Lenovo Chromebook 14" Flex5 Chrome 14IAU Review
The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook scores high for reliability and portability, but its performance is strictly for basic tasks. Is it worth your money?
Overview
The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is a solid, no-fuss laptop for getting things done. It's light at 1.58kg, has a decent 14-inch touchscreen, and its Intel 1215U CPU and 8GB of RAM are enough for Chrome OS. But let's be clear about what it is: this is a Chromebook. Its strengths are in being compact and reliable, scoring in the 78th and 76th percentiles respectively, which means it's built to last and easy to carry.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect from a mid-tier Chromebook. The Intel 1215U CPU and 8GB of DDR4 RAM land in the 20th and 10th percentiles. That means it's fine for dozens of browser tabs, Google Docs, and streaming video, but it's not going to win any speed races. The integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics are in the 18th percentile, so gaming is basically off the table. The 256GB NVMe SSD is a nice touch, putting it in the 20th percentile for storage, which is plenty for a Chrome OS device.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Compact design scores in the 78th percentile, making it very portable. 76th
- Reliability is high at the 76th percentile, so it should hold up well. 75th
- Includes a 256GB NVMe SSD, which is a nice step up from eMMC storage. 66th
- The 14-inch 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen is decent quality.
- Has a backlit keyboard and WiFi 6E, which are great features at this price.
Cons
- CPU performance is only in the 20th percentile, so it's not for heavy tasks. 17th
- Only 8GB of RAM, which is in the 10th percentile and can limit multitasking. 20th
- GPU is in the 18th percentile, so gaming performance is very weak. 20th
- Battery life is just okay with a 51Wh cell. 25th
- It's a Chromebook, so you're locked into the Chrome OS ecosystem.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i3 1215U |
| Cores | 6 |
| Frequency | 1.2 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Iris Xe Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 14" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | 300 nits |
| Color Gamut | 45% NTSC |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.6 kg / 3.5 lbs |
| Battery | 51 Wh |
| OS | Chrome OS |
Value & Pricing
The price varies quite a bit, from $620 to $759 depending on the vendor. At the lower end of that range, it's a fair deal for a well-built Chromebook with a touchscreen and SSD. At the high end, it starts to feel a bit expensive for the performance you're getting. Shop around to find the best price.
vs Competition
Compared to a Windows laptop like the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s, you're getting less raw power and software flexibility, but the Flex 5 is lighter and simpler. Against something like the ASUS Zenbook Duo, you're missing out on dual-screen productivity and much higher performance. And compared to any gaming laptop like the MSI Vector, it's not even in the same league. This Chromebook is for a specific user who wants a reliable, portable machine for web-based work.
Verdict
If you need a basic, reliable laptop for school, light office work, or browsing the web, and you're okay with Chrome OS, the Flex 5 is a good choice. Its compact and reliable build are its best features. But if you need more power, more RAM, or want to run Windows/Mac software, look at the competition. For the right person, it's a solid pick, especially if you find it closer to $620.