Lenovo Flex Series 14" Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Gen 7 Storm Grey Review
The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus excels at being a portable, reliable 2-in-1, but its limited storage and performance keep it firmly in the 'basics only' category.
Overview
The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a solid, portable 2-in-1 that knows its lane. It's built for the basics, and it does them well. With a 77th percentile score for compactness and a 75th percentile for reliability, this is a laptop you can toss in a bag and trust to just work. The 14-inch touchscreen and 1.62kg weight make it a genuinely easy device to carry and use anywhere. Just don't expect it to do much heavy lifting.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect from an Intel 1315U and 8GB of RAM in Chrome OS. It's fine for web browsing, streaming, and light productivity. The CPU lands in the 20th percentile, which means it's slower than most laptops out there, but Chrome OS is so lightweight that it rarely feels sluggish for everyday tasks. The Intel UHD Graphics are in the 42nd percentile, so you can forget about gaming. The 128GB eMMC storage is a real weak spot, sitting in the 7th percentile. It's enough for Chrome OS and some files, but you'll be relying on cloud storage pretty quickly.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent portability, scoring in the 77th percentile for compactness. 96th
- High reliability score of 75th percentile means it's built to last. 76th
- WiFi 6E ensures fast and stable wireless connections. 75th
- The 14-inch 1920x1200 touchscreen is great for a 2-in-1 at this price.
- Chrome OS is simple, secure, and perfect for its intended use case.
Cons
- Very limited 128GB eMMC storage lands in the 7th percentile. 14th
- Only 8GB of RAM puts it in the 10th percentile for memory. 21th
- CPU performance is in the 20th percentile, so it's not for power users. 28th
- Integrated Intel UHD Graphics are weak, scoring 42nd percentile.
- Battery life is an unknown, which is always a concern for portability.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i3 1315U |
| Cores | 6 |
| Frequency | 3.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 10 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | UHD Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | LPDDR4X |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Storage Type | eMMC |
Display
| Size | 14" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | 300 nits |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 1 |
| USB Ports | 3 |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6E |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.6 kg / 3.6 lbs |
| OS | Chrome OS |
Value & Pricing
At $599, the value proposition is straightforward. You're paying for a reliable, portable Chrome OS machine with a good touchscreen. You're not getting Windows or macOS power, and the storage and RAM are minimal. But if your workflow lives in a browser and you want a durable 2-in-1, the price is fair. Just know that you're making significant trade-offs in performance and storage capacity.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to a Windows 2-in-1 like the ASUS Zenbook Duo, you're giving up a ton of performance and versatility for a lower price and simpler experience. Next to an Apple MacBook Pro, it's not even the same category. The Flex 5i is for a specific user who wants a no-fuss, cloud-first laptop. Against other Chromebooks, its main selling points are the 1200p touchscreen and the solid build quality reflected in that 75th percentile reliability score. For raw specs, you can find Chromebooks with more RAM and storage, but they often feel cheaper.
Verdict
This is a good Chromebook, not a cheap laptop. If you need a lightweight, reliable machine for web apps, media, and note-taking, and you're comfortable with Chrome OS's limits, the Flex 5i is a smart pick. The portability and build quality are its best features. But if you need more than 128GB of local storage, plan to keep more than a dozen browser tabs open, or think you might need Windows software someday, look elsewhere. The data shows its strengths are in form, not raw power.