audio through one USB-A, two USB-C or in fact 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 robotically if 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 funds really feel, however supplies first rate management.

You even have contact management on the display, and also you additionally get a well-built stylus in strong aluminium. You need to use it to navigate the display, scribble notes and attract drawing apps. The pen has some strain sensitivity and good precision, nevertheless it tends to have an excessive amount of friction with the display floor, so it feels nearly tough. Response can also be noticeably sluggish.

The webcam seems good with nice gentle and little noise, nevertheless it lacks element so the enjoyment of getting a 1080p digital camera is misplaced. Alternatively, the microphone is superb. It captures my voice with a nice tone and plenty of element, and nearly 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 secure workplace efficiency. And even right here there’s 8GB ram reminiscence. Really, on paper it’s a bit worse because it’s of the DDR4 sort as an alternative of DDR5, nevertheless it 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 mentioned to be actual M.2 SSD as an alternative of UFS-based flash reminiscence.

A 64GB and a 128GB mannequin are mentioned to have eMMC storage, so go for the bigger one I’ve examined right here if you happen to can. It’s price it. It’s not vastly quicker, however the distinction in loading a bigger put in recreation from the Google Play retailer, for instance, continues 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 may as well get a Core i5 mannequin with a 512GB SSD.

Mattias Inghe

Battery Life

The battery life doesn’t supply any surprises, however seven hours of video streaming at full brightness and 10 hours of searching at medium brightness is kind of what I anticipated. Possibly much less, however then now we have to take into consideration 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 laptop 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 also be cool, and the pc hardly ever wants lively cooling. When it does begin up after steady processor strain, the mechanics might whine a bit, nevertheless it’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 accessible 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.

Take a look at our round-up of one of the 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 one of the 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.

Briefly, this can be a well-built, fashionable and full Chromebook that delivers quite a lot of performance for the cash. With the correct {hardware}, it allows you to reap the benefits of all the chances of the platform in a wonderful means.

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, net 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 overview initially appeared on PC for Alla.