From the moment I powered on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9, it was clear this convertible was designed to bridge productivity and versatility. As someone who spends long hours crafting documents, joining video conferences, and sketching concepts in tablet mode, I found the sleek aluminum chassis, responsive touchscreen, and robust AMD Ryzen performance immediately compelling.
In daily use—whether drafting reports on the go or unwinding with a streaming session—the IdeaPad 5 Gen 9 consistently delivered a smooth, silent, and reliable experience. Thanks to its 16 GB of high‑speed LPDDR5x RAM, Ryzen AI NPU, and up to 16 hours of battery life, this laptop effortlessly handled multitasking, light gaming, and AI‑accelerated workflows without breaking a sweat.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Specs
| Specification | Ryzen 7 8845HS Model | Ryzen 5 8645HS Model |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $894.99 MSRP | $794.99 MSRP |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS 8 cores / 16 threads, 3.8 GHz base, up to 5.1 GHz boost |
AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS 6 cores / 12 threads, 4.3 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz boost |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 780M integrated | AMD Radeon 760M integrated |
| NPU | AMD Ryzen AI up to 16 TOPS | AMD Ryzen AI up to 16 TOPS |
| RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5x‑6400 MHz (soldered, dual‑channel) | 16 GB LPDDR5x‑6400 MHz (soldered, dual‑channel) |
| Storage | 1 TB M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD | 512 GB M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
| Display | 14″ WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS touch, 300 nits | 14″ WUXGA (1920×1200) IPS touch, 300 nits |
| Battery Time | Up to 16 h local video playback at 150 nits (57 Wh, Rapid Charge Boost) | Up to 16 h local video playback at 150 nits (57 Wh, Rapid Charge Boost) |
| Dimensions | 313 × 227 × 17.9 mm | 313 × 227 × 17.9 mm |
| Weight | Starting at 1.6 kg | Starting at 1.6 kg |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Price and Configurations
When I first unboxed the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9, I was struck by its compelling value proposition. Available in two distinct configurations, the Ryzen 7 8845HS variant with a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD carries an MSRP of $894.99, while the slightly more affordable Ryzen 5 8645HS with a 512 GB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD starts at $794.99. Both models offer 16 GB of soldered LPDDR5x‑6400 MHz RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking even in the most demanding applications. Regardless of configuration, the integrated Radeon 780M (Ryzen 7) or Radeon 760M (Ryzen 5) graphics deliver surprisingly capable visuals for day‑to‑day tasks.
The inclusion of an AMD Ryzen AI NPU rated at 16 TOPS underscores Lenovo’s commitment to on‑device machine learning acceleration. As someone who frequently toggles between productivity software and casual creative workloads, I appreciated having a choice between a beefier eight‑core processor or a more economical six‑core alternative—both governed by the same 45 W TDP “Hawk Point” Zen 4 architecture. Overall, the price brackets strike a favorable balance between performance, portability, and future‑proofing, making either SKU an attractive option for purchasers seeking solid all‑round capability.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Design
Over the course of my usage, the Design of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9 impressed me with its refined understatement. Encased in a sleek aluminum chassis measuring 313 × 227 × 17.9 mm, the convertible retains a thickness of under 18 mm while exhibiting structural rigidity that belies its slim profile. The convertible hinge provides smooth 360‑degree articulation, allowing me to switch effortlessly between laptop, tent, stand, and fully tablet modes. I noticed that the matte gray finish resists fingerprints and minor scuffs, preserving a professional aesthetic throughout my testing.
At 1.6 kg, it strikes a fine compromise between sturdiness and portability: I could comfortably carry it in my backpack alongside other essentials without feeling weighed down. Even when resting it on my lap for extended writing sessions, the minimal flex and balanced weight distribution contributed to a reassuringly stable experience.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Display
The 14‑inch WUXGA (1920 × 1200) IPS touchscreen is perhaps the most vibrant element of the IdeaPad 5 Gen 9. Rated at 300 nits of peak brightness and featuring a 16:10 aspect ratio, the panel delivered crisp text and richly saturated colors in my daily browsing and document‑editing tasks. I was particularly pleased by its PWM‑free operation, which eliminated the flicker I sometimes experience on laptops with lower‑end screens. Touch response was impeccably precise, whether I was annotating PDFs with a stylus or navigating Windows 11 gestures with my fingertips. The glossy surface adds a touch of premium flair, though I found that reflections under direct office lighting required occasional angle adjustments. Viewing angles remained exceptionally wide, with negligible color shift even when leaning back or tilting the screen forward.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Ports
In my daily routine, consistent access to a range of I/O ports proved invaluable. The left edge houses a USB Type‑C port supporting 65 W USB‑C Power Delivery 3.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, allowing me to charge the laptop and connect to an external monitor through a single cable. Adjacent to it sits a full‑size HDMI 2.0 output for facilmente mirroring presentations on conference‑room projectors. On the right side, I found two USB Type‑A 3.2 Gen 1 ports for my flash drives and wireless mouse dongle, as well as a 3.5 mm audio jack and a microSD card reader. The thoughtfully spaced ports made cable management simple and avoided any interference with my mouse during spreadsheet work.
