Lenovo’s plus-sized IdeaPad 5i is a Chromebook media machine

Chromebooks have a popularity as low-cost, easy laptops meant for shopping the online and never a lot else — that’s what occurs while you construct a complete working system round a browser. However they’ve additionally been exhibiting up with a shocking number of {hardware} as of late. Take the just-announced Lenovo IdeaPad 5i for instance. Whereas its low price ticket and processing energy say “funds laptop computer,” its 16-inch display screen with an non-compulsory 120Hz improve says “media machine.”

The oddly-sized display screen defines the IdeaPad 5i. Whereas the bottom mannequin makes use of a normal 1920×1200 decision at 60Hz, the upgraded model is “2.5K” (which needs to be 2560×1600, if it’s the identical panel because the 16-inch IdeaPad 5). The enhance to 120Hz is very notable — it ought to make for {smooth} scrolling and silky-smooth gameplay in cloud streaming providers like GeForce Now. That further measurement additionally permits for a full 10-key space on the keyboard.

Elsewhere the IdeaPad 5i is fairly primary. Whereas its two-tone lid is hanging and the two×2-watt audio system needs to be nice for video, the processors available are merely a Pentium 8505 and a barely-upgraded Core i3-1215U. Whereas storage isn’t all that essential for Chromebooks, you’ll wish to improve past the fundamental 64/128GB eMMC mannequin for sooner SSD storage at 256/512GB. Those that wish to maintain their tabs open may even wish to improve from 4GB of DDR4 reminiscence to 8GB.

When it comes to I/O the laptop computer has double USB-C ports that additionally cost it up, plus two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Kind A ports for older equipment, with a MicroSD card slot and a 1080p webcam for good measure. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5 are a shocking luxurious, as is the quoted 12 hours of battery life crammed into its 0.8-inch chassis. The IdeaPad 5i launches in Europe, the Center East, and Asia later in September with a beginning worth of €549 for the bottom mannequin. A US launch is deliberate, however no worth is given simply but — that Euro base worth minus VAT would put it across the $500 mark.