Lenovo is one of the biggest names in the world of PC manufacturing. The brand has gained a reputation for producing some of the best laptops and countless iterations of decent portable devices released in the last few years. Amongst the brand’s Ideapad laptops, Flex and Yoga series models are standing tallest.
Besides being very popular, both the Lenovo Flex and Lenovo Yoga are pretty similar, making it difficult to decide between them. One is famous for providing superior features within budget while the other takes the lead in seemingly best-in-the-industry looks.
If you are confused between the Lenovo Yoga series and the Lenovo Flex line of laptops, this post will compare the two models, discussing their main differences and similarities to help you make the best possible choice.
So, which is better for your needs and budgets?
About Lenovo Flex
If you are looking for a 2-in-1 laptop on a budget, the Lenovo Flex, sometimes referred to as Ideapad Flex, checks all the boxes. The Lenovo series represents some of the cheapest laptops that the company has produced over the last few years.
They are portable multi-mode laptops with next-gen performance, giving users different ways to get things done. Defined by being cheaper, Lenovo Flex laptops are made with less expensive parts and less powerful specs. However, this doesn’t mean they are of very low quality.
Lenovo Flex laptops can excellently perform moderate tasks, which makes them an ideal choice for users not planning to run CPU-intensive tasks quite often. Although not as superior as Lenovo Yoga, Ideapad Flex machines pack the power you need to complete routine tasks.
Overall, it is a good laptop for casual users looking for something cheap and easy to use.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 Laptop
Lenovo Flex line of laptops offers pretty great value for money. If you are in the market looking for an impressive Flex, the Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 Laptop is an excellent choice with remarkable performance and powerful responses.
Arguably one of the best laptops across any category, this laptop blends quality build, impressive hardware, and remarkable battery life for a reasonable price. Lenovo Flex 5 14″ 2-in-1 Laptop boasts an AMD Ryzen 4500U processor, 16GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB SSD, and perfect hardware, all in one pack to provide enough performance for general use.
With this Ideapad Flex, you also get an IPS panel touchscreen that delivers a display vibrance comparable to that of premium Lenovo Yoga options.
Although inferior when compared to Yoga models, the build quality of this laptop is good for the price. The sturdy hinge allows you to effortlessly switch from a laptop to a tablet and back for more intuitive interaction.
Overall, it is a good pick offering real flexibility and absolute freedom.
About Lenovo Yoga
The Lenovo Yoga series is a line of powerful laptops designed for users who want to complete CPU-intensive tasks on a 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop. With each Yoga laptop, you get an exquisitely crafted convertible machine that combines impressive design, innovative engineering, flexibility, and incredible features you need to complete your tasks.
Yoga convertibles are stylish with unique finishes and designed to be thinner and lighter for portability.
Even with aerospace-grade metal, Lenovo Yoga laptops are lightweight and provide smooth 360 rotation, allowing you to effortlessly switch from tablet to laptop and back. The high-quality metal feels impressively durable.
Laptops in this series outshine Ideapad Flex models in many ways as they pack more powerful specs.
They have faster CPUs, better display with excellent color accuracy, powerful graphics, bigger SSDs, and more innovative designs. It should be no surprise that they are a bit more expensive compared to Flex.
Lenovo Yoga C940 2-in-1 Laptop
The Yoga series has an excellent reputation, and one of the best laptops in the series is the Lenovo Yoga C940 2-in-1 Laptop. The Intel-based Yoga C940 has a solid aluminum convertible chassis, making for excellent and durable build quality.
The Yoga C940 combines the sleek, beautiful design of the Yoga series with incredible durability and first-class performance.
In terms of performance, you get a 10th Gen Intel Core i7-1065G7 processor with 16GB RAM, and up to 1TB SSD. Besides the comfortable trackpad and keyboard, it comes with a pen, which you can use to draw or take notes directly on the screen.
Lenovo Yoga C940 has an impressive UHD display, providing bright, colorful pictures. When operating optimally, the battery can last you for over 15 hours, which makes it an excellent machine for professionals and students.
In a nutshell, Yoga C940 packs everything you need to perform daily tasks. Although at a premium price tag, it is an excellent choice for users planning to perform tasks that require a faster processor and use a lot more memory.
