Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x review: A low-cost Copilot Plus computer with appeal and limits

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x is a budget-friendly 15-inch Copilot Plus PC built on… Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 platform. It’s a machine aimed squarely at people who want long battery life, quiet operation and dependable everyday performance in a slim body. To reach a sub-$1,000 price, the IdeaPad Slim 5x features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus chip and the minimum 16GB of RAM needed to meet Microsoft’s definition of Copilot Plus BC.

For a budget laptop, the IdeaPad Slim 5x does a pretty good job. It’s a practical offering for a typical day in the office, including browsing, email, streaming, and light productivity, and its arm-based design helps keep it efficient and cool. What keeps it from being an easy recommendation for everyone is the same thing that holds most Windows-on-Arm laptops back: software compatibility remains a real consideration, at least in some specific use cases. Gaming performance is average at best with the integrated Qualcomm Adreno GPU.

The 15.3-inch display makes the IdeaPad Slim 5x a compact device, falling between the more popular 14- and 16-inch laptops. the Acer Aspire 16 AI Offers a more spacious 16-inch panel at a lower price and is only slightly heavier, and HP Omnibook 5 14 It’s more compact and portable thanks to its 14-inch screen but offers longer battery life. This trio of budget laptops feature Snapdragon

Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation

Price as reviewed	$850
Display size/resolution	15.3-inch IPS LCD 1920 x 1200 120Hz Touch Screen
CPU	Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100
memory	16GB LPDDR5X-9523
Graphics	Qualcomm Adreno X2-45
storage	512 GB SSD
Ports	2 x USB-C (10Gbps), 2 x USB-A (10Gbps), HDMI 2.1, microSD card slot, combo audio
networks	Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
Operating system	Windows 11 Home ARM64
weight	3.1 lbs (1.4 kg)

The IdeaPad Slim 5x sits roughly in the middle of Lenovo’s broader IdeaPad lineup, which includes options with AMD and Intel processors, as well as the 3x and 7x Snapdragon X-based series, which range in size from 14 to 16 inches. Some 7x SKUs include the more advanced Snapdragon X2 Elite instead of the X2 Plus, which this model is built around.

The IdeaPad Slim 5x starts at $850 at Lenovo. We tested this entry-level model, but Lenovo offers a number of upgrades. You can double the RAM to 32GB for $290 (thanks, Ramageddon) and increase the storage from 512GB to 1TB for $150 as well.

There are two other upgrades that are more achievable, and we recommend both. It costs just $30 to replace the basic 1920 x 1.20 pixel, 120Hz IPS display with a 2.5K (2560 x 1600), 165Hz OLED panel. There’s no need to think about the added pixels alone, not to mention better contrast and faster refresh rate, unless you need a touchscreen. IPS provides touch support. OLED doesn’t do that. You can also outfit the laptop with a larger battery, going from a 54.7 watt-hour unit to a 70 watt-hour unit for just $10. The IdeaPad Slim 5x we tested offers great battery life, but more is always better.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x price starts from £1,310 in the UK and AU$1,699 in Australia.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x performance

The processor at the heart of the IdeaPad Slim 5x, the Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100, is clearly tuned for efficiency first. However, it’s able to feel fast in the ways that matter most for a mainstream productivity laptop. Apps open instantly, multitasking runs smoothly thanks to 16GB of memory, and the device feels comfortable handling a standard mix of browser tabs, Office work, and streaming. It performed very well against similar devices in our benchmarks, and should please anyone looking for a reliable desktop laptop.

Its limits appear when it exceeds this. The Adreno X2-45’s integrated graphics are adequate for light creative work, but this is not the laptop for serious gaming or any sustained graphics-intensive workloads.

Qualcomm leads the way when it comes to laptop battery life, and the IdeaPad Slim 5x continues its success. The IdeaPad Slim 5x lasted 20.5 hours on our online streaming battery drain test, which was half an hour shorter than the Acer Aspire 16 AI and nearly eight hours shorter than the HP OmniBook 5 14, but significantly longer than similarly priced laptops like Intel-based laptops. Lenovo ideapad 5i 16 And based on AMD Dell 14 plus 2 in 1.

Another important note here: Although Windows-on-Arm has made great strides in terms of software compatibility, there are still issues. I couldn’t get my VPN client to work on the IdeaPad Slim 5x, for example, which has been an issue on other Arm devices, likely due to driver issues. I also couldn’t run Valorant, because the kernel-level anti-cheat system, Riot Vanguard, is not compatible with the Arm architecture. You can check the apps you are using to see if they have native Arm versions using this Window compatibility tool on arm.

