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Updated January 10, 2024·
Considering the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, both with similar processing capabilities, the ThinkBook offers higher screen resolution and touchscreen features which might be beneficial for tasks requiring sharp graphics and interactive use, such as design. However, the Slim 5i may have slightly lower costs. The ThinkBook, being lighter and slimmer, is preferable for frequent travel. Both have backlit keyboards and sufficient battery life for typical use, but the ThinkBook's better portability makes it more convenient for on-the-go usage. If prioritizing portability and touchscreen utility, the ThinkBook stands out, though for budget-conscious users, the Slim 5i holds value. 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
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.0
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both equipped with ample RAM and similar integrated GPUs, suitable for engineering and design tasks; however, the ThinkBook 13s offers a more powerful CPU, which can be crucial for demanding software applications. While both have quality screens, the ThinkBook may have a slight edge with a higher resolution display, contributing to a more detailed visual experience, but the IdeaPad Slim 5i is slightly lighter in weight, favoring those who prioritize portability alongside a quality keyboard and less operating noise.
Screen Quality
6.4
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
315.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you're primarily using your laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web or working with documents, both the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the ThinkBook 13s offer acceptable quality, but the ThinkBook stands out with better brightness and resolution which enhance your viewing and reading experience. For professionals in engineering and design, where accurate color representation is crucial, the ThinkBook 13s's superior color coverage, including broader Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 gamuts, make it a preferable option. However, for gaming and 3D modeling that demand fast screen refresh rates for smooth motion, neither laptop is ideal due to their lower refresh rates, though their resolutions and panel types are decent for less demanding visual tasks.
Portability
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$828
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a price of $828 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.8
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
315.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s both offer a solid combination of CPU and RAM for smooth general use, with the IdeaPad featuring a larger screen for better multitasking, but the ThinkBook provides a higher resolution and touch capability for a sharper display. The IdeaPad has a balance between performance and portability, with decent battery life and a comfortable keyboard, while the ThinkBook adds professional features like a more portable design and higher-quality speakers, making it a better choice for frequent travelers or those seeking a premium lightweight laptop for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both fair choices for gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to their integrated Iris Xe graphics, which can handle moderate gaming but are not as capable as dedicated gaming GPUs. Both have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for casual gaming but less fluid than higher refresh rates found on gaming-specific laptops; the IdeaPad Slim 5i's i5 CPU and the ThinkBook 13s's i7 provide good general performance with the latter being slightly more powerful, while their IPS screens offer good visual quality, the ThinkBook with a higher resolution for sharper images.
Content Creation
7.4
7.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.4
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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 Slim 5i and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$828 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.17 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56.6 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 315 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 9.1/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
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 ThinkBook 13s
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Dig into reviews and images
The Verge
Monica Chin | July 2021
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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