Lenovo Flex vs. Yoga Comparison
Lenovo Flex represents some of the cheapest laptops made by Lenovo, while the Yoga series is more performance-oriented with a more durable design and an overall better quality.
Let’s compare these popular Lenovo convertibles:
1. Build Quality
Lenovo Yoga series boasts a higher build quality. Usually, these laptops are designed from high-quality aerospace-grade metal, giving them an impressively sturdy build and premium appearance and feel.
In comparison, Ideapad Flex laptops are generally made of cheaper plastics or metals to keep the costs as affordable as possible. Well, while the build quality is not the greatest, it is premium for the price tag. Relative to rivals, the durability of their hinges is unrivaled at their price range.
2. Processors
At the heart of Lenovo Flex and Yoga, there are two entirely different processors. Generally, the Ideapad Flex’s processor has a base frequency of 1.30 GHz and a boost frequency of 3.9 GHz. In comparison, Yoga laptops come with processors having a base frequency of 1.30 GHz and are capable of hitting an average boost frequency of 3.90 GHz.
From the marks, it is clear that Yoga’s processors outperform those of Lenovo Flex. Processors of the Yoga series are ready to tear through CPU-intensive tasks, while the Lenovo Flex is suitable for handling simple to moderate tasks.
Notably, although Lenovo Flex’s performance is not high like that of Yoga machines, it is excellent for moderate tasks.
3. Portability
Both the Lenovo Flex and Yoga are portable machines, allowing you to take them just about anywhere you want.
Comparing the models, Lenovo Yoga series models are designed to be slimmer and lighter, utilizing every individual inch optimally.
On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex line of laptops tends to be slightly bulky when compared to their Yoga cousins. Importantly, this holds for most of their higher-end models that have similar dimensions.
4. Memory
Both the Lenovo Flex and Yoga tend to have the same memory configurations. If you go for the cheaper Flex, you can get a machine with 4GB RAM, 8GB RAM, or 16GB RAM. As for Yoga, your laptop comes with 8GB or 12GB RAM that you can upgrade to 16GB.
When buying, keep in mind that RAM refers to only working memory. So, despite the two supporting a maximum RAM size of 16GB, Yoga can utilize its memory a lot better due to its processor, ultimately outperforming an Ideapad Flex with comparable RAM.
5. Storage Options
When comparing the storage capabilities of Lenovo Flex vs. Yoga, it is important to note that they both utilize the same type of hardware. The newest models come with PCIe SSD storage drives.
All the same, their storage size differs significantly—Lenovo Flex ships with a standard 512GB SSD, which can be upgraded to 1TB. In comparison, Yoga models have 512GB or 1TB standard but can reach 2TB, outshining the Flex models.
6. Graphics Processors and Display
A reliable graphics processor is essential for better frame rates when browsing and gaming. In this regard, Yoga models come with Intel 620 to Intel 520 graphics, while Ideapad Flex machines have Intel 620 models.
With either model, you can enjoy UHD and 4k resolution without any problems, which is impressive.
Talking about the display itself, Lenovo Yoga boasts a higher screen display quality of 500 nits, while the Flex laptops have a display quality of 250 nits. The Yoga’s improved FHD IPS screen will definitely display better than the Flex.
7. Audio System
Both Lenovo Flex and Yoga have remarkable audio qualities, but Yoga packs a significantly bigger punch.
The newest Yoga laptops have a unique hinge that doubles as a rotating soundbar with a Dolby Atmos speaker system. With 2x microphones, it is a perfect choice for users who value sound.
The Lenovo Flex is not badly off with its standard Dolby Audio systems with 2x 2W speakers.
8. Battery Life
The Lenovo Yoga series gets a good rap for remarkable battery life. The latest laptops of the series have an outstanding battery life of 15 hours, which is 33% longer than that of Flex laptops with 10 hours battery life.
As if that is enough, the slim Yoga models have a Rapid Charge feature, allowing you to charge that battery up to past three-quarters full in under an hour, particularly when powered off or on standby mode.
9. Price
One of the major differences between the Lenovo Flex and Yoga is their prices. The Ideapad Flex laptops are known for being cheaper. However, this doesn’t mean that they are of lousy quality. They come with reasonable specs and perform excellently for the price.
