Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook review

Google’s choice to associate with laptop computer makers on gaming Chromebooks couldn’t have occurred at a worse time. The primary fashions rolled out in late 2022, simply months earlier than Google cancelled Stadia, its in-house cloud gaming service.

Which may sound like the tip for gaming Chromebooks earlier than they’ve even actually began. However Lenovo’s IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook proves the thought nonetheless has benefit. From the brilliant show to the punchy audio system, this system has loads to supply. Right here’s our full evaluate.

Design & construct

• Easy, minimalist design
• Barely flimsy construct
• First rate port choice

You wouldn’t know the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook is constructed for gaming by it. The laptop computer is provided with a easy gray plastic exterior, counting on a contrasting matte strip to liven issues up.

I feel it’s enticing, however it gained’t make anybody do a double take. Lenovo might’ve simply labelled this an training or enterprise laptop computer with none change to the design.

Seems to be apart, the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook is a comparatively trendy system. It options impressively slim bezels across the show, serving to hold the general footprint comparatively low for a 16in, 16:10 panel.

The laptop computer is available in at simply over 14in large, lower than 10in deep and underneath 0.8in thick. It’s definitely not small, however extra compact than most of the 15.6in laptops that have been launched just some years in the past.

The construct high quality isn’t fairly as spectacular, although. All of the laptop computer surfaces are plastic (though the lid seems like metallic) and flex will be present in each the show lid and decrease chassis.

None of this can be a shock given the laptop computer’s worth level, however Lenovo’s rivals can do higher. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE, for instance, gives {a partially} aluminium chassis that feels extra luxurious. 

This Chromebook leans into USB-C with two ports that assist each Energy Supply quick charging and DisplayPort Alternate Mode for connecting to exterior shows. Both can be utilized for charging, information switch or video enter to a monitor.

A pair of USB-A ports are included, too, to be used with older wired gadgets. A MicroSD card reader and three.5mm audio jack spherical out the choices. It’s a great vary, though HDMI would’ve been good.

Keyboard & trackpad

• Full-size keyboard and separate quantity pad
• Good journey, however not essentially the most tactile
• Small however responsive trackpad

Lenovo places the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook’s dimension to good use with a spacious keyboard. Alongside all of the common keys, you get a separate quantity pad on the right-hand facet.

There’s loads of key journey and room to comfortably sort, however the keys really feel a bit mushy and never notably tactile. Nonetheless, Google’s particular row of Chromebook operate keys are all right here, offering easy accessibility to capabilities similar to quantity, brightness and refresh inside an online browser.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Keyboard backlighting is a basic gaming laptop computer function, though it’s a bit extra restricted right here. You may customise the color of the backlight by way of Chrome OS’s settings, however there are solely a handful of colors or a pre-defined rainbow choice.

Nonetheless, this can be a nice function given the laptop computer’s worth. Most on this worth vary stick to a white keyboard backlight and no customisation.

A modest touchpad sits instantly under the principle keyboard. It measures 4.5in large by 2.5in deep, which is unquestionably on the smaller facet. Whereas it feels responsive and by no means appears cramped, somewhat further area can be appreciated – there’s definitely room for it.

You’ll additionally discover that the touchpad is considerably offset in direction of the left in an effort to maintain it centred under the spacebar. Customers with giant arms must be cautious, as this will likely imply your left hand finally ends up off the facet of the palm relaxation.

Personally, I choose the Acer Chromebook 516 GE’s strategy, the place it ditches the quantity pad fully to deal with a centred touchpad and keyboard. Your mileage will range relying on how a lot you worth the quantity pad’s presence. 

Show, audio & webcam

• Stable 16in 120Hz IPS LCD show
• Spectacular audio system
• 720p webcam might be higher

The IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook is likely one of the largest ChromeOS gadgets you should purchase, that includes a 16in show with 16:10 facet ratio.

Whereas the entry-level mannequin has a 1920×1200 panel with 60Hz refresh charge, the one I examined upgrades this to 2560×1600 and 120Hz. Each are IPS LCD moderately than OLED, however have an anti-glare, non-gloss end.

Sadly, picture high quality is mediocre. Whilst you do get enticing colors and an affordable most brightness of 350 nits, the show’s unimpressive distinction ratio takes away plenty of depth and drama from the picture. Darkish scenes usually look hazy, with shadows missing element. 

