Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" Lenovo Laptop 2025, Core i5-1235U, 24GB, 1TB SSD, Abyss Blue

A spec sheet that punches way above its price, but you're gambling on whether you get a working unit. Buy it for the RAM and storage, not for peace of mind.

The i5-1235U is a 10-core chip that handles the basics without breaking a sweat. We're talking Office, browser tabs, spreadsheets, that sort of thing. The 24GB of DDR4 RAM is overkill for most people buying a budget laptop, and that's a good thing. It means you can have forty Chrome tabs open and not feel it. The integrated Iris Xe graphics are fine for video streaming and light photo work, but don't expect to game on this thing. Our data puts gaming at a 15.7 out of 100, which is one of the worst we've seen for that use case. The 1TB SSD is a genuine highlight, giving you fast boot times and plenty of room. Just know that the CPU itself sits at the 36th percentile, so it's not a powerhouse, just a competent daily driver.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M5 or the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro, this IdeaPad looks like a budget compromise. The MacBook will crush it in build quality, screen, and performance, but it costs three times as much. The Samsung has a better display and is far more compact, but again, you're paying for it. The real comparison is against other budget laptops in the $600-700 range. Here, the IdeaPad's 24GB RAM and 1TB SSD are genuinely unusual. Most competitors at this price give you 8GB or 16GB and a 512GB drive. The trade-off is the risk of getting a lemon.

At $649 in the US, this is a solid deal if you get a good unit. The RAM and storage alone justify the price. But the EUR 1,273-1,342 listings in Europe are a different story. That's MacBook Air territory, and this IdeaPad is not that. If you're paying over a grand for this, you're getting fleeced. The value proposition only holds at the lower end of the price spectrum.

The Lenovo IdeaPad with the i5-1235U is a classic case of 'great on paper, gamble in the box.' You're getting 24GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for a price that usually gets you half the memory and a quarter of the storage. That's the hook. But the user sentiment tells a messier story: some folks get a screaming fast machine for school or office work, and others get a brick that won't boot out of Safe Mode. It's a value play with a quality control asterisk.

If you need a laptop for gaming, creative work, or anything beyond basic productivity, this isn't it. Go get a machine with a dedicated GPU or at least a stronger processor. And if you're in Europe, skip it entirely. The price there is absurd for what you're getting. You'd be better off with a used MacBook Air or a mid-range ASUS.

If you're a student or office worker on a tight budget and you're willing to roll the dice on quality control, this Lenovo is a compelling buy. The specs are generous for the price, and when it works, it works well. But if you need a machine that just turns on and works every single time, or if you're buying in Europe where the price balloons, look elsewhere. The risk of a defective unit and unhelpful support is real.