Lenovo is one of the most trusted manufacturers of laptops in the world. It is famous for its ThinkPad and IdeaPad line, producing some of the most powerful business computers. Under the IdeaPad line, Lenovo also manufactures 2-in-1 computers that are perfect for many computing, designing, and editing tasks, such as Lenovo Flex 14.
In this Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS review, we will discuss its features, what sets it apart from its competition, its performance, and whether it’s a good option for you.
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Pros & Cons Of The Lenovo Flex 14
What We Like
What We Don’t Like
Unique Features Of The Lenovo Flex 14
The Lenovo IdeaPad line was first introduced in 2008. This line was meant to create a new Lenovo brand that is different from its business-oriented ThinkPad laptops. IdeaPad’s design is more consumer-friendly, sporting a glossy screen and removing the famous “red nipple” or Trackpoint present in ThinkPad laptops. One of its models, Lenovo Flex 14, is designed with users in mind. Here are some of its features:
2nd Generation AMD Ryzen 5 Processor
The Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 laptop comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 3500, which is a mid-range processor found in many mainstream-class laptops. It has four cores and a maximal clock speed of 3.7 GHz, making it an excellent CPU for home and computing duties. This processor also allows you to easily run multiple apps simultaneously, so you won’t have to worry about lags and slow performance. It can also handle demanding apps, allowing you to edit videos and photos.
AMD Radeon Vega 8 Integrated Graphics
The AMD Ryzen-5 series processors use AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics cards. This makes the Lenovo Flex 14 a good low-budget laptop for gaming. However, this GPU may not be a good option if you play heavy game titles. But, you can edit videos, graphics, and photos with ease, making it an excellent laptop for aspiring and professional creatives.
FHD Wide-Angle Touchscreen Display
The Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS uses a full-HD wide-angle touchscreen, which helps increase your efficiency and productivity when working.
It also allows users to view content without stretching or cropping the picture. Thanks to the touchscreen display, working with graphics and photos has never been easier.
Narrow Bezel Edge
Unlike many laptops where the screen’s edge occupies a lot of space, the Lenovo Flex 14 has a narrow bezel edge, so you get more screen.
As a result, there’s less clutter, so you can focus on whatever you’re working on, whether for work or play.
This makes viewing movies and other things comfortable and easy.
Rapid Charge Technology
Say goodbye to long charging times! The Lenovo 14 2-in-1 laptop features a rapid charge technology that allows you to get 2 hours of battery life with just 15 minutes of charging. So, if you're on the go and need to extend your battery, just plug in your laptop for a few minutes, and you’re good to power through the day.
TrueBlock Privacy Shutter
In this age of technological advancement, online privacy is crucial. That‘s why the Flex 14 laptop has a convenient TrueBlock Privacy Shutter which automatically closes your physical webcam when you’re not using it. So no need to worry about malicious actors snooping around; Lenovo got your back.
Convertible Design
The IdeaPad Flex 14 2-in-1 laptop is designed to support your ideas however you want, anytime, anywhere. For your everyday computing, you can use it in laptop mode. The tent mode is perfect for easy viewing, and the stand mode is great for watching your favorite shows and movies. Then, of course, the tablet mode, if you want a portable and interactive experience.
Active Digitizer Pen
The Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS comes with an optional digital pen, which you can use to capture inspirations, allowing your creativity to flow. You can use the pen to create designs, edit photos, or jot notes when you don’t feel like typing. The digital pen enhances your overall experience.
Optimized Harmon Speakers
This laptop features Dolby® Audio™ Premium speakers, giving you the best sound possible without adjusting the settings. This gives you an immersive experience when gaming, watching your favorite Netflix show, or editing videos.
Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS Review
Specifications
Operating System | Windows 10 |
Standing Screen Display Size | 14 inches |
Max Screen Resolution | 1440 x 900 pixels |
RAM | 12 GB |
Memory Speed | 2400 MHz |
Hard Drive Capacity | 256 GB |
Ports | 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A ports |
Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
Dimensions | 12.91 x 9.02 x 0.7 inches |
With all the 2-in-1 laptops available today, it isn't easy to choose which one fits your needs. Apart from its features, you should know how it performs. The Lenovo Flex 14 may be any creatives' dream laptop, but does it deliver its promises? Let's see how this tablet and computer work in this Lenovo Flex 5 14 review.
Design & Display
When it comes to design, the Flex 14 comes in between the look of a budget and high-end device. It’s pretty slim compared to its competition at just 0.7 inches thin. It also features a wedge design on the bottom. This makes it look thinner and keeps its speakers from being muffled if it’s on your desk, lap, or any surface that covers the bottom part. In addition, its onyx black color hides any fingerprint mark, and its chassis looks durable.
Like many budget and mid-range laptops, the Lenovo Flex 14 display lacks a bit of brightness and color. While the poor color is not much of an issue, the maximum brightness is a real deal-breaker, especially since the screen has a glossy finish. As a result, working in a bright room is challenging, and using the laptop outdoors isn’t ideal.
But its narrow bezel merits a mention since it gives the laptop a modern look. The screen's touch function works pretty well, which should be the case in all convertible laptops. The FHD is a step up from many computers that only feature an HD screen. Overall, you get what you pay for its display and design.
Performance Features
To fully understand how a laptop performs, you need to review and check the four of its most crucial parts: CPU, storage, graphics card, and RAM. These components can make or break the efficiency of a computer. Let’s check how the parts of Flex 14 function:
Keyboard & Touchpad
This Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS features a full-sized chiclet-style keyboard. The keys are well-spaced out, so the keyboard isn’t too cramped, even if the computer is only 14-inches.
In addition, typing in it is a breeze, so even if you’re working the whole day, your fingers will still be comfortable. The key travel may not be long, but the keys’ feedback is good enough to indicate how much pressure you apply in every keystroke.
The touchpad has no exceptional qualities. But it’s not the type that would make you want to go ahead and buy another mouse the moment you use it. So that’s a plus since many mid-range laptops make users feel that way.
Lastly, the keyboards are backlit, which isn’t common with convertible laptops. So this is an excellent feature for this laptop, adding a little bonus to the users.
Connectivity
The Flex 14 connectivity is pretty packed. Apart from having 2 USB Type-A ports, it comes with a standalone USB Type-C port, an HDMI port, SD card reader, an HDMI port, and an audio port. This is quite a lot, especially many 2-in-1 laptops skimp on connectivity such as HDMI port and SD card reader.
Wireless connections are also excellent in this laptop. Lenovo uses the latest WiFi standard and Bluetooth 5.0. This provides faster connections whenever you need them.
Battery Life & Energy Consumption
With its powerful components, many users expect the laptop to only last for around 6 hours. However, according to Lenovo, the Flex 14 has a 10-hour battery life. But as with any laptop manufacturer’s claim, take this claim with a grain of salt.
First of all, the battery life depends on your usage. If you’re only a light user browsing the internet through WiFi with a low brightness setting, you’ll definitely get a 10-hour battery life. However, if you run heavy programs that require more power, you can expect it to last for at least 6 to 7 hours. But, overall, it’s still better than most of its competition.
Audio and Accessories
The Flex 14 has optimized Harmon speakers with Dolby® Audio™ Premium. However, its promise of delivering immersive and exceptional sound isn’t achieved. But you still get pretty decent sounds, and the design keeps you from getting muffled audio, so that’s a good thing.
When it comes to accessories, you can pretty much add everything you want. For example, the Bluetooth connection allows you to use any Bluetooth device. It also has an HDMI port which works with an external monitor. Lastly, it has an optional digital pen, which brings out your creativity. The pen also works smoothly, so drawing on this computer is a breeze.
