Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x Laptop Now Available for $900
The top configuration of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5x, with an OLED display and the Qualcomm Snapdragon X2 Plus processor, now costs $900, which is $250 below its usual price. The discount comes as an ongoing memory shortage pushes laptop prices up.
Lenovo's IdeaPad Slim 5x laptop, which technology publication Wired lists among its favorite recommendations, is now discounted by $250 to $900. Wired says this high-end configuration has never been this cheap. That is unusual, since the computer industry has been dealing with a memory shortage that shows no sign of easing.
What the configuration offers
For $900, buyers get 16 GB of memory, 512 GB of storage, a high-resolution OLED display and Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 Plus chip. The Wired reviewer tested a version with a lower-resolution screen (1920 x 1200 pixels rather than 2560 x 1600) and was impressed by its quality too. That model is currently sold at Lenovo.com for $800, with otherwise identical specifications.
Pricing context
A year ago, finding a well-equipped laptop for $900 was fairly common. Rising memory prices have since forced manufacturers, Apple included, to raise their prices. The Dell XPS 13 also sells for $900, but it is a small device focused on portability. The IdeaPad Slim 5x has a 15.3-inch screen and is 0.61 inches thick, the same as the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Performance and ports
The Snapdragon X2 Plus is Qualcomm's latest PC processor and, in CPU performance, is in the same league as Apple's M5, yet it has rarely appeared in affordable laptops. The reviewer does not recommend the laptop for video editing, 3D animation or serious gaming because graphics performance is limited. For office work and schoolwork, the chip should handle many browser tabs, open applications and background tasks. The laptop has two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, HDMI and a microSD card slot.
The reviewer also praises the touchpad. It lacks haptic feedback, so the click is somewhat loud.
