It's fine for videoconferencing, but if you're looking for a Chromebook to use while taking notes in class, you might want to choose a tablet like the Chromebook Duet instead. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The identity you save could be your own.... Not sure what to watch on Amazon tonight? The fold-back hinge is of dubious practical use, as it doesn't fold all the way down into a tablet, but if you pick the right configuration, this is still a good, inexpensive Core i5 laptop, even without the gimmicks. It's finally happened. I like the Flex 14 as a reasonably priced midsize laptop. Price Match Guarantee. Flex 14 configurations start at $569 for a fourth-generation Intel Core i3 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB HDD. Like other members of the Flex 5 family, the Flex 5 Chromebook offers plenty of physical flexibility, generous connectivity options, and premium design features. Lenovo tries something new with the semi-hybrid IdeaPad Flex 14. They could be an advantage. It retains most of the simple, thoughtful design flourishes of the larger, more expensive 14-inch version that runs Windows 10. The most obvious is the Flex 3’s 11-inch screen. Amazon.com: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" Convertible Laptop, FHD (1920 x 1080) Touch Display, Intel Core i5-1035G1 Processor, 8GB DDR4 Onboard RAM, 128GB SSD, Intel UHD Graphics, Win 10, 81X1004RUS, Graphite Grey: Computers & Accessories Above the display, there's a front-facing camera that shoots 720p video and features a sliding privacy shutter for peace of mind when you're not using it. Interestingly, HP's new Chromebook 11, which runs Chrome OS has an 11-inch IPS screen in a $279 ultraportable (but it's certainly not an apples-to-apples comparison). The SD card slot is especially noteworthy, since it makes it easy to add very low-cost storage to supplement the rather cramped 64GB boot drive. Overall, the Flex 5 will suit mainstream users who have grown to appreciate the advantages of the simple, lightweight, and fast-evolving Chrome operating system, but also want pen support, physical connectivity, and other niceties common in the world of Windows laptops. The company has put a ton of research and development into key shape and spacing, and it gives typing a very natural feel with fewer errors than other budget laptops. In the kiosk or display mode, you can call up the generally very competent Windows 8 onscreen keyboard, and the rubber bumpers give you a solid enough surface to type and/or tap on. On the left edge, you'll find a USB-C port (which also accepts the AC adapter cable), a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, a headphone jack, and a microSD card reader. Unfortunately, the display's rated maximum brightness of 250 nits is quite low, and I had trouble seeing it in a daylight-flooded room. Lenovo fine-tuned its formula for the Yoga C930, adding a trio of useful features that... Want a laptop that stands out in a coffee shop, conference room or airport lounge? Since the Flex 5 is a convertible laptop, its screen offers touch input. Its diagonal is 14″ (35.56 cm), and the resolution – 1920 х 1080. Lenovo uses a unique soft-touch plastic coating on the sides and the keyboard deck, which makes the laptop pleasing to hold. 11th Gen Intel® Core™ mobile processors power immersive entertainment on the go, while a 360° hinge lets you use the Flex 5 as a laptop, a tablet, and more. The Graphite Gray color scheme of our review unit is also intriguing, making the laptop darker and moodier-looking than the mostly silver schemes of other Lenovo ultraportable laptops. The 300-degree hinge gives you a second kiosk mode, if you want. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. That's not optimal if you're using the kiosk mode for displaying a video or PowerPoint for a group. It's also good for Webcam chats via Skype or another app. Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga series is one of the best laptop lines of the past couple of years, and one of the few real standouts of the still-young Windows 8 era. The Flex 5 Chromebook does most things mainstream Chromebook users ask for, from serving as a homework companion to offering long battery life and a microSD card reader to add additional storage on the cheap. A graduate of Middlebury College, Tom also has a master's degree in journalism and French Studies from New York University. Your subscription has been confirmed. It's a marked difference from, for example, the Yoga hinge, which is so good at camouflaging its dual purpose. We've seen models with orange accents, another Lenovo standby, but this review unit has a gray plastic border around the edges of the screen and base. Unfortunately, the timer facility has stopped working after less than a week and it now displays 00:00 whenever I have a timer running. If you plan on toting your Chromebook around and using it in a variety of lighting conditions, you’ll want to consider a sunnier screen, like the 400-nit one on the Lenovo Chromebook Duet. Benchmark results show that the Flex 5's theoretical computing performance is about what we expect from midrange Chromebooks. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. More than that and I'd look instead to a higher-end system (such as the Yoga line), as the Flex has a budget/plastic feel that doesn't hold up at higher prices. At first glance, the Lenovo Flex 5 seems like it should cost a lot more than it does (currently $478 on Amazon).This 13-inch convertible laptop has a 1080p screen… The Bottom Line Lenovo tries something new with the semi-hybrid IdeaPad Flex 14. Like the Yoga, S-series, U-series, and other IdeaPad laptops, the Flex has a matte, smooth lid that tapers slightly at the edges, with a subtle Lenovo logo in the top-left corner. Xfinity Flex review: Price and availability. The Good The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 is inexpensive for a fourth-gen Core i5 laptop, with a good keyboard and touch pad, and excellent battery life. Let's round up some of its best gems. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 punches far above its weight. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The Xfinity Flex became available in the fall of 2019. On the right, there's an additional USB-C port. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 punches far above its weight. Let's round up Amazon's best gems. One of several versions of Lenovo's versatile Flex 5 2-in-1 convertible laptop is the Flex 5 Chromebook ($409.99). Reliability was good in my testing, with the Flex 5 experiencing no slowdowns or random disconnects when used with a Netgear Nighthawk router. There's a definite budget feel to the chassis, but for the less-expensive configurations, it's a good collection of components, including the latest Intel processors -- even if you never fold the hinge back into its kiosk mode. Two smaller rubber bumpers at the far left and right front corners of the wrist rest keep the keys slightly more protected when the system is in its kiosk mode, with the keyboard down against the table. That said, while the key layout and design is cribbed from Lenovo's higher-end laptops, the implementation here feels clacky, with loud keys that flex more than they should under even a light touch. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. The Intel Core i3 and 4GB of RAM in the Flex 5 help it offer perfectly adequate performance for most common Chrome tasks, like using Google Docs, watching YouTube videos, and even participating in video chats on Google Hangouts or Skype. 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