Remember that Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i that I reviewed back in September? I found it to be a great mid-level Chromebook thanks to the 11th-generation Intel Core i3, 8 GB of memory, and a reasonably good 1080p touchscreen. Even with an average screen brightness of 250 nits, I thought it was worth the price. Today I see that Costco has the exact same configuration for $250 off the MSRP. You can get a Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i discounted down to $299.99
Two things to note here. First, it appears that Costco is discounting the convertible Chromebook by $200, not $250. That’s because it already shaved $50 off of Lenovo’s MSRP. Second, even though Costco calls it the Flex 5, this is the Flex 5i based on the model name. It’s literally the exact same device I reviewed last year.
Just to verify the specifications, here they are:
| CPU | Dual-core (four-threads) Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU (3.0 GHz / 4.1 GHz) |
| GPU | Intel Integrated UHD Graphics |
| Display | 13.3-inch IPS 1920 x 1080 display, anti-glare finish, 16:9 aspect ratio, 250 nits brightness |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4x-3733 MHz memory |
| Storage | 128GB SSD M.2 PCIe 3.0×4 NVMe, microSD card slot for expansion |
| Connectivity | 802.11ax (2×2) WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Input | Spill-resistant backlit keyboard, Mylar trackpad 720p webcam with physical privacy shutter |
| Ports | 1 USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen 1), 2 USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen 1) supporting PD 3.0, data and DisplayPort 1.4, headphone/microphone combo jack |
| Battery | 51 WHr, expected run-time up to 10 hours |
| Weight | 2.97 pounds |
| Software | Chrome OS automatic updates through June 2029 |
What did I say about this portable package in my Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook review?
There really aren’t any major “gotchas” here. The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook is a solid device with great performance, a workday’s worth of battery life, and a nice combination of display, keyboard, and trackpad. It has all of the ports most users would want.
About the only gripe I can come up with is the 720p camera. I appreciate the privacy shutter but I’d appreciate a 1080p sensor even more. It’s fine and usable, just not impressive.
Everything else really is though. So if you want better performance than a high-end Chromebook from just a few short years ago and have to have a convertible Chromebook, you should strongly consider the Lenovo Flex 5i.
Simply put, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook in this configuration easily offers enough performance for any basic, entry-level usage. And then some with the solid processor, 8 GB of memory, and 128 GB of speedy NVMe storage.
For $299.99, this device is a steal for anyone with a Chromebook budget under $400. No, you don’t get premium build materials or a super bright display. But you’re getting a lot for your money and Chrome OS software updates through June 2029.
Updated on March 19, 2022, to reflect an additional $50 off the price from the March 12th publication.