Regardless of these flaws, the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook’s show is an enchancment over most inexpensive gaming laptops, similar to entry-level Acer Nitro 5 and Asus TUF Gaming A15. Home windows gaming laptops on this worth vary are inclined to have a slim, uninteresting color gamut and even decrease distinction ratio.

The Lenovo’s 120Hz refresh charge is one other benefit over the competitors. It seems extraordinarily clean in video games, but in addition enhances the day-to-day visible expertise. Scrolling feels slick, whereas transferring throughout apps and internet pages feels further responsive.

Whereas the show is a perk, there’s one large catch: not all cloud gaming companies assist 2,560 x 1,600 decision at as much as 120Hz. So far as I’m conscious, Nvidia GeForce Now and Shadow Blade are the one extensively out there companies that assist this decision and refresh charge. The laptop computer helps different recreation streaming companies, however the picture on these could seem softer than you’d count on.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Gaming apart, the show seems nice when looking the online or writing paperwork. Its sharp, vivid picture renders nice fonts with excellent readability, whereas the anti-glare coat takes the sting of harsh lighting. The scale and tall facet ratio of the show supplies loads of area for multitasking, too.

There’s extra excellent news in terms of audio – the laptop computer’s built-in audio system are nice for the value. They’re upward-firing, which means the sound isn’t in any respect muffled, and mix good stereo separation with a touch of oomph in music and films.

The mid-range can nonetheless be muddy at occasions and quantity is merely enough, however the audio system are a minimize above most Chromebooks and equally priced Home windows laptops. 

Above the show is a fundamental 720p webcam. Brightness and colors are acceptable, however video tends to look mushy and missing intimately. Nonetheless, these involved about privateness will likely be joyful to see the inclusion of a bodily privateness shutter that may utterly block the digital camera.

The microphone high quality is above common, with good quantity and readability. It’s unable to dam out many loud or constant background noises, however minor or occasional sounds aren’t an issue. Nonetheless, it’s value noting that the bodily shutter doesn’t disable the microphone.

Sadly, biometric login (together with your fingerprint or face) isn’t an choice on this Chromebook. However that’s not a shock, as not many Chromebooks select to incorporate this function. You’ll be counting on a great quaint PIN or password as a substitute.

Specs & efficiency

• Intel Core i5-1235U CPU
• Loads of RAM and storage
• Glorious cloud gaming efficiency

The IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook is provided with Intel’s Core i5-1235U, a CPU from the Twelfth-gen vary that arrived in 2022. With 10 cores (two efficiency, eight effectivity), it’s a modest processor in comparison with Home windows gaming laptops, but extraordinarily highly effective for a Chromebook.

Lenovo hasn’t compromised different efficiency specs, both. You get 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD within the US, with the UK mannequin rising the latter to 512GB.

That’s glorious for a Chromebook – even 256GB must be loads for most individuals. In my expertise, a 256GB SSD on a Chromebook feels much like a 1TB drive on a Home windows laptop computer, because the decreased cupboard space is offset by the very fact most apps (together with video games) run within the cloud. 

Right here’s how the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook fared in 5 browser-based benchmarks. 

• CrXPRT 2: 184
• Speedometer: 124
• Basemark Internet 3.0: 1193
• Kraken: 502.7
• Jetstream 2: 211.928

These are sturdy scores that go toe-to-toe with different latest Chromebooks with Intel Core i5 processors, such because the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 and the Framework Laptop computer Chromebook. The Intel-powered Lenovo is a tad forward of the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 with AMD Ryzen processor in most exams, although the benchmark outcomes are shut general.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

However what about gaming? Video games put in to the Chromebook don’t run effectively – or in any respect. Android video games are technically out there by by way of the Google Play Retailer utilizing Android emulation, however demanding titles are out of the query.

Throughout testing, Name of Obligation: Cellular instantly crashed and returned me to the desktop. Genshin Influence launches nice and is vaguely playable, however seems horrible and is something however clean. Asphalt 8 is clean sufficient to play however struggles with stuttering that takes away from the expertise.

Nonetheless, it’s a unique story for cloud gaming. The IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook can comfortably stream virtually any cloud gaming title at as much as its full 2560×1600 decision and 120Hz refresh charge.

