Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 Review: The Flex 5 is a solid mid-range Chromebook for those on a tight budget – Notebooks

/in


US$389 / AU$625.82 at Amazon

Those looking for an inexpensive Chromebook are certainly spoiled for choice but, as mentioned in my guide to buying a laptop without getting screwed, buying the right Chromebook can be tricky. Many budget models have lackluster processors, minimal RAM, and sub-par displays.

Lenovo’s Chromebook Flex 5 is a 13-inch, 2-in-1 Chromebook that tries to outpace the most inexpensive systems without inflating the price. It’s mostly successful in its effort, but owners must tolerate occasional reminders of the system’s budget roots.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 specs and features

I reviewed the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13ITL5. It’s similar to the most basic model available through Lenovo’s own web store but bumps up the processor to an Intel Pentium Gold dual-core with two cores, four threads, and a maximum clock speed of 3.5GHz. 

  • CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 7505 @ 2GHz
  • Memory: 4GB DDR4
  • Graphics/GPU: Intel UHD
  • Display: 13.3-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen
  • Storage: 32GB eMMC
  • Webcam: 720p
  • Connectivity: 2x USB-C with DisplayPort, 1x USB-A, 3.5mm audio jack
  • Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
  • Biometrics: None
  • Battery capacity: 51 watt-hour
  • Dimensions: 0.67 x 8.43 x 12.2 inches
  • Weight: 2.97 pounds

Buyers should note that a similarly priced configuration is available through Amazon with an Intel Core i3-10110U processor and twice as much storage. I expect that model to perform better than my review unit, making it a better value overall.

Design and build quality

The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is a surprisingly attractive and confident laptop. I particularly like the look of Best Buy’s exclusive configuration which is a deep navy blue. I’m always a sucker for alternative laptop colorways and I especially like how the Flex 5’s gray keycaps compliment the subdued blue chassis.

It feels substantial in-hand as well thanks to the metal display lid and the textured plastic of the laptop’s lower half. A bit of flex is noticeable when handling the laptop roughly, but it’s not obvious in normal day-to-day use. The display lid is especially rigid for a budget laptop, showing only the slightest hint of give.

That’s a good thing because, as mentioned, the Chromebook Flex 5 is a 2-in-1. You can…

Source…