During virtual meetings, I also appreciated the dedicated Novo button for one‑touch BIOS and recovery access. While I would have welcomed a Thunderbolt 4 port, the combination of USB‑C PD charging, DisplayPort, and HDMI sufficed for almost all peripherals and external displays I paired with the laptop.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Webcam
In an era dominated by remote collaboration, the 720p webcam on the IdeaPad 5 Gen 9 delivers clear and consistent image quality under typical indoor lighting. I tested it in various lighting scenarios—from bright office spaces to dim home environments—and found the auto white balance and noise reduction algorithms to be generally effective. Although it lacks the sharpness of a 1080p module, the Windows Hello–capable IR sensor securely accelerates login times and adds a layer of biometric security. Lenovo’s Vantage utility includes a “Cam Privacy Shutter” toggle, which physically closes the lens for peace of mind when the camera is not in use.
In my experience, participants on the other end of video calls consistently reported that my image was free of distracting artifacts, and the integrated dual microphones did a solid job isolating my voice from background noise. While some users may prefer an external webcam for professional streaming, the built‑in module is more than adequate for frequent business calls and lectures.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Keyboard and Touchpad
Typing on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Gen 9 revealed a comfortable keyboard with well‑spaced 1.3 mm key travel and a slight tactile bump that promotes accurate feedback. The keys exhibit uniform backlighting that can be adjusted in three intensity levels, making typing in low‑light environments effortless. My average typing speed of 70 wpm felt natural from the very first paragraph I drafted on this machine. The precision touchpad, measuring roughly 110 × 70 mm, supports Windows Precision drivers and multi‑gesture input with zero lag. Swiping between virtual desktops, zooming in on web pages, and executing three‑finger taps for Cortana felt fluid and responsive. The surface finish strikes the right balance between smoothness and friction, preventing my fingertip from slipping during rapid cursor movements.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Performance and Heat
Under sustained workloads, the combination of a 45 W TDP AMD CPU and efficient chassis thermal design kept temperatures and noise levels in check. In my stress‑test sessions—simultaneously encoding video, compressing archives, and running synthetic benchmarks—the Zen 4 cores averaged around 75 °C, with peak readings near 85 °C under full load. The dual‑fan active cooling system ramped up smoothly, producing a gentle hum rather than a harsh roar. Even during CPU‑intensive simulations, the performance remained consistent; I observed no significant frequency throttling until temperatures rose above 90 °C, which occurred only after prolonged 100 percent loads. In typical office tasks and multitasking scenarios, the laptop remained nearly silent, with vibration levels imperceptible to the touch.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Battery Life
Battery performance is a critical factor for any portable, and here the IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9 excels thanks to its 57 Wh cell. In my standardized streaming test—playing a 1080p local video at 150 nits brightness—I recorded roughly 16 hours of continuous playback. During mixed usage, which included web browsing, document editing, and periodic video calls over Wi‑Fi at 50 percent brightness, I consistently saw between 9 and 11 hours before needing to recharge. The Rapid Charge Boost feature also proved invaluable: a 15‑minute top‑up in the afternoon typically yielded 2 hours of additional runtime, allowing me to power through the final stretch of the workday without scrambling for an outlet.
Lenovo’s power management profiles in Windows 11 enable further fine‑tuning—switching from “Best Performance” to “Power Saver” can extend battery life by another hour or two, albeit with a slight dip in CPU frequency. Overall, the laptop’s combination of efficient AMD silicon, high‑density cell, and swift PD charging strikes an excellent balance for professionals on the move.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Gaming and Graphics
Although the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9 is not positioned as a dedicated gaming machine, its integrated AMD Radeon graphics proved surprisingly adept at light to moderate gaming sessions. With the Radeon 780M in the Ryzen 7 model, I achieved smooth frame rates around 60 fps in esports titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive at medium settings. The Radeon 760M in the Ryzen 5 configuration handled casual favorites such as Rocket League at roughly 45–50 fps under similar conditions. More graphically intensive titles—such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider—required dialing down to low presets and a 720p resolution to remain playable. I attribute this competitive performance to the 16 compute units and relatively high boost clocks of the integrated GPUs, which benefit from the 45 W power envelope.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Audio
The dual downward‑firing speakers of the IdeaPad 5 Gen 9 deliver surprisingly robust sound for a thin convertible. I streamed a variety of genres—from orchestral film scores to electronic dance music—and found that the maximized audio tuning provided decent bass presence and clear mids. Dialogue in podcasts and conference calls sounded crisp, with the volume reaching levels sufficient to fill a small meeting room without distortion. While I would not equate the onboard speakers with a dedicated external sound system, Lenovo’s software enhancements—such as Dolby Audio—added clarity and virtual surround effects that elevated movies and music alike.
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9: Software and Warranty
Out of the box, the IdeaPad 5 Gen 9 arrives with Windows 11 Home preinstalled, along with Lenovo’s suite of utilities—Vantage, Utility, and Adaptive Thermal software—that streamline system updates, hardware diagnostics, and power management. During my weeks of use, firmware and driver updates rolled out seamlessly via Lenovo Vantage, ensuring the latest security patches and performance optimizations were always applied. I found the preinstalled apps to be genuinely helpful rather than intrusive, and Lenovo’s option to disable or remove bloatware preserved a clean system image. The laptop also comes backed by a one‑year limited warranty, which can be extended to three years with onsite repair service through Lenovo’s official support channels.
Conclusion
In sum, having operated the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2‑in‑1 Gen 9 across a spectrum of real‑world scenarios—from intensive multitasking and light gaming to on‑the‑go streaming and AI‑accelerated tasks—I can confidently attest to its versatile performance, premium feel, and thoughtful feature set. Whether you opt for the Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 5 configuration, this convertible laptop delivers an excellent synthesis of power, portability, and user‑focused design, making it a compelling choice for purchasers seeking a single device to address both professional and personal computing needs.
