Lenovo Lenovo - IdeaPad 1i 15.6" Full HD Laptop- Intel Core i5-1335U 2023 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Cloud Grey Review
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i packs 16GB of RAM into a cheap package, but makes serious compromises on the screen and storage. It's a basic laptop for a basic price.
The 30-Second Version
A basic budget laptop that's good for simple tasks thanks to its 16GB RAM and modern i5 CPU. The screen is very dim and storage is small. Worth it only if the price is right and you just need a workhorse for documents and the web.
Overview
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i is a basic laptop that gets the job done. It's built for simple tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video calls, and it's priced to move.
You're getting a modern Intel i5 processor and a healthy 16GB of RAM, which is a solid combo for the price. Just don't expect it to do anything fancy, because the screen and storage are pretty bare-bones.
Performance
The Intel i5-1335U is a decent 10-core chip for everyday stuff. It'll handle a dozen browser tabs and a Word doc without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of RAM is the real star here, keeping things smooth. But the integrated Iris Xe graphics land in the 18th percentile, so gaming is a no-go, and the 250-nit screen is dimmer than most.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 16GB of RAM is generous for the price. 94th
- Port selection is excellent with three USB-A ports. 74th
- The i5 processor is capable for daily tasks.
- It's relatively light at 1.61kg.
Cons
- The 250-nit screen is very dim. 11th
- Only 256GB of storage fills up fast. 19th
- No dedicated GPU means zero gaming. 24th
- Build quality feels basic to keep costs down.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Cores | 10 |
| Frequency | 3.4 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel | LCD |
| Brightness | 250 nits |
Connectivity
| USB Ports | 3 |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI 1.4 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.6 kg / 3.6 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At around $431, this is a straightforward value play. You're paying for core components that matter for basic use—the CPU and RAM—while Lenovo cut corners on the screen and storage. If your budget is tight and you just need a machine for school or office work, it's a fair deal. If you can spend a bit more, you'll get a much better overall experience.
Price History
vs Competition
This isn't competing with the MacBook Pro or gaming laptops listed. Its real rivals are other budget Windows machines like the Acer Aspire 3 or HP Pavilion. Compared to them, the IdeaPad 1i's 16GB RAM is a standout, but its dim screen is a bigger drawback. The ASUS Vivobook 15 often has a better display for similar money, though sometimes with less RAM. You're trading screen quality for multitasking headroom here.
| Spec | Lenovo Lenovo - IdeaPad 1i 15.6" Full HD Laptop- Intel Core i5-1335U 2023 - 16GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Cloud Grey | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M5, Silver) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus ASUS - ROG Zephyrus G14 14" 3K OLED 120Hz Gaming | Lenovo Legion Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 10 Intel Laptop, | MSI Creator MSI Creator M14 A13V A13VF-081US 14" 2.8K Laptop, | HP ZBook HP 14" ZBook Ultra G1a Multi-Touch Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Core i5 | Apple M5 | AMD Ryzen AI 300 Series | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | Intel Core i7 13620H | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 32 | 32 | 16 | 32 | 128 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 4096 | 1000 | 1024 | 2048 | 2048 |
| Screen | 15.6" 1920x1080 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 16" 2560x1600 | 14" 2880x1800 | 14" 2880x1800 |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics | Apple (10-Core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 | AMD Radeon |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home (MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business) | Windows 11 Pro |
| Weight (kg) | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | - | 80 | - | 74 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Common Questions
Q: Can it run games?
No, not really. It has integrated Intel graphics, which are fine for video playback but struggle with any modern 3D games. Our data puts its GPU performance in the bottom 20% of laptops.
Q: Is the storage upgradeable?
It likely uses a standard M.2 SSD, so you can probably upgrade the 256GB drive yourself if you're comfortable opening it up. Just know you'll void the warranty.
Q: How bad is the screen?
At 250 nits, it's quite dim. You'll need to use it in a well-lit room or crank the brightness to max, which will hurt battery life. It ranks in the 8th percentile for screen quality in our database.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you care about screen quality, need to store lots of files locally, or want to do anything creative like photo editing. The dim, low-quality panel and tiny 256GB SSD make it a poor fit. Also, obviously, gamers should look elsewhere.
Verdict
Buy this if you need a cheap, no-frills laptop for web browsing, homework, and Zoom calls, and you really value having lots of RAM for keeping many apps open. The port selection is a nice bonus for plugging in old peripherals without needing dongles.