On the lookout for a sub-S$1,000 laptop this new year? The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1 14AMN7 should be on your list. For about S$800, the budget laptop can handle basic office tasks, has a decent battery life and a physical privacy shutter for its webcam. Check out the good and the bad of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1 to see if it's a good option for you.
IdeaPad Slim 1: Specifications
| Processor | AMD RYZEN 3 7320U |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| Productivity | Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 |
| Screen | 14.0FHD TN, 16:9, up to 85% AAR, 4-side narrow bezel |
| Memory | 8GB Soldered LPDDR5-5500 |
| Battery | 42Wh battery, up to 10hr battery life, rapid charge |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0×4 NVMe |
| Graphic | Integrated graphics |
| Camera | HD 720p with privacy shutter |
| Audio | 2 x 2W speakers with Dolby Audio |
| Dimensions | 325 x 217 x 17.9mm |
| Ports | 1x USB 2.01x USB 3.2 Gen 11x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (support data transfer only)1x HDMI 1.4b1x Card reader1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)1x Power connector |
| Colors | Cloud grey Sand |
IdeaPad Slim 1: Design
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1 has not undergone many changes in design, retaining its minimalist look over the years. Despite its plastic build, the laptop feels robust and durable.
The top of the device is simple with only a small Lenovo logo on the upper left corner - nothing too jarring or obnoxious.
There are two color options available, Cloud Gray and Sand.
One of the benefits of this laptop is its small size. The body measures 325.3 by 216.5 by 17.9 millimeters. The laptop is also pretty thin and light, measuring 17.9 mm in thickness and 1.38 kg in weight. It's easy to throw the IdeaPad Slim 1 into your bag and carry it with you wherever you go.
Thankfully, the slim physique does not affect the I/O connectivity of the laptop. The IdeaPad Slim 1 comes with one USB 2.0 port, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, one USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, one HDMI 1.4b port, a memory card reader slot, and a 3.5mm combination audio port are located on the left and right sides of the body, respectively.
While the I/O seems complete, it is disappointing that the available USB-C port does not support charging. It's data only.
IdeaPad Slim 1: Screen
In the display department, the IdeaPad Slim 1 features a 14-inch Full HD screen. Its design is pretty sleek, with relatively slim bezels on all sides.
Probably due to budget constraints, the screen uses a TN panel, which translates to less-than-amazing color output. Additionally constrained are screen brightness levels and viewing angles. The screen's maximum brightness is only 220 nits.
Taking price into consideration, this compromise makes sense.
That said, these could be overlooked thanks to the laptop's Full HD resolution. It can make text and image displays look quite sharp. For indoor use, screen brightness is still adequate to support daily productivity like typing documents, reading the web, and even viewing YouTube videos. If you're expecting an entertainment powerhouse, you might want to look elsewhere, though. The two Dolby Audio® speakers aren't exactly the most powerful or amazing.
At the top bezel, you'll find a 720p HD webcam. While that in itself isn't much to scream about, I appreciated that there is a physical privacy shutter, which is a nice and thoughtful touch I did not expect from a budget notebook.
IdeaPad Slim 1: Keyboard
The layout of the keyboard on the Slim 1 is good and easy to get used to. But that's the only good thing we can say about the keyboard. It's small and feels mushy, and perhaps a deal breaker for some, there is no keyboard backlight on the Slim 1.
There is no facial recognition or fingerprint sensor for built-in biometric authentication. Interestingly, there is a keyboard shortcut for a calculator - convenient, I guess?
IdeaPad Slim 1: Performance
The IdeaPad Slim 1 uses an AMD 7020 series processor and is powered by AMD Ryzen 3 7320U, 8GB of RAM, and SSD storage options up to 512GB. However, the RAM is not upgradable.
Despite this, the Ryzen 3 7320U supports LPDDR5 RAM and PCIe 4.0 x 4 NVMe SSD, which is an attractive feature for its price range. The processor uses a 6nm fabrication and Zen 2 architecture, and has support for the integrated GPU Radeon 610M with RDNA 2 architecture.
According to AMD, the Ryzen 3 7320U processor in the IdeaPad Slim 1 is designed for daily laptop use, providing a balance of performance and battery life. In our experience, the device performed well for tasks such as running office applications, browsing, and video conferencing.
It is also fast enough for light photo and video editing, although the TN panel screen may not be the best for this purpose. The integrated Radeon 610M GPU is also capable of playing games that don't require high graphics performance.
IdeaPad Slim 1: Battery life
The laptop comes equipped with a 42Whr Li-Polymer battery that can be recharged from 2 hours in 15 minutes thanks to Rapid Charge Boost technology.
On our test, the laptop is able to drive us virtually the entire day to work with a screen brightness level of 70%. On a video loop test, the laptop powered through for a little over 6 hours, so you can leave your home without the charging brick for a typical work day.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1: Pricing and availability
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 1 is available on Shopee and Lazada at S$845.
Conclusion
The IdeaPad Slim 1 may not have many features, but its overall performance is reliable. Its compact design makes it easy to take on the go. With prices starting at S$845, it is a very attractive option in its price range. It can be a great choice for users who have a limited budget and need a dependable laptop to support their daily productivity needs.
