Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x Offers Premium Features at Budget Price Point
The new laptop challenges the 15-inch MacBook Air with competitive performance, exceptional battery life, and a 120Hz display, despite minor ergonomic compromises.
WIRED has published a review of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x, positioning the $850 device as a formidable contender in the sub-$1,000 laptop market. The publication describes the machine as a direct competitor to the 15-inch MacBook Air, which retails for approximately $400 more, while noting that the Lenovo unit offers comparable core specifications including 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.
The device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus processor and features a 15.3-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The review notes that the screen is brighter and more colourful than typical budget Windows alternatives, with a subtle anti-glare coating that enhances clarity. An OLED upgrade option is available for an additional $30, providing a 2560 x 1600 HDR-ready resolution for users seeking higher colour accuracy.
Performance benchmarks indicate that the Snapdragon X2 Plus chip is competitive with previous-generation Intel options, though it trails Apple’s M5 chip in GPU tasks. WIRED observed that the processor handled standard workflows involving multiple applications and browser tabs without issue, concluding that the performance exceeds the needs of most general users. The base model includes a 1920 x 1200 display, while the OLED variant offers sharper visuals.
Battery life emerged as a key strength, with the review citing over 22 hours of playback in light workload tests. Under a standard workday scenario, the device retained sufficient charge to last well beyond a full day of use. Connectivity is robust, featuring HDMI, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports supporting 10 Gbps speeds, a headphone jack, and a micro-SD card slot.
Critiques in the review focused on minor ergonomic details rather than functional flaws. These include a loud touchpad click, a side-mounted power button that is prone to accidental activation, and the placement of both USB-C ports on the left side only. Despite these small gripes, the publication concluded that the IdeaPad Slim 5x represents a rare instance of a budget laptop with almost no major compromises.
