Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 convertible review: Powerful entry of the small i3-1215U

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7 is a relatively efficient convertible that wants to be a laptop for any occasion in the consumer realm. The performance and equipment are at an elevated level for an office laptop. When you hold it on your lap as a tablet, it stays relatively quiet and cool. At 14 inches, its size isn't absolutely mobile anymore but offers a comfortably large screen area for streaming, surfing, and working instead.
With the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7, we already tested a more powerful version, and now the entry-level version with the smallest configuration and corresponding lowest price of almost 700 Euros (~$737) has to prove itself in this test. The small i3-1215U uses a slimmed down graphics unit with fewer computing units and is only supported by 8 GB of RAM.
A competitor is for example the significantly slimmer Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13, and the Asus Vivobook Flip 14 and Acer Spin 3 SP314 also offer a similar construction and comparable computing performance.
Possible Competitors in Comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
84.8 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2022 | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE i3-1215U, UHD Graphics 64EUs | 1.6 kg | 19.8 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1200 | |
86 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2021 | Asus Vivobook 13 Slate Pentium N6000, UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 32 EU) | 1.4 kg | 7.9 mm | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | |
85.4 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2021 | Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.1 kg | 13 mm | 13.20" | 1920x1080 | |
82.4 % v7 (old) | 08 / 2022 | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 i5-1235U, Iris Xe G7 80EUs | 1.6 kg | 17.4 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1200 | |
81.2 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2021 | Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU R3 3250U, Vega 3 | 1.5 kg | 16.9 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | |
79.1 % v7 (old) | 06 / 2021 | Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ i5-1135G7, Xe MAX | 1.5 kg | 18.7 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 |
Case and Equipment - A robust IdeaFlex without any gaps
The metal display lid immediately ensures a high-quality and fairly robust impression. The IdeaPad Flex also corroborates this with a relatively high weight of 1.6 kg (~3.5 lb), making it one of the heavier convertibles. The base unit is made of plastic and appears to be assembled accurately. Attempts of warping only lead to limited success, which is probably connected with the high weight.
The display hinges are well adjusted. You can open the lid with one hand up to a 60-degree angle. After that, it becomes harder to open further, in order to prevent some annoying wobbling when the display is touched.
Two USB-A and a Thunderbolt 4 port are surely sufficient for connecting peripherals. With HDMI, an SD card reader, and the audio port for a headset, some additional useful connections are also available. Even though you can charge the convertible via the Thunderbolt port, this is not your only charging option, and the port can usually remain available for other purposes. On the road, you can still charge the laptop with a standard charger or suitable power bank.
The WLAN speed is slightly below average, but at almost 1,000 Mbit/s, the speed is still within the range of a cable connection. The webcam with Full HD resolution delivers a convincing image quality even under bad light conditions. While the corresponding microphone could sound a bit better, it still records your voice clearly and understandably, and reliably even from a further distance.
SD Card Reader | |
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
Average of class Convertible (22.4 - 209, n=28, last 2 years) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
Average of class Convertible (25.2 - 263, n=27, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 |

Input Devices - Convertible with a good keyboard
The keyboard of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex is close to standard size, which ensures that typing succeeds easily without having to get used to it or needing any adjustment. The stroke of almost 1 mm isn't really impressive, though. However, the resistance of the individual keys can be called well-adjusted. Even longer typing tasks turn out to be comfortable, even if the keyboard isn't able to compete with that of most business laptops. But at least there is a keyboard illumination.
At 12 x 7 cm (~4.7 x 2.8 in), the touchpad has a comfortable size. The smooth surface allows accurate sliding of the fingertips. Only the hidden keys in the bottom area could have turned out a bit crisper.
What remains is the most important input method: the large touchscreen in the 16:10 format allows you to control the IdeaPad effortlessly. The usual commands, even those with several fingers, succeed accurately. Particularly writing using the onscreen keyboard is fun, since the keys are close to the same size as the physical keyboard.
Display - No brilliant colors on Lenovo's touchscreen
Aside from the very fitting resolution slightly above Full HD, the display is not very impressive. The brightness is just barely able to fulfill the minimum requirements at an average of barely 290 cd/m². The contrast value is still okay, even though it tends to be in the lower range at about 1,100:1.
