Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 81W60006US, Ryzen 7 4700U, 8GB, 512GB SSD, Black

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a lightweight 2-in-1 laptop with a strong Ryzen 7 4700U CPU, a comfortable backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader. It's great for students and office work, but the integrated graphics and 8GB of RAM limit it for gaming and heavy multitasking. Buy it for portability and productivity, not for play.

The Ryzen 7 4700U is the star here. In our database, its CPU performance lands in the 74th percentile for this category, which means it's well above average for everyday tasks. Eight cores and eight threads chew through multitasking, Office apps, and even light video editing without much drama. Boot times and app launches feel snappy thanks to the 512GB NVMe SSD, though storage capacity itself sits at the 37th percentile, so you'll want to lean on cloud storage or an external drive if you keep a lot of local files.

The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics are a different story. GPU performance sits at the 14th percentile, which is about what you'd expect from integrated graphics. You can play older titles or esports games at low settings, but anything modern will chug. The 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen is fine, if unremarkable. Screen quality lands at the 41st percentile, so colors are decent and viewing angles are okay, but it's not going to wow anyone who's used to a high-refresh or high-res panel. Battery life from the 52Wh cell is average for this class, and the port selection is a bit thin at the 33rd percentile. One USB-C, two USB-A, and HDMI 1.4b will cover most needs, but you'll need a dongle for Ethernet or a second external display.

Stacked against the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition, the Flex 5 loses on screen quality, build materials, and battery life. The Surface feels more premium and has a sharper display, but you'll pay significantly more for it. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is in a completely different universe performance-wise, but it's also several times the price and not a 2-in-1. If you need macOS or serious GPU power, the Flex 5 isn't even in the conversation.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 and MSI Raider are gaming laptops with discrete GPUs that absolutely destroy the Flex 5 in graphics performance. But they're heavier, louder, and more expensive. The Acer Predator Helios Neo is another gaming-focused option that trades portability for raw power. For a student or office worker who wants a light 2-in-1 with a good keyboard and doesn't care about gaming, the Flex 5 holds its own against these heavier machines. It's a different tool for a different job.

Pricing on this specific model is all over the place since it's an older config, but the Flex 5 has always been about value. If you can find it for a reasonable price, the Ryzen 7 4700U gives you a lot of CPU muscle for the money. The problem is that 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD feel dated in 2025, especially when newer budget laptops ship with 16GB and 1TB drives. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition costs more but offers a better screen and build quality. If you're on a tight budget and mostly live in a browser, this is still a solid buy. Just don't pay a premium for it.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 81W60006US is a 2-in-1 laptop that tries to do a little bit of everything without breaking the bank. It's built around an AMD Ryzen 7 4700U, an 8-core chip that was a serious performer when it launched. You get 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch FHD IPS touchscreen in a package that weighs just 1.50kg. The hinge lets you flip it around into tent or tablet mode, which is handy for note-taking or watching stuff in a cramped space.

For students and office workers, the Flex 5 hits a sweet spot. The backlit keyboard is comfortable for long typing sessions, and the fingerprint reader means you're not fumbling with passwords. Windows 10 Pro comes preinstalled, which is a plus if you need BitLocker or domain join for work. The 720p privacy camera has a physical shutter, so you won't need a sticky note over the lens.

But here's the thing: this is a productivity machine, not a gaming rig or a creative workstation. The integrated Radeon Graphics will handle spreadsheets, web browsing, and video calls without breaking a sweat, but don't expect to play anything beyond light indie titles. And 8GB of RAM is tight in 2025 if you're the type who keeps 40 browser tabs open while editing photos.

Skip this if you're a gamer, a video editor, or anyone who needs serious GPU power. The integrated Radeon Graphics won't cut it for modern titles or GPU-accelerated workloads. Also skip it if you're a heavy multitasker who needs more than 8GB of RAM, since it's soldered and can't be upgraded. If you want a sharper screen or longer battery life, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition is a better fit, though pricier. And if you need macOS or top-tier performance, the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is the obvious choice, assuming your budget allows it.

Should you buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 81W60006US? If you need a lightweight 2-in-1 for school, office work, or general browsing, and you can find it at a good price, yes. The Ryzen 7 4700U is still a capable chip, the keyboard is comfortable, and the 2-in-1 hinge adds real flexibility. The fingerprint reader and privacy shutter are nice touches you don't always get at this price point.

But if you're a gamer, a video editor, or someone who keeps dozens of tabs open while running multiple apps, look elsewhere. The integrated graphics and 8GB of RAM will frustrate you. And if you care about screen quality, there are better panels out there. This is a practical machine for practical people, not a showpiece.