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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize high performance for engineering tasks or 3D work, the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics is the better option, at the expense of a higher price and a slightly shorter battery life. It also boasts a sharper screen with a higher resolution and brightness, suitable for content creation. However, if general use, affordability, and longer battery life are your main concerns, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offers good performance with integrated graphics, making it less suitable for demanding graphics work but better for portability and extended use on a single charge. 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 5i
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Best in class overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.5
8.5
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
315.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is a sound choice for general use with decent screen quality, satisfactory battery life, and is easy to carry around; however, it has a less powerful CPU and graphics compared to the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i, which offers a superior, high-resolution Mini LED screen, significantly more RAM for smoother multitasking, and a more potent CPU and GPU combination that can handle more demanding tasks, yet this model has a slightly shorter battery life and is priced higher.
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i offers superior gaming and 3D performance, backed by its Nvidia RTX 4050 and a high screen refresh rate, which are more powerful GPU and display capabilities than the Intel Iris Xe graphics and standard refresh rate found in the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i. While the Slim Pro 9i is more suited for intensive tasks with its higher resolution Mini LED display, the IdeaPad Slim 5i provides value for more casual gaming and everyday use.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.4
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.4
8.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
9.6
16.0in
SIZE
14.5in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
315.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
618.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i may offer adequate resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and productivity applications, ensuring comfortable viewing for general use, but its color gamut coverage might be limited which can affect precision required for engineering and design work, while the lower refresh rate would hinder the smoothness desired in gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i, on the other hand, likely boasts superior resolution, brightness, and wide color gamut which makes it excellent for detailed graphics work that engineering and design professionals need, but similarly to the IdeaPad, its refresh rate may not be high enough to satisfy the demands of high-end gaming or 3D rendering which often require fast and fluid visuals. Therefore, while both laptops have their strengths, users must weigh the importance of screen quality for their specific needs against other factors such as performance, price, and portability.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has 6 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
$828
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a price of $828 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.5in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
8.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Slim Pro 9i to have very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i | Lenovo Slim Pro 9i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$828 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 12.9'' x 9.6'' x 0.85'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.17 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 12.9" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.64" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-13705H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56.6 Wh | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 3072 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 315 nits | 618 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
HT Tech
Robin Sinha | February 2021
"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."
Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | August 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is an impressive laptop with a brilliant Mini-LED display, a powerful 100-watt version of Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, and excellent connectivity. Having run the Cinebench benchmark again, we were impressed with the CPU performance. That makes the Slim Pro 9i is an easy recommendation, especially for those who care about GPU and CPU performance. It’s also a fantastic choice if you frequently view HDR movies and games on your laptop."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i or the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i
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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