The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i boasts more powerful hardware suitable for intensive engineering tasks, 3D and machine learning applications, as well as gaming, thanks to its high-end processor and dedicated graphics card. However, these come with a higher price, more weight, and shorter battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is less expensive, slightly lighter, and offers a longer battery life, making it more portable and budget-friendly. The Slim 5i is equipped with an integrated graphics card and a less powerful processor, fine for general use, but may not handle demanding workloads as effectively as the Pro 5i. 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 IdeaPad Pro 5i
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is superior for gaming and 3D applications due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 120Hz, which allows for smoother visual transitions in games and 3D modeling. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, having an Intel i5-1335U Iris Xe integrated graphics and a lower 60Hz screen refresh rate, offers less graphical processing power and less fluid motion, making it less optimal for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.0/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i outperforms the Slim 5i in engineering and design tasks due to its more powerful i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics card, ensuring smoother performance for computationally intensive work and better screen quality with higher resolution and color accuracy.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
6.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
409.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i boasts a display with higher resolution and brightness, which enhances the visual experience for everyday tasks and detailed work like engineering, but its lower refresh rate is a disadvantage for fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. While the IdeaPad Slim 5i's screen might suffice for basic tasks and some design work, its more modest color range and average brightness limit its effectiveness for professional color-critical tasks. For gaming and 3D rendering, both models fall short due to their inadequate refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and a less immersive experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i 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.
Cost
$950
$828
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a price of $950 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is tailored for general use with a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality screen which provide smooth multitasking and vibrant visuals, albeit with moderate battery life and portability due to its size and weight. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while also equipped with substantial RAM and a good screen, offers longer battery life and better portability as it's lighter and thinner, but it compromises on CPU performance, making it less suited for demanding tasks. Both units have adequate storage and well-regarded keyboard and speaker quality, contributing to a satisfactory user experience in everyday functions.
Content Creation
7.7/10
7.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.7/10
7.4/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good 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 IdeaPad Pro 5i and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
"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 Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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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