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Updated March 14, 2024·
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly laptop for everyday tasks and appreciate versatility, such as using your device as a tablet, the Lenovo Flex 5 with its flexible hinge and touchscreen is a good choice. However, if your priority is a more premium design, higher build quality, and a lighter, more compact laptop for easier portability, investing more in the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x can be worthwhile. Keep in mind that the ThinkBook may also offer better performance, which can be beneficial if you run more demanding applications regularly. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU, excels in engineering and design tasks, and offers a high-quality screen for detailed visuals, while the ThinkBook 13x, though less powerful, is lighter and more portable with a quality keyboard, making it suitable for on-the-go engineers and designers who also value a quieter working environment. The Flex 5 16's larger screen size is advantageous for multitasking and design work, whereas the ThinkBook 13x, with its more compact form, appeals to those who prioritize mobility and still require capable hardware for professional applications.
Screen Quality
7.3
8.2
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the Lenovo Flex 5 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Flex 5 16's resolution and brightness ensure clear and vibrant display outputs, essential for daily tasks, while its panel type provides wide viewing angles, enhancing the overall user experience. In engineering and design, both the Flex 5 16 and ThinkBook 13x offer wide color gamuts, ensuring precise color accuracy critical for professional creative work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens' lower refresh rates lead to less fluid motion, which could detract from the visual experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
11.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$779
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its adaptable design and solid CPU and RAM, offers a versatile user experience ideal for multitasking and general usage, boasting a quality screen and long battery life that enhances portability. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while also excelling in CPU and RAM for smooth general use, is more portable due to its smaller size, has a high-quality screen and maintains a balance between performance and battery life, but with a slightly more premium build that might come at a higher cost.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its adequate GPU, supports casual gaming and basic 3D tasks but may struggle with high-end games due to limited refresh rates; the screen quality and CPU are sufficient for a smooth experience in less demanding scenarios. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while offering similar capabilities, prioritizes a balance between performance and portability, with its somewhat superior CPU and screen quality enhancing general productivity over specialized gaming or 3D applications.
Content Creation
7.6
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13x to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.5
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$779 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 9.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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