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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is more expensive but offers better performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning due to its superior processor and dedicated graphics card. It has a higher-resolution display with better color accuracy, making it suitable for tasks where visual detail is important. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is lighter and more affordable, with sufficient capabilities for general use and basic engineering work. It has a longer battery life and a higher portability score, making it a better option if you prioritize mobility and value. Both devices support touch input and have backlit keyboards, but the ThinkBook 13s includes a Windows Pro operating system, which adds some business-related features. If you regularly perform demanding tasks and need a robust device, the Slim Pro 9i might be the better option; however, if you require a balance between cost, lighter travel, and battery efficiency for everyday tasks and less demanding engineering work, the ThinkBook 13s would be the wiser choice. 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 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 keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.8
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
618.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
6.0 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 Slim Pro 9i is very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i excels in general use with its higher RAM, superior CPU, and Mini LED screen that offers exceptional brightness and color range, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the lighter Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which balances adequate performance for general use with a longer battery life and excellent portability, although it comes with a less powerful CPU and standard IPS screen.
Gaming and AI
7.6
6.4
6.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, which are very important for smooth gaming and 3D performance, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard 60 Hz refresh rate, making it less suited for intensive gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.9
7.5
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
6.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i stands out for engineering and design due to its more powerful i7 processor, double the RAM, and dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which support intensive tasks and complex graphics rendering; whereas the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, with an i7 processor that has integrated graphics and half the RAM, offers good portability and battery life, making it suitable for less demanding engineering and design work. Additionally, the Slim Pro 9i has a higher resolution Mini LED screen, enhancing visual detail and color accuracy, important for design precision, against the ThinkBook's IPS display.
Content Creation
8.5
7.8
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
8.3
7.7
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i is very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
9.6
7.2
14.5in
SIZE
13.3in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
618.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution, bright display, and wide color coverage, offering vivid details and accurate colors. For general use and engineering tasks on the ThinkBook 13s, the good screen quality comes from its sufficient resolution and brightness, but it might lack the broader color spectrum of the Pro 9i. Both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D because they have lower refresh rates, which are less suitable for the fast-paced visuals those activities demand.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has 6 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
14.5in
SIZE
13.3in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,500
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Slim Pro 9i has a price of $1,500 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Build Quality
8.0
7.6
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Slim Pro 9i to have very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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 Slim Pro 9i and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Slim Pro 9i | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,500 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 9.6'' x 0.85'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.64" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-13705H | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 75 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.5" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3072 x 1920 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 618 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 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 | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
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."
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 Slim Pro 9i 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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