The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) is an ultraportable Windows laptop. It replaces the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 from 2021 (model number starting with 82HS). The 2022 model is largely an internal upgrade to Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and faster 4266MHz LP-DDR4X memory. Other improvements include better display options, like a 2.2K IPS and 2.8K OLED panel, faster PCIe Gen. 4 x4 NVMe SSDs, Wi-Fi 6E, and a 1080p webcam. It has a fingerprint sensor for quick logins, and it supports pen input, although you may have to buy the stylus separately, as it isn't always bundled with the device.
Our Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is good for school use. It feels well-built and easy to carry around, thanks to its thin and light design. It has a sharp display that provides enough room for multitasking, a comfortable keyboard, and a responsive touchpad. Its Intel 12th Gen. CPU can handle most student workloads; however, its integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks, so it might not be the best option for students in fields like 3D graphics or animation. The battery lasts around eight hours of light use, so depending on your usage, you may have to plug it in for a quick charge to get through the day.
- Well-built and portable.
- Display provides enough room for multitasking.
- Available with a sharper OLED display.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Supports pen input for note-taking.
- Battery lasts only around 8 hours of light use.
- Integrated GPU can't handle demanding workloads.
- Glossy screen struggles with bright reflections.
The Lenovo Flex 5i is mediocre for gaming. It's only available with low-power CPUs and integrated graphics, which aren't powerful enough to handle demanding games. You can play some older or extremely well-optimized games, but you might have to play at low graphical settings to get smooth gameplay. Also, there are only 60Hz display options with no variable refresh rate to reduce screen tearing. On the upside, it doesn't get overly hot or loud under load.
- Available with a sharper OLED display.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Quiet fan under load.
- User-upgradeable SSD.
- Loses CPU performance under load.
- Integrated GPU can't handle demanding workloads.
- Slow response time on the FHD and 2.2K IPS panels.
- Memory isn't user-replaceable.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is okay for media consumption. It's very portable, and since it's a 2-in-1 convertible, you can set up the laptop in tent mode to view content and navigate using touch input. The battery lasts around six hours of video playback, giving you enough time to get through a couple of movies and TV shows. Its 1080p display looks a little dim and washed out; however, you can configure the laptop with a nicer display, like a 2.2K IPS or a 2.8K OLED panel with full DCI P3 coverage. Unfortunately, the speakers don't get very loud and sound boxy, with no bass whatsoever.
- Well-built and portable.
- Available with a sharper OLED display.
- Speakers deliver clear dialogue.
- Can be used in tent or tablet mode.
- Speakers sound unnatural and quiet.
- FHD display looks washed out.
- Glossy screen struggles with bright reflections.
The Lenovo Flex 5i is good for use as a workstation. It has a comfortable keyboard and a good port selection that includes USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, and it's available with a 2.8K OLED display that's suitable for color-critical work. Its Intel 12th Gen. CPU is fast; however, its performance drops when it gets too hot, which isn't ideal for heavy, sustained workloads. Also, it's only available with integrated graphics, which aren't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Thunderbolt 4 support.
- Quiet fan under load.
- User-upgradeable SSD.
- Loses CPU performance under load.
- Integrated GPU can't handle demanding workloads.
- Memory isn't user-replaceable.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is good for business use. It's a well-built and portable laptop with a comfortable keyboard, a responsive touchpad, and a sharp display. Its Intel 12th Gen. CPU is fast and can easily handle productivity tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and web browsing. It has a good 1080p webcam for video calls, and its USB-C ports support Thunderbolt 4, allowing you to connect up to two 4k displays at 60Hz with a single cable. The battery lasts around eight hours of light use, so you might have to plug it in for a quick charge to get through the day, depending on your usage.
- Well-built and portable.
- Display provides enough room for multitasking.
- Available with a sharper OLED display.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Supports pen input for note-taking.
- Good webcam for video calls.
- Battery lasts only around 8 hours of light use.
- Glossy screen struggles with bright reflections.
Changelog
- Updated May 23, 2024: We've corrected a mistake in the Differences Between Variants table. Our unit has 512GB of storage, not 256GB.
- Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
- Updated Nov 03, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
- Updated Aug 04, 2023: Added mention of the HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) as an alternative with a discrete GPU in the GPU section.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i (model 82R70007US) equipped with a 1080p IPS display, an Intel Core i5-1235U CPU, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of memory, and 512GB of storage. The display, CPU, memory, and storage are configurable; you can see the available options in the table below. This review applies to all models with a model number starting with '82R7'.
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Our display and performance results are only valid for the configuration we tested. If you come across a different configuration option not listed above or have a similar Lenovo Flex 5i that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it. Some tests, like black uniformity and color accuracy, may vary between individual units.
You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 is a good laptop and among the best in its class. It stands out for its sturdy build and comfortable keyboard; however, its battery life isn't as good as other similar laptops.
For more options, see our recommendations for the best laptops, the best laptops for college, and the best business laptops.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) and the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16 (2023) are both 2-in-1 Windows laptops designed for light productivity tasks like web browsing, text processing, and video playback. However, the Yoga 7i is a mid-range model, while the IdeaPad Flex 5i is more of a budget option. The Yoga 7i is better overall; it has a sturdier build, more processing power, and significantly longer battery life. Its larger display gives you more space for split-screen multitasking, and its wider port selection makes it easier to plug in multiple peripherals and external monitors. On the other hand, the IdeaPad Flex 5i could be a better option if media consumption is a priority, as it's available with a nicer 2.8k OLED display.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) and the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (2021) are very similar 2-in-1 convertible laptops. The main differences between these two devices have to do with the display and CPU options, battery life, thermals, and webcam. The IdeaPad Flex 5i is available with faster Intel 12th Gen. CPUs, as well as sharper and brighter displays, including a 2.8K OLED panel with full DCI P3 coverage. It also has a better 1080p webcam for video calls. However, the Yoga 7i lasts much longer on battery, and it doesn't get as hot or loud under load.
The HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) for most uses. The HP is available with newer and faster CPUs, NVIDIA discrete GPUs, and sharper, brighter displays, including a 2.8k OLED panel with full DCI P3 coverage. It also has a much better 1440p webcam and doesn't throttle as much as the Lenovo under load. However, the Lenovo is more versatile since it's a 2-in-1 convertible, meaning you can flip the screen around and use it as a tablet, and its battery lasts much longer.
The Lenovo Yoga 9i 14 (2021) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 (2022) for most uses. The Yoga 9i is a more premium device with a sturdier, all-aluminum build, a smoother glass touchpad, and significantly better-sounding speakers. It also has longer battery life. On the other hand, the IdeaPad Flex 5i is available with faster Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and sharper displays, including a 2.2K IPS and a 2.8K OLED panel with full DCI P3 coverage, while the Yoga 9i is limited to a 1080p IPS screen.
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