If you prioritize a higher resolution display with better color coverage, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro would be a suitable choice for tasks like 3D rendering or video editing. However, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is lighter, which makes it more portable and it offers longer battery life, which is practical if you need to work on the go. Both have similar performance capabilities for general use and gaming, but for more color-sensitive work, the 5i Pro has the edge. Remember, the Slim version, while not as strong in display, could be preferred for its easier handling and longer unplugged use. 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 Legion Pro 5i
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
Good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
8.1/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i excels with its crisp resolution and bright display, while its panel type offers wide viewing angles, ensuring a clear and vibrant visual experience. For engineering and design tasks, the same laptop boasts a wider color gamut, rendering more accurate colors necessary for detailed work. However, gamers looking for fluid motion might find the Pro 5i less appealing due to a lower refresh rate compared to gaming-optimized laptops, which could lead to less smooth imagery during fast-paced games.
Battery
3.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has 3.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 and Lenovo Legion Pro 5i are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
7.7/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Legion Pro 5i to be very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i boasts a higher screen refresh rate, which is very important for smooth gaming and 3D experiences, compared to the Lenovo Legion Slim 5. Both feature the same powerful GPU, but the Pro model's higher refresh rate and marginally better screen quality lend to more fluid visuals essential for intensive gaming.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.0/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 are both very good for engineering and design.
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
7.6/10
7.5/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
7.5/10
7.4/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 and Lenovo Legion Pro 5i both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 compare to other laptops
"The midpriced Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 follows some of our favorite gaming machines, including last year's model and the higher-end Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 tested earlier this year. But pedigree doesn't count for much in the computer world, and gaming laptops require a certain level of power and graphics performance to justify their prices. The Pro 5i Gen 8 just doesn't do that, offering middling CPU and GPU performance rather than the sort of muscle that would make it a great value."
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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