Even though it is rather weak overall, the resolution still makes the display work well for surfing, office tasks, and even video streaming.
We did not notice any flickering of the screen at a low brightness. There is also only minimal screen bleeding, which is not very surprising, considering the fairly weak background illumination.
|
Brightness Distribution: 91 %
Center on Battery: 264 cd/m²
Contrast: 1106:1 (Black: 0.265 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.18 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.87
ΔE Greyscale 7.02 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
44.17% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
63.66% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
42.69% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.51
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE LEN140WUXGA, IPS, 1920x1200, 14" | Asus Vivobook 13 Slate Samsung SDC4169 ATNA33XC21, OLED, 1920x1080, 13.3" | Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 AMOLED, 1920x1080, 13.2" | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 LEN140WUXGA, IPS, 1920x1200, 14" | Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU AU Optronics B140HAN04.0, IPS, 1920x1080, 14" | Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ Chi Mei CMN N140HCA-EAC, IPS, 1920x1080, 14" | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Display | 52% | 102% | -7% | -11% | -3% | |
Display P3 Coverage | 42.69 | 65 52% | 99.4 133% | 39.6 -7% | 37.8 -11% | 41.6 -3% |
sRGB Coverage | 63.66 | 97 52% | 100 57% | 59.6 -6% | 56.8 -11% | 62.1 -2% |
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 44.17 | 67 52% | 96 117% | 41 -7% | 39 -12% | 43 -3% |
Response Times | 92% | 92% | -18% | -50% | -35% | |
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 30 ? | 2 ? 93% | 2 ? 93% | 37.6 ? -25% | 48 ? -60% | 39 ? -30% |
Response Time Black / White * | 20 ? | 2 ? 90% | 2 ? 90% | 22 ? -10% | 28 ? -40% | 28 ? -40% |
PWM Frequency | 60 ? | 60 ? | 25000 ? | |||
Screen | 44% | 348% | 32% | -2% | -16% | |
Brightness middle | 293 | 303 3% | 287 -2% | 356.8 22% | 231 -21% | 205 -30% |
Brightness | 277 | 303 9% | 289 4% | 339 22% | 232 -16% | 186 -33% |
Brightness Distribution | 91 | 94 3% | 96 5% | 90 -1% | 90 -1% | 78 -14% |
Black Level * | 0.265 | 0.1 62% | 0.01 96% | 0.14 47% | 0.4 -51% | 0.22 17% |
Contrast | 1106 | 3030 174% | 28700 2495% | 2549 130% | 578 -48% | 932 -16% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 6.18 | 4.29 31% | 2.24 64% | 4.39 29% | 4.01 35% | 5.14 17% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 9.46 | 6.63 30% | 3.69 61% | 14.61 -54% | 8.23 13% | 19.57 -107% |
Greyscale dE 2000 * | 7.02 | 4.33 38% | 2.73 61% | 3 57% | 2.04 71% | 4.1 42% |
Gamma | 2.51 88% | 2.12 104% | 2.46 89% | 2.24 98% | 2.25 98% | 2.2 100% |
CCT | 6000 108% | 6004 108% | 6523 100% | 7085 92% | 6751 96% | 6807 95% |
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.84 | 2.19 | 3.17 | |||
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 43.04 | |||||
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 62.1 | |||||
Total Average (Program / Settings) | 63% /
53% | 181% /
252% | 2% /
15% | -21% /
-12% | -18% /
-16% |
* ... smaller is better
The colors are not reproduced optimally. At a DeltaE of higher than 6, the deviation in our measurements is clearly within a visible range. But at least there is no noticeable color tint. Photos tend to appear slightly pale and grayish, but if you don't look at them in direct comparison, this becomes less noticeable.
The color space coverage is also at a low level. The sRGB color space used by many midrange laptops is only displayed to 64%. This will become noticeable when looking at highly resolving digital photos. It also makes the display hardly suited for image processing. However, the values are still okay for entertainment purposes.
