The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) offers a premium build quality, higher display resolution, better screen colors, and a fanless operation for silent use. It is also more lightweight and has better battery life, which makes it more portable. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i provides more storage and memory, potentially better for more demanding tasks and multitasking. It runs on Windows 11, which might be essential if specific Windows-only software is required. While the MacBook Air boasts better aesthetic appeal and a slightly higher build quality, the IdeaPad Slim 5i presents better value for money given it is significantly less expensive. If budget is a constraint, the IdeaPad Slim 5i is a solid choice, especially for users needing Windows compatibility or extra storage. However, if you prioritize portability, silent operation, battery life, and display quality, and are content with macOS, the MacBook Air might be preferable. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
7.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.1/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.4/10
15.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air's display is renowned for its high resolution and brightness, making it great for everyday tasks and detail-oriented work in engineering and design due to its accurate colors covering a broad spectrum. On the other hand, the IdeaPad Slim 5i offers an adequate screen for general use and engineering, but its color range and precision may not match the MacBook's, impacting professionals who rely on color fidelity. For 3D applications, the MacBook Air falls short as it doesn't prioritize a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth rendering and gaming, an area where neither of these laptops might be the best fit if 3D performance is a priority.
Battery
15.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has 15 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
15.3in
SIZE
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$828
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its Apple M2 processor, and high screen pixel density & brightness offers a smooth and vivid experience for daily tasks, enhanced by its light weight and long battery life, which contribute to its excellent portability. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, although heavier and with a shorter battery life, compensates with a more robust Intel processor, more RAM and storage, providing a stronger performance for multitasking and demanding general use activities.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a high-resolution screen with a wide color gamut suitable for 3D work, but its integrated GPU and 60Hz screen refresh rate, along with limited gaming compatibility on MacOS, make it average for gaming and 3D tasks. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, with its moderate screen quality and Iris Xe graphics, can handle gaming and 3D at a basic level, but its also standard 60Hz refresh rate means fair performance for fast-paced gaming.
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How the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
"The device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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