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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is better for intensive tasks and gaming due to its powerful processor and graphics, making it suitable for engineering and 3D applications, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is more affordable, lighter and offers longer battery life, ideal for general use and portability, but it doesn't perform as well with demanding software. Choose the Flex 5 for performance or the IdeaPad for on-the-go use and cost efficiency. 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Flex 5 16.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
7.0
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers a more powerful CPU, more RAM, a higher resolution screen, and longer battery life than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, making it better suited for multitasking and productivity tasks. However, the IdeaPad Slim 3 is lighter and generates less heat, suggesting greater portability and comfort during extended use, despite having a less capable CPU and less RAM which may limit performance in demanding applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2
6.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with higher RAM, a more powerful i7 CPU, and superior integrated graphics, provides smoother performance in engineering and design applications compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, which has lesser RAM and a lower-tier Ryzen 3 CPU with weaker integrated graphics. Additionally, the Flex 5 16’s higher resolution and color coverage screen offer clearer and more precise visuals, crucial for design tasks, whereas the IdeaPad Slim 3's screen lacks in both resolution and color accuracy.
Screen Quality
7.3
6.4
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you're mostly using your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web or working with documents, both the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the IdeaPad Slim 3 will suffice as they offer decent resolution and brightness. For engineering and design work, the Flex 5 16 is the better choice due to its superior color reproduction, important for tasks that require color accuracy. However, if your focus is on gaming or 3D applications, neither model is ideal; they lack the high refresh rates necessary for the smooth visuals typically desired in these areas.
Battery
11.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good portability, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$779
$390
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $390.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
5.9
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both suitable for casual gaming and 3D activities due to their integrated graphics—the former with Intel Iris Xe and the latter with AMD Vega 6—however, while adequate, neither GPU is designed for high-end gaming which often requires dedicated graphics with higher performance. Additionally, they both feature IPS screens with a maximum refresh rate of 60Hz, which is fine for general use but might not be as smooth as higher refresh rates preferred in gaming.
Content Creation
7.6
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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.
Software Development
7.5
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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
7.0
6.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to have 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.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$779 | $390 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 3.52 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | 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 | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 47 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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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