Here's why I was left underwhelmed by this Lenovo laptop

Price When Reviewed

$1,099

Best Prices Today: Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1

Lenovo’s IdeaPad household is a broad one, with all types of gadgets from traditional clamshells, Chromebooks, and 2-in-1s just like the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 right here. But its range additionally makes it onerous to anticipate. Some of its laptops might be spectacular, however you may’t depend on that to imply all of them are.

Lenovo suggests this IdeaPad is meant to deliver premium options to a extra inexpensive worth, however the laptop computer as a substitute follows within the footsteps of the disappointing IdeaPad Slim 3, providing little or no to get excited for and a fairly primary all-around expertise that begs for the $1,099 record worth to get a extreme low cost. 

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Specs and options

• Model quantity: F0J20012US  
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 7 255U
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x-8000
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Graphics
• Display: 16-inch 1200p IPS Touchscreen, shiny
• Storage: 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p + IR
• Connectivity: 2x USB-C 10Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4 Alternate Mode, 1 HDMI 1.4b, 2x USB-A 5Gbps, 1x microSD card reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• Biometrics: Windows Hello facial recognition
• Battery capability: 57 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.02 x 10.03 x 0.72 inches
• Weight: 4.59 kilos measured
• MSRP: $1,099 as-tested ($679 base)

The configuration of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 that was despatched over for evaluation is particular to B&H Photo, and it comes with a $1,099 price ticket and Intel Core Ultra 7 255U processor, 16GB of reminiscence, and 512GB of storage. This is a fairly bitter deal when Lenovo presents the identical configuration however with double the storage for an “estimated value” of $1,079, which naturally will get some form of low cost, decreasing the value to $829 on the time of writing.

Lenovo presents a decrease base configuration that drops the CPU to an Intel Core Ultra 5 225U however leaves the whole lot else unchanged. This lowers the value to an “Est Value” of $919, which had a reduction to $689 on the time of writing. Lenovo additionally presents a configuration that doubles the storage to 1TB whereas solely rising the “Est Value” by $10, and that mannequin is confusingly simply $679 on the time of writing. 

You can create a customized configuration, however the choices are exceedingly restricted. You get to select from the 2 CPUs talked about, 512GB or 1TB of storage, Windows 11 Home or Pro variations, and a Luna Grey or Cosmic Blue colour.

While these are the choices on the time of writing, it’s potential Lenovo shall be increasing them. In its product specifications reference, it mentions the Intel Core Ultra 5 225H and 7 255H CPUs with Intel Arc 130T and Arc 140T graphics, respectively, in addition to 32GB of potential reminiscence.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Design and construct high quality

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 is about as boring because it will get. The complete factor is a big slab of grey, and even the keyboard is a bland grey. Lenovo opted for a nice, aluminum lid, however as giant as it’s, it actually may have used some adornment aside from Lenovo’s branding. Beyond that lid, the remainder of the construct is simply plastic, and never a very impressive-feeling plastic both.

As a 2-in-1, the IdeaPad has Lenovo’s typical hinge design, however it appears awkward within the thick base of the laptop computer. The hinge is fairly agency, avoiding an excessive amount of wiggle, however this will make it a bit effortful to fold the laptop computer round into totally different poses. It’s additionally so agency that it’s going to carry the underside of the laptop computer up when shifting it, so no straightforward one-handed opening. 

At a hair over 14 inches extensive and 10 inches lengthy, it’s an enormous machine, and it’s larger than it wanted to be because the 2-in-1 design at all times appears to ivolve additional chin bezels under the show. At 4.59 kilos, it’s a hefty machine as properly. Lenovo states it’s 0.72 inches thick (although I measured it at 0.78 inches and the rubber ft add one other tenth of an inch to that), so not less than it’s not too massive in each dimension.

But nonetheless, the system can be just too giant and heavy to make use of virtually as a pill. I’ve seen HP combine magnets into its 2-in-1 laptops to maintain them folded open of their pill mode, however the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 hasn’t achieved this, and this sees the 2 halves flop round a bit in pill mode.

