The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i occupies a middle ground in the company’s lineup, stepping up from the budget-friendly IdeaPad Slim 3i series to an all-aluminum design. While this gives it a touch of elegance—especially in its striking Abyss Blue color—the excitement quickly fades upon powering it on due to one glaring issue: its dim display.

Upon turning on the 16-inch screen, the disappointment hit hard. The display, though touch-enabled and boasting a 1,920x1,200-pixel resolution, is surprisingly lackluster. Users are greeted with dull gray backgrounds and muted colors, even when brightness settings are maxed out. In stark contrast, Lenovo’s Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 offers a far superior display and build quality at a similar price point, while also providing the versatility of a two-in-one design.

Pricing and Performance Insights

The IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 Gen 9 starts at around $580 for its basic model, which features an Intel Core i5-120U CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Our review unit, a step-up version priced at $730, comes equipped with an Intel Core i7-150U and a spacious 1TB SSD.

While the performance numbers were decent—especially in single-core operations—the dual-core architecture of the i7-150U limits its multi-core performance compared to competitors like the HP Spectre x360 16, which prominently features a more robust CPU. Despite falling short in graphics performance with its Intel Iris Xe, the laptop excels in battery life, lasting over 15 hours during our streaming test, a significant advantage in this category.

Design Elements: Elegant Yet Flawed

The laptop’s physical design, available in Cloud Grey or Abyss Blue, is visually appealing, yet the gray keyboard seems mismatched against the blue chassis. While the all-aluminum construction is commendable for a device in this price range, there is noticeable flex in the keyboard and lid, suggesting that build quality could be better.

Weighing just below 4 pounds and measuring at only 0.7 inches thick, it’s a light and portable 16-inch laptop. However, the keyboard's design leaves much to be desired—key travel is shallow, causing inconsistent feedback, and the off-center touchpad can lead to navigation mishaps.

Display and Audio: Where It Falls Short

The display is the major downfall of the IdeaPad Slim 5i, with a max brightness that feels underwhelming and color accuracy that is decidedly budget-class. Our tests revealed it only achieved 300 nits, and while this matches its specs, the real-world performance makes text appear fuzzy and unpleasing, especially during prolonged use.

Audio quality from the dual 2-watt speakers is surprisingly uninspiring for such a large screen, and the webcam quality, while labeled as 1080p, disappoints with grainy and poorly balanced images.

Connectivity: A Bit Behind the Times

In terms of connectivity, the IdeaPad Slim 5i offers a decent selection of ports, including two USB-A and two USB-C outlets. However, the USB-C ports are limited to 5Gbps speeds, significantly slower compared to the latest standards like Thunderbolt 4. Furthermore, the HDMI port is only suitable for 1080p, with no support for higher resolutions, and the Wi-Fi capability stops at Wi-Fi 6 instead of the more advanced offerings in the market.

Conclusion: Should You Buy It?

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 16 Gen 9 is a solid choice for those looking for portability and good battery life, but it comes with compromises, particularly regarding its display and audio performance. If premium visuals and sound are at the top of your shopping list, it might be worth exploring alternatives like the Lenovo Yoga 7 16 Gen 9 or other competitors in the market for a more well-rounded experience. The choice hinges on whether you value the sleek design and extended battery life over the clear shortcomings in display quality.