Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 15.3" Gen 11 Cosmic Blue 2024

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 is a 15.3-inch convertible with a bright, color-accurate touchscreen and surprisingly capable integrated graphics, priced at $850. It stumbles on gaming and only packs 512GB of storage, but for everyday work, media, and light creative use, it's an outstanding value. If you don't need a dedicated GPU, this is one of the best big-screen 2-in-1s you can buy right now.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 is one of those machines that sneaks up on you. It's a 15.3-inch convertible with a $850 price tag, a 16:10 1920x1200 IPS panel, and Intel's Core Ultra 5 322 processor. That's a pretty sweet combo for anyone who wants a big-screen 2-in-1 that can handle everyday work, streaming, and a little light creative stuff without breaking the bank. The 400-nit display with 100% DCI-P3 color is a nice touch, too. If you've been hunting for a "laptop for college" or a "2-in-1 under $900 that doesn't feel cheap," this IdeaPad is worth a close look.

Under the hood, the Core Ultra 5 322 (six cores, 4.4GHz boost) isn't going to set any speed records, but it sits comfortably in the upper-middle of the pack. Our logs show it handling dozens of browser tabs, Slack, and a 4K video stream without stuttering. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM is enough for most people, though the 512GB SSD is just average speed and space. What surprised us most is the integrated graphics. They're Intel Arc-based and in our database they rank in the top 3% of all laptop GPUs we've seen. No, it's not a gaming chip (the gaming score is a dismal 23 out of 100), but for GPU-accelerated photo edits, light video work, or just making the UI feel snappy, this iGPU punches way above its weight.

At $850, the IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 is a lot of laptop. You're getting a legitimate 15-inch convertible with a color-accurate screen, a brisk Core Ultra processor, and integrated graphics that most competitors at this price can't match. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 16-inch will give you OLED and a lighter chassis, but it'll cost you hundreds more. The MSI Prestige 13 Evo is far more portable but skimps on screen real estate. If you need a versatile big-screen machine for office work, media, and the occasional creative project, this IdeaPad nails the value sweet spot.

Compared to the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, the IdeaPad is laughably weak for gaming, but that's not what this 2-in-1 is for. The Zephyrus has a dedicated GPU and a 120Hz+ display, while the IdeaPad gives you a taller, more color-accurate panel and a touchscreen that flips all the way around. Against the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro, the Lenovo holds its own with a bigger screen (15.3" vs 14") and a lower price, though Samsung's OLED panel is undeniably richer. The HP ZBook Ultra G1a sits in workstation territory, which the IdeaPad can't touch for pro 3D or rendering, but for half the price this Lenovo is the sensible pick for mainstream users. Apple's MacBook Pro M5 Pro is in a different universe for performance and battery life, but if you're a Windows person or need a 2-in-1, the IdeaPad makes more sense.

Gamers should look the other way. With a gaming score of 23, even casual titles will be a slideshow, and the 60Hz screen won't do you any favors. If you're a video editor dealing with 4K timelines or raw footage, the 512GB SSD and integrated graphics will feel limiting—check out the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 or a MacBook Pro M5 Pro instead. Also, if you're a student who can't live without all-day battery, this 60Wh pack isn't class-leading; consider the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro for longer endurance and a lighter body.

Should you buy this? If you're after a modern 15-inch 2-in-1 that covers all the basics and even throws in a stellar display and Wi-Fi 7, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 is an easy recommend. It's not a gaming laptop, and if you need more than 512GB of storage you'll want to budget for an external drive or cloud storage. But for the vast majority of homework, streaming, and productivity, it's a reliable, well-rounded convertible at a price that's hard to beat. The integrated GPU performance is a real perk, making this feel more like a budget creator laptop than a run-of-the-mill consumer 2-in-1.