Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 Review: The Co-Pilot+ PC Experience

With the launch of Microsoft’s Co-Pilot+ PCs, AI is making a bigger splash in the world of Windows laptops. I recently got my hands on the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1—a budget-friendly Co-Pilot+ device featuring the new Snapdragon X Plus ARM chip—and took it for a spin to see how it compares to my usual MacBook workflow. The results? A mixed bag of impressive features, quirky design choices, and some good old-fashioned PC frustration.

Design and First Impressions

Right out of the box, it’s clear Lenovo isn’t trying to win awards for packaging design. Unlike Apple’s polished presentation, Lenovo keeps things practical. That said, the IdeaPad 5 comes bundled with a few goodies that Apple would charge extra for—including a stylus and even a pen holder that plugs into a USB port.

While the laptop itself isn’t flashy, it’s functional. You get a full-size HDMI port, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, a headphone jack, and even a microSD card slot—an impressive I/O lineup that many premium ultrabooks (including the MacBook Air) are still missing.

The 2-in-1 form factor means you can flip it into tablet mode or tent mode, though accidental key presses in tablet mode are a possibility. The device also includes a physical webcam shutter for privacy, which is a welcome touch.

Getting Started: Setup and Surprises

Booting up the device was slower than expected—at first, it didn’t even power on until I plugged it in. The Windows setup process leans heavily on Microsoft account integration, with little room to opt out. You’re essentially required to log in before using the system, which may annoy users who prefer local-only setups.

One quick note: the IdeaPad ships with a trial of McAfee antivirus, another classic Windows trope that immediately makes its presence known.

Co-Pilot in Action

One of the headline features of Co-Pilot+ PCs is the dedicated AI key for Microsoft’s Co-Pilot assistant. Pressing it launches a chat interface where you can ask questions, get jokes, or even rewrite documents.

The assistant is responsive and casual—asking it for a joke returned a light pun, while replying with a sarcastic “Co-Pilot+ PC” gag earned a surprised reaction from the AI. It’s conversational, but still in its early stages as a productivity tool.

AI Tools in Paint

One of the more fun features is Co-Creator in Microsoft Paint. Once enabled (after diving into some hidden settings), you can describe what you want to draw and let the AI attempt a rendition. My request for a “cat riding a bike” yielded a range of images—some creative, some chaotic.

Using the creativity slider changes the AI’s output, giving users control over how imaginative or literal the image should be. It’s a cool demonstration of AI-powered art tools, even if it’s more novelty than necessity.

AI-Enhanced Webcam Features

Lenovo’s webcam adds a suite of AI-powered effects including:

• Background blur – works well, though occasionally affects glasses and hair.

• Eye contact correction – subtly adjusts your gaze, though it struggled with extreme angles.

• Auto-framing – keeps you centered on camera as you move.

• Filters – apply effects like anime or watercolor styling, even adding virtual lipstick for some reason.

The features are fun to play with but don’t always work flawlessly.

Real-Time Captions and Translation

Another AI feature is live captions, which can translate speech into other languages. I gave Spanish a try and got a decent result, though my vocabulary was quickly exhausted. It’s a useful accessibility feature, particularly for multilingual users or content creators.

Co-Pilot in Microsoft Word

Using Co-Pilot in Word allows users to rewrite content, summarize, or even have the AI sing your text (in a robotic tone, of course). After some trial and error, I had the AI rewrite my rough review into a polished summary: “This PC is decent. Not perfect, but has some useful features.” Surprisingly accurate.

Verdict: A Promising but Imperfect AI PC

The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 2-in-1 as a Co-Pilot+ PC brings exciting new AI tools to a budget-friendly device. Its hardware is practical and generous, especially for the price. The AI integrations are impressive on paper, but the execution still feels a bit rough in places.

If you’re a curious tech enthusiast who enjoys experimenting and doesn’t mind occasional software hiccups, this laptop offers a playful and affordable entry into the AI-powered future of Windows. But for those who prioritize stability and polish, you may want to wait for the second generation of Co-Pilot+ PCs.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing

• Generous port selection

• Built-in stylus and 2-in-1 flexibility

• Fun and useful AI features

Cons:

• Co-Pilot features still feel beta-level

• Occasional software quirks

• McAfee pre-installed

• Requires Microsoft account to set up

Final Thoughts:
This PC may not replace your MacBook, but it’s an entertaining glimpse into the AI-powered laptops of tomorrow. It’s quirky, occasionally annoying, but ultimately fun—just like any good tech adventure.