ARM Copilot+ PCs promise top performance and advanced AI features while providing killer battery life. Lenovo’s latest laptop, the IdeaPad Slim 5x, wants to bring all those benefits to the mainstream market.
In our Lenovo IdeaPad Slim Gen 9 review, we’ll see how good — or bad — this reasonably priced laptop is. We’ll test it with the productivity apps we personally use in our day-to-day work. Can it replace our daily driver? Let’s all find out.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x 14Q8X9 Specs
- Windows 11
- 14-inch WUXGA OLED display, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, ~161ppi
- 60Hz refresh rate
- 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% DCI-P3, TUV Low Blue Light Certified
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus CPU
- 16GB/32GB LPDDR5X RAM, dual-channel
- Integrated Graphics
- 512GB/1TB Gen3 2242 SSD
- 2x 2W stereo speakers, Dolby Audio
- FHD RGB webcam w/ privacy shutter
- WiFi 7
- Bluetooth 5.4
- 2x USB-C (DisplayPort, PowerDelivery)
- 2x USB-A
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Dimensions: 312 x 221 x 16.9mm
- Weight: 1.48kg
- Colors: Cloud Grey, Abyss Blue
- 57Whr 3-cell battery, 65W USB-C charging
Design and Build Quality
As someone who use a bulky gaming laptop every day, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x definitely feels much lighter and more comfortable to carry around. Plus, it fits much more easily into a smaller backpack or even a tote bag.
But with a weight of 1.48kg, it feels heavier than other ultraportable laptops on the market. While I’m also comfortable with how thin it is, it’s definitely not the thinnest on the market. Even the 14-inch MacBook Pro is thinner at 15.5mm.
It’s not the lightest and most portable laptop of its kind, although that should be forgivable considering its reasonable price tag.
The design and build are typical for a Lenovo laptop. It looks clean and straightforward, so much so that it’s almost too boring, especially when compared to other laptops.
There’s only the Lenovo badge on the right side of the lid, proportionate to the same logo on the palm rest. They stand out in this plain all-chassis body in the Cloud Grey version and looks really elegant. An Abyss Blue option is also available.
For the display, there’s a 14-inch OLED screen with 16:10 aspect ratio. The bezels are not the thinnest, but acceptable. A reverse notch on top holds the 1080p webcam and a physical privacy shutter.
The keyboard at the bottom is sandwiched by the stereo speakers, complete with function keys and, of course, the dedicated Copilot key that nobody wants.
We have the power button on the top right, which is too thin to be conveniently pressed. It would’ve been nice if it just doubled as the fingerprint scanner, instead of putting a separate one near the palm rest.
The trackpad is quite big, similar to that of MacBooks. It’s also very smooth, no problems here, although it would’ve been better if it was glass.
It then has a 180-degree hinge, albeit it doesn’t go completely flat like some of the Yogas. The hinge feels sturdy yet smooth, so you can open the lid easily even with one finger.
There are enough vents at the bottom to keep the laptop cool. Plus, the wide rubber feet on top lift up the laptop enough to improve airflow. It sits firm on a table and doesn’t slide.
For the ports, let’s start with the left side. It comes with a USB-C port with 10Gbps data transfers and charging. Next to it is a charging indicator light.
We also have the HDMI 1.4 port that supports up to 4K@30Hz monitors, another USB-C port with 10Gbps data speeds, and a 3.5mm headphone/mic combo port. Both USB-C ports have DisplayPort functionality.
On the right, there are two high-speed USB-A ports and a microSD card reader. We also have two light indicators here.
Bottom line is, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5x is a well-built laptop and has all the ports users usually need, so they don’t need to spend more on a dongle. However, the design is quite forgettable, and it could use some weight reduction.
Keyboard, mouse, webcam, fingerprint scanner
Let’s start with the keyboard, which Lenovo has nailed once again. The keys have decent space between them, are tactile yet smooth, and stay relatively clean from dirty fingers.
The Copilot key is handy (if you use it) and can be remapped to launch search. We then have the large trackpad, with support for three and four-finger gestures. It’s smooth and responsive, no problems here.
The 1080p webcam doesn’t have the best quality, but more than enough for conference calls, meetings, and online classes. It’s paired with two array microphones for clear voice pickups.
As for the fingerprint scanner, it’s a much faster, secure, and convenient way of unlocking the laptop. It’s accurate, too.
Display and Audio
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x comes with a non-touch 14-inch WUXGA OLED screen with a 1920 x 1200 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, 400-nits of peak brightness, 60Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and TUV Rheinland low-blue light certification.
