A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gateway 15.6" offers a budget-friendly option with adequate performance, featuring a large screen and a full-size keyboard with a number pad, which might be beneficial for productivity tasks and general use. It runs on Windows 10 Home and has a similar price to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, but the specific battery capacity is unknown, which may impact mobility if the battery life is short. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i comes with a more modern processor, a slightly higher screen resolution, and a confirmed longer battery capacity, which supports extended use without frequent charging. It also has a better port selection, including additional USB-C ports, and it runs Windows 11 Home. Additionally, it has a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader for added convenience and security. With a higher portability score, the IdeaPad Slim 5i might be preferable for those who require a more mobile device. Both laptops are suitable for general use and light gaming, but for users seeking the latest features and better portability, the IdeaPad Slim 5i holds an advantage despite being similarly priced. 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 Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" with its Intel i5-1135G7 processor and 16GB RAM is suitable for general use tasks, but has a lower screen brightness and less impressive color space coverage compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, which also offers an Intel Iris Xe powered by a newer Intel i5-1335U CPU and superior keyboard and speaker quality, enhancing the overall user experience. While the Lenovo is lighter and thinner, thus more portable, both laptops provide similar battery life for routine activities, and with the same amount of RAM and storage, they can handle everyday computing demands evenly.
Engineering and Design
6.2
7.0
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is considered good for engineering and design due to its newer and slightly more capable CPU, higher quality keyboard and a brighter, higher resolution screen that improves visual detail and workspace area. On the other hand, the Gateway 15.6" has a less advanced CPU and screen with lower brightness and standard resolution, which makes it fair for such tasks but it may be less efficient in handling demanding engineering software and detailed design work.
Software Development
6.7
7.4
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
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
6.1
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, with their fair screen quality, manage to deliver suitable resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, meeting the general use requirements. However, their color reproduction may not cover the wider color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB fully, making them less ideal for professional engineering and design work that requires color accuracy. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth visuals, while their resolution and panel types, though adequate for general use, do not offer the level of clarity and responsiveness desired for immersive gaming experiences.
Build Quality
5.1
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$828
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $600 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.3
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i perform similarly in gaming and 3D applications primarily because both have integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and 60Hz refresh rate screens, which are adequate for moderate gaming and 3D tasks. However, even with the same style of GPU, the Lenovo has a slightly better screen resolution, which may offer a bit sharper image, and a more modern CPU, which could provide a slight edge in processing power; still, the Gateway can handle comparable tasks with its given configuration.
Content Creation
7.0
7.4
4.9/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Gateway 15.6" are both 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 15.6" | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $828 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.8 lbs | 4.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.75" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i5-1335U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 56.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 315 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
HT Tech
Robin Sinha | February 2021
"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 Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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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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