Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus overview: Hitting that sweetspot

I’ve used dozens of Chromebooks through the years, together with finances machines, high-end fashions, or even a gaming Chromebook. As somebody who works from house, I’ve discovered there’s a lot to love about Chromebooks.

Chromebooks aren’t most effective a lot more reasonably priced than in a similar way spec’d Home windows machines or MacBooks, however in addition they have a tendency to be extra strong because of the simplified nature of Chrome OS. After I heard concerning the new Chromebook Plus initiative, it piqued my hobby. After about two weeks of the use of Lenovo’s new Chromebook Plus, I sought after to proportion my impressions on this brief Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus overview.

The Flex 5i is powered through a thirteenth gen Intel Core i3-1315U with Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC garage. It additionally includes a respectable vary of ports for a Chromebook, together with two USB-C ports, a unmarried legacy USB port, and a microSD slot.

Moreover, it sports activities a 14-inch Complete HD touchscreen IPS panel that appears nice, even if it falls slightly brief on brightness for my liking. It purposes completely indoors however would possibly combat in brighter stipulations. The 16:10 ratio additionally takes slightly to get used to, however it additionally makes you are feeling just like the display screen is even larger.

Whilst I used the 1080p webcam just a few occasions right through my checking out, I discovered it to be an important development over the usual 720p cameras discovered on maximum Chromebooks. I additionally favored the presence of OS-level digicam controls for options like blur, noise aid, and extra.

In regards to the battery, Lenovo claims it may give as much as 10 hours of battery existence. This declare most commonly matched my revel in, even if it tired noticeably quicker when dealing with extra hard duties like Android and Linux gaming. However, I constantly bought no less than 8 hours of battery existence, and on someday of quite modest use, I controlled to get a complete 11 hours earlier than it ran out.

One of the crucial highest issues about Chromebooks is how temporarily you’ll be able to get began. Turning at the computer for the primary time took simply ten seconds. After I entered my Google Account, I used to be greeted with the primary desktop, and the whole thing used to be just about able to move. This no longer most effective incorporated most of the Android apps I had put in on previous Chromebooks, however it additionally carried over all my core Chrome browser settings from my primary (Home windows) computer. Certain, I had to go into a couple of passwords right here and there, however the level is that the setup used to be useless easy.

To be truthful, this has at all times been a energy of the Chrome OS platform, particularly with higher-end {hardware}. Nonetheless, I used to be inspired through how neatly the Flex 5i carried out, making an allowance for its $500 value.

Whilst my ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a brilliant gadget, it infrequently struggles to maintain various dozen Chrome tabs with out some noticeable stuttering when operating it in decrease energy mode off the charger. I sought after to peer how the Flex 5i when put next, so I loaded up each and every work-related tab I may recall to mind.

I reached over 40 tabs, and but it used to be nonetheless quite clean crusing. I even hopped into Fb and a couple of gaming apps with out an excessive amount of slowdown. That stated, I spotted it began to warmth up slightly, however no longer uncomfortably. It additionally remained quite quiet, regardless of the workload.

After some time, I forgot I used to be on a Chromebook, as this reasonably priced gadget flawlessly treated internet surfing, WordPress, Adobe Specific, and the entire different equipment I had to do my process with no unmarried hiccup. General, the revel in used to be simply as nice as any higher-end Home windows gadget when it got here to web-based actions.

If you want one thing for high-end gaming and different hard duties like video modifying, Chromebooks nonetheless can’t stay up. Alternatively, I discovered Adobe’s on-line equipment have been easiest for fundamental photograph modifying and different connected duties. It additionally treated fundamental Google Play video games or even some Steam games with out a lot factor, which I’ll get to slightly extra later.

I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned at the way it carried out in comparison to many higher-end Chromebooks in the market. Past due final 12 months, I had a couple of weeks with the Acer Chromebook 516GE, one of the vital first gaming Chromebooks, and I’ve to mention that the revel in right here used to be just about as nice for non-gaming duties.