Lenovo took some, however not full, benefit of the additional area it had. It squeezed a conventional quantity pad subsequent to the keyboard, albeit with barely slender keys. The quantity pad will get devoted audio playback controls above it as properly. There’s a ton of area above the keyboard as properly, and Lenovo has put its audio system there behind a large grille. Below the keyboard, Lenovo hasn’t been as bold. The trackpad is sort of small for a machine this measurement, and it’s centered under the alphanumerics, so it sits very far to the left. 

Above the show, Lenovo’s webcam suits right into a small additional part of bezel that additionally homes a bodily privateness shutter. When closed, this little lip additionally makes opening the laptop computer simpler, although nonetheless doesn’t type out the necessity for a second hand. 

Underneath, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 sits on two small rubber ft on the entrance and a large foot on the rear. These maintain it nearly astoundingly securely in place on tables and desks and supply room for air to get in. There’s a large grille beneath for air consumption, although just one fan truly pulls air in. This exhausts out the again fringe of the bottom.  

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Mark Knapp

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 keyboard is a critical blended bag. It’s far sufficient up the laptop computer to be uncomfortable to achieve, with my wrists resting uncomfortably on the entrance edge. The really feel of every key can be very inconsistent. Some really feel fairly properly stabilized whereas others don’t. Some have extra of a tactile pop to them as they depress and others simply mush down. Those dynamics additionally shift relying on the place on the important thing you press. The keys aren’t very contoured both.

It’s maybe simply from my expertise with Lenovo keyboard over time that I used to be nonetheless in a position to attain a typing pace of 115 phrases per minute with 97 % accuracy in Monkeytype with out a lot time to adapt, however I can’t say that I used to be snug whereas I did it. The keys are not less than simply legible and get helpful backlighting to see at nighttime. 

The trackpad feels fantastic. It has a mylar coating that’s lots clean, although there’s a little bit of friction to the feel. It’s not unhealthy, however it’s not like sliding throughout ice recent from the Zamboni. The measurement of the trackpad is modest, which is lots for four-finger gestures and a great match on a 14-inch laptop computer. But it’s awkwardly small right here. I’ve to achieve far throughout the laptop computer to make use of it with my proper hand, and infrequently I find yourself nonetheless to this point to the suitable aspect of the trackpad that my clicks register as right-clicks. 

The touchscreen works as an alternative choice to utilizing the trackpad for the whole lot. I discovered it fairly responsive, although it could have felt much more so with a quicker refresh price from the show. The display screen is made with glass, and this didn’t show as clean to the contact as I’d have hoped.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Display, audio

IDG / Mark Knapp

You get an enormous show on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10. The panel stretches 16 inches from nook to nook, and although its 1920×1200 decision isn’t exceedingly sharp, it doesn’t look unhealthy at common viewing distances. But that’s about all of the credit score the show goes to get. The display screen is in any other case very lackluster. 

In some methods, it truly exceeds expectations, however solely as a result of the expectations have been set low. Lenovo charges it for a 300-nit peak brightness and a pitiful 800:1 distinction ratio, however my check pattern managed 323.8 nits and a 1,680:1 distinction ratio. That brightness may need been first rate on a matte or anti-glare show, however the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 has a shiny panel that struggles in vivid situations and can solely worsen wanting when it’s coated in finger grease — it’s a touchscreen in spite of everything. 

Then there’s the colour. This is a type of bottom-of-the-barrel shows that nearly appears to consider colour as an afterthought. It achieves simply 65 % protection of the sRGB colorspace. If you wish to see absolutely anything in your laptop the best way a creator or internet designer meant it, this laptop gained’t present it to you. 

The audio system on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 are additionally fairly pitiful. They don’t sound unhealthy, however they’re wimpy, providing such low quantity that even a fan operating in the identical room will make it a bit onerous to listen to the whole lot clearly. They’re additionally missing in low-end, so that you gained’t get any oomph in motion pictures or music. Thankfully, they don’t have any terrible qualities, like distortion or reverberation with the chassis.