On the other hand, the Yoga series laptops have premium price tags. While their price tag may scare many potential buyers, the good news is that they come with impressive specs and perform incredibly.
Lenovo Flex vs Yoga: Which Laptop is Better?
First off, the best laptop for you depends on your individual needs. Deciding between Lenovo Flex and Yoga, the better option will depend on what you are looking for.
If you are a casual user looking for a 2-in-1 laptop on a budget, then the Lenovo Flex range is perfect for you.
Ideapad Flex laptops come with the standard features you need to complete most personal and work tasks that do not use a lot of memory.
It is also safe to say that a Yoga series laptop is a better choice for users looking for a premium 2-in-1 laptop built to perform and last.
In the real world, it is worth noting that the most expensive Lenovo Flex will be way better than the cheapest Yoga laptop. Depending on your budget and individual requirements, make sure to do your due diligence before making the purchase.
The hardware you get in every device will immensely depend on your budget, so don’t lazily assume that you are getting better specs just because you’re buying a Yoga.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lenovo Yoga Worth Buying?
Yes. Lenovo Yoga series features excellent 2-in-1 laptops that pack fantastic features and offer overall better quality, making for better performance and overall usability. Although considered expensive, they are reasonably priced for what they can do.
Who is Better, Lenovo or HP?
While these two brands produce excellent PCs, Lenovo is a better choice for users looking for the best value for money. On the other hand, HP machines come with better quality components, which keep the price high.
If you want a performance-oriented machine, you will be better with an HP laptop. If you want a more in-depth review of Lenovo and HP, check out our review of Lenovo vs HP.
What are the Problems with Lenovo Laptops?
Many Lenovo laptops have had keyboard issues, where the laptop board bends to the inside upon pressing keys. Lenovo laptops also tend to overheat or slow down when performing CPU-intensive tasks.
What is the Average Laptop Lifespan by Brand?
It is safe to say that most laptops for top-rated brands can last for five years. See the table below for the average lifespan of the top major brands.
| Brand | Lifespan |
|---|---|
| Lenovo laptops | 5 to 7 years |
| HP laptops | 5 to 6 years |
| Dell laptops | 5 to 6 years |
| Microsoft laptops | 4 to 5 years |
| Acer laptops | 3 to 5 years |
| Apple laptops | 6 to 7 years |
It is common knowledge that good care can extend the lifespan of your laptops.
Why Won’t the Screen of My Lenovo Flex 3 Screen Turn On?
There are several reasons why your Lenovo Flex 3 screen may not turn on, including hardware errors, software errors, faulty display, or faulty battery (power supply issues). In most cases, starting your laptop in safe mode, restarting, or resetting the display mode should help solve the issue.
Is the Lenovo Yoga 7i Good for Students?
Absolutely yes. The Lenovo Yoga 7i is an excellent 2-in-1 laptop that provides stellar performance, long battery life, and remarkable display into a premium metal chassis. It is powerful and portable enough, with a battery that lasts the whole day, making it a good choice for students.
Where is the Power Button on a Lenovo Laptop?
Lenovo laptops usually have their power button on the right edge of the laptop.
How to Factory Reset Lenovo Yoga Laptop?
To factory reset your Lenovo Yoga laptop, switch it off and click the NOVO button, usually located near the power button. This should open the NOVO menu. Next, select System Recovery and follow on-screen instructions to finish the reset.
Why Won’t my Lenovo Yoga Turn On?
The common cause for Lenovo Yoga not turning on is power issues or faulty battery.
How to Start a Lenovo Flex 3 Laptop That Won’t Connect?
If your Lenovo Flex 3 laptop doesn’t connect, remove the battery and then press and hold the power button for at least 10 seconds. Release the power button and put back the battery. Press the power button to power on your laptop.
Conclusion
Both the Lenovo Flex and Yoga are good laptops, providing reliable performance and powerful processing, but not without differences. If you are looking for a better quality laptop with the better build quality, reliable processing speed, and incredible display, then Yoga is a better choice.
On the other hand, Lenovo Flex is a better option for general users with a low to mid-range budget. While its build quality is not the best, performance-wise, it excels in most routine tasks.