The Flex 5i used to be simply as rapid as Acer’s 516GE for Chrome surfing or even looked as if it would load Android apps quicker. It’s additionally about $150 inexpensive. Certain, you don’t get as excessive a solution show, and also you’re lacking the RGB lighting fixtures, however you do get a ravishing gadget that appears relatively high-end regardless of its plastic building and a forged keyboard, despite the fact that the keys are slightly shallow for my style.

One vital good thing about the Flex 5i is its 2-in-1 design, which used to be lovely at hand.

The Flex 5i boots into Chrome’s pill interface once you turn the hinge even somewhat. Whilst I nonetheless choose Android tablets, the interface used to be simple to make use of and ran Google Play apps unusually neatly. I examined a number of video games like Name of Responsibility Cellular and Minecraft, in addition to all my favourite social apps, streaming apps, and just about each and every app I take advantage of frequently on my telephone. Some labored slightly higher than others, however, for probably the most phase, the revel in used to be related to that of an Android pill.

I should admit that this can be a large and reasonably heavy computer, so it will not be appropriate as a pill for everybody. One of the simplest ways to make use of it this manner is to stay the keyboard partly folded out, turning it right into a makeshift kickstand. I continuously discovered myself observing streaming displays or surfing the internet on my mattress on this method. I infrequently folded the gadget utterly flat, even though I let my children mess around with it somewhat, and that mode gave the impression extra herbal to them.

One small gripe is the loss of an incorporated stylus. Whilst the Lenovo Flex 5i totally helps USI pen enter, it doesn’t include one. Alternatively, this isn’t a characteristic everybody will use. In the event you don’t see your self the use of it for drawing or taking notes, you almost certainly gained’t thoughts.

Whilst the Flex 5i isn’t a really perfect pill substitute, it handles the process admirably, and I cherished having the 2-in-1 design as an choice for scenarios the place I didn’t wish to use the gadget in its default clamshell place.

As I stated, this can be a nice software out of the field, however it may be even higher should you’re a tinkerer like me. Switching to the beta channel, I was able to install Steam, in addition to a number of Linux packages. As you may be expecting, there have been some hiccups. I examined a few dozen random Linux apps and a few simply simple refused to run correctly, however the overwhelming majority carried out as you’d be expecting. The similar is going for Steam.

Whilst you gained’t have the ability to maintain each and every Steam sport with out factor, I discovered many older and not more hard video games ran simply high-quality. In general, I examined out about twelve Steam video games, all of that have been older, and just a few formally optimized for Linux. Simply bear in mind you might have restricted space for storing, so that you’ll need to uninstall video games you aren’t the use of to make room for extra.

Of the entire titles I examined, a few 3rd refused to run utterly, whilst every other 3rd ran with extraordinarily gradual body charges. Video games like Grim Morning time and Town Skylines have been two examples of titles that performed unusually neatly, even though the latter identify did require some tweaking within the settings earlier than it could play well. Simply bear in mind that Steam video games can take for much longer to load as they have got to put in a couple of workarounds to lead them to play well with Chrome OS’s Linux core.

I no doubt wouldn’t exchange my gaming computer with the Flex 5i, however it’s great to understand you’ll be able to play “actual” non-mobile video games with the gadget.

With the exception of Steam video games and Linux apps, you’ll be able to additionally get sport streaming platforms like Xbox Game Pass up and operating with minimum hoops to leap thru. I performed Starfield and a couple of different video games and located the revel in labored simply as you’d be expecting.

In the event you’re in search of a super web-based productiveness gadget that may double as a makeshift Chromebook tablet, you’ll be able to’t pass unsuitable with the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i. Sure, there are Chromebooks in the market with much more energy on paper, however the true efficiency is so shut I sincerely assume this would possibly simply be the candy spot for Chromebook specifications.

Now not most effective does it run just about in addition to Chromebooks that price loads extra, however it even offers many Home windows machines a run for his or her cash — so long as you keep in mind that you’ll be restricted to web-based apps and Google Play apps out of the field.