An aluminium convertible with a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen and a Core i3-1315U behind it, a specification that reads a tier above what ChromeOS machines usually get. Tom's Guide, PCWorld and ITPro all scored it 4.5 out of 5, and PCWorld gave it an Editors' Choice. Battery life is the one ordinary number, at around nine hours. As a single device that works as a laptop, as a tablet and as a stand for video, nothing else in the category matches it.
Full review
A Core i3-1315U where Chromebooks usually get a Celeron
The i3-1315U is a six-core part, and PCWorld's read is that it is built for day-to-day work and does that well. In ChromeOS terms it means a dozen tabs, a video call and a couple of Android apps at once without the stutter that defines cheap Chromebooks. The 8GB of memory is the floor for the Chromebook Plus tier and it shows against 4GB budget machines. ITPro built its review around value and concluded you cannot beat this one for it.
A 360-degree hinge, and the only tablet here
The hinge turns through 360 degrees into tent, stand and tablet positions, and Tom's Guide describes it as firm and unyielding, so it stays where you put it rather than flopping. Nothing else in the category does this. The chassis is aluminium and PCWorld's reviewer, unboxing it, called it a device that looks and feels genuinely fancy. The screen does not wobble when you tap it in laptop mode either, which is the usual failing of cheap convertibles.
14 inches at 1920 x 1200, 300 nits
The panel is a 14-inch IPS touchscreen at 1920 x 1200 and around 300 nits. The taller shape shows more of a document or a web page than the 1080p panels on the clamshell rivals, and PCWorld called it crisp and vibrant. Three hundred nits is fine indoors and in shade and struggles in direct sun. It is glossy, so it picks up reflections and fingerprints, and there is no stylus in the box despite the tablet mode inviting one.
Nine hours, behind the endurance picks
Battery life is where the Flex 5i is merely good. PCWorld measured a little over nine hours, which covers a school or work day and charges overnight without drama, but it trails the Chromebooks built around endurance by hours rather than minutes. Ports cover USB-C, USB-A and microSD, with Wi-Fi 6 for wireless, so most accessories and an external display attach without a dongle.
128GB of eMMC, and 3.52 pounds
Storage is 128GB of eMMC, which is small and slower than the SSDs in rivals, and Lenovo bundles a microSD card as an acknowledgement of that. At 3.52 pounds it is the heaviest option in the class, the price of the aluminium shell. Neither is a dealbreaker for the buyer this is aimed at, but together they explain why it wins on balance rather than by dominating any single specification.
Strengths
- +Premium-feeling aluminum chassis with a sturdy 360-degree convertible hinge
- +Bright, crisp 14-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen with a roomy 16:10 aspect ratio
- +Snappy Intel Core i3-1315U handles heavy multitasking without lag
- +Chromebook Plus tier unlocks Google AI features and offline tools
- +Comfortable keyboard and excellent value at the $499 list price
Watch-outs
- −Battery life is good but not class-leading at around nine hours
- −No included stylus despite the 2-in-1 tablet mode
- −128GB of eMMC storage is modest (a microSD card is bundled to help)
- −Heavier than slimmer clamshell rivals at 3.5 pounds
How it compares
The Flex 5i is the only true convertible 2-in-1 in this group, where the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34, Acer Chromebook Plus 514, HP Chromebook Plus 14a, and ASUS Chromebook CX15 are all clamshells. Its taller 1200p 16:10 display beats the 1080p 16:9 panels on the others, though its ~9-hour battery trails the 13-hour ASUS CX34.
Rating sources
“A cheap Chrome 2-in-1 that feels premium thanks to its comfy keyboard, bright 1200p touchscreen and sturdy chassis.”
“When I lifted the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus out of the box, I couldn't help but let out a low whistle. This thing looks and feels fancy.”
“You can't beat this Chromebook Plus for value.”
Our 4.3 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
