Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 review: emerges as the fastest Intel AeroLake laptop I’ve tested to date. Intel kindly provided this unit for review, and its consistent performance has left a strong impression. This 16-inch notebook, priced between $1,500 and $1,600, delivers a compelling package: a 1TB NVMe SSD, a 16-inch 2800×1800 OLED display, 32GB of rapid LPDDR5 RAM, and a robust integrated GPU. Weighing just 4.3 pounds, it balances portability and power with finesse.
Design and Build: Premium Yet Practical
The laptop’s metal chassis exudes a premium feel, despite a slight flex in the middle that poses no real concern. Its minimalist design—marked only by the Lenovo logo centered on the lid—pairs with rounded edges for a comfortable grip. Connectivity shines with an array of ports: a full-size HDMI, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, two USB-A ports, and a full-size SD card slot. This versatility caters to professionals and creatives alike.
The side-mounted power button is a thoughtful touch. It allows the laptop to be powered on without opening the lid—ideal for docked setups—but occasional accidental presses may put it to sleep when moved. The keyboard, adorned with Lenovo’s signature U-shaped keys, offers a tactile, responsive typing experience, while the expansive glass touchpad glides effortlessly under the fingers.
Display and Audio: Visual Brilliance, Modest Sound
The 120Hz OLED display is a visual marvel, boasting vibrant colors, deep contrast, and ample brightness. It’s not touch-enabled, but its quality is hard to fault for gaming or creative work. Sensitive users might notice PWM flicker below 35% brightness, though it’s imperceptible at 50% and above. The 1080p webcam supports Windows Hello facial recognition, delivering clear video in natural light, while the bottom-firing speakers provide decent, if unremarkable, audio. Tighter hinges could reduce a slight display wobble, but this is a minor quibble.
Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 review: Performance: Power Meets Versatility
Performance is the IdeaPad Pro 5’s crown jewel. Its single-core clock speeds rival those of the Asus ZenBook Duo, which shares the Intel Core Ultra 285H CPU, while multi-core speeds outpace those of last year’s Meteor Lake laptops. Unlike Lunar Lake models, which prioritize battery life, the AeroLake architecture unleashes raw power for demanding tasks.
For creative professionals, Photoshop runs seamlessly, handling complex edits with ease. In Premiere Pro, editing 1080p footage is smooth, though heavy 4K projects with multiple layers and GPU-intensive effects may reveal the integrated GPU’s limits, resulting in occasionally dropped frames. Still, the Intel Arc 140T GPU narrows this gap significantly, making video editing far more enjoyable than on prior generations. Rendering speeds edge out other AeroLake laptops, and compiling Mozilla Firefox takes just over 20 seconds—an impressive feat.
Gaming performance surprises, thanks to the Intel Arc 140T and XESS2 features like super resolution and low-latency mode. In Marvel Rivals, I achieved 50-60 FPS on low settings, while optimized titles like Overwatch exceeded 100 FPS. Frame generation boosts FPS in non-competitive games like RPGs, though it introduces slight latency.
Lenovo’s “Geek Performance” mode, despite its quirky name, unleashes up to 115 watts when plugged in, maximizing output. “Adaptive Performance” caps at 70 watts, which is sufficient for most tasks. Under heavy load, temperatures peak in the high 90s before settling in the low 80s, with the keyboard remaining cool and fan noise staying tolerable.
AI and Efficiency: Capable, Not Certified
Though not a Microsoft Copilot Plus PC, this distinction matters little—most features are web-based anyway. The NPU delivers 13 TOPS, adeptly handling webcam effects like background blur and optimizing battery life. For heavier AI workloads, the integrated GPU steps up admirably.
Internals and Battery: Built for the Future
Inside, dual fans and thick copper heat pipes manage thermals efficiently. The swappable Intel BE200 Wi-Fi card and dual NVMe SSD slots (one populated with a 2242 drive) offer upgrade potential. The 84Wh battery lasts over 12 hours, surpassing Meteor Lake models, though Lunar Lake laptops remain the battery life champions.
Conclusion: A Balanced Powerhouse
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 excels as a high-performance, portable laptop. Its potent CPU, capable GPU, generous port selection, and stunning OLED display make it a top pick for creatives, casual gamers, and everyday users. It may not rival Lunar Lake’s battery efficiency or discrete GPU laptops’ raw power, but its blend of speed, endurance, and polish is tough to beat.