Utilizing Nvidia’s GeForce Now‘s Final tier ($19.99/£17.99 monthly), which supplies entry to RTX 4080-class {hardware}, I ran Cyberpunk 2077 at 136 fps. This was with the Extremely element and Extremely ray-tracing settings on, plus DLSS 3 enabled.

Much more impressively, this was whereas in a indifferent shed that’s 50ft and several other partitions away from my residence router – I used to be completely reliant on the power of the Wi-Fi.

IDG / Matthew Smith

That’s an incredible end result. You’d need to spend 1000’s for related efficiency from a Home windows laptop computer that was enjoying the sport domestically.

I used to be equally stunned by how strong the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook’s Wi-Fi adapter carried out on this scenario. It’s a troublesome situation, because the vary between the router and the Chromebook ends in simply 90 Mbps of bandwidth and spotty latency, however the recreation felt clean.

The catch? You’ll must pay a month-to-month price to entry any cloud gaming service. You’ll even be restricted to a smaller choice of video games that they assist. However in case you can take care of these constraints, cloud gaming on this Chromebook is a unbelievable expertise.

Connectivity is spectacular, with the laptop computer supporting each Bluetooth 5.1 and the newest Wi-Fi 6E normal (on the time of writing). That’s necessary for a gaming Chromebook – whereas Wi-Fi 6 is greater than able to dealing with cloud gaming, the additional bandwidth isn’t a nasty factor.

I’m joyful to report the laptop computer helps Bluetooth 5.1 and Wi-Fi 6E, which is the newest Wi-Fi normal. That’s necessary for a gaming Chromebook. Wi-Fi 6 is greater than able to dealing with cloud gaming, however further bandwidth isn’t a nasty factor.

Wi-Fi 6E additionally has an extra 6GHz band which will enhance community reliability when you’ve got quite a few gadgets linked. You’ll want a Wi-Fi 6E router to make the most of this, although. 

Battery life

• 71Wh capability
• Spectacular battery life

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook packs a big 71Wh battery into its giant chassis. That’s a big capability for a Chromebook, and pays off if you’re away from the facility for a very long time.

Utilizing the CrXPT 2 battery life check, I recorded a really encouraging 15 hours and 56 minutes. It’s an incredible end result, beating the likes of the Acer Chromebook Vero 514, Acer Chromebook Spin 514, and Framework Chromebook Laptop computer.

In fact, you’re round half that of precise utilization, and even much less with a lot of gaming. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless an enormous leap over Home windows gaming laptops, which regularly wrestle to hit 5 hours of battery life on a cost. Battery life is a key power of the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook.

Worth & availability

The worth of the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook varies significantly relying on the place you’re primarily based.

In US, you may pay as little as $569.99, each by way of Amazon and eBay – the latter is by way of Antonline, a Lenovo authorised vendor. That will get you an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

However within the UK, it prices £749.99 from Box, with Amazon and AO each much more costly. The storage is doubled to a 512GB SSD, however all different specs are the identical.

That makes it a premium Chromebook, but one of the reasonably priced gaming laptops you should purchase. Its most blatant rival is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE (from $649.99/£849.99), whereas the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 (from $499.99/£499.99) isn’t designed for video games however can run them by way of the cloud.

Verdict

The IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook is a powerful Chromebook for each day-to-day productiveness and cloud gaming. There’s loads to love right here, together with a vivid, sharp show, good efficiency, nice connectivity and glorious battery life.

Lenovo has made some design sacrifices, although, whereas the keyboard and webcam aren’t the very best.

Pretty much as good as this system is, Acer’s Chromebook 516 GE supplies a barely extra well-rounded Chromebook gaming expertise. However most individuals will likely be pleased with both system, and the IdeaPad 5 Gaming Chromebook is a nice second alternative.

Specs

• CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
• Reminiscence: 8GB
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe
• Show: 2560×1600
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Webcam: 720p with IR
• Connectivity: 2x USB-C with Energy Supply and DisplayPort 1.4, 2x USB-A, 1x microSD card reader, 1x combo 3.5mm audio jack
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 71 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.04 x 9.96 x 0.78in
• Weight: 4.01lb (1.82kg)