When choosing between two laptops, consider your primary use. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, while often more affordable, is geared towards everyday use and provides good value for casual activities like web browsing, video streaming, and document editing. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is built for business users demanding durability, a robust keyboard, and enterprise features. It's usually better for those who need a machine that can handle more demanding tasks and frequent travel. If you prefer a balance of price and performance for day-to-day tasks, the IdeaPad may suit you, but if you need a workhorse that's tough and ready for heavier workloads, the extra investment in the ThinkPad could be justifiable. 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 7i
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
340.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, with its lightweight design and long battery life, makes it an ideal choice for users prioritizing portability and endurance, while its screen quality is sufficient for everyday tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, offering a more robust CPU and additional RAM, excels in handling more demanding applications, and its superior keyboard quality enhances user experience despite it being less portable and having a shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
8.0/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, with its capable CPU, ample RAM, dedicated GPU, and high-quality screen, can efficiently handle demanding engineering software and visual design work, albeit with more limited battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while also equipped with a strong CPU and sufficient RAM for such tasks, has a focus on durability and a superior keyboard, making it beneficial for extended typing sessions and use in varied environments, but might lag slightly behind in graphics-intensive applications due to a less powerful GPU.
Content Creation
7.7/10
8.3/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
7.5/10
8.3/10
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
6.9/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
340.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i for content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and ThinkPad T14 have screens that are sharp, bright, and offer clear visuals, making them suitable for everyday tasks and productivity applications. Their displays cover a broad range of colors, which is crucial for professionals in engineering and design who require color accuracy for detailed work. However, neither model is tailored for gaming or 3D applications, as they likely have standard refresh rates that are lower than what's optimal for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals in those scenarios.
Battery
11.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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
$899
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has a price of $899 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
Both the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and the ThinkPad T14 have GPUs that can handle light gaming and 3D tasks but may struggle with demanding games and applications that require more powerful graphics performance. The IdeaPad's higher screen refresh rate makes for smoother visuals which can be noticeable in fast-paced games, while the ThinkPad T14 offers robust build quality and business features alongside a quality screen and capable CPU for general and professional use.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 to have very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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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How the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 compare to other laptops
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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