The keyboard is fairly nice with an excellent quantity of journey and 0 flex within the keyboard deck. Apparently, Lenovo added a fingerprint reader that labored rapidly each time I used it to log in. The trackpad, alternatively, may use some work; it’s a little bit mushy and requires a barely completely different quantity of strain to register clicks relying on the place I positioned my finger.
Surprisingly, the webcam on the IdeaPad Flex 5i is strong. It’s a transparent and crisp 1080p shooter that appears ok in video calls, particularly contemplating the value. There’s additionally a built-in privateness shutter you may simply slide closed when it’s not in use.
The general construct high quality of the laptop computer is nice. There isn’t a number of flex within the chassis regardless of the place you apply strain, which is at all times an excellent signal once you’re coping with a 2-in-1, the place it’s possible you’ll be flipping the show forwards and backwards frequently. It feels fairly dense as nicely, giving it a weighty presence that gave me confidence it wouldn’t break if it occurred to take a tumble.
Sadly, one main letdown is its audio system. I used to be hopeful after I noticed the pair of upward-firing speaker cutouts flanking the keyboard, however I used to be rapidly disenchanted after I pulled up a YouTube video. The sound high quality is kind of skinny, making even probably the most sturdy tracks sound weak. You’ll be able to simply remedy this challenge through the use of a pair of wireless headphones or earbuds, nevertheless it’s unlucky nonetheless.
Restricted Home windows
Maybe probably the most perplexing resolution with the IdeaPad Flex 5i is that Lenovo selected to ship it with Home windows 11 in S mode. If you happen to’re unfamiliar, this model of Home windows 11 solely lets you set up apps instantly from the Microsoft Retailer. Out of the field, you may’t obtain and set up something from the web, which caught me off guard after I instantly tried to put in Google Chrome upon first booting the laptop computer up.
Nonetheless, you can simply swap out of S Mode, which completely transforms the OS to Home windows 11 Residence. As soon as switched, you may set up apps and applications from anyplace, even when it’s technically much less safe than sticking with the Microsoft Retailer. It’s a simple sufficient course of, nevertheless it’s an annoying hurdle for anybody who doesn’t know what they’re stepping into.
