The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (2020) is a mid-range 2-in-1 convertible Windows laptop. It's available with AMD Ryzen 4000 or Intel 10th Gen U-series CPUs and integrated graphics. There's an NVIDIA GeForce MX330 dedicated GPU option, but only on models with an Intel Core i7 CPU. You can configure the laptop with up to 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage. It's only available with a 1080p 60Hz IPS display. It has a Wi-Fi 5 wireless adapter, a 720p webcam, and a 53Wh battery.
You can see our unit's specifications and the configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.
Our Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is good for school use. It's impressively lightweight and portable, and the build quality is decent. The battery lasts a full day of typical work, and the model with the Ryzen 5 4500U CPU performs well for multitasking and light productivity. The keyboard feels great to type on, and the touchpad feels okay. However, the screen doesn't get very bright and isn't ideal for use in very bright environments. Also, the webcam and microphone are mediocre.
- Decently sturdy build.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Excellent battery life.
- Spacious keyboard.
- Low-quality webcam video quality.
- Dim display.
- Low-power CPU and GPUs can't handle demanding workloads.
The Lenovo Flex 5 is inadequate for gaming. Its integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to run most games, even some older titles. There are higher-end variants with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX330 graphics card, but they still can't run AAA titles smoothly. Also, it has a slow 60Hz panel with no VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It tends to get quite hot around the top left of the keyboard under load, but on the bright side, the fan isn't too noisy.
- No performance loss under load.
- Quiet fan.
- Low-power CPU and GPUs can't handle demanding workloads.
- Keyboard gets quite hot under load.
- 60Hz display with slow response time.
- RAM isn't user-replaceable.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is decent for media consumption. It's very portable, and you can flip the touch-capable screen all the way around to use it as a tablet. The battery lasts long enough to get you through a few feature-length films. Although the speakers don't get very loud, they sound good overall. However, the screen looks washed out because of its narrow color gamut, and it's hard to watch content in very well-lit environments because it doesn't get very bright.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Excellent battery life.
- Can use as a tablet.
- Quiet fan.
- Dim display.
- Poor color gamut.
- Blacks look gray in the dark.
- Speakers don't get very loud.
The Lenovo Flex 5 is okay as a workstation. It's only available with low-power CPUs and GPUs that aren't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks like video editing or 3D graphics. On the bright side, it doesn't lose performance over extended periods under load, and it has a fast NVMe SSD, so large files transfer very quickly. There's a good selection of ports, including HDMI and USB, for an external monitor and peripherals.
- Spacious keyboard.
- No performance loss under load.
- Quiet fan.
- Low-power CPU and GPUs can't handle demanding workloads.
- Keyboard gets quite hot under load.
- Poor color gamut.
- RAM isn't user-replaceable.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is decent for business use. The laptop's build quality feels satisfactory, with a lightweight and portable frame, and the battery lasts a full workday. The keyboard feels great to type on, even over long periods, while the plastic touchpad is reasonably sized. While the CPUs in the lower-end models are powerful enough to make web browsing and word processing smooth and responsive, they aren't suited for heavier multitasking. Unfortunately, the built-in webcam and microphone are mediocre for making video calls.
- Decently sturdy build.
- Lightweight and portable.
- Excellent battery life.
- Spacious keyboard.
- Low-quality webcam video quality.
- Dim display.
- RAM isn't user-replaceable.
Changelog
- Updated Jan 12, 2024: We've updated the review to improve clarity and readability.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
- Updated Nov 03, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
- Updated Feb 22, 2023: Added mention of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 14 (2022) as an alternative with a better webcam in the Webcam and Microphone section.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (81X20005US) with a 1080p IPS display, an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U CPU with Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 256GB NVMe SSD. The CPU, GPU, memory, and storage are configurable; you can see the available options in the table below. Our review also applies to the Intel-based Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i.
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You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a good productivity laptop compared to other models in its price range. It stands out for its long battery life, comfortable keyboard, and outstanding performance over time.
For more options, see our recommendations for the best laptops, the best budget laptops, and the best business laptops.
The ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 (2020) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (2020) are Windows 2-in-1 convertible laptops. The Lenovo is better for the most part because its keyboard provides a better typing experience, its touchpad is more responsive, and its webcam has better video quality. It also has a better port selection and longer battery life. The Lenovo is available with much more powerful CPUs and more memory, meaning it can handle significantly heavier workloads than the ASUS. Our VivoBook Flip 14 has an inferior 720P TN display, but you can get it with a 1080p IPS screen instead, which we expect will perform similarly to the Lenovo's.
The HP Pavilion x360 14 (2021) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (2020) are both 2-in-1 laptops with 360-degree hinges, but the Lenovo is a better laptop overall. The Lenovo's keyboard feels better to type on, its battery lasts significantly longer, and it throttles much less under load. Additionally, you can get it with a variety of Intel and AMD CPUs, as well as a dedicated, entry-level NVIDIA GPU. On the other hand, the HP has a much better-quality webcam, its USB-C port can output to an external display, it has an HDMI 2.0 port, and it doesn't get as hot under load.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) is a newer version of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14 (2020). The 2022 model is a slight improvement when it comes to the build quality, the touchpad, and the webcam. Additionally, it's available with sharper and brighter displays and faster Intel 12th Gen. CPUs. However, the 2020 model's battery lasts longer.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2021) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (2020) are both 2-in-1 convertible laptops with a 360-degree hinge and a 14-inch screen. The Yoga 9i is a more premium device that provides a better user experience with a brighter and more colorful display, including a 4k panel option, as well as better-sounding speakers and Thunderbolt 4 support. The Yoga 9i's Intel 11th Gen processors are faster than the IdeaPad Flex 5's AMD Ryzen 4000 and Intel 10th Gen CPUs; however, the Yoga 9i throttles significantly under load, while the IdeaPad Flex 5 can maintain its full performance in long and demanding workloads. The IdeaPad Flex 5 also has longer battery life, especially for video playback.
Test Results
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