With the new school year creeping up quickly, it’s time to start thinking about everything your kids are going to need before they head into their new grade. These days, BYOD (which means ‘bring your own device’) is standard across many schools. This one is a mid-range Lenovo 2-in-1 device that is great for high school students.

Here, Reid Duggan-Tierney, who’s starting high school next year, tests out the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i (also available in 8GB/256GB), with his dads, Jarrad and Michael, better known as The Real Dads of Melbourne. Here’s what they thought about the well-priced 2-in-1 laptop.

SEE ALSO: BYOD at Any Budget: Find the Right Device for Your Child

Get a Headstart on BYOD‍

Start with the Officeworks BYOD Tool when you’re choosing a laptop or tablet for starting high school.

We used the Officeworks Officeworks BYOD Tool to help us find the right device for Reid. The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i is a 2-in-1 device, which means you can use it as either a laptop or a tablet. The specs said it weighs just 1.5 kilograms, so it shouldn’t be too heavy for Reid to carry around in his backpack.

BYOD Out of the Box

Out of the box, there are few components to the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i.

It’s all fairly simple. When you open the box, there’s the actual device, some literature and a power adaptor. That’s it. There’s no stylus with the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i, but you can buy one if you think you need it.

Inspecting the unit more closely, it has a metal top but the bottom part is made from a composite material. When it comes to ports, there’s a power input, HDMI port, USB-C port, audio jack, SD card reader and two USB-A ports.

SEE ALSO: Real Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab A8

Starting up the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i

With Reid starting high school, BYOD is top of mind. He sets up the Lenovo IdeaPad easily.

One of the best features of this Lenovo 2-in-1 is ease of use. It’s so simple to power up then set up the fingerprint reader for future log-ins. Whether you’re at home or school, connecting to the WiFi is also an effortless task, which is important considering Reid is starting high school and will need to manage this himself.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i runs on Windows 11, so it’s possible to browse the internet and send emails straight away. For students needing a BYOD device, this one will have them researching assignments and doing their homework in no time at all.

It took us just two hours to fully charge out of the box, and the battery can last for up to 10 hours.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i’s Features

Testing out the webcam on the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i during the BYOD Real Review.

This particular Lenovo 2-in-1 has a 14-inch screen and the colours are excellent. It has twin Dolby speakers that sound crisp and clear while Reid watches his favourite music videos.

The keyboard is full-sized and backlit, which makes it comfortable and natural to use.

The 720p HD integrated webcam makes for a good-quality Zoom catch-up, but it can also be switched off, which is important for children’s security.

And That’s a Wrap

All in all, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i seems like a great BYOD 2-in-1 laptop for Reid as he starts high school. It has everything he needs and more and, for us, at $697, it was a good price. If he looks after it, this device should last Reid well into his high school years.

What To Try:

SEE ALSO: How to Help Your Child When They’re Starting High School