Last year, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is one of Lenovo’s mainstays in the convertible category. With a more affordable selling price, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is also prepared as an alternative to the Lenovo YOGA C-Series which targets the premium segment. Are you curious about the sophistication it brings? Check out the following reviews.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i design
At first glance, the design of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i looks similar to last year’s IdeaPad C340. For a 14 inch laptop, the IdeaPad Flex 5i in our opinion is relatively compact and very sturdy. The body is also relatively slim and weighs about 1.5 kg. The weight and dimensions are still ideal for mobility.
The design itself looks premium by combining a top case made of aluminum material. There are three color choices, namely Graphite Gray, Platinum Gray and Light Teal (Blue).
The difference between the IdeaPad Flex 5i and the IdeaPad C340 is in the speaker section. The IdeaPad FLex 5i speakers are placed on the left and right of the keyboard. This front-facing speaker placement allows for better sound output. The sound output sounded clear enough even though it was a little underpowered. The audio sector for the IdeaPad Flex 5i has also been supported by the Dolby Audio feature.
For a complete connectivity port. The left side of the body can be found a DC-in port for power supply, HDMI, USB Type-C with support for the Power Delivery feature, one 3.5mm audio jack hole and the Lenovo One Key Recovery button. On the right side of the body there are two USB 3.1 Type-A ports (one of which supports the Always On feature to recharge other devices’ batteries) and an SD memory card reader slot.
Overall, the design of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i that we think needs to be improved is the absence of a special place to store the Lenovo Digital Pen stylus that it carries. Lenovo is still at home with the hook module solution that plugs into any of the USB ports.
There are advantages and disadvantages to this solution. The plus is that the hooks can be removed and used as needed. It is also quite helpful so that the pen is not lost when taken away. However, the drawback is that when the hook is practically attached, one of the USB ports can no longer be used. When the pen is tucked into the hook module it also interferes with access to the USB port on the side. In fact, blocking access to the SD memory card reader slot and the power button which is placed parallel.
For some users who frequently use the USB port this might be a problem. If only the HDMI port on the left of the body was placed on the right to replace one of the USB ports, it would feel more functional. The reason is, the HDMI port is one of the ports that is rarely used.
Fortunately, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i has been supported with a powerful feature called Flip To Boot. This feature must be thumbs up. The reason is, in our opinion Lenovo is quite careful in presenting a solution to overcome the power button that is blocked from access when the stylus pen is attached to one of the USB ports.
Thanks to the Flip to Boot feature, users no longer need to press the power button to turn on the laptop. Flip to Boot allows the IdeaPad Flex 5i to automatically start up and boot Windows when the laptop screen is opened. So, the stylus pen and the hook module can remain attached to one of the USB ports when invited to travel. Users don’t need to bother shifting the pen position or removing it from the USB port to just press the power button.
IdeaPad Flex 5i display
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i carries an IPS touch screen panel with Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen frame is also relatively thin and looks very proportionate.
On top of the screen panel you can find a 720p HD webcam camera which is equipped with the Lenovo Privacy Shutter cover feature. Useful for closing the webcam when not in use to protect privacy.
This screen panel is quite satisfying for everyday computing use from work to enjoying multimedia content. Thanks to the Full HD resolution, the visuals on the screen look sharp.
Color accuracy is not superior with the 45% NTSC color gamut standard. So, it will be less than ideal for content creation needs such as photo and video editing that require accurate color. With a maximum screen brightness level of around 250 nits, the screen panel is quite bright and ideal for indoor use. In very bright lighting conditions such as outdoor, the screen is a bit difficult to see.
The screen hinge is sturdy enough for a convertible laptop. We also had no trouble opening and folding the screen 360 degrees. Switching to tablet, tent, or stand mode can be done very easily.
The touch screen is also very responsive to the touch of a finger or the built-in Lenovo Digital Pen stylus. This touch screen supports multi-touch features and 10 finger touch point gestures.
Lenovo Digital Pen
Then how is the performance of the Lenovo Digital Pen stylus? Very satisfactory. This stylus pen offers a pressure sensitivity level of up to 4096 levels.
When using the Lenovo Digital Pen for sketching, handwriting or drawing on the screen we had almost no problems. The experience feels very natural like using pen on paper. When using the pen, the touch screen panel also supports the palm rejection feature. So, when writing and drawing, if the hand sticks to the screen, it will not leave a trace.
The level of pressure sensitivity and button functions on the Lenovo Digital Pen can also be adjusted via the Lenovo Pen Settings application. So, it can be adjusted according to the usage style of each user.
The pen battery capacity can be seen from the application. The Lenovo Digital Pen relies on AAAA batteries for power intake. If the battery runs out the battery can be replaced easily by simply opening the top cover of the pen.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i keyboard and trackpad
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i carries the chicklet-style keyboard that has become the hallmark of Lenovo laptops. The distance between the buttons is very fitting and not too flat with the body.