Display Response Times
↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
---|---|---|
20 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 11 ms rise | |
↘ 9 ms fall | ||
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 40 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms). | ||
↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
30 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 14 ms rise | |
↘ 16 ms fall | ||
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (32.5 ms). |
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
Screen flickering / PWM not detected | |||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8516 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. |
Performance - Convertible with an efficient computing core
With the choice among three processors, the Intel Core i3-1215U, i5-1235U, or i7-1255U, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7 offers efficient and frugal computing cores, and a large bandwidth is also covered. The fastest model currently costs 1000 Euros (~$1053).
Our test unit, which is the convertible with the smallest processor, a small SSD, and only a small amount of RAM costs around 700 Euros (~$737). Even with its humble equipment, this is still a good amount more than the absolute entry level segment. However, fast starting of programs, video reproduction that is always smooth, and multimedia should not pose any problems for the hardware. Multitasking, on the other hand, will fairly quickly show the limits of its performance.
Test Conditions
The preinstalled "Lenovo Vantage" software, which unfortunately includes numerous typos and unfortunate translations, offers three performance levels: Extreme Performance, Intelligent Cooling, and Battery Saving mode.
All our tests are run with the Extreme Performance mode, which is also the default mode. However, these settings have no influence on the power limits of the CPU.
Processor
The Intel Core i3-1215U with two Performance and six Efficiency cores in our IdeaPad test unit belongs to the smallest models of the Alder Lake series. However, this also means that it is still clearly ahead of entry-level CPUs such as the Intel Celeron 7300 or Pentium 8500 of the same processor generation.
Among other things, it supports 10 threads, which is reflected in our Cinebench R15 constant load test. For example, it still surpasses the i5-1135G7 of the previous generation by about 10% on average, although that is really a higher-class processor that can be found in many smaller business laptops.
For a mobile i3 processor, the results are impressive for sure. The computing performance should be completely sufficient for almost all nonwork-related tasks. This is also the case when you run two different programs simultaneously.
Cinebench R15 Multi Loop
Cinebench R23: Multi Core | Single Core
Cinebench R20: CPU (Multi Core) | CPU (Single Core)
Cinebench R15: CPU Multi 64Bit | CPU Single 64Bit
Blender: v2.79 BMW27 CPU
7-Zip 18.03: 7z b 4 | 7z b 4 -mmt1
Geekbench 5.5: Multi-Core | Single-Core
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2: 4k Preset
LibreOffice : 20 Documents To PDF
R Benchmark 2.5: Overall mean
CPU Performance Rating | |
Average of class Convertible | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 -2! | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
Cinebench R23 / Multi Core | |
Average of class Convertible (2949 - 29063, n=64, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (4561 - 5802, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
Cinebench R23 / Single Core | |
Average of class Convertible (914 - 2163, n=64, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (1442 - 1581, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Multi Core) | |
Average of class Convertible (1124 - 11357, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (1734 - 2198, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
Cinebench R20 / CPU (Single Core) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average of class Convertible (348 - 827, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (557 - 606, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Multi 64Bit | |
Average of class Convertible (478 - 4830, n=66, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (786 - 832, n=2) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
Cinebench R15 / CPU Single 64Bit | |
Average of class Convertible (149.8 - 317, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (208 - 227, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
Blender / v2.79 BMW27 CPU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (645 - 684, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average of class Convertible (107 - 1051, n=61, last 2 years) |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 | |
Average of class Convertible (12977 - 121368, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (20873 - 24893, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
7-Zip 18.03 / 7z b 4 -mmt1 | |
Average of class Convertible (3672 - 6540, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (4934 - 5129, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
Geekbench 5.5 / Multi-Core | |
Average of class Convertible (2188 - 22023, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (4502 - 6015, n=2) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
Geekbench 5.5 / Single-Core | |
Average of class Convertible (806 - 2275, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (1506 - 1572, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 / 4k Preset | |
Average of class Convertible (3.43 - 36.2, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (5.31 - 5.33, n=2) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
LibreOffice / 20 Documents To PDF | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (53.7 - 55.7, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average of class Convertible (42.7 - 84.3, n=62, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 |
R Benchmark 2.5 / Overall mean | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (0.547 - 0.551, n=2) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average of class Convertible (0.3985 - 0.84, n=62, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 |
* ... smaller is better