Display is one of this laptop’s best components. It’s vibrant, contrasty, and gets bright enough if you’re working outdoors or inside a coffee shop with unpredictable lighting. It also offers nice colors that you can comfortably edit on, whether it’s for photos or videos.
The two 2W speakers in stereo configuration are upward facing. It has disappointing volume, but usable enough for the asking price.
It’s fine for watching movies on your own, but if you’re outdoors or with friends, and you just want an overall better listening experience, it’s best to have an external audio source over Bluetooth or the headphone jack. Dolby Audio is also supported.
Hardware and Performance
The highlight of the show is the ARM processor. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x is powered by a 32W Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus processor, with 32GB LPDDR5X dual-channel RAM, integrated Adreno 1.7 GPU, and 1TB Gen 4 SSD storage. A 16GB/512GB model is also available.
Made for productivity and professional users, this machine was able to cater to our daily needs. It blazes through multiple Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox tabs simultaneously like it’s nothing. I was able to write articles, create graphics through Canva or Photoshop, play YouTube videos in the background without any hiccups, with exemplary longevity (more on the battery life later).
Video editing through CapCut was also seamless, as well as photo exports on Adobe Lightroom. Both apps run natively on Qualcomm-powered Copilot+ PCs like this one.
It goes without saying that this machine is not made for gamers. It’s meant for those who want a Mac-like productivity with extensive battery life.
Software and User Interface
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x runs on the Windows 11 Home operating system, like almost every other laptop in the market aside from the MacBook.
Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant is here, which can do almost everything: answer questions, generate texts and images, offer suggestions, and more.
Of course, the IdeaPad Slim 5x has the dedicated Copilot button on the keyboard. But if you don’t plan on using the AI assistant, you can remap the key to instead launch search or other Copilot features. Hopefully, it can be remapped to more features and apps soon.
Customizability is as abundant as ever. After all, it’s the reason why you’re going with Windows.
Windows 11 Home is one of the best operating systems Microsoft has ever made. Also, kudos to Lenovo for sparing the IdeaPad Slim 5x from plenty of unwanted bloatware. There’s still some built-in, but not that many to be noticeable.
Battery life and Charging
As said earlier, one of the benefits of owning a Snapdragon X-powered laptop is the impressive battery life, and we’re seeing that on the 57Wh capacity of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x.
While it doesn’t have the best longevity for a Copilot+ PC, you’d still be very impressed with the battery life of this machine, especially if you’re coming from a non-ARM laptop.
I managed to write an article and open multiple tabs on Google Chrome for more than an hour, played a 20+ minute YouTube video, and the battery remained at 100%. Two hours and 50 minutes in, and we got a big Windows update, to which the battery only dropped to 95%.
I then continued working and browsing for a total of about 4 hours before the battery went down to 76%. Afterwards, I watched video podcasts on Spotify till the battery dropped to zero.
After all those mixed tasks, I was able to get 8 hours and 18 minutes out of the laptop. Again, not the most impressive, but still great. You can comfortably leave the charger at home if you want to travel light.
However, carrying the charger shouldn’t be a big deal as it’s insanely small and compact. The 65W USB-C adapter is almost the same size as a typical smartphone charger. The good thing about it is it can be an all-in-one charger for your phone and other devices, too.
In our tests, a quick 15-minute charge already provides 0-27% charge. A full one only takes about 1 hour and 25 minutes. See the full test below:
- 15mins: 0-27%
- 30mins: 49%
- 45mins: 69%
- 1hr: 87%
- 1hr 15mins: 96%
- 1hr 25mins: FULL
Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x is a good starter laptop for those who want to experience the benefits of ARM Windows laptops. It offers capable performance for work-related tasks, whether you’re dealing with Word documents, heavy web browsing, spreadsheets, or minor photo and video editing.
What makes it special is the stellar battery life, perfect for digital nomads and freelancers who always work on the go.
Pair it with the flexible port selection, modern WiFi 7 connectivity, colorful display, and durable build, and you’ve got a reliable daily driver that you can take anywhere.
But if portability and comfort is top priority, there are other options that are much thinner and lighter than this one. The webcam and stereo speakers, while usable, could be better.
Still, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x is a good value-oriented laptop, even better if you can get it at a discounted price.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x pricing and availability in the Philippines
The top-tier model with 32GB/1TB configuration that we reviewed has an SRP of Php71,995. A cheaper 16GB/512GB variant is also available for Php64,995. These two variants should be available at special discounted prices in Lenovo concept stores and retailers, both online and offline.
Pros
- Durable build
- Colorful AMOLED screen
- Good performance for the price
- Abundant port selection
- WiFi 7 support
- Long battery life with compact charger
Cons
- Basic design, kind of bulky for an ultraportable laptop
- Webcam quality could be better
- Underwhelming speakers