If you prioritize performance, especially for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 with its superior graphics card and processor is the better choice. However, it's slightly less portable due to its weight. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, while offering slightly less performance, is more portable because it's lighter, and it may have longer battery life, which is suitable for on-the-go use. Both laptops are equipped with high-resolution displays and ample storage for general use and engineering applications. Ultimately, choose the ASUS if top-notch performance is a must, or the Lenovo if you need something easier to carry around and with potentially longer battery use between charges. 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 Zephyrus M16
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.0/10
8.0/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
343.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 boasts a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and panel type, offering vibrant and crisp visuals for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate hampers the smoothness required for gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, while still providing sharp and bright images for general use and decent color gamut coverage for engineering and design, doesn't match the ASUS's superior color accuracy but suffers the same limitation with gaming due to a less than ideal refresh rate. Overall, both are strong contenders for productivity and creative work but might disappoint avid gamers and those into fast-paced 3D rendering.
Battery
4.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has 7 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
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$1,055
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i costs $1,055.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers superior screen color coverage and brightness for vibrancy and clarity, alongside a high-performance CPU and GPU suitable for demanding applications, but it has a shorter battery life making it less ideal for long use away from power sources.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
8.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i are both very good for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.4/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers superior CPU and GPU performance which is essential for demanding engineering and design tasks, alongside a higher screen quality with better brightness and color coverage compared to the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, though the latter offers somewhat better battery life and portability. Both laptops share the same amount of RAM and screen resolution, ensuring detailed visuals and smooth multitasking, but the M16's higher processing power and superior display may edge out for intensive workloads.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.0/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i are both very good for content creation.
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
7.7/10
7.8/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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.
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How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the Lenovo Legion 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.
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