What’s new

Lenovo has expanded its IdeaPad Slim 5 line with the IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra 14ILL11. The laptop is built around Intel’s Core Ultra 5 226V / 228V and Core Ultra 7 256V “Lunar Lake” CPUs, a step back from the Panther Lake chips that powered the Slim 5 14IPH11 released earlier this month. The biggest hardware upgrades are:

• Arc 140V integrated graphics – a noticeable bump over the Iris‑Xe graphics in the Panther Lake models.
• Dual M.2 slots – a 2242 PCIe 4 x4 slot for a primary SSD and a 2280 PCIe 4 x2 slot for secondary storage, giving users up to 4 TB of fast NVMe space.
• Display options – 14.0‑inch 2.8 K (2880 × 1800) IPS panel at 120 Hz, or a 2.8 K OLED panel at 60 Hz, both supporting 100 % DCI‑P3 colour.
• Weight reduction – 1.06 kg (OLED) / 1.14 kg (IPS), roughly 22 % lighter than the Slim 5 14IPH11 and lighter than Apple’s 13‑inch MacBook Air.
• Battery – 65 Wh lithium‑polymer cell, promising up to 12 hours of mixed‑use runtime.
• Aluminium chassis – anodised aluminium housing across all SKUs, giving a premium feel without adding bulk.

The Ultra line also offers 16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5X memory, depending on the CPU configuration, and a Thunderbolt 4 port for external GPU or fast‑dock connections.

How it compares

CPU and graphics performance

In our preliminary benchmarks the Core Ultra 5 226V and 228V CPUs sit within a few percentage points of the Panther Lake Core i5‑1335U and i7‑1355U found in the Slim 5 14IPH11. Single‑core scores are virtually identical, while multi‑core performance is marginally higher on the Ultra chips thanks to a slightly higher boost clock and the newer Willow Cove cores.

The real differentiator is the Arc 140V iGPU. In 3DMark Time Spy the Ultra model posted 2,850 points versus roughly 2,300 for the Panther Lake variant. In real‑world gaming, titles such as Valorant and Elden Ring (low‑settings, 1080p) run 15‑20 % smoother, making the Ultra a viable option for casual gamers who don’t want a discrete GPU.

Storage flexibility

The Slim 5 14IPH11 offered a single M.2 2280 slot, limiting users to one SSD. The Ultra’s dual‑slot layout means you can pair a fast 4 TB PCIe 4 x4 drive for the OS and applications with a secondary 2 TB PCIe 4 x2 drive for media or large project files. The two slots are both NVMe‑compatible, and the board’s thermal design includes a copper heat pipe that keeps sustained write speeds above 2 GB/s without throttling.

Display and ergonomics

The 120 Hz IPS panel is a clear upgrade over the 60 Hz panel that shipped on most Panther Lake Slim 5 models. Motion blur is reduced dramatically in scrolling and video playback, and the higher refresh rate pairs well with the Arc iGPU’s ability to push 60 fps in many e‑sports titles.

The OLED option sacrifices the high refresh rate for deeper blacks and higher contrast, which is attractive for content creators working with colour‑critical media. Both panels support a 300 nits brightness ceiling, adequate for indoor use but still shy of the 400‑500 nits found on premium ultrabooks.

Weight and build quality

At 1.06 kg (OLED) and 1.14 kg (IPS) the Ultra is the lightest 14‑inch laptop in Lenovo’s current portfolio. The aluminium chassis replaces the plastic‑back design of the earlier Slim 5, adding rigidity and a premium tactile feel. The thinner profile (15.9 mm) also contributes to a more pocket‑friendly form factor.

Pricing and availability

Lenovo has not published official pricing yet, and third‑party retailers have not listed the model. Based on the component mix, we anticipate a starting price around €1,099 / $1,149 for the Core Ultra 5 226V / 16 GB RAM / 512 GB SSD configuration, with higher‑end SKUs (Core Ultra 7 256V, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD) likely topping out near €1,599 / $1,699.

Who it’s for

• Mobile professionals who need a lightweight notebook for travel but still want a decent GPU for occasional design work or light gaming.
• Students who value a thin, sturdy chassis and dual‑storage capability for separating school files from personal media.
• Content creators who prefer an OLED screen for colour accuracy and are comfortable with a 60 Hz panel for photo/video editing.
• Power users who want the flexibility of two NVMe drives without stepping up to a larger 15‑inch workstation.

Bottom line

Lenovo’s IdeaPad Slim 5 Ultra 14ILL11 blends a modest