If you're on a tighter budget and need a more affordable notebook for general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is a solid option with good battery life and portability. However, if superior performance for gaming, 3D rendering or machine learning, and engineering software is essential, and you're willing to invest more, the Razer Blade 18 will provide drastically better processing and graphics capabilities. The Razer Blade 18 also has a larger, higher-resolution display, but note that it's heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less ideal if you're frequently on the move. 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
Good portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Razer Blade 18
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
315.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.1/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Razer Blade 18 offers superior performance for general use with a more powerful CPU and double the RAM of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, plus a higher quality screen with better resolution and brightness. However, it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo, making the latter a more suitable option for users who prioritize mobility and longer use on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The Razer Blade 18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.0/10
9.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Razer Blade 18 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i's moderate CPU and integrated graphics are suitable for engineering and design tasks; however, the Razer Blade 18's top-tier CPU and powerful dedicated GPU offer superior performance for more complex and demanding engineering applications. While both have quality screens, the Razer Blade 18's larger, more vivid display enhances visual work but is heavier and less portable than the lighter IdeaPad Slim 5i, which may suit users who prioritize mobility.
Content Creation
7.4/10
8.6/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Blade 18 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
7.4/10
8.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Razer Blade 18 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
6.4/10
8.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
315.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
524.0 nits
The Razer Blade 18 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, with its average resolution and brightness, offers a screen that is acceptable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing but lacks the color accuracy and wider color gamuts needed for professional engineering and design work, and its refresh rate isn't high enough to satisfy the smooth visuals required for gaming and 3D applications. The Razer Blade 18's screen provides crisp and vibrant visuals due to its high resolution and superior brightness, making it fantastic for all types of general use, and its excellent color reproduction covers the necessary gamuts for precision in engineering and design. However, despite its good resolution and panel type, the Razer Blade 18 disappoints in gaming and 3D contexts where a high refresh rate is crucial for fluid motion, and where it falls short.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 18 has 4 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
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability, while the Razer Blade 18 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The Razer Blade 18 has 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.
Cost
$828
$10
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a price of $828 and the Razer Blade 18 costs $10.
"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."
"Razer made a powerful laptop in the Blade 18, showing off a beautiful and fast display and the same high-quality build we’ve come to expect from this product line. It’s also quite expensive, which is hardly a surprise, but bears repeating even in this price range. It’s pricier than the Scar 18 despite an inferior GPU and half the storage, so you really have to want the Blade 18’s design to justify the cost."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i or the Razer Blade 18
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.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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