The keyboard is pretty good, with a good amount of travel and zero flex on the keyboard deck. Interestingly, Lenovo added a fingerprint reader that worked quickly every time I used it to log in. The trackpad, on the other hand, could use some work; It’s a little soft and requires a slightly different amount of pressure to register clicks depending on where you place your finger.
Surprisingly, the IdeaPad Flex 5i’s webcam is solid. It’s a clear, sharp 1080p camera that looks pretty good on video calls, especially considering the price. There is also a built-in privacy shutter that you can easily close when not in use.
The overall build quality of the laptop is excellent. There’s not a lot of flex in the chassis no matter where you apply pressure, which is always a good sign when it comes to a 2-in-1, where you’re likely to rotate the screen back and forth regularly. It also feels quite dense, giving it a heavy presence that gave me confidence that it wouldn’t break if I took a fall.
Unfortunately, a big disappointment is its speakers. I was hopeful when I saw the pair of upward-facing speaker cutouts flanking the keyboard, but I was quickly disappointed when I watched a YouTube video. The sound quality is quite poor, making even the strongest tracks sound weak. You can easily solve this problem by using a pair of headphones or wireless headphones, but it’s still unfortunate.
Limited windows
Perhaps the most puzzling decision with the IdeaPad Flex 5i is that Lenovo decided to ship it with Windows 11 in S mode. If you’re unfamiliar, this version of Windows 11 only allows you to install apps directly from the Microsoft Store. Out of the box, you can’t download or install anything from the Internet, which caught me by surprise when I tried to install Google Chrome immediately after booting up the laptop for the first time.
However, you can Easily exit S Mode, which permanently transforms the operating system to Windows 11 Home. Once switched, you can install apps and programs from anywhere, even if it’s technically less secure than sticking with the Microsoft Store. It’s a fairly easy process, but it’s an annoying hurdle for anyone who doesn’t know what they’re getting into.