Practical design, not excellent

The IdeaPad Slim 5x keeps the design language simple and functional for the price. It’s durable enough for everyday use, although there’s nothing particularly special about it. While it’s fairly lightweight for its size at just over 3 pounds, it’s not as lightweight or ultra-thin as some other portable devices. It’s in the middle of the 14-inch HP OmniBook 3 14 (2.85 lbs) and the 16-inch Acer Aspire 16 AI (3.45 lbs) in terms of size and weight.

The keyboard’s 15-inch chassis provides enough room to avoid feeling cramped, and it responds to the low profile surface with a sleek style. The touchpad is generously proportioned and precise, though it’s not luxurious in the way that glass alternatives seem.

For an IPS panel, the display is one of the strongest parts of this configuration. It delivers a bright, color-accurate image and is what I call a ‘versatile’ palette that reflects the price. I liked having touch support at this price and the anti-glare finish that keeps glare and reflections away. Lab testing with a Spyder Color performance was also strong, with full sRGB coverage and measured results of 77% AdobeRGB and 78% P3. It’s suitable for everyday photo work and media consumption, though it won’t compete with a Creator-class panel.

Sound quality is an issue. The two 2-watt speakers sounded distractingly small at times, especially when the treble was peaking, and the volume was disappointing. The FHD webcam also didn’t impress me. It looked a bit grainy when viewing video full screen, and didn’t hold up to fast motion well.

Port allocation is relatively extensive with two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, plus a microSD card slot, but the USB-C ports are disappointingly slow. It’s from the USB 3.2 Gen 2 variety, which only offers 10Gbps speed compared to the 40Gbps you get from Thunderbolt 4.

Should I buy?Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5X?

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x offers solid value for students or office workers looking for a reliable portable daily driver. It’s completely unobtrusive, in both a positive and negative sense, but it’s well-suited for those looking for a productivity machine and want to spend significantly less than $1,000.

The problem with the IdeaPad Slim 5x, insofar as there is one, is that it’s an overall mediocre package. While the lows are not cripplingly low, the highs are not particularly high. It has a powerful battery, but it is not the best in its class. The highlight is the bright, responsive touchscreen, and even brighter is the option to upgrade to a high-resolution OLED panel (albeit without touch support) for just $30 more.

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Our review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in CNET’s labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating the device’s aesthetics, ergonomics, and features. The final review judgment is a combination of objective and subjective judgments.

The list of benchmark software we use changes over time as the hardware we test evolves. The most important basic tests we currently run on each compatible PC include: Primate Labs Geekbench 6, Cinema 2024, PC Mark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra.

A more detailed description of each standard and how to use it can be found on our website How we test computers page.

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CPU Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)

Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation 12268HP Omnibook 5 14 11379Dell 14 plus 2 in 1 10554Acer Aspire 16 AI 10521Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation 10388MacBook Neo 8958

CPU Geekbench 6 (single core)

MacBook Neo 3541Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation 3302Dell 14 plus 2 in 1 2792Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation 2645HP Omnibook 5 14 2395Acer Aspire 16 AI 2139

Cinebench 2024 CPU (Multi-Core)

Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation 702Acer Aspire 16 AI 677HP Omnibook 5 14 675Dell 14 plus 2 in 1 537Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation 530MacBook Neo 333

Cinebench 2024 CPU (single core)

MacBook Neo 143Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation 133Dell 14 plus 2 in 1 111HP Omnibook 5 14 110Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation 109Acer Aspire 16 AI 96

3DMark Steel Nomad

Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation 413Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation 380MacBook Neo 367HP Omnibook 5 14 228Acer Aspire 16 AI 227Dell 14 plus 2 in 1 220

Online battery drain test

HP Omnibook 5 14 28 hours and 19 minutesAcer Aspire 16 AI 21 hours and 9 minutesLenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation 20 hours and 37 minutesDell 14 plus 2 in 1 14 hours and 55 minutesMacBook Neo 13 hours and 26 minutesLenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation 12 hours, 30 minutes

System configurations

Lenovo ideapad slim 5x 11th generation	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus X2P-42-100; 16GB DDR5 RAM; Qualcomm Adreno graphics. 512 GB SSD
HP Omnibook 5 14	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; Qualcomm Snapdragon 32GB DDR5 RAM; Qualcomm Adreno graphics. 1 TB SSD
Acer Aspire 16 AI	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; Qualcomm Snapdragon 16GB DDR5 RAM; Qualcomm Adreno X1-45; 512 GB SSD
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 16 2 in 1 10th Generation	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; Intel Core Ultra 7 255U; 16GB DDR5 RAM; Intel graphics; 1 TB SSD
Dell 14 plus 2 in 1	Microsoft Windows 11 Home; AMD Ryzen A5 340; 16GB DDR5 RAM; AMD Radeon 840M graphics; 512 GB SSD
MacBook Neo	Apple Mac OS Tahoe 26.3.1; Apple A18 Pro (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU); 8GB LPDDR5; 256 GB SSD