Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 14" (2021, Intel) review
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 14" (2021, Intel) — from 2021, 1.39 kg, performance 45.
Technical specifications
| Type | Laptop |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Screen | 14" · 1920x1080 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 1135G7 |
| Graphics | GeForce MX450 2GB |
| Max. RAM | 16 GB |
| Weight | 1.39 kg |
| Battery | 56.5 Wh |
Performance scores
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 14 (2021, Intel): the $399 MX450 veteran
The 2021 Intel trim of the 14-inch Slim 5i costs $399 today and still posts a workmanlike sheet: an MX450 with 2GB scoring 44.73 — 64.2 percent above the general-class median of 27.24 — alongside a mobility index of 67 (34 percent above the median, top quarter) and photo design at 83 in the high band. The flagged weakness is memory: 16GB against a class median of 32, the standard trade of the vintage.
Where it holds up
Photo design at 83 is high-band work from a $399 machine, with the Photoshop minimum cleared as receipts, and the MX450 earns recommended-level passes for Overwatch and Grand Theft Auto V plus a measured Far Cry 5 result of 34 frames per second at recommended settings — verified play, five years on. Portability of 71.6 lands high-band, mobility of 67 keeps the carry story honest, and value at 63.5 sits mid-band: fair for what is, effectively, a depreciated creative tool.
Where it falls short
Memory at 16GB is the flagged weakness, half the class median, and the vintage shows in the composites: the performance index of 45.18 sits mid-pack while gaming at 44, modeling at 42 and CAD at 44 all read mid-band — clearance-level capability in every direction, elite in none. Office at 65.25 is high-band but the lowest tier of it. The machine's limits are the era's limits, honestly priced.
Price and depreciation
$399 anchors the batch's floor. No listing history exists for this unit, so the class rate of about 11.13 percent a year is the anchor. Five years in, most of the depreciation is spent; what remains is the slow decay of a tool that still clears its bars.
Alternatives to consider
The AMD twin of the same year (model 1826) at the same $399 posts the identical graphics score and a high-band 81.8 value figure with the same 16GB ceiling. The ThinkPad T15 Gen 2 (model 1854) at $686 offers the same MX450 with 48GB of RAM — triple the memory for $287 more, the workstation-lite route.
Bottom line
Fairly priced for the class. Verified game clearances, high-band photo work and a genuine carry profile at $399 make this a rational veteran buy; the 16GB ceiling is the vintage's signature trade, printed clearly.
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⭐ What stands out
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graphics performance is higher than typical general laptop class (+64.2%) (mainstream tier).
above class average -
memory capacity is lower than typical general laptop class (+50%) (comfort).
below class average -
mobility is higher than typical general laptop class (+34%) (mid).
top 25% of its category
🎮 What it can run
⚙️ Configuration analysis
Top configuration suits everyday productivity, light photo editing, and esports titles.
🤔 How to choose
Universal advice for any use case.
- Reliability vs price: reliability (median 54) ↔ price (median 247.9).
- Weight vs CPU: mobility (median 50) ↔ overall performance (median 43.1).
- Upgradeability vs battery: upgradability (median 50) ↔ battery life (median 2.3).
IdeaPad Slim 5i 14" (2021, Intel): verdict
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