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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

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

all judged against laptops at a similar price

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 scores 6.6/10 overall, ahead of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch) at 5.9/10.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch) leads on ports and linux support.

The Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 leads on performance, memory and storage and keyboard and build.

They score the same on display and battery life.

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

MacBook Air (13-inch, M5)

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

6.6/10verdict: buy

The MacBook Air 13-inch M5 is for developers and sysadmins who work in macOS and want a light, silent laptop that lasts a full day away from a charger. It suits people doing everyday coding, containers and remote admin who can live with two Thunderbolt ports. It is a poor fit for anyone who needs Linux on the metal or a wide spread of built-in ports.

Typically about £1,250.11 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 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5
Performance25%5/107/10
Memory and storage20%5/106/10
Display15%7/107/10
Battery life15%9/109/10
Keyboard and build10%6/108/10
Ports10%6/104/10
Linux support5%2/101/10
Overall5.9/106.6/10

Specifications

SpecLenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x (13-inch or 15-inch)Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5
CPUQualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100, 6 cores, max turbo up to 4.0GHz, 23W TDPApple M5, 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores, 8-core GPU in the 16GB/512GB configuration
Memory16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5X, soldered, not upgradable16GB unified memory, configurable to 24GB or 32GB
Storage512 GB or 1 TB M.2 2242 PCIe Gen4 QLC SSD512GB SSD, configurable to 1TB, 2TB or 4TB
Display13-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 120Hz13.6-inch diagonal LED-backlit IPS display, 2560 by 1664 native resolution at 224 ppi, 500 nits brightness, wide colour (P3), True Tone
Battery13-inch 54.7Wh; 15-inch 70Wh or 54.7Wh; rated up to 21.4 hours video playback (MobileMark 2030 basis)Built-in 53.8 Wh lithium-polymer battery; Apple claims up to 18 hours video streaming and up to 15 hours wireless web
PortsRight: 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 listedTwo Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Weight13-inch from about 1.19 kg; 15-inch OLED about 1.41 kg; 15-inch LCD about 1.49 kg2.7 pounds (1.23 kg); dimensions 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches
Operating systemWindows 11 (ARM), Home or PromacOS

Strengths and weaknesses

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 ›

Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5

  • + Measured battery runtimes of 15 to 18 hours
  • + Sharp 2560 by 1664 display with 500 nits
  • + Light, fanless body with a well-liked keyboard
  • − Only two Thunderbolt 4 ports, no USB-A or HDMI
  • − No Linux support listed; macOS only
  • − Owners see little gain over the M4 Air

Skip it if:

  • Anyone who needs Linux running directly on the laptop
  • Buyers who want USB-A, HDMI or an SD slot built in
  • Current M4 Air owners looking for a clear upgrade
Read the full Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5 review ›

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