 |
| Lenovo only sells the IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra in a Luna Grey finish. |
It feels like just yesterday that Lenovo quietly slipped the IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra 14ILL11 onto its global PSREF database. But the tech world moves fast, and following a polished debut at MWC 2026 in March, this featherweight 14-inch laptop is already up for grabs internationally. And yes, it’s turning heads—not just because it sneaks in under the MacBook Air 13 on the scales, but thanks to a clever mix of Intel’s Lunar Lake silicon, dual SSD slots, and an optional OLED panel that punches way above its class.
If you’ve been hunting for a thin-and-light that doesn’t force you to choose between portability and performance, this one deserves a long, hard look. Let’s break down where it’s available, what you get for your money, and whether the OLED upgrade is worth the battery trade‑off.
Pricing and first markets: Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore
Lenovo isn’t messing around with a slow roll‑out. The IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra is already live on the company’s regional stores in three key markets. In Australia, it starts at AUD 1,799; in Hong Kong, HKD 10,288; and in Singapore, SGD 1,299 (that’s roughly $1,000 USD). For those prices, you’re getting the base configuration with a Core Ultra 5 226V—more on that in a moment.
Curious about the official specs or want to build your own? Here are the direct product pages:
And if you want the full backstory on how this laptop quietly appeared before MWC, check out our earlier coverage: Lenovo quietly unveils IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra.
Under the hood: Core Ultra 5 226V, Arc graphics, and a stunning 120Hz IPS display
Let’s talk about what the base model actually packs. The Core Ultra 5 226V is an 8‑core, 8‑thread Lunar Lake chip (no hyper‑threading, but the new architecture makes up for it in efficiency). It’s paired with an Arc 130V integrated GPU and 16 GB of LPDDR5X‑8533 RAM—that’s speedy memory soldered on, so choose wisely at checkout because you can’t upgrade later.
The default screen is no slouch either: a 1600p IPS panel with 100% sRGB, 400 nits of peak brightness, and a silky 120 Hz refresh rate. Whether you’re editing photos or just scrolling through social media, it’s crisp, colour‑accurate, and smooth. Lenovo claims the 65 Wh battery can push 23.3 hours of local 1080p video playback at 150 nits. That’s “forget your charger for a long weekend” territory.
Connectivity includes Wi‑Fi 6 on the base model, plus a sensible (if minimal) port selection. ⓘ Lenovo
The IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra is slim on ports – you’ll find a couple of USB‑Cs, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. If you need more, pack a dongle.
Upgrade to Core Ultra 7 256V: 13% more money for 25% better graphics
For power users in Australia (and likely other regions soon), Lenovo offers an upgrade to the Core Ultra 7 256V. How much faster is it? Roughly 6% in CPU‑bound benchmarks and a more substantial over 25% in graphics workloads. That extra GPU grunt could be the difference between playable frame rates in light games or smoother video rendering.
But you’ll pay for it: Lenovo charges 13% more for the privilege. Whether that’s worth it depends on your workflow. If you mostly live in browsers, Office apps, and streaming, stick with the Core Ultra 5. If you do light creative work or casual gaming, the Ultra 7 starts to make sense.
OLED option: gorgeous colours, shorter battery life
Here’s where things get interesting. You can also configure the IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra with an OLED display – but note that it’s a different resolution and refresh rate: 1200p (1920×1200) at 60 Hz instead of the IPS panel’s 1600p/120 Hz. That means you trade some sharpness and fluidity for perfect blacks and infinite contrast. It’s a typical OLED trade‑off, and for many, the vibrant colours win.
Be aware: equipping the OLED panel drops Lenovo’s official battery estimate by more than 15%, down to 19.5 hours of video playback. Still excellent by any measure, but a noticeable cut. Also, the top‑tier configuration bumps Wi‑Fi 7 and up to 1 TB of M.2 2242 storage (and yes, dual SSD slots mean you can add a second drive later).
How it compares to the MacBook Air 13
For a direct competitor, look no further than the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5). That fanless wonder currently sells for around $1,045 on Amazon (check current price). The IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra is lighter than the MacBook Air 13 – yes, lighter – while offering a faster 120Hz screen (on the IPS model), a more modern x86 architecture for legacy apps, and dual SSDs. Of course, macOS fans will stay loyal, but Windows users looking for an ultraportable with real upgradeability should take note.
Availability: coming to more markets later this month
If you’re not in Australia, Hong Kong, or Singapore, don’t fret. Lenovo has confirmed it will release the IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra in other markets later this month. No exact dates or regions yet, but given the speed from PSREF listing to international sales, we expect North America and Europe to follow very soon.
For now, you can keep tabs on Lenovo’s official pages above, and we’ll update as soon as new regions go live. This is shaping up to be one of the most compelling Lunar Lake laptops under $1,100 – especially if you value battery life and portability above all else.
Sources: Lenovo Australia, Lenovo Hong Kong & Lenovo Singapore
