Intel Core 7 150U performance debut: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 16IRU9 laptop review

Hinweis: Wir haben unser Rating-System kürzlich aktualisiert und die Ergebnisse von Version 8 sind nicht mit den Ergebnissen von Version 7 vergleichbar. Weitere Informationen dazu sind hier verfügbar.

Note: We have recently updated our rating system and the results of version 8 are not comparable with the results of version 7. More information is available here .

Our test unit comes with a full metal finish for a very smooth feel and cleaner appearance than the HP Pavilion series. Surfaces and edges are very flat with no additional textures, marks, or embellishments. One can argue that it's a boring look, but we appreciate that Lenovo is keeping it simple for the target home user on a budget who may not be interested in flashy or gaudy designs.

Chassis rigidity is decent but not perfect. The lid and base would flex and creak slightly more than what we experienced on the recent Yoga 7 2-in-1 16 and the hinges in particular could have been stiffer to reduce teetering when adjusting angles. Even so, these aren't major causes for concern and they simply reflect the budget-oriented design of the model.

Port options include everything found on the pricier IdeaPad Pro 5 16 but with some important exceptions. Firstly, the card reader supports MicroSD only instead of full-size SD cards. Secondly, the USB-C ports lack Thunderbolt support and are instead only compatible with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4. And lastly, the HDMI port is version 1.4 whereas it is versions 2.1 on competing models like the HP Pavilion 16. The cut corners to some enthusiast features help to separate the IdeaPad Slim 5 16 from more expensive Lenovo models.

A 2 MP webcam comes standard which is average for the class and price range. A physical shutter is built in but with no IR sensor for no facial recognition Hello support.

The packaging consists of recyclable paper, plastics made of 30 percent ocean-bound waste, and soft foam made of >90 percent recycled content.

There are no extras in the box other than the AC adapter and paperwork. A one-year limited manufacturer warranty applies if purchased in the US.

The typing experience is unsatisfying due to how shallow the keys feel. The Enter and Space keys, for example, are normally louder and clickier than the main QWERTY keys but that is not the case on our Lenovo. Feedback is weaker than the keys on the HP Pavilion Plus 16 for a cheap impression.

An advantage to the softer feedback is the quieter clatter when typing. The model is therefore less distracting to others if in smaller classrooms or conference rooms.

The Core 7 150U can be considered a rebrand of the Core i7-1365U as both share the same number of cores, threads, L1/L2/L3 cache sizes, and underlying Raptor Lake-U architecture. Even their base clock rates are different by just 100 MHz to be essentially the same for all intents and purposes.

CineBench results put our Core 7 150U within 5 percent of the pricier Meteor Lake Core Ultra 7 155U, older Core i7-1365U, and competing Ryzen 7 7730U when it comes to multi-threaded loads. It holds a strong advantage over the AMD alternative in terms of single-threaded loads. While the year-to-year benefits over last year's Core i7-1365U are disappointing, overall performance is actually on par with Core Ultra 7 U-series options and so the cheaper Core 7 150U isn't any slower when it comes to traditional CPU tasks.

Instead, the main difference separating the Core 7 150U from costlier Meteor Lake alternatives is the lack of an integrated NPU despite the fact that the laptop still features a Co-Pilot key. If you intend to use Co-Pilot or other AI-enhanced tasks frequently in the near future, then expect them to run more slowly on our IdeaPad Slim 5 16 configuration.