AIDA64: FP32 Ray-Trace | FPU Julia | CPU SHA3 | CPU Queen | FPU SinJulia | FPU Mandel | CPU AES | CPU ZLib | FP64 Ray-Trace | CPU PhotoWorxx
Performance Rating | |
Average of class Convertible | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / FP32 Ray-Trace | |
Average of class Convertible (2179 - 64158, n=64, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (4272 - 5201, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / FPU Julia | |
Average of class Convertible (11392 - 183760, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (21844 - 26713, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / CPU SHA3 | |
Average of class Convertible (797 - 8151, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (1039 - 1224, n=2) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
AIDA64 / CPU Queen | |
Average of class Convertible (22413 - 145339, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (44865 - 45281, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / FPU SinJulia | |
Average of class Convertible (1120 - 29155, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (2968 - 3399, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / FPU Mandel | |
Average of class Convertible (5749 - 97193, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (10783 - 12241, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / CPU AES | |
Average of class Convertible (21774 - 169089, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (21619 - 25624, n=2) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
AIDA64 / CPU ZLib | |
Average of class Convertible (218 - 2001, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (306 - 358, n=2) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
AIDA64 / FP64 Ray-Trace | |
Average of class Convertible (1169 - 34297, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (2275 - 2801, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / CPU PhotoWorxx | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average of class Convertible (13761 - 81626, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (14051 - 34108, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
System Performance
With its limited hardware, the Lenovo IdeaFlex achieves an evaluation that is not very far from the average of all the convertibles we tested. It even manages to significantly surpass a very simple model like the Acer Spin 3 SP314.
The system responds quickly when opening new programs, surfing, or running programs in parallel. On the other hand, installation processes take a bit more time, for example. In addition, too many open programs or numerous browser tabs can fill up the limited amount of working memory completely, which limits the speed massively.
CrossMark: Overall | Productivity | Creativity | Responsiveness
PCMark 10 / Score | |
Average of class Convertible (3229 - 9125, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (4527 - 5053, n=2) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
PCMark 10 / Essentials | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average of class Convertible (7233 - 12005, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (9097 - 10681, n=2) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
PCMark 10 / Productivity | |
Average of class Convertible (5062 - 10800, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (6199 - 6919, n=2) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation | |
Average of class Convertible (2496 - 16551, n=61, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (4467 - 4738, n=2) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
CrossMark / Overall | |
Average of class Convertible (524 - 2274, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (1201 - 1333, n=2) |
CrossMark / Productivity | |
Average of class Convertible (554 - 1925, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (1267 - 1320, n=2) |
CrossMark / Creativity | |
Average of class Convertible (550 - 2949, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (1180 - 1401, n=2) |
CrossMark / Responsiveness | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Average of class Convertible (381 - 1868, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) (1077 - 1178, n=2) |
PCMark 10 Score | 5053 points | |
Help |
AIDA64 / Memory Copy | |
Average of class Convertible (29473 - 158525, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (22823 - 54953, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / Memory Read | |
Average of class Convertible (28905 - 126517, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (23785 - 48927, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / Memory Write | |
Average of class Convertible (30110 - 216896, n=63, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (23263 - 65473, n=2) | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
AIDA64 / Memory Latency | |
Average of class Convertible (7.7 - 173, n=62, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Average Intel Core i3-1215U (75.6 - 102.2, n=2) | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate |
* ... smaller is better
DPC Latencies
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Asus Vivobook 13 Slate | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ |
* ... smaller is better
Storage Solution
Without a larger collection of photos, the offered 256 GB, almost 200 GB of which are available, should be sufficient for all the programs and personal data. Even though the short SSD in the 2242 format is connected via PCIe 4.0, it only achieves the speed of PCIe 3.0. In the constant load test, the transfer rates drop due to the warming of the board, even though it is covered by a thick layer of heat paste.
However, this won't cause a limiting effect. The performance of the IdeaFlex is not sufficient to make full use of the solid access rates. And besides, the competitors are only rarely faster.
* ... smaller is better
Disk Throttling: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8
Graphics Card
The small Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs iGPU doesn't allow performing complex graphics tasks smoothly. Compared to an office laptop, the performance turns out hardly average. Even older laptops with an Intel Core Tiger Lake and the Intel Iris Xe 80EUs have an advantage here.
