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Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) vs Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against laptops at a similar price

The Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) scores 7.3/10 overall, ahead of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10) at 5.9/10.

The Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) leads on performance, display, battery life, keyboard and build, ports and linux support.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10) leads on memory and storage.

The biggest difference is display, where the Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) scores 9/10 to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)'s 5/10.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)

7.3/10verdict: buy

The MacBook Pro 14-inch with M5 is for buyers who are happy to work on macOS and want a sharp screen and long battery life. It suits people who will pick the right memory size on day one, since memory is set at purchase. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs native Linux or sustained heavy compute.

Typically about £1,599 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The IdeaPad Slim 3x suits people who want a large-screen, long-running Windows laptop for office work, browser-based admin and light development. It also suits anyone who wants an optional OLED panel and a second SSD slot in a 15-inch body. It is a weaker fit if you need Thunderbolt-class ports or upgradeable memory.

Typically about £595 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightApple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)
Performance25%7/106/10
Memory and storage20%6/107/10
Display15%9/105/10
Battery life15%9/107/10
Keyboard and build10%7/106/10
Ports10%8/105/10
Linux support5%3/102/10
Overall7.3/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecApple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)
CPUApple M5, 10-core CPU (4 performance, 6 efficiency), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 153GB/s memory bandwidthQualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100, 8 cores, up to 3.0 GHz, 30MB cache, Hexagon NPU up to 45 TOPS
Memory16GB, 24GB or 32GB unified memory, set at purchase16 GB or 24 GB LPDDR5x, 8448 MHz, soldered to the system board
Storage512GB or 1TB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB or 4TB256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB PCIe M.2 2242 Gen4 SSD, plus a second 2242 slot supporting 512 GB or 1 TB
Display14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR, 3024 × 1964 at 254 ppi, 1,000,000:1 contrast, 1,600 nits peak HDR, P3 wide colour, True Tone, ProMotion up to 120Hz15.1-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) OLED, 16:10, 60 Hz, or 15.3-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10, 60 Hz, 300 nits; IPS also offered with on-cell touch
Battery72.4 Wh lithium-polymer; Apple rates up to 24 hours video streaming50 Wh or 60 Wh; Rapid Charge gives 2 hours in 15 minutes
PortsSDXC card slot, HDMI, 3.5 mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3, three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) portsRight: 1x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, 1x SD card reader, power button, One Key Recovery. Left: round DC port, 1x USB 3.2 Type-A Gen 1, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x USB 3.2 Type-C Gen 1 (DP 1.2, PD 3.0), combo audio jack
Weight1.55 kg (3.4 lb)1.5 kg (3.31 lb) starting, OLED with 60 Wh battery
Operating systemmacOSWindows 11 Home or Pro

Strengths and weaknesses

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5)

  • + Very long battery life in reviewer video tests
  • + Sharp 3024 × 1964, 120Hz display
  • + HDMI, SD slot and three Thunderbolt 4 ports
  • − Memory is set at purchase, up to 32GB
  • − Single fan may struggle under sustained heavy loads
  • − Small generational change from the M4 model

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want Linux as the main operating system
  • Anyone running sustained heavy compute for hours
  • Owners of the M4 model looking for a big upgrade
Read the full Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M5) review ›

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)

  • + Owners praise the battery life
  • + Second M.2 2242 slot for extra storage
  • + Optional 2560 x 1600 OLED panel
  • − Owners complain about the display and speakers
  • − Memory is soldered to the board
  • − No Ethernet and only USB 3.2 Gen 1 USB-C

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who want upgradeable memory or many VMs
  • People who need Ethernet or fast USB-C or Thunderbolt-class ports
Read the full Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10) review ›

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