Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 14" Gen 11 2024, Core Ultra 5 322, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Luna Grey

The IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 is a solid student machine with 16GB RAM, a 60Wh battery, and a light 1.40kg build. It scores 72.8/100 for students, but gaming is a disaster at 18.3/100. Worth buying if you need a portable 2-in-1 for school or office work, just don't expect to play games on it.

The Intel Core Ultra 322 6-core chip sits right around the middle of the pack in our rankings, which is fine for web browsing, document editing, and video calls. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM helps keep things smooth when you've got a dozen tabs open. But the integrated graphics are a real limitation. Gaming scores an 18.3/100, which is rough. Don't expect to play anything beyond light indie titles or very old games. The 512GB SSD is adequate but not generous, and it lands at the 51st percentile for storage. The screen hits 400 nits brightness, which is good for indoor use, though the 45% NTSC color coverage means it's not great for photo or video work.

Against the Apple MacBook Pro M5, this IdeaPad gets absolutely smoked on performance and screen quality, but it's also way cheaper and has a touchscreen. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and HP OMEN Transcend 14 are gaming-focused machines with dedicated GPUs, so they're in a completely different league for graphics. The MSI Raider is a chunky desktop replacement, not really a competitor for portability. The Dell Premium is probably the closest rival here, and it trades blows on specs. The IdeaPad's main edge is the 2-in-1 flexibility and lighter weight. If you need a convertible, this is the pick. If you need raw power, look elsewhere.

Pricing is a bit scattered right now. US listings range from USD 1,000 to USD 1,130 across two vendors, so shop around before you commit. At the low end, this feels like a reasonable deal for a 2-in-1 with 16GB of RAM and a decent battery. At the high end, you're creeping into territory where better screens and faster storage start showing up. The affordability percentile sits at 44th, which means it's not a bargain, but it's not a rip-off either. If you can snag it closer to USD 1,000, it's a fair price for what you get.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 Gen 11 is a 14-inch convertible that's clearly aimed at students and anyone who wants a light, flexible machine for everyday work. It's got a 16:10 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD, all wrapped in a 1.40kg chassis. Nothing flashy, but the fundamentals are there.

Our database puts this thing at 72.8/100 for students and 72.6/100 for compact use. That's a solid B-minus. It's not going to blow anyone's socks off, but it does the daily grind stuff well enough. The 60Wh battery and Wi-Fi 7 support are nice touches for a machine in this class.

Skip this if you need any real graphics performance. The 18.3/100 gaming score means even light gaming is a stretch, and creative apps that lean on the GPU will chug. Also skip it if you need lots of storage, since 512GB fills up fast and there's no mention of easy upgrade options. And if you're picky about displays, the 45% NTSC panel will probably disappoint you.

This is a student laptop through and through. If you're taking notes, writing papers, streaming lectures, and occasionally flipping the screen around to watch something in tent mode, the IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 does all of that without complaint. The 72.8/100 student score reflects that. It's not for gamers, not for video editors, and not for anyone who needs serious GPU muscle. But for everyday productivity with a touchscreen twist, it's a dependable choice.