The performance is sufficient for image and even video processing for personal purposes, even if you still have to wait a bit sometimes. Less demanding and older games can also be played smoothly. For example, Strange Brigade from 2018 reaches significantly more than 60 fps at the lowest settings. The graphics performance also remains absolutely stable (albeit at a low level), as our The Witcher 3 constant load test shows.
3DMark 11 Performance | 4717 points | |
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 76305 points | |
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 15139 points | |
3DMark Fire Strike Score | 3234 points | |
3DMark Time Spy Score | 1171 points | |
Help |
* ... smaller is better
The Witcher 3 - 1920x1080 Ultra Graphics & Postprocessing (HBAO+) | |
Average of class Convertible (10.2 - 123.3, n=40, last 2 years) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
GTA V - 1920x1080 Highest Settings possible AA:4xMSAA + FX AF:16x | |
Average of class Convertible (7.14 - 114.3, n=53, last 2 years) | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark - 1920x1080 High Quality | |
Average of class Convertible (4.48 - 107.1, n=64, last 2 years) | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU |
Strange Brigade - 1920x1080 ultra AA:ultra AF:16 | |
Average of class Convertible (10.8 - 196.9, n=59, last 2 years) | |
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 | |
Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE |
The Witcher 3 FPS Chart
low | med. | high | ultra | |
---|---|---|---|---|
GTA V (2015) | 92.6 | 71.8 | 17.1 | 7.41 |
The Witcher 3 (2015) | 51 | 37 | 20 | 10 |
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) | 100.7 | 74.6 | 47.9 | 43.9 |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) | 30.6 | 16.5 | 11.3 | |
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) | 29.1 | 24.9 | 23.3 | |
Strange Brigade (2018) | 67.4 | 29.9 | 23.3 | 0 |
Emissions and Power Management - IdeaPad Flex remains mostly quiet
System Noise
With less demanding tasks, the Lenovo IdeaFlex produces no noises. A few open tabs while simultaneously playing a video will cause the fan to start, but it rarely becomes annoying. Most of the time, the fan remains silent or only minimally audible.
Solely under maximum load, we measure 42 dB, which is slightly more than with the competitors. However, this would be an exception.
Noise Level
Idle |
| 25.5 / 25.5 / 31 dB(A) |
Load |
| 35.1 / 42.2 dB(A) |
![]() | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE UHD Graphics 64EUs, i3-1215U, Kioxia BG5 KBG50ZNT256G | Asus Vivobook 13 Slate UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 32 EU), Pentium N6000, WDC PC SN530 SDBPMPZ-265G | Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Samsung PM991 MZVLQ256HAJD | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1235U, Samsung PM9B1 512GB MZAL4512HBLU | Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU Vega 3, R3 3250U, SK hynix BC511 HFM256GDJTNI-82A0 | Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ Xe MAX, i5-1135G7, Intel SSD 660p SSDPEKNW512G8 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Noise | 12% | -3% | 12% | 5% | -9% | |
off / environment * | 25.5 | 26.3 -3% | 27 -6% | 22.9 10% | 25 2% | 29.95 -17% |
Idle Minimum * | 25.5 | 26.3 -3% | 27 -6% | 23 10% | 25 2% | 29.95 -17% |
Idle Average * | 25.5 | 26.3 -3% | 27 -6% | 23 10% | 26.7 -5% | 29.95 -17% |
Idle Maximum * | 31 | 26.3 15% | 27 13% | 23 26% | 27.5 11% | 29.95 3% |
Load Average * | 35.1 | 26.3 25% | 40.7 -16% | 33.5 5% | 33.2 5% | 39.84 -14% |
Load Maximum * | 42.2 | 26.3 38% | 40.7 4% | 37.8 10% | 36 15% | 39.84 6% |
Witcher 3 ultra * | 38 | 42.3 |
* ... smaller is better
Temperature
The lack of fan noise during idle operation and under low load also brings some noticeable warming, although a maximum of 35 °C (95 °F) is still acceptable. While surfing or streaming videos, using it on your lap or other soft surface seems to be realistic.
