Lenovo Ideapad 5 (2024) Review - Think before you choose

Summary

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is a sleek, mid-range laptop offering solid performance with its Ryzen 7 processor, fast RAM, and SSD. Available in 13, 15, and 17-inch models, it excels in both everyday tasks and light creative work or gaming. It features a robust keyboard, smooth touchpad, Dolby audio speakers, and a full HD screen. However, it lacks RAM upgradeability and its color accuracy is average, though a higher-end IPS screen version is available. Despite minor drawbacks, it's an excellent value for those seeking a capable, affordable laptop.

Takeaways

• 💻 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 offers multiple size options (13, 15, and 17 inches) and features a Ryzen processor with fast RAM and SSD.
• 🎮 The laptop is capable of advanced creative work and gaming, beyond just browsing or watching videos.
• 🖱️ The build quality is described as 'sophisticated simplicity' with a cold metallic finish, and the keyboard is sturdy with good tactile feedback.
• 🔋 The battery can last over 6 hours with heavy use, but up to 10 hours with optimized settings, like lower brightness and disabled background apps.
• 🔊 Speakers support Dolby Audio and offer clear sound, with satisfying midtones and highs, though the bass is subtle.
• 🖥️ The laptop has an almost 16-inch LED backlit screen with full HD resolution, but users who need better color accuracy should opt for the 100% color-accurate IPS version.
• 🔥 Improved cooling system keeps the laptop quiet and cool during most tasks, though it warms up slightly during gaming.
• 🔌 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 comes with essential ports, including USB-C, USB-A, HDMI, and a card reader, making it versatile for connectivity.
• 🎥 The HD webcam has a privacy shutter and provides average picture quality suitable for video chatting and short clips.
• ⚠️ The laptop has no RAM upgradeability, but the M2 SSD drive is replaceable, making storage updates possible.

Q & A

What is the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 known for in terms of performance?

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is equipped with a Ryzen processor, fast RAM, and an SSD drive, making it capable of handling advanced creative work and gaming, in addition to everyday tasks like writing or watching videos.

What versions of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 are available?

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 comes in 13-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch versions, offering different size options depending on user preference.

How is the build quality of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 described?

The build quality of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is described as 'sophisticated simplicity,' with a metallic clean finish. It has a standard, sleek design that feels robust despite its plastic parts around the metal frame.

What is notable about the keyboard of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5?

The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with durable buttons and good tactile feedback. It also comes with a white backlit option, making it suitable for night-time use.

What ports are available on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5?

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 includes two USB-C ports (one for charging), an HDMI port, a headphone jack on the left side, and two USB-A ports along with a card reader on the right side.

How is the display of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5?

The IdeaPad 5 comes with a 16-inch LED backlit screen featuring full HD resolution. It has good color accuracy (around 60%) and is suitable for web browsing and watching videos. However, there is a super IPS version with 100% color accuracy for better viewing angles and colors.

How does the cooling system of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 perform?

The cooling vents are designed to keep the laptop quiet and cool. While the device can become warmer during gaming, especially on the left side, it doesn't reach a distracting level.

What is the battery life of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5?

The battery lasts over 6 hours during heavy use (gaming, video editing, YouTube) and can last up to 10 hours or more if the brightness is reduced to 70% and background apps are disabled.

What are the main drawbacks of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5?

The primary drawbacks are the limited RAM upgradeability (there are no free slots) and the screen's color accuracy, which is only 60%. For better color accuracy, users should opt for the 100% color gamut IPS version.

How do the speakers of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 perform?

The stereo speakers support Dolby Audio and deliver clear sound with a satisfying range of highs and mid-tones. While the bass is subtle, it can still surprise in certain situations, making the audio quality above average for its class.

Outlines

00:00

💻 Overview of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is part of Lenovo's sleek 15-inch laptop series, with additional 13-inch and 17-inch versions available. It features the powerful Ryzen processor, fast RAM, and SSD, making it suitable for both casual use and more advanced tasks such as creative work or gaming. The laptop’s build quality is simple yet elegant, with a cold metallic finish and a solid keyboard. It also offers a smooth typing experience with durable buttons and has a touchpad that is responsive and sturdy. Ports include USB-C, HDMI, and a headphone jack, while the webcam features a privacy shutter.

05:00

⚙️ Performance and Upgradability

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 impresses with its performance, booting Windows 11 in just 9 seconds. While RAM isn't upgradeable, users can replace the M.2 SSD. The laptop's Ryzen 7 processor, along with its sufficient RAM, allows for smooth multitasking and basic editing of photos and videos. It handles light gaming well, particularly for popular online games, although more demanding titles might require the GeForce GTX graphics option. The battery life ranges from over 6 hours with intense use to up to 10 hours with lower brightness and disabled background apps. Dolby audio-enhanced speakers provide clear sound, suitable for media consumption.

