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One of my favorite budget OLED laptops for work just got even more affordable

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ZDNET's key takeaways The IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 with the Snapdragon X Plus processor is on sale now for $689.

It's durable and reliable, runs cool, and has a comfortable keyboard and OLED display.

However, it might not stand out in a market of similarly-specced devices that are lighter and cheaper. View now at Lenovo View now at Best Buy more buying choices

Over at Best Buy, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x is on sale for $689, a 20% discount. The laptop is on clearance, so supplies are limited.

We often test many of Lenovo's top-tier devices, but some of the more accessible models also deserve call outs. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5x 2-in-1 is one such device, as a practical workhorse with a modest set of hardware and an accessible price tag.

It features a solid, sleek build with Lenovo's signature dual-hinge design in brushed silver, and upward-firing Dolby speakers. The 14-inch OLED touchscreen display completes the laptop's first impression, framed by thin bezels that make for a sleek, if non-descript, design.

Also: Samsung's Galaxy Book4 Edge laptop has one of the best displays - and it's $300 off

It hits the right notes for a competent work device but keeps things low-key enough to stay affordable. For example, the OLED display looks great at 400 nits, but it's reigned in with a WUXGA (1920 x 1200) resolution and 60Hz refresh rate. This results in a crisp visual experience for web browsing, entertainment, and some light gaming, but it doesn't try to push the envelope.

The port selection on this laptop is also quite good, with two USB Type-C and Type-A ports, an HDMI, and a microSD slot. However, one of its biggest drawbacks is that the USB-C ports don't support USB4/Thunderbolt 4, which will leave you without external monitor access if you don't have an HDMI cord. This is by no means a deal breaker for me, but it certainly could be for some users.

Also: The Surface Laptop is still one of my favorite Copilot+ PCs (and now it's over $500 off)

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