When there are demanding tasks, on the other hand, we would recommend the secure placement on the desk. At almost 48 °C (118 °F) - but only during the stress test - it gets hotter than most competitors.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.7 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 60 °C for the class Convertible.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.7 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.9 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are reaching skin temperature as a maximum (33.1 °C / 91.6 F) and are therefore not hot.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28 °C / 82.4 F (-5.1 °C / -9.2 F).
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE Intel Core i3-1215U, Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs (Alder Lake 12th Gen) | Asus Vivobook 13 Slate Intel Pentium Silver N6000, Intel UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 32 EU) | Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 13 Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14IAU7 Intel Core i5-1235U, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs | Acer Spin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU AMD Ryzen 3 3250U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 | Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP470EZ Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heat | 4% | 7% | 8% | 13% | 10% | |
Maximum Upper Side * | 41.7 | 41.4 1% | 43.1 -3% | 39 6% | 35.3 15% | 41 2% |
Maximum Bottom * | 47.7 | 40.8 14% | 47.3 1% | 40 16% | 36.2 24% | 41.2 14% |
Idle Upper Side * | 32.2 | 32.9 -2% | 28.6 11% | 31.2 3% | 32.5 -1% | 29.6 8% |
Idle Bottom * | 35.6 | 34.1 4% | 28.6 20% | 33.2 7% | 30.2 15% | 30 16% |
* ... smaller is better
Speakers
The IdeadPad Flex doesn't have a good handle on bass sounds or the lower mids, but highs and voices sound good. This makes the convertible only suited in a limited sense for listening to music. For being laptop speakers, they still do a decent job, though.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | reduced mids - on average 5.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6.2% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 69% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 27% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 20%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 68% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 27% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 M1 Pro audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(+) | good bass - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (5.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.3% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 1.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (2.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (4.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 0% of all tested devices in this class were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 0% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 100% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Power Consumption
During idle operation and under low load, the convertible is very efficient. If you need a higher performance, the IdeaPad is able to consume more than 60 watts. This is also reflected in the computing performance, which can reach an impressive level, at least for a few moments.
Off / Standby | ![]() ![]() |
Idle | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Load |
![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
Key:
min: ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Power Consumption The Witcher 3 / Stress Test
Power Consumption With External Monitor
Battery Life
Our web surfing test also shows the efficiency of the processor. The 10-hour mark is only barely missed, while the more powerful Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i with a larger battery stops almost an hour earlier, for example. The very similar Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i we also tested is almost at the same level with a faster CPU.
Pros
Cons
Verdict - A not very fast but very well-equipped convertible
The IdeaPad Flex 5 is impressive almost through the bank. The relatively small processor offers sufficient performance for almost every task, while still remaining efficient. Under load, this lets the bottom get slightly too warm, though.
All the important connections including HDMI and an SD card slot are available. The Thunderbolt port also allows you to easily connect an external SSD or dock.
The operation also works well, with the keyboard and touchpad offering a good quality. We particularly like the touchscreen in combination with the tablet mode of Windows 11 while surfing.
A good working speed, useful connections, and the comfortable operation of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7 ensure a high flexibility.
We also look in vain for weaknesses elsewhere. Together with the dual-array microphone, the webcam is very well suited for video calls. While the sound quality of the small speakers could of course be better, it is okay for a laptop or convertible.
Only the display creates little enthusiasm. The brightness and color intensity are at a low level. But this almost never becomes a hindrance, since the IdeaPad isn't designed for image processing or HDR videos anyways. Instead, it offers images that are rich in detail with its good resolution.
The limited amount of storage space and working memory should also be sufficient for personal use. Those who want to use it to surf, stream, or complete simple office tasks or play smaller games won't overtax the hardware.
On the other hand, if things need to go significantly faster, the otherwise almost identical Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i with an i5-1235 and more RAM would be a good choice. But if you primarily need to use a tablet for videos and surfing, the simpler Acer Apin 3 SP314-21N-R4GU might also be sufficient.
Price and Availability
The Intel version of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is available from Lenovo directly starting from $765. However, while the specifications list the three different Intel processors, only the i7 model appears to be currently available in the US. A simpler i3 version with an 11th generation processor is available from Amazon for $338.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14IAU7-82R7007TGE
- 12/06/2022 v7 (old)
Mario Petzold