Review of Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 514

Lenovo just updated its 2-in-1 range of IdeaPad Flex notebooks with the latest AMD CPUs. And I have Flex 5's 2021 edition here, which is pretty little upgrading than the previous one. This isn't a negative thing, however. Let's find out more in this review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14.

Specifications Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14:

Design & construction: All-plastic construction, 12.66W x 8.56D x 0.70H-inches, 1.5 kg.

Display: IPS gloss panel 14′′, luminosity 250 nits, color gamut 45% NTSC.

Resolution: FHD resolution (1920 pillar1080), 16:9 aspect ratio.

Keyboard: illuminated Keyboard chiclet-style

Trackpad: multi-touch plastic trackpad, Windows accuracy drivers

CPU, Zen 2 (Lucienne), 6C/12T, Max 4,0GHz frequency, 8MB L3 cache, 7nm FinFET, 25W TDP up AMD Ryzen 5 5500U CPU.

RAM: 16GB (3200MHz), DDR4 RAM (soldered)

Storage: 256Gb M.2 PCIe SSD NVMe (expandable)

Graphics card: 7-core Chart Radeon AMD 7 @1800MHz Graphics (Integrated)

Audio: Dolby Audio 2x 2W speakers, dual microphone

Price in Nepal: Rs. 118,000

Review of Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 514

As it is a budget entry for Lenovo's convertible laptop line-up, the IdeaPad Flex 5 offers an all-plastic construction quality. This laptop does not have this designation as far as quality hands-on feeling is concerned. However, Graphite Grey ends in the appearance of the smartphone.

Lenovo has smoothed the bezels around to make them comfortable to handle. This is the comparatively rubbery feeling of the keyboard deck in contrast to the laptop's deck. Furthermore, neither one draws so many fingerprints or smudges. And those that succeed in leaving a footprint can be removed quickly.

Inside a metal envelope, there are two Lenovo brands – one on the rear and the other on the keyboard. Although the rubber feet enable the flat surface to have a relatively good grip, their height hinders an effective airflow to the big entrance ports on the ground. In addition, Lenovo did not install any lifting mechanism, as was the case with the "ErgoLift" hinge on Asus laptops.

So, with 7-8 Chrome tabs open and several other lightweight apps like a word processor and media player going in the background, the Flex 5 gets slightly warm, primarily on the left half of the chassis. The company offers a standard single-fan setup (right) alongside two heat pipes in terms of thermals.

I usually used the “Intelligent Cooling” profile, which is supposed to be a happy medium between maximum performance and low fan noise. Fortunately, the fan doesn't kick in as much in the aforementioned usage case (which I'd characterize as lightweight – medium), resulting in quiet performance.

The Battery Saving profile, which sacrifices CPU performance for completely silent fan noise, is available. The exhaust vent at the back also performs a decent job of moving the heated air away from the screen. However, I must point out the variability of this convertible machine's thermal performance.

Moving on, the Flex 5 is fairly weighty for a 14-inch laptop. It's bulkier than several other 14-inch laptops we've recently evaluated, such as MSI's Prestige 14 Evo, at 1.5 kg. This isn't to imply you'll have trouble lugging it about since you won't.

In any case, the I/O on the IdeaPad Flex 5 is rather excellent. A DC port, a full-sized HDMI 1.4b, one USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, and a 3.5mm combination audio connection are all located on the left frame. Lenovo provides this laptop with either a barrel charger or a USB-C converter, depending on the location. The Type-C connector also supports power delivery. We received the latter in our circumstance.

Similarly, two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, a 4-in-1 card reader, and a power button are included on the right frame. Interestingly, both ports of Type A enable the "Always on USB," which means that even when it is sleepy or fully off you may load your phones or tablets with the Flex 5. However, if this functionality is found superfluous, the Lenovo Vantage app can simply turn it off.

The Flex 5 is a clear winner in battery longevity, apart from its spectacular performance. I was powered by a battery of 52.5 Whrs, and at best I managed to screen for a little over 9 hours. My use consists of 6-7 Chrome tabs with a predetermined luminosity of 77% and a smart cooling performance setting. So it's a terrific alternative if you want a laptop that can last all day long.

To conclude, an excellent mixed bag definition is the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. The Ryzen 5 5500U has a phenomenal price performance and is, therefore, a superb alternative for individuals who prefer raw power above anything else.