The audio system additionally work higher with the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 in its laptop computer pose, since they’re positioned above the keyboard. When the laptop computer is in its tent mode — you realize, the one best for casually watching one thing — the audio is firing within the mistaken course and sounds even quieter.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Mark Knapp

You gained’t be getting the most effective webcam and mic setup on this planet with the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10. Even although the digicam has a 1080p decision, it gained’t do you a lot good. In dimmer environments, the digicam appears dreary and really noisy. Even with a powerful mild, the video appears oversharpened and never fairly lifelike. On the brilliant aspect, the digicam presents a really extensive viewing angle, so you will get different individuals within the view with you.

The mics aren’t including a lot both. They don’t appear to select up an excessive amount of background noise, however additionally they don’t decide up a lot. In a check recording, my voice sounded skinny and a bit far off because of ample room echo. Having heard excellent noise suppression from the HP OmniBook X Flip 14 lately, it’s all too obvious how far this laptop computer falls behind.

The webcam not less than helps Windows Hello facial recognition, which gives a handy method to sign up to the pc. It solely takes a second or two more often than not.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Connectivity

IDG / Mark Knapp

At first look, it seems as if the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 has achieved a fantastic job with its port choice — not wonderful for a 16-incher like this, however not unhealthy. And then you definitely uncover the specs of every port, and issues go downhill. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 has two USB-C ports on the left aspect, however these cap out at 10Gbps, not the 20Gbps of USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 or the a lot quicker speeds of USB4 or Thunderbolt 4, each of which have turn into exceedingly frequent. There’s an HDMI port on the left edge as properly, however it’s an HDMI 1.4 port, which may solely help 4K at 30Hz. You can use the USB-C ports for video output, however then you definitely’ll seemingly be in search of an adapter. The left edge is rounded off with a 3.5mm audio combo jack. 

On the suitable aspect of the pc, you’ll discover a microSD card reader — fantastic, however there’s undoubtedly room for a full card slot. That sits subsequent to 2 USB lowly USB-A 5Gbps ports.

You can not less than get quick knowledge speeds over Wi-Fi, because the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 helps Wi-Fi 6. Even that’s starting to really feel a bit behind the instances, as Wi-Fi 6E can provide you quicker speeds over a 6GHz band, and Wi-Fi 7 is beginning to present up on many extra gadgets. The connection was quick and secure in testing, and it’s seemingly going to be a number of years earlier than Wi-Fi 6 begins to really feel like an actual shortcoming, however the $1000+ price ticket of this method inflates each little shortcoming when its opponents don’t have the identical points.

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Performance

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 hasn’t gained itself a lot commendation in every other division, so its hopes financial institution on its efficiency. Inside, our check unit is packing a Intel Core Ultra 7 255U, which can not sound like a lot, however it contains two efficiency, eight effectivity, and two low-power effectivity cores, racking up a complete core depend of 12. Unfortunately, that chip doesn’t embody the peppy Intel Arc graphics I’ve seen on numerous different techniques up to now 12 months. 

That places it in a little bit of a difficult place. Lenovo’s personal Yoga 7i 2-in-1 16ILL10 carries a comparable price ticket, comparable design, and comparable show whereas swapping its innards for a Intel Core Ultra 7 256V that does embody Intel Arc graphics. The Dell Inspiron 16 2-in-1 7640 price simply $1,349 again when it launched over a 12 months in the past, and it contains the very succesful Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with Intel Arc graphics in addition to a brighter 2560×1600 Mini-LED touchscreen. The $1,659 HP OmniBook X Flip 16 exhibits what it appears like once you go a bit extra upscale with the complete package deal. And in case you’re unsure a 2-in-1 is critical, the $1,149 Acer Swift Go 16 demonstrates what you will get from a equally priced clamshell laptop computer with its sharp OLED show, increased efficiency internals, and considerably decreased weight. 

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 is sluggish out of the gate, not doing itself any favors in PCMark 10’s holistic benchmark. This simulates all kinds of workplace workloads, and whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 presents respectable efficiency, it trails each single different system on this group, even the techniques with lower-power processors. An important concern is the graphical efficiency of the system, which couldn’t sustain with the Intel Arc graphics on the opposite techniques when it got here to digital content material creation like picture and video modifying. 

We can see fairly clearly that it’s not the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10’s CPU efficiency holding it again. The Intel Core Ultra 7 255U presents fairly respectable speeds, and Lenovo manages to maintain it comparatively cool. Our Handbrake check duties the system with encoding a big video file, which takes lots of CPU horsepower and a very long time, giving the system an opportunity to throttle.

