Lenovo today announced two IdeaPad laptops, the IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon and the IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro, which offer maximum portability and pro-level power, respectively.
The Slim 7 Carbon joins the new wave of OLED display laptops as a super-portable 14-inch machine, while the 16-inch Slim 7 Pro comes with high-end features for pros and creatives.
Check out our hands on and rundown of the devices’ top features in the video below, and read on for more details about what each one brings to the table.
IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon: Beautiful Portability
The OLED revolution is well underway, with the gorgeous screen technology making its way into more mainstream laptops like Lenovo’s latest. The Carbon’s display is not only OLED, but QHD+ (in this case 2,880-by-1,800 resolution) with a 90Hz refresh rate.
On top of the shiny screen, the Carbon weighs just 2.37 pounds, putting it firmly in ultraportable territory. That’s lighter than some favorites, like the Dell XPS 13 (which also now comes in an OLED variant), but within the same ballpark. You may notice that the Carbon brand name is usually reserved for the ThinkPad X1 Carbon line, one of our favorites, but its penchant for portability is being lent to the IdeaPad family here.
Otherwise, the design is a fairly traditional laptop form factor, but these are nice, modern features for the IdeaPad line. For what it’s worth, Lenovo does claim the Carbon is the lightest 14-inch OLED laptop. That’s a somewhat qualified claim, granted, but it still does point to uncommon portability, and something that helps the build stand out. You can see our initial impressions of the build, cooling system, and keyboard in the video above.
It’s not all about the screen and size, though. The Carbon will be equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor, up to 16GB of memory, up to a 1TB SSD, and optional Nvidia GeForce MX450 graphics. That GPU isn’t full gaming or professional grade, but it is a step above the default AMD Radeon integrated graphics. The CPU, meanwhile, should be efficient for everyday tasks and normal office workloads, but perhaps not quite up to snuff for creative pros.
Other features include a durable design (MIL-STD 810 standard), claimed 14.5 hours of battery life, Dolby Atmos sound with front-facing speakers, and a toggleable Extreme Performance mode. It’s worth noting that the laptop will also release with Windows 11, which arrives Oct. 5.
The IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon launches in October starting at $1,289.
The IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro Is Ready for Work
As a 16-inch laptop, the Slim 7 Pro is less concerned with portability, though as its name denotes, it’s still a thin system. The chassis measures 0.68 inches thick at its thinnest and weighs 4.6 pounds.
That’s definitely not ultraportable tier, but reasonable enough to carry with you when needed. The upside, of course, is the roomy 16-inch touch display. It’s an IPS panel (no OLED here) with a QHD resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio, so creators and business users will find plenty of screen real estate. It can be outfitted with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well.
Inside, the Slim 7 Pro can be equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H processor, 16GB of memory, up to a 1TB SSD, and up to an RTX 3050 GPU. Note that this Ryzen 7 chip is an H-Series, as opposed to the U-Series chip in the Carbon, denoting superior performance. This should be a boon for business and creative professional workloads, even if this isn’t quite a workstation laptop.
The GPU is also a big power boost compared to the Carbon’s MX graphics, capable of both entry-to-midrange gaming and moderately demanding 3D work. The larger chassis allows for a TDP of 80W, as well as a 75WHr battery. We’ll have to confirm the gaming chops and battery life for ourselves when we get a unit in for full review and testing.
For those using their laptops for frequent video calls and for remote work, the laptop includes a mic with smart noise canceling, an IR camera, and Alexa voice control. The speakers in this system also feature Dolby Atmos. It, too, will launch with Windows 11.
The IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro launches in October starting at $1,449. Check back for full reviews of these laptops when units become available.
