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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10) vs Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)

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

all judged against laptops at a similar price

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch) both score 5.9/10 overall.

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

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch) leads on display, battery life and ports.

They score the same on keyboard and build and linux support.

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

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The IdeaPad Slim 5x is for people who want a light Windows laptop that lasts a long time away from a socket. It suits everyday work, browsing, documents and remote sessions better than sustained heavy loads. Buyers who need Linux, upgradeable memory or USB4 should look at the limits before choosing it.

Typically about £999 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

CriterionWeightLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)
Performance25%6/105/10
Memory and storage20%7/105/10
Display15%5/107/10
Battery life15%7/109/10
Keyboard and build10%6/106/10
Ports10%5/106/10
Linux support5%2/102/10
Overall5.9/105.9/10

Specifications

SpecLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (15", 10)Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)
CPUQualcomm Snapdragon X X1-26-100, 8 cores, up to 3.0 GHz, 30MB cache, Hexagon NPU up to 45 TOPSQualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100, 6 cores, max turbo up to 4.0GHz, 23W TDP
Memory16 GB or 24 GB LPDDR5x, 8448 MHz, soldered to the system board16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5X, soldered, not upgradable
Storage256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB PCIe M.2 2242 Gen4 SSD, plus a second 2242 slot supporting 512 GB or 1 TB512 GB or 1 TB M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 QLC SSD
Display15.1-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 touch13-inch: 13.3-inch WUXGA 1920x1200 LCD, 400 nits, 60Hz, touch. 15-inch: 15.3-inch 2.5K OLED 500 nits 165Hz, or WUXGA LCD 400 nits 120Hz
Battery50 Wh or 60 Wh; Rapid Charge gives 2 hours in 15 minutes13-inch 54.7Wh; 15-inch 70Wh or 54.7Wh; rated up to 21.4 hours video playback (MobileMark 2030 basis)
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 jackRight: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A (always-on), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, microSD, power button. Left: 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB-C (DP 1.4 and PD 3.0, 10Gb/s), audio jack. No Ethernet or USB4 listed
Weight1.5 kg (3.31 lb) starting, OLED with 60 Wh battery13-inch from about 1.19 kg; 15-inch OLED about 1.41 kg; 15-inch LCD about 1.49 kg
Operating systemWindows 11 Home or ProWindows 11 (ARM), Home or Pro

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)

  • + Battery life is excellent, with a 27h50 measured video result
  • + 15-inch OLED option is 2.5K, 500 nits and 165Hz
  • + Light: the 13-inch starts at about 1.19 kg
  • − Memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded
  • − Owners report weak performance under heavy load and graphics
  • − No USB4 or Ethernet listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need Linux on the laptop itself
  • People who compile heavily or need strong graphics performance
  • Anyone who wants upgradeable memory or USB4
Read the full Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch) review ›

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