Here we see the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 truly beat out final 12 months’s Intel Core Ultra 7 155H by a slender margin with a decrease energy envelope and 4 fewer efficiency cores, although the Dell system in query did face some thermal throttling. This type of efficiency offers the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 a leg up on the Yoga 9i and OmniBook X Flip 16, although it nonetheless can’t contact the additional efficiency that the Acer Swift Go 16’s Core Ultra 9 285H brings. 

Like Handbrake, Cinebench pushes the CPU, however it gives the chance to judge each single- and multi-core efficiency and run bursty and prolonged checks. In Cinebench R23, we are able to see that the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 truly falls behind Dell’s Inspiron, which doesn’t run into the identical throttling points right here because it did in Handbrake. The IdeaPad additionally continues to steer the Yoga and OmniBook, however it nonetheless can’t scratch the Acer Swift Go 16. 

Despite this additional horsepower, the precise responsiveness of the system might not at all times be as spectacular as a few of these different machines. In Cinebench R23 and R24, the IdeaPad confirmed that its single-core efficiency was truly among the many slowest of the pack, even falling far behind the Yoga and OmniBook it had in any other case been main.

While CPU efficiency was respectable, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 fell onerous within the graphics division. The lack of Intel Arc graphics on this chip drags the system down dramatically. It merely can’t sustain with these others, providing about half the efficiency of all of those alternate options. 3DMark duties the system with 3D scenes as you would possibly see in video video games, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 struggles. Integrated graphics have usually been a poor possibility, however current Intel Arc options have confirmed commendable even when they didn’t come near matching discrete GPUs. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10’s primary Intel Graphics, nonetheless, is a throwback to how wimpy built-in graphics might be. 

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Battery life

As massive and heavy because the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 is, Lenovo didn’t hassle to pack in an enormous battery. Instead, it has only a 57-watt-hour pack. I’ve seen larger batteries in 14-inch laptops. This combines with comparatively inefficient efficiency, and in consequence, we see the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 solely narrowly exceed 12.5 hours in our offline video playback check. We’ve seen some techniques exceed 24 hours on new intel chips, and even 20 hours is changing into extra frequent.

An offline video runtime of 12 hours isn’t terrible, however with the bar getting pushed so excessive recently, it’s what I’d name unhealthy on something aside from a gaming laptop computer. The Yoga and OmniBook might not have supplied fairly as a lot CPU efficiency, however they each hit round 18 hours. Dell’s Inspiron system even narrowly beat the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10, and it had a higher-wattage CPU and sharper show. This left the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 with a victory solely over the Acer Swift Go 16, and you’ll nearly forgive that system for under hitting 10 hours when factoring in its higher show and the way far more highly effective, thinner, and lighter it’s.

As good as 12.5 hours would possibly sound, offline video playback is one thing of a best-case state of affairs. Computers as of late play native video very effectively. Regular workplace use will suck the battery down a lot quicker. It additionally doesn’t assist that the shiny show kind of requires the display screen to run at its highest brightness ranges. As a end result, I used to be fortunate to see between 6 and 8 hours of runtime — not fairly sufficient to depend on safely making it by means of a workday. At least the 65W charger isn’t too massive to simply match right into a bag with the laptop computer. 

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10: Conclusion

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 16 Gen 10 simply feels prefer it has nothing going for it. Its design is forgettable and doesn’t really feel good within the fingers (or on the wrists). The show is about as unhealthy as Lenovo can get away with. The ports are a number of generations behind the instances. While the efficiency appears vivid at instances, it’s weighed again down by the severely missing graphics efficiency. And all that’s tied up into an enormous and heavy machine that doesn’t even pack a long-lasting battery. It’s simply fumble after fumble, and the one nod to high quality Lenovo appears to have made is an aluminum lid.

At its full worth, simply don’t purchase this laptop computer. If you want a machine with an enormous touchscreen that’ll do the fundamentals, possibly take into account this one if Lenovo cuts it to $500, and even then, be certain that there’s not a greater deal on one thing else first.