Unfortunately, the laptop ends up feeling like a case of too many teas spoiling the brew.
However, the focus on a broader niche seems to have its drawbacks.
While it doesn’t outright disappoint in anything, it fails to truly shine in crucial areas.
We’ll delve deeper into pricing and its impact on our final buying recommendation later.
Our review unit was the Abyss Blue colorway, and its definitely a looker.
The top bezel houses a 1080p webcam with a nifty physical shutter to address privacy concerns.
The chassis predominantly consists of sturdy plastic, although the keyboard deck does exhibit some flex.
Throughout my testing, the hinge remained sturdy and free from noticeable creaks.
However, due to its tightness, opening the laptop requires the use of both hands.
Jason Montoya / How-To Geek
The glossy screen finish can be a double-edged sword, depending on your surroundings.
Where the problem lies is in the colors.
Viewing angles are also satisfactory.
If you prioritize affordability, versatility, and decent performance for everyday tasks, the Lenovo Flex 5i 14" (2023) can be a suitable choice, especially if you can find it at a discounted price.
The 60Hz refresh rate is standard, providing a smooth enough experience without any major issues.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom.
Vocals come through clearly, and the volume level is adequate.
However, when it comes to bass, it’s noticeably absent.
Attempting to compensate by turning up the volume to the maximum results in significant audio distortion.
Nevertheless, when using headphones, whether through Bluetooth or the 3.5mm jack, the audio quality proves satisfactory.
While some occasional Windows quirks did arise, overall performance remained smooth and satisfactory.
With a modest 52.5-watt-hour battery capacity, the Flex 5i struggled to keep up with prolonged workdays.
The keycaps are large, and the layout is spacious, providing a natural and responsive typing feel.
Moving on to the touchpad, it offers smooth cursor control and supports multi-finger gestures.
It’s spacious enough for precise navigation, although the clicking experience could be more refined.
Additionally, the Flex 5i 14" supports an optional active pen for note-taking and digital drawing purposes.
For secure login, you have a physical fingerprint reader here that performs well.
Should You Buy the Lenovo Flex 5i 14" (2023)?
HP’s Pavilion x360 series offers flexibility and decent performance in a similar convertible design.
Credits: Jason Montoya / How-To Geek
Geekbench 6
Cinebench R23
