When comparing the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider that the IdeaPad Slim 3 is more budget-friendly but may offer lower performance than the ThinkPad X13, which could be more robust and better suited for demanding tasks. The X13 is likely to have a more durable build and additional features that cater to business users, such as enhanced security options. If portability and battery life are critical for you, the ThinkPad X13 generally offers a lighter build and longer battery life. For general use, the IdeaPad Slim 3 should suffice, but for intensive workloads, the ThinkPad X13 is the better choice, albeit at a higher cost. 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 Slim 3
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers adequate performance and portability for everyday tasks, but the ThinkPad X13 exceeds it with a more powerful CPU and RAM which ensure smoother operation for demanding applications, alongside superior screen quality and longer battery life, enhancing both the user experience and mobility. The ThinkPad also likely benefits from a sturdier build, better heat management, and a more comfortable keyboard, factors contributing to its edge in general use over the Slim 3, though these features come with an increased cost.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both have GPUs that are adequate for casual gaming and basic 3D tasks but may struggle with high-end games or complex 3D modeling. While both laptops have decent CPUs and screen quality, they don't offer the high refresh rates preferred for immersive gaming experiences.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
8.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offers better CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities, which are crucial for engineering and design tasks, and it also usually has a higher quality screen; these factors result in a more robust and efficient performance for demanding applications. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while still capable, has less powerful specifications which could slow down more intensive work, but it might have an edge in portability and could generally come at a lower price point, making it a budget-friendly option for less demanding users.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
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
7.1/10
8.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
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
6.4/10
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, but its color range may not meet the precision needs for engineering and design work, and its lower refresh rate will limit the smoothness required for immersive gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its improved brightness and resolution, provides a crisper and more vibrant display for detailed engineering tasks and offers better color accuracy for design professionals, although its refresh rate still falls short for high-end gaming or 3D modeling that benefits from fluid motion. Both laptops' screens will suffice for general use, but for specialized tasks like design, engineering, and gaming, the ThinkPad X13 edges out as the better option, save for gaming or 3D where neither is ideal due to refresh rate limitations.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very 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.
Cost
$390
$1,459
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a price of $390 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,459.
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."
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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