If you need a laptop with top performance for gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is designed for those purposes but is generally more expensive and less portable. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, on the other hand, is more suited for general use, offers better portability and battery life, and is more budget-friendly. Consider how you'll use the laptop and whether high performance or portability and cost are your priority. 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 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
6.3/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is equipped with a high-performance Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a high refresh rate screen, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i uses an Intel Iris Xe which is less powerful and a standard refresh rate screen, resulting in a fair gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
7.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is considered very good for engineering and design because it has a high-performance CPU with an i9 processor, ample RAM, and a powerful Nvidia RTX GPU, making it suitable for demanding tasks, though its screen has lower color coverage which might affect design work slightly. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while still good for engineering with a capable i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics, offers less overall power and graphical capabilities but has a higher screen resolution and better portability, making it a balanced option for less intensive use.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a high-resolution display with a panel that provides vibrant colors and brightness, making it good for general use and engineering tasks where color accuracy is key. However, its lower refresh rate might not be the best for 3D applications and gaming, where smoother motion is crucial. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offers decent resolution and panel quality suitable for everyday tasks and engineering software but may fall short for gaming and 3D work due to its refresh rate and less vibrant color representation.
Battery
5.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,000
$828
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers superior CPU and GPU, making it excellent for performance-intensive tasks, though it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, which offers good screen quality, longer battery life, and better portability for everyday tasks.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
101,295
Recommendations made
21,948
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.