Keywords

💡Lenovo IdeaPad 5

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is the main product reviewed in the video. It is described as a mid-range laptop with various screen sizes (15-inch, 13-inch, and 17-inch). This laptop series is praised for its sleek design, Ryzen processor, and performance suitable for both creative work and gaming. The video highlights its affordability and overall functionality.

💡Ryzen processor

The Ryzen processor is a key feature of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5, providing strong performance for multitasking, creative work, and gaming. The video emphasizes how this processor enhances the laptop’s capability, allowing it to handle tasks such as programming, photo/video editing, and gaming without significant lag. It contributes to the device's competitiveness in its price range.

💡RAM and SSD drive

The video mentions the 'super fast RAM and SSD drive' as important components of the IdeaPad 5, making it faster and more responsive. RAM allows for smooth multitasking, while the SSD drive provides quick boot times, with Windows 11 booting in just 9 seconds in the reviewer’s test. These elements are key for ensuring the laptop performs well for everyday tasks and gaming.

💡Backlit keyboard

The backlit keyboard on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is described as providing a great typing experience, with tactile feedback and durable buttons. For users who often work in low-light conditions, the backlit feature, especially the white backlit option, is useful. The video notes that while the keyboard is solid, the IdeaPad lacks the colorful backlit options that gaming laptops might offer.

💡Ports and inputs

The video highlights the various ports and inputs available on the IdeaPad 5, such as USB-C, HDMI, headphone jack, USB-A, and a card reader. These ports provide flexibility for users who need to connect different devices and accessories, which is especially useful for creative professionals or gamers. The availability of modern inputs like USB-C enhances the laptop's functionality.

💡Full HD resolution screen

The IdeaPad 5 comes with a Full HD (FHD) resolution screen, offering a crisp display for tasks like browsing the web, watching videos, and casual gaming. However, the video notes that for users needing better color accuracy, such as graphic designers, there is an option for an IPS screen with 100% color accuracy. This differentiates between casual users and those with higher visual demands.

💡Cooling system

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 features improved cooling vents designed to keep the laptop quiet and prevent overheating during intensive use, such as gaming or running heavy applications. The video mentions that the device stays relatively cool during typing but can get warmer during gaming, particularly on the left side below the screen. A well-designed cooling system is essential for maintaining performance without distractions.

💡Gaming performance

Although not marketed as a gaming laptop, the IdeaPad 5 is tested with popular online games like Apex, and the video mentions that the laptop runs smoothly on high settings. The Radeon graphics provide decent gaming performance for most games, but for more demanding titles like Battlegrounds, users are advised to look for laptops with GeForce GTX graphics. This highlights the laptop's versatility for casual gamers.

💡Battery life

The battery life of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is another key point in the review. The video mentions that it lasted over 6 hours during heavy tasks like editing, gaming, and video playback, with the potential to last up to 10 hours with optimized settings. This makes the laptop suitable for users who need a reliable device for long periods without frequent charging.

💡Speakers and audio

The IdeaPad 5 is equipped with stereo speakers that support Dolby Audio. While the video notes that the bass is subtle, the speakers still produce clear highs and midtones, making them suitable for watching shows or listening to music. The audio quality is considered above average for a mid-range laptop, contributing to a well-rounded multimedia experience.

Highlights

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is a sleek 15-inch laptop, also available in 13-inch and 17-inch versions.

It features a Ryzen processor, fast RAM, and SSD drive, making it capable of advanced creative work and gaming.

The build quality is sophisticated, with a cold metallic finish, and a standard thin lid for a clean look.

The keyboard offers a sturdy typing experience with durable buttons and no visible bending, even under pressure.

The white backlit keyboard is bright and useful for nighttime work, enhancing user experience.

A responsive and well-built touchpad supports multi-touch gestures, though it's not extraordinary in performance.

It includes essential ports, such as two USB-C ports, HDMI, headphone jack, and two USB-A ports.

The 720p webcam includes a privacy shutter and offers decent video quality for casual video chats or short clips.

The laptop's 15.6-inch full HD screen has good color accuracy for everyday use, but the 300-nit brightness may not be ideal for outdoor work.

For better color accuracy and viewing angles, users can opt for the 100% color gamut IPS screen version.

Improved cooling vents help the laptop stay quiet and cool during most tasks, though gaming may make it warmer.

The SSD drive allows for fast boot times, with Windows 11 loading in just 9 seconds.

Though there are no slots for RAM upgrades, users can still replace the M.2 drive for more storage.

The Ryzen 7 processor performs well with multitasking, light gaming, and basic video/photo editing without fan noise.

The battery life lasts around 6 hours under heavy use, but can be extended to 10 hours or more with brightness adjustments and background app management.