The keyboard is quite comfortable to use for long-term typing and doesn’t make your hands get sore quickly. The only drawback of the keyboard is the relatively small page up and page down arrow navigation keys.
For typing in a room with low light, the IdeaPad Flex 5i keyboard is equipped with a backlit light. The backlit lamp he carries is white. The brightness level of the backlit lamp can be adjusted with two brightness level options.
The IdeaPad Flex 5i keyboard is accompanied by a large trackpad mouse area. The mouse trackpad is very responsive to the touch of a finger and comfortable to use. Left and right mouse click buttons into a single unit. The left and right click buttons on the trackpad are quite easy and comfortable to press, even though it’s a bit noisy.
Apart from the trackpad in the keyboard area, there is also a fingerprint sensor which can be used for additional protection features.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i performance
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is available with various configurations from the 10th generation Intel Core. Options available from Intel Core i3, Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7.
For the model we are reviewing, its performance is entrusted to an Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor and 8GB RAM. Meanwhile, the storage space relies on the M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage space with a capacity of 512GB. It is quite unfortunate that there are no RAM and storage upgrade options on this laptop. So, you have to be satisfied with these standard specifications. The benchmark results for the IdeaPad Flex 5i are as follows.
With these specifications, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is very reliable to support daily productivity. The use of basic computing such as processing documents, browsing, editing simple photos and videos to enjoying multimedia content can be run without problems.
It should be noted that the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i with Intel Core i3 is not yet equipped with an Nvidia discrete GPU. So, it is less than ideal for computing needs that require heavier graphics performance such as gaming and high-resolution video editing with a variety of complex effects. For these needs, the configuration of an Intel Core i5 or Intel Core i7 can be an alternative because the graphics performance is a little more powerful with the support of the discrete Nvidia GeForce MX-Series GPU.
Thermal management is satisfactory. By activating the Intelligent Cooling Battery Saving mode, the cooling fan performance is very quiet and cool. We barely felt a warm sensation that bothers on the surface under the body or the keyboard area when using it.
IdeaPad Flex 5i Features
Like other Lenovo laptops, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is also supported by a number of smart features that can be accessed via the Lenovo Vantage. Lenovo Vantage provides a variety of options for setting the features of this laptop that can be accessed easily. System updates can also be done via Lenovo Vantage. Another advantage, the Lenovo Vantage interface is very user friendly.
For performance settings, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is supported by the Intelligent Cooling feature. The IdeaPad Flex 5i brings 3 performance adjustment options and an automatic cooling fan that can be selected according to your needs. The options available are Extreme Performance, Intelligent Cooling and Battery Saving. Our favorite is Battery saving because it is able to offer a longer usage time.
Other features it brings include Flip to Boot to turn on the laptop automatically without pressing the power button, support for the Always on USB feature to recharge the battery of other devices when the laptop is off / sleep / hibernate, mic settings, keyboard settings, camera settings including privacy mode for turn off the camera when not in use and the eye care feature protects the eyes by reducing the blue light emitting from the screen.
IdeaPad Flex 5i battery
One of the advantages of the IdeaPad Flex 5i that is quite satisfying to us is the durability of the battery. From our tests, with the scheme of using Windows power management settings in Power Saver mode, activating intelligent Cooling Battery Saver mode, 30% screen brightness level, connecting to a WiFi hotspot, being used for typing, browsing and occasionally enjoying content on Youtube the battery can last up to barely 9 hours.
The battery is durable and more than enough to accompany our day’s work activities. Supported by the Rapid Charge feature for fast recharging, battery charging also doesn’t take a long time.
Conclusion
Even though its performance only relies on Intel Core i3, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i that we review below has proven adequate for basic computing needs and supports daily productivity. If only Lenovo had provided it with an Nvidia discrete graphics card option, it would feel like the IdeaPad Flex 5i Intel Core i3 would be even more attractive in its price class.
Apart from these specifications, with a selling price of around 9 million Rupiah the IdeaPad Flex 5i carries a premium design that looks cool and has full features. Call it a Full HD IPS touch screen, sturdy flexible hinge, support for the Lenovo Digital Pen which is very comfortable to use, a backlit keyboard, fingerprint sensor, a camera with privacy protection features, and battery life that is above average.
We highly recommend Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i and can be a solution for anyone who needs a convertible laptop with a long battery life and full features for under 10 million Rupiah. This laptop is also more attractive, equipped with Windows 10, gets a Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 free permanent license, as well as 2-year warranty support for Lenovo Premium Care + ADP (Accidentally Damage Protection).
Sophisticated
+ Premium design + Compact
dimensions and light weight
+ Complete features in its price class
+ The stylus pen is very comfortable to use
+ Adequate performance for basic computing and multimedia
+ Long battery life
+ Full HD IPS touch screen
+ Camera with Privacy Shutter features
+ Complete connectivity
What is lacking
– Limited screen panel brightness level
– Screen is not yet sRGB 100%
– Stylus pen hook module sacrifices USB connectivity
– No Nvidia discrete gpu option
– Touchpad left and right click buttons are a bit noisy
