Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i review: The best Chromebook’s shadow clone

Lenovo makes one of the best Chromebooks round, from the compact significant other Lenovo Chromebook Duet to the ruggedly good-looking ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook. On the other hand, the Chromebook that has offered like hotcakes for just about a yr and a part now’s the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5.

This yr now we have noticed a couple of iterations of the Flex 5 hit the marketplace — and we are nonetheless looking forward to yet one more to reach — however the person who I used to be completely sure would rule 2021 (and 2022) was once its direct successor: the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i. It introduced new processors, greater garage configurations, and the Abyss Blue colour that I completely fell in love with at the ThinkPad C13. It gave the look of the minor improve to show greatness into perfection.

Sadly, as just right because the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i is, presently, you are at an advantage purchasing the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5, particularly because it continues to get large reductions ceaselessly.

Lenovo introduced the Flex 5i in past due June 2021 along its clamshell cousin, the Lenovo 5i Chromebook. They had been meant to move on sale in July however did not begin to seem at outlets till September. Even now, the Flex 5i is best to be had at a handful of shops, every with its personal configuration.

Best Purchase these days best sells the Pentium model of the Flex 5i, and Lenovo’s web page has the i3 style with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of garage. If you need 8GB of RAM — and if you need this computer to be usable from now till its June 2029 Auto Replace Expiration date (AUE), you indubitably do — you will have to scope out your native Costco or hit up third-party distributors via marketplaces like Newegg. Walmart and Amazon each best promote the Flex 5, now not the Flex 5i, on the time of this overview.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i The best will get higher

Oh, this blue is simply darling whilst you catch it within the gentle. It is an understated blue, but if the lid is closed underneath overhead lights or in that super-sunny glass-walled airport terminal, it’s going to illuminate just like the Atlantic ocean at morning time. The gray keyboard inside of performs effectively with the blue to lend a hand keys stand out with out clashing with the full glance. In case you performed with the Flex 5 closing yr, not anything has modified in regard to ports: USB-C on every aspect with USB-A, microSD, and audio combo jack at the left. The buttons and Kensington lock port are at the proper aspect.

Lenovo saved the similar weight and dimensions as closing yr’s Flex 5, in addition to the similar connectivity, up-facing audio system, and normal efficiency. It upgrades from tenth Gen Intel processors to Eleventh Gen Intel processors, however in truth, you can slightly inform the adaptation on your day by day use of Chrome OS. Except you spend numerous time in Linux or you are an absolute tab-hoarder like my dad, who assists in keeping over 100 tabs open frequently, each the tenth Gen Intel Core i3 and Eleventh Gen are succesful processors, particularly for the reason that Chrome OS is written to run on extra modest {hardware}.

The keyboard is flippantly backlit, relaxed to kind on for lengthy classes of time, and it has a just right spring to the keys. Whilst it will possibly really feel quite delicate to these of you who have been spoiled via mechanical keyboards whilst operating at house (like me), I have spent weeks typing on mine and in finding it slightly relaxed. The trackpad sitting underneath it’s reasonably easy, and the palm rests have the very best texture, with simply the correct amount of grain and resistance.

Throughout day by day use, the Flex 5i has been nice for sitting at my table and banging out 3 thousand phrases in an afternoon, and it is been just right for curling up at the sofa and taking part in Freecell lengthy into the evening on weekends. My overview unit had 8GB of RAM with the i3 processor, so it treated 20-30 tabs simply high quality. Just like the Flex 5 earlier than it, the webcam is ok for Google Meet or Zoom, however it isn’t top of the range.

So, just right information: the Flex 5i works simply in addition to the Flex 5. Unhealthy information: the Flex 5i best works in addition to the Flex 5.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i The best will get bland

Lenovo needed to sacrifice one thing to deliver extra tough processors to the Flex 5i whilst nonetheless keeping up the similar measurement and weight. On this case, it ended up being battery lifestyles. Whilst I constantly were given 9-10 hours on a unmarried rate with the Flex 5, the Flex 5i normally begs for a top-off round 7-8 hours.

Taking into account most of the people do maximum in their paintings at or close to a table with a charger, Lenovo idea that trade-off was once applicable. On the other hand, I spend maximum of my paintings time with my computer both in my lap or on my fancy new lift-top espresso desk, so the adaptation was once nearly in an instant obvious to me. In case you have a tendency to have lengthy days clear of a charger, the Flex 5i would possibly not be as just right a have compatibility as its predecessor.

The display right here is equal to the closing couple of years: a 13.3-inch, 1920×1080 pixel, 250 nits shiny IPS touchscreen. That was once completely high quality closing yr, but when Lenovo was once going to provide us an upgraded processor, I want they may’ve given us a brighter display. Even a bump to 300 or 350 nits would’ve made it more uncomplicated to make use of in brighter workplaces or outdoor. The 13-14-inch phase is getting increasingly crowded, and because maximum in their displays are best 220-250 nits, that permits higher-brightness displays just like the Acer Spin 713 to face out the entire extra.

My display, particularly, had somewhat of sunshine bleed within the higher left nook, however Lenovo stated it was once inside tolerance. If you are focused on gentle bleed, after your preliminary setup, pass to Google Pictures, click on on any of your backed-up screenshots, after which hit the fullscreen key. That’ll be natural black on all 4 corners and either one of the perimeters, the place gentle bleed is extra commonplace.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i Pageant

The greatest argument in opposition to the Flex 5i is that its predecessor is getting discounted left and proper. The i3/4GB/64GB dropped all the way down to $300 this week, and the standard worth bounces within the vary of $330-$375. That is a a lot better deal than the $540 that the Flex 5i is operating presently, and the Flex 5i continues to be now not extensively to be had now out of doors the Pentium style to be had at Best Purchase (which is admittedly now not price its conventional $420 ticket).

If you are on the lookout for a workhorse pc that has extra RAM or extra garage, you can need to check out the Acer Spin 713. The display sports activities a three:2 side ratio — which some folks swear is best for operating on — and it is 400 nits so to use it outdoor (simply now not in direct sunshine). The Spin 713 has an Eleventh-gen i5 processor, double the RAM, and quadruple the SSD garage, however it’s costlier.

Need that Lenovo taste however a brighter display? The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is popping out any day now, and it’s going to have a 400-nit 13.3-inch 1080p display. It’ll even be a Chrome OS pill, with the keyboard and kickstand within the field, so you are able to ditch the keyboard when you are one with paintings and need to watch Netflix in mattress. It would possibly not be slightly as tough with the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 compute platform, however it’s going to be higher than the Pentium Flex 5i and because it’s going to be a pill, it would possibly not be slightly as just right for the use of on your lap.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i Will have to you purchase it?

You must purchase this if …

• You wish to have a loyal, long-lasting Chromebook
• You wish to have one thing that is not simply fundamental black
• You wish to have the most recent era style

You must now not purchase this if …

• You might be normally operating at the pass and wish lengthy battery lifestyles
• Among the finest specifications are necessary to you
• You may have a restricted price range

Little adjustments can lift a just right product to an excellent one, however the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i’s adjustments are minor, and so is the payoff for it. The result’s a cast Chromebook that appears just right by itself however is caught within the shadow of its giant brother. I just like the Flex 5i, however I nonetheless love the Flex 5 extra.

4
out of five

Particularly with the upper pricing at the Flex 5i’s Intel Core fashions in comparison to the 2020 style and the upcoming unlock of the Duet 5, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i is going through stiff pageant on both sides. The Chromebook itself is cast, nevertheless it wishes extra lend a hand if it desires to face out.