Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16", Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB, 512GB SSD

A reliable everyday laptop with a big screen and modern Wi-Fi, but the gaming performance is laughable and the portability is a lie. Buy it for spreadsheets, not for fun.

The 6-core AMD processor sits right around the 70th percentile in our database, which translates to 'gets the job done without drama'. Multitasking with a dozen browser tabs, Slack, and Spotify? No problem. The 16GB of DDR5 RAM is solid, though it's nothing special compared to what's out there. What surprised us most is how capable this thing feels for everyday work despite the middling scores. The 512GB NVMe SSD is about average, and the 60Hz 300-nit display is fine for indoor use but gets washed out near a window. Don't expect to edit 4K video or run anything GPU-heavy, the integrated Radeon graphics are strictly for spreadsheets and streaming.

Stacked against the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, this IdeaPad gets absolutely demolished in every category that matters. The MacBook's screen, performance, and build quality are in a different universe. But that's also a much more expensive machine. The more relevant comparison is something like the ASUS ROG Zephyrus or HP OMEN Transcend, both of which offer dedicated GPUs and better displays for gaming and creative work. If you need any graphical horsepower at all, skip the IdeaPad and look at those. For pure office work and web browsing, the IdeaPad holds its own, but so does basically any laptop from the last three years.

Here's the thing, we don't have a price for this unit, and that makes value hard to judge. But the affordability percentile is dead last at 0th, which tells us this thing is priced like a premium laptop without delivering premium performance. If you're paying anywhere near MacBook or gaming laptop money for this, you're getting fleeced. The specs are mid-range at best, and the screen, ports, and portability all fall short of what we'd expect at a higher price point.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is a perfectly fine laptop that's trying to be everything to everyone and ends up being just okay at most things. The one thing to know? It's a solid everyday workhorse with a big 16-inch touchscreen and modern Wi-Fi 7, but it's not going to blow your socks off anywhere. The AMD 6-core chip and 16GB of DDR5 RAM handle the basics without breaking a sweat, but that integrated Radeon graphics means gaming is basically off the table. We scored it 16.5 out of 100 for gaming, which is about as gentle as a brick to the face.

If you're looking for a gaming laptop, this isn't it. Go get an ASUS ROG Zephyrus or HP OMEN Transcend instead, both have dedicated GPUs that actually work. If you need portability, this 1.85kg 'Slim' laptop is a poor choice, look at something lighter. And if you're a creative professional who needs color accuracy and brightness, the 300-nit 60Hz display will frustrate you daily.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 is a decent laptop for students, office workers, and anyone who lives in a browser. The big touchscreen, Wi-Fi 7, and solid reliability make it a safe choice for everyday tasks. But the weak GPU, mediocre screen, and poor portability mean it's not the laptop for gamers, creators, or frequent travelers. If you can find it at a reasonable price, it's a fine daily driver. If it's priced like a premium machine, walk away.