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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is more expensive but offers better performance with more storage, memory and a more powerful processor, making it suitable for more intensive tasks like engineering, 3D rendering, or machine learning. It boasts a better battery life, a higher-resolution touchscreen, and a brighter display. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is more budget-friendly with less storage and memory, catering to general use rather than demanding applications. While it has a slightly larger screen, its battery life is shorter and the overall performance is more modest. Both are touch-enabled and similar in weight and portability. Consider the Flex 5 14 if performance and multitasking are critical, or the IdeaPad Slim 3 for cost-effective everyday use. 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 14
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Flex 5 14.
Key differences
General Use
7.7
7.0
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
277.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Flex 5 14 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 offers a more powerful CPU and double the RAM compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, enhancing its capability for multitasking and more demanding tasks. Additionally, it features higher screen quality with better resolution and brightness, and it is also a 2-in-1 convertible, adding to its versatility for general use, whereas the IdeaPad Slim 3 has a larger screen but offers lower performance and less versatility.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is preferred for engineering and design tasks due to its superior CPU and graphics (AMD Ryzen 7 with Vega 8), larger RAM, and higher screen quality, which includes better pixel density and higher brightness. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, with its lower-tier CPU and graphics (AMD Ryzen 3 with Vega 6), less RAM, and lower screen pixel density, offers fair performance for the same tasks but benefits from slightly quieter operating noise and a marginally higher portability score.
Screen Quality
6.4
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
277.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and IdeaPad Slim 3 both have average displays that provide sufficient clarity for everyday tasks and productivity software utilized in general use and engineering, but they may lack the high resolution and brightness preferred for an optimal viewing experience. These laptops' screens may not cover the wider color gamuts required for precision in color-critical engineering and design work. Additionally, their displays are not designed with high refresh rates in mind, which are crucial for the smooth visuals necessary in gaming and 3D applications, thus offering a less satisfying experience in these areas.
Battery
11.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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.
Cost
$950
$650
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has a price of $950 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $650.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
5.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
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 14 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its more powerful GPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 7730U Vega 8, which is stronger than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3's AMD Ryzen 3 7330U Vega 6 GPU; both laptops, however, have the same screen refresh rate which is decent but not optimal for high-end gaming that benefits from higher rates.
Content Creation
7.6
7.2
6.9/10
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 Lenovo Flex 5 14 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
7.4
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 14 to have very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
6.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 14 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 14 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 14 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$950 | $650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | December 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.42 lbs | 3.52 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.32" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.85" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | AMD Ryzen 3 7330U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 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 | 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 | 277 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 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 | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 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 Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2021
"The highlight of the latest IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is clearly its AMD CPU. The octa-core Ryzen 7 5700U is insanely fast even when compared to the best Tiger Lake Ultrabooks in the market or even Core H CPUs in many gaming laptops. It's a lot of raw processing power for what is supposed to be a budget 14-inch convertible. If your daily workloads can benefit from extra multi-thread CPU performance, then look no further than the inexpensive AMD-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. For regular on-the-road browsing or video streaming, however, a slimmer and lighter 10th gen Core Yoga, Spectre, or XPS would be a more balanced option."
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 14 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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