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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Precision 5470 offers powerful performance for engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning with its high-quality screen and dedicated graphics card; however, it comes at a higher price, has a smaller screen, and less storage capacity. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is more budget-friendly, has a larger screen and more storage, and includes a touchscreen, but its performance for demanding tasks and screen quality are not as advanced as the Dell's. If portability and high-performance computing are priorities, choose the Dell, while the Lenovo is better for general use and budget-conscious buyers seeking a larger display and more storage. 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 Dell Precision 5470
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.7
7.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
The Dell Precision 5470, with a stronger CPU, more RAM, and better screen quality, is well-suited for more demanding tasks and has a high portability score, reflecting its compact design and lighter weight, which also leads to very good battery life; however, it's more costly. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while more affordable and having longer battery life due to a lower-tier CPU and less RAM, results in only fair performance for general use, has a larger screen size that might be less portable, and shows compromise in screen quality with lower brightness and color space coverage.
Gaming and AI
6.7
5.9
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Dell Precision 5470 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications because it features a dedicated Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU, which provides superior graphical processing power compared to the integrated AMD Vega 6 graphics in the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, but the Dell's GPU and the Lenovo's lack thereof represent a significant difference in performance for tasks that require intensive graphics processing.
Engineering and Design
7.8
6.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Dell Precision 5470 is better suited for engineering and design use given its higher-end CPU (Intel i7-12700H) and GPU (Nvidia RTX A1000), as well as a display with superior color accuracy and brightness, essential for detail-oriented work. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while more affordable and with a larger screen, has lower RAM and a less powerful CPU (AMD Ryzen 3 7330U) and integrated GPU, which may not handle engineering and design tasks as efficiently.
Content Creation
7.8
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
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
7.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for software development, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
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
7.3
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Precision 5470 offers a higher resolution and brighter display which enhances the detail and visibility for general tasks and precision work like engineering, and its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation crucial for design work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 provides an adequate display for everyday use and design tasks with fair resolution and color accuracy but also lags in gaming performance due to a limited refresh rate.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,669
$390
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Precision 5470 has a price of $1,669 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $390.
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Key similarities
Battery
9.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 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.
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How the Dell Precision 5470 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Precision 5470 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,669 | $390 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.26 lbs | 3.52 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.27" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | AMD Ryzen 3 7330U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 47 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 500 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Precision 5470
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Brian Westover | August 2022
"The Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the Dell Precision 5470 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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.
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