Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" 1i 2022, Core i5-1235U, 16GB, 1TB SSD + 160GB SSD, Blue

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop with a Core i5-1235U, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It's great for students and office work, but gaming performance is very weak. At CAD 869, it's a solid value for everyday productivity, though the screen and port selection are just average. If you need a dependable daily driver and don't care about gaming, this is worth a look.

The i5-1235U is a 10-core chip with a 1.3GHz base clock, and it's built for efficiency more than raw speed. In our database, the CPU lands at the 36th percentile for laptops, which is about average for this class. That means it won't top any charts, but it's not a slouch either. For everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video calls, it's more than enough. The 16GB of RAM helps a lot here, keeping things smooth even with a pile of tabs open.

The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics sits at the 49th percentile, which is middle of the pack. It'll handle light photo editing and 1080p video playback without issue, but gaming is a different story. The gaming score of 14.8 out of 100 tells you everything you need to know. This is not a gaming laptop, and you shouldn't expect it to be. Casual titles like Stardew Valley or older games will run, but anything modern will struggle.

The IdeaPad 1i's biggest competition comes from machines like the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro and the MSI Prestige. The Galaxy Book5 Pro has a better screen and likely better battery life, but it'll cost you more. The MSI Prestige is aimed at business users and offers a more premium build, but again, the price climbs. The IdeaPad 1i undercuts both on price while still offering 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

On the other end, the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro and ASUS ROG Zephyrus are performance monsters. They'll run circles around the IdeaPad 1i in every benchmark, but they're also aimed at creative professionals and gamers. If you're considering those, you're not really in the same market. The HP OMEN Transcend is a gaming laptop with a high-refresh display and discrete GPU, which makes the IdeaPad 1i look like a calculator by comparison. But again, the price difference is huge. For everyday productivity, the IdeaPad 1i holds its own against similarly priced Windows laptops.

At CAD 869, the IdeaPad 1i sits in a competitive spot. You're getting a touchscreen, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, which is a combo that usually costs more. The included 160GB docking station set sweetens the deal a bit, though it's an unusual add-on. For students and office workers, this is a reasonable price for what you get.

Compared to the competition, the value proposition is mixed. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro and ASUS ROG Zephyrus are in completely different leagues, both in performance and price. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro and HP OMEN Transcend also outclass this machine, but they cost significantly more. If you need a dependable laptop for everyday tasks and don't want to spend over a grand, the IdeaPad 1i makes sense. Just don't expect it to compete with premium ultrabooks.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 1i is one of those laptops that sneaks up on you. On paper it looks like a budget machine with a touchscreen bolted on, but the config we're looking at here is actually pretty sensible for everyday life. You get an Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 15.6-inch FHD touch display. That's a solid recipe for schoolwork, office tasks, and streaming without breaking a sweat.

Who's this for? Students, remote workers, and anyone who wants a big screen with touch input and doesn't care about gaming. The 10-core i5-1235U is a low-power chip, but it handles multitasking well, especially paired with 16GB of RAM. You won't be rendering 4K video or playing Cyberpunk, but you'll breeze through browser tabs, Office apps, and video calls.

The interesting bit is the storage situation. The retailer listing mentions 1.16TB total, which is a 1TB SSD plus a 160GB docking station set. That's an odd combo, but it means you get a fast internal drive and some extra portable storage thrown in. For CAD 869, that's not a bad package if you need a dependable daily driver.

If you're a gamer, skip this. The gaming score of 14.8 out of 100 is one of the weakest we've seen for this category, and the integrated Iris Xe Graphics won't handle modern titles. Look at the HP OMEN Transcend or ASUS ROG Zephyrus instead, though you'll pay a lot more. Creative professionals should also look elsewhere. The screen's 45% NTSC color coverage and 300 nits brightness aren't good enough for photo or video editing. The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Pro or Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro would be better fits for color-critical work.

If portability is a priority, this isn't the best choice either. The compactness score sits in the 38th percentile, meaning it's bulkier than many modern laptops. And if you need lots of ports, the single USB-C and two USB-A ports might feel limiting. A docking station helps, but it's another thing to carry. For a more portable option with better connectivity, consider the MSI Prestige or a premium ultrabook.

For students and office workers, the IdeaPad 1i is a solid pick. The 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD mean you won't be fighting the machine for resources, and the touchscreen is genuinely useful for scrolling, zooming, and quick navigation. The reliability score in the 81st percentile is reassuring too. If you need a dependable laptop for school or work and you're on a budget, this is a good option.

For anyone who wants to game, edit video, or run demanding creative software, look elsewhere. The gaming score of 14.8 is a clear signal that this machine isn't built for that. The screen is also just average, with 300 nits of brightness and 45% NTSC color coverage. If you work outdoors or need accurate colors for design work, you'll want something brighter and more color-accurate. But for the price, the IdeaPad 1i delivers where it counts for everyday use.