Maintenance and Warranty
There’s no special care needed for Lenovo Flex 14. But, it doesn’t mean that you wouldn’t take care of it properly. Remember, maintaining it should be both external and internal. Clean the screen and vents regularly. At the same time, uninstall apps and remove files that are not being used.
For the warranty, Lenovo devices usually come with one to three years of coverage. This varies depending on the device, model, and store.
Price Guide
The Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS is currently priced at around $700, depending on the store and accessories included. Some stores may even offer various software such as Office apps, antivirus apps, and more. This can also affect its price.
Which type of person is the Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS best suited for?
This laptop is perfect for people on a budget who want a powerful laptop. The specs are enough to run various heavy apps, which is ideal for office and school work. At the same time, its portability makes it perfect for travelers or digital nomads.
Which type of user is it not suitable for?
If you are a heavy gamer, this laptop is not for you. While it can support light gaming, its GPU won’t give you the best experience possible. In addition, it can create a bottleneck since the processor is powerful enough. So, it’s better to look for budget gaming laptops than purchase this 2-in-1 device.
Comparing With Other Laptops (Is The Flex 14 Good?)
Lenovo Flex 14 Vs Flex 14 81SQ0000US
- 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-8265u quad-core...
- 8GB DDR4 RAM | 256GB SSD
- Integrated Intel UHD 620 graphics
- Windows 10
Many people can easily confuse these two laptops. Both computers are convertible; they have the same RAM and screen size. However, the Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS comes with an AMD processor and 12 GB of RAM, while the Flex 14 81SQ0000US is powered by Intel and 8 GB of RAM. They’re quite similar in performance, but the 81SS000DUS is faster and cheaper.
Lenovo Flex 14 Vs New HP Pavilion
- 15.6" diagonal HD SVA micro-edge WLED-backlit...
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, 8GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM...
- Intel UHD Graphics 620, 1 multi-format SD...
- Wireless connectivity: Realtek...
The same with the comparison above, the main difference between the two laptops is their processors. The Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS0 is powered by AMD, while the New HP Pavilion uses an Intel processor. The Lenovo 2-in-1 tablet is also cheaper, so it’s a better choice if you’re on a budget.
Lenovo Flex 14 Vs Acer Spin 3
- 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8565u Processor...
- 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen...
- 16GB DDR4 Memory & 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Rechargeable active Stylus | thin 0.38" Bezel...
When it comes to performance, the Lenovo Flex 14 is definitely the champion. It has a better processor and more memory. It is also slimmer and lighter than the Acer Spin 3. However, the Acer laptop is cheaper than the Lenovo Flex.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
When did the Lenovo Flex 14 first come out?
The IdeaPad Flex 14 was released in May 2020.
Does the Lenovo Flex 14 have a webcam?
Yes, the Flex 14 comes with a webcam that uses TrueBlock Privacy Shutter.
How do I turn on the backlit keyboard on my Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS?
To open the backlight of your Lenovo laptop, press and hold the fn + spacebar keys.
How do you use the digital pen on Lenovo Flex 14 81SS000DUS?
To use the digital pen on your Flex 14, you need to pair the device to your laptop via Bluetooth.
Conclusion
Finding an excellent 2-in-1 laptop while on a budget is definitely a challenge, especially when you need a device that can perform. Thankfully, the Lenovo Flex 14 is a great budget convertible laptop that’s perfect for bringing out your creativity in work and everyday tasks.
- With a 1920 x 1080 full HD touch screen...
- Comprehensive, built-in, ongoing protection...
- Convenient true block privacy shutter allows...
- With the included active pen, you can draw or...
Andrew White is the founder of TechGearoid, a leading technology review & information website that is designed to help consumers make better decisions when it comes to their IT purchases. As a specialist tech writer (nerd) with over 10 years of experience, he enjoys writing about everything there is to do with modern technology & the newest market innovations. When he isn’t providing value for his readers, he’s usually drinking coffee or at the beach. Andrew lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife and family.