Transcripts

[Music]

all right it's been a while since I

reviewed a Fastback lit laptop and this

year Lenovo did bring some new machines

this is aapad 5 it is one of lenovo's

sleeker 15-in laptops but there are also

13 and 17in versions in the idea pad 5

series what's exciting about this one is

that it has the ryzen processor with a

super fast RAM and SSD drive and you'll

see in a minute that it is far more

capable than just for writing or

watching videos on the web and it can be

easily used for advanced creative work

or gaming but like all laptops in this

price category there is always something

hidden until it bumps into

you so let's take a look at inside the

box so here is a charger cables laptop

and is that all where are the

papers

uhhuh here you are I almost thought that

I would need to guess how to turn that

thing

on the build quality of the Lenovo Idea

pad 5 is a sophisticated Simplicity I

think for a lot of people a good size

and weight the exterior surfaces have

this cold old metallic clean finish

otherwise it's got a standard smooth

thin lid it's not an extraordinary

design but if you think silver color is

too shiny there are also dark

[Music]

versions now when you pop it open the

keyboard makes typing a very enjoyable

experience and the buttons feel durable

the tactile feedback is adequate and

there is no visible bending going on

around buttons even when you press

harder on

it for me a good sturdy keyboard is

something that's really important

because you can't replace it easily the

keyboard itself can be bright especially

if you have an idea pad with a white

backlit keyboard so if you often work at

night you will appreciate backl

shortcuts but if you want more colors

then you will need to check out Lenovo

gaming

laptops the touchpad itself offers a

spaces interface with a smooth surface

and good

responsiveness its clicking mechanism is

wellb built and it quickly detects touch

when you press the top and bottom half

of the touchpad I like the multi-touch

just don't expect miracles from

it now let's talk a bit about the inputs

Lenovo gave the idea pad 5 all essential

and New Ports so on the left side of the

notebook you can connect the two US USBC

one is for charger HDMI along with a

headphone jack on the right side we have

two usba a and card

reader on the top of the screen is a

webcam with privacy shutter and it can

easily record HD video If you compare it

to the phone selfie cams it has average

picture quality which is sharp enough

for chatting of course you can even use

it for creating short clips if you know

how to upscale video

quality idea pad 5 comes with an almost

16in LED backlit screen with a full HD

resolution this screen does a great job

of displaying web pages and YouTube

videos it will be good for everyday use

but if you want even better colors then

go with the super IPS screen version

with 100% color accuracy which also has

a lot better viewing angles even though

this IPS screen has average 60% color

accuracy colors still look convincing of

course it's not all perfect like many

other laptops in this price class it

can't get a lot brighter than 300 nits

which is not the best for working

outside but it's still usable and it

still has more than enough brightness

for normal use in the office or at home

[Music]

as you can see Lenovo outfitted the idea

pad 5 with an improved cooling vents

designed to keep the laptop quieter and

less hot when it is fully loaded the

device exhausts its heat towards the

bottom of the screen during typing I

didn't feel any heat but when you play

games the left side below screen can

become warmer yet it's far from

distractable unless you are ice cream

if we're talking sheer speed the SSD

drive booted Windows 11 in an impressive

9 seconds in terms of upgradeability

there are no free slots for ram upgrade

but you can still replace the M2

Drive Benchmark wise it does quite stack

up to the other laptops in this

category it has a great CPU and a good

amount of ram so completing tasks like

programming application

or basic editing of photos and videos is

an easy thing to

do for an affordable mainstream laptop

designed for work and play the ryzen 7

processor performed well and without

annoying fan noise when it comes to

multitasking I tested some apps with

YouTube in the background there wasn't

lag when scrolling and switching between

apps I also tested some games it ran

smoothly Apex on High settings and I can

say Radeon graphics offers good

performance for most popular online

games but if you want to play more

demanding games like Battlegrounds then

it is best to go with the GeForce GTX

graphics with a 57 watt battery inside I

wasn't expecting to be surprised on the

battery test which involves some heavy

editing gaming and watching YouTube the

battery lasted more than 6 hours but it

should last up to 10 hours and more if

you lower the screen brightness to 70%

and disable some unused background

apps the two stereo speakers support

Dolby audio and can produce a satisfying

range of highs

midtones that let you hear all the

details and sound effects while only 3

Watts base is

subtle it can still surprise in some

clips and can perform well for watching

shows in general speakers produce a

clear sound and its peak max power is

comparable with similarly priced

laptops unlike a lot of 15 in laptops

the Lenovo Idea pad 5 ab7 packs a

lightweight chassis with thinnest bezels

great keyboard and above average

speakers the fhd screen is sharp the

only disadvantages are the narrow color

coverage so if you want more accurate

colors go with 100% color gamut IP

screen version as of the build quality

despite the plastic around metal the

laptop is robustly built and feels it

will last the only complaint is there is

no RAM memory

upgradeability overall Lenovo IdeaPad 5

is still one of the best entry mid-range

laptops on the market and a great choice

for anyone who want a fast and

affordable laptop from

[Music]

Lenovo