If affordability is your top concern, the HP 15" laptop is more cost-effective and will handle general tasks well. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while more expensive, could offer superior performance and a better experience for more intensive tasks like engineering or creative work. It might also be lighter and have a longer battery life, making it more suitable for those who prioritize mobility and work away from power sources. If your use case is more demanding or involves regular travel, the longevity and performance of the IdeaPad could justify its higher price. 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 HP 15" Laptop
The HP 15" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.7/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i outperforms the HP 15" Laptop due to its superior processing power, double the RAM for more efficient multitasking, and a higher quality screen that offers better brightness and color accuracy. Additionally, the IdeaPad Slim 5i has a longer battery life and more storage capacity, which enhances your overall experience, though it is slightly heavier which may affect portability.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is better suited for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i5 processor, double the RAM, and a superior GPU in the form of Intel Iris Xe, which enhances graphic-intensive tasks. Additionally, the Slim 5i offers higher screen brightness, better battery capacity, and a higher resolution screen, making for clearer and more vibrant visuals compared to the fair performance offered by the HP 15" Laptop with its Intel i3 processor and UHD Graphics.
Software Development
6.7/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop 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
6.3/10
6.4/10
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 HP 15" Laptop for general use, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the HP 15" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i have screens that provide adequate resolution and brightness, but they may not offer the premium panel types that would elevate their display quality significantly. In engineering and design, while these laptops offer satisfactory resolution for detailed work, they may lack the wide color gamuts necessary for highly accurate color rendering, which is essential for professional-level design work. As for 3D and gaming, their refresh rates are not high enough to provide the smooth visuals that those activities typically demand, and while their resolutions and panel types are acceptable, they don't prioritize the high refresh rates crucial for these uses.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The HP 15" Laptop has 6 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.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$309
$499
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The HP 15" Laptop has a price of $309 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $499.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
The HP 15" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are considered fair for gaming and 3D primarily because both have integrated graphics (Intel UHD Graphics and Iris Xe respectively), which are less powerful compared to dedicated gaming GPUs and have standard screen refresh rates which could limit high frame rate gaming. While the Lenovo has a more capable CPU and slightly better screen resolution and brightness, neither laptop excels in intense gaming due to these GPU and refresh rate limitations.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i to be good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP 15" Laptop and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the HP 15" Laptop and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
"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 HP 15" Laptop or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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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.
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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.
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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.