Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook Plus review: Elegant convertible with strong performance

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chrome is a versatile convertible that impresses with its elegant design, solid workmanship, and flexible 360-degree hinge. This 2-in-1 laptop can also be used as a strong replacement for an Android tablet.

Smooth performance is guaranteed thanks to the Intel Core i3 processor and the NVMe SSD. Two USB-C ports, a backlit keyboard, and a large touchpad are also included. The 16:10 screen offers good viewing angles and even illumination.

Apart from that, the screen offers nothing special. Resolution, color reproduction, and brightness are rather standard fare.

Deductions are made for the somewhat weak battery life and the reflective display surface. It is also a shame that no stylus is included. The more than double purchase price compared to the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is not entirely clear. In terms of performance, display and features, there are only a few differences that would be noticeable in the typical usage scenarios of a Chromebook.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is available from various retailers, including Media Markt, Saturn and Galaxus, where it is currently on offer for around 670 euros. The new Chromebook is currently significantly more expensive on Amazon. Until January 31 one year of Google One AI Premium is included in the purchase price.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is a convertible with a 360° hinge and 14-inch screen in 16:10 format. It is equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB RAM, and a 512 GB NVMe SSD. Other features include a Full HD webcam with a privacy shutter and Wi-Fi 6E.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook has a modern and elegant design that impresses with its combination of cool aluminum and robust plastic. The 2-in-1 laptop comes in an elegant dark gray metallic. The screen cover is made of aluminum, while the screen itself is protected from the environment by glass. The base unit is mainly made of lacquered plastic. This mix of materials not only gives the Chromebook a pleasantly cool feel, but also impressive stability.

The heart of the Flex 5 is the 360-degree hinge, which gives the Chromebook its eponymous flexibility. The touchscreen can be folded down completely with a smooth swing, transforming the classic laptop into a practical tablet in no time at all. Whether for comfortable surfing on the couch, for presenting content, or for creative drawing with the optional Lenovo USI pen - the Flex 5 adapts effortlessly to any situation.

The workmanship of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is, as usual from Lenovo, of a high standard. The gaps are precise and even, sharp edges or unsightly burrs are nowhere to be found. The screen is pleasingly torsion-resistant and can hardly be bent even under strong pressure. The base unit is also robust and stable, although the keyboard can be pressed in a little. Only the screen lid could be a little smoother, but it can still be opened with one hand for the most part.

With dimensions of 21 x 315 x 231 mm and a weight of 1.64 kg, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook presents itself as a compact and mobile companion. The weight is average for 14-inch convertibles and makes it easy to carry in a backpack or bag.

There is a USB-C port on both sides of the device. Both offer DisplayPort and PowerDelivery for external screens and for the charger. On the left side, there is also a USB-A port, a MicroSD card reader, and a combined audio port for headphones and a microphone. For security, the Chromebook offers a Kensington Lock slot and a fingerprint sensor.

With a read speed of 50 MB/s, the integrated SD card reader delivers decent values. This allows photos and videos to be transferred quickly from the storage medium.

The webcam has a Full HD resolution and delivers usable images for video conferences. A plus point is the mechanical privacy shutter, which securely covers the camera when not in use and thus protects privacy.

The Wi-Fi module is stable and offers fast transfer rates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands as well as the new 6 GHz band thanks to the Wi-Fi 6E standard.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is not only an eye-catcher but also has a lot to offer under the hood. The convertible is powered by an Intel Core i3-1315U. With six cores, this efficient multi-core processor offers enough power for typical Chromebook applications such as browsing, office work, and streaming.

The processor is supported by 8 GB LPDDR4X memory and a fast 512 GB NVMe SSD. This combination ensures short loading times and a smooth system experience.

The Core i3-1315U is an efficient multi-core processor with eight threads distributed across six cores and a maximum turbo clock of up to 4.5 GHz at 55 W. However, the processor is configured with a significantly lower PL2 in the Chromebook. We see a maximum of 3.75 GHz in Turbo and 2.2 GHz in continuous operation in the diagnostic monitor, even at full load. Anyway, this is enough for the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook to offer solid performance for everyday tasks. Compared to the recently tested Acer Chromebook Plus CB514 with Intel N305 processor the Lenovo Chromebook shows a higher performance in most synthetic benchmarks. However, the processor's iGPU makes a noticeable difference here. The Intel UHD Graphics comes with 64 EUs instead of 32 as in the N305. Thus, clear differences in the performance of the two Chromebook-Plus alternatives can only be seen in the graphics performance benchmarks.

The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook relies on the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs. A dedicated graphics card is not installed. Compared to the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with Intel UHD Graphics 32 EUs, the Lenovo Chromebook offers slightly better graphics performance.

Some synthetic benchmarks show a doubling of the FPS from the Acer to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus. In terms of gaming performance, however, the two devices are not much different. In addition to the graphics performance, other factors such as the CPU performance also play a decisive role here, which is at a similar level for both devices.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook is pleasantly quiet in everyday use. In normal use, the fan is whisper-quiet and barely noticeable. Even when the CPU and iGPU are running at full speed, the background noise is limited. With a maximum of 36.8 dB(A) at a distance of 15 cm, the Chromebook remains surprisingly restrained even under load and does not disturb concentrated work or movie enjoyment. The fans hardly make any disturbing high-frequency sounds.

Even under load, the IdeaPad Flex 5 does not get uncomfortably warm. In normal operation, the surface temperatures are only just above room temperature.

Even in the stress test, in which the processor and graphics card are fully utilized, the device barely heats up. The maximum temperature on the top is 41.4 °C.

The speakers of Lenovo's Chromebook surprise with a good sound image. The balanced treble provides a clear, harmonious sound, while the volume is sufficient to fill a small room.

If you want to customize the sound or enjoy deep bass, you can connect headphones or external speakers - all options are open thanks to the jack connection and Bluetooth.

A 45-watt power supply is included with the IdeaPad Flex 5 Chrome. The test showed that the laptop also draws this power for a short time when the processor is running under full load. However, as these phases do not last long, the power supply unit is sufficiently dimensioned.

Overall, the Chromebook is not very power-hungry. The recently tested Acer Chromebook is a little more economical, but its processor does without powerful P-cores and can therefore save a few watts.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook Plus impresses with its elegant design, solid performance, and flexible use. The features are functional and the screen and speakers are good. The overall picture is marred by a somewhat short battery life. It would also be nice if Lenovo included a matching stylus.