The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i laptop presents itself as an affordable choice in the realm of budget notebooks. But does it truly deliver on its promise of reliable performance and portability for everyday users? With the increasing market for low-cost laptops, it’s crucial to thoroughly assess the strengths and weaknesses of each offering to ensure you make the right decision that suits your needs. In this comprehensive review of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i, we will delve into its key aspects and determine whether it genuinely provides value for money or if it is simply another overhyped laptop. Let’s explore its pros and cons.
Pros:
- The price is affordable, making it accessible for budget-conscious buyers.
- The laptop boasts a lightweight and portable design, ideal for users on the go.
- With a battery life of up to 8 hours and 30 minutes, it offers good longevity.
- The performance is reliable, catering to everyday tasks effectively.
- It features a decent selection of ports, enhancing connectivity options.
- The keyboard is detailed and comfortable, providing a pleasant typing experience.
- The touchpad is smooth and responsive, ensuring effortless navigation.
Cons:
- The display quality is limited, with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and a brightness of 220 nits.
- It is not suitable for resource-intensive tasks like photo or video editing.
- The laptop utilizes outdated TN display technology.
- There is no USB-C port, which might be inconvenient for some users.
- The storage capacity is limited to 64GB.
- The hardware is non-upgradable, restricting future enhancements.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1i Review: What’s in the box?
Now, let’s discuss what you can expect when unboxing the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i. Inside the package, you will find the sleek and compact laptop, along with the power adapter, charging cable, and paper manuals. Additionally, the laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 10 Home operating system and includes a 12-month Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. This subscription grants you access to essential productivity tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. With the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i, you have everything you need for a productive and enjoyable computing experience right out of the box.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1i Review: Design
Moving on to the design, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i laptop showcases an entry-level device with a durable plastic chassis. Its simple and sturdy build ensures easy portability for regular use. However, the hinge construction prevents one-handed opening, and the lid only opens to 140°. The keyboard features a detailed and tactile design, offering satisfying key travel and a pleasant typing sensation.
The touchpad, although relatively small compared to other laptops in the same price range, remains functional and reliable. In terms of port selection, the laptop lacks a USB-C port but compensates with 2 x USB 3.2, HDMI, MicroSD card reader, audio combo headphone jack, and DC power input.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1i Review: Display
Moving on to the display, the IdeaPad 1i features an 11-inch screen with a 1366 x 768 pixels resolution. This resolution is expected for an entry-level laptop, suitable for everyday schools or work tasks like document editing and typing. However, for photo or video editing purposes, a laptop with a higher screen resolution would be necessary. The display quality is basic but sufficient for everyday tasks, with a brightness level of 220 nits.
Performance and Battery life
In terms of performance, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i laptop delivers reliable results. It comes equipped with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor commonly found in budget laptops. The laptop also features Intel UHD graphics 600, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of SSD storage. It’s important to note that the hardware is non-upgradable, so you won’t be able to enhance its performance in the future. However, for basic everyday tasks such as using MS Office apps, web browsing, music or movie playback, and other basic functions, the performance is satisfactory. You can even engage in light gaming, although the laptop’s capabilities are limited in that regard.
Battery life is one of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i’s strong points, offering approximately 8 hours of usage on a single charge. This eliminates the need to carry the charger with you everywhere you go, adding to the laptop’s portability.
Lenovo IdeaPad 1i Review: Features
Now let’s discuss the notable features of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i laptop. It possesses a simple design with a plastic chassis and a solid build. The slim bezels contribute to a sleek appearance. Weighing only 1.2kg, it is lightweight and easy to carry around. Additionally, it includes an HDMI port, providing convenient connectivity options. The laptop is available in two color options: Ice Blue and Platinum Grey. However, it’s important to note that it utilizes outdated TN display technology.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i offers a detailed and comfortable typing experience with good key travel. This enhances productivity during long typing sessions and document work. However, the touchpad is relatively small compared to other laptops, though it remains functional and reliable for navigation and gestures.
Speakers and Webcam
Moving on to the speakers and webcam, the laptop features dual 1.5W speakers with Dolby Audio™, delivering clear sound quality for multimedia consumption such as watching videos or streaming music. However, the 0.3MP webcam falls short in terms of video quality, especially for virtual meetings or video calls. The low resolution might impact your professional image, necessitating the purchase of an external webcam for improved video quality.
To summarize the keyboard and touchpad:
• Detailed and comfortable keyboard.
• Satisfying key travel for enhanced productivity.
• Smaller touchpad size.
Regarding the speakers and webcam:
• Dual 1.5W speakers with Dolby Audio™.
• Crystal-clear sound for multimedia consumption.
• Low-resolution 0.3MP webcam.
Considering these factors will help you determine whether the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i’s keyboard, touchpad, speakers, and webcam align with your specific needs and preferences.
Buyer’s Guide
Now, let’s provide a buyer’s guide to assist you in making an informed decision when considering the purchase of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i. The following aspects should be weighed:
• Price: The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i is an affordable option, priced at £199 in the UK and $258 in the US. Keep in mind that this laptop caters to users with basic computing needs and a limited budget.
• Performance
• Display
• Portability
• Battery Life
• Upgradability
• Connectivity and Ports
By considering these factors and aligning them with your specific needs and preferences, you can decide whether the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i is the right choice for you. Don’t forget to compare this laptop with other available options in the market to ensure you’re getting the best value for your money.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that there are alternative laptops within the budget range that offer brighter displays, better processors, and longer battery life. Examples include the Lenovo Flex 5 and the ASUS VivoBook 15.
Lastly, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i laptop costs £199 in the UK, which is approximately $260 in the US. Keep in mind that prices may vary depending on the retailer and any ongoing promotions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i laptop will not be considered a good option for everyone. However, if you look at its budget then it is an attractive laptop for those who want to do basic tasks such as web browsing and working on Word docs. This is a machine that offers reasonable performance at an affordable price. This laptop comes with a few flaws like terrible display and insufficient RAM. Nevertheless, Ideapad 1i provides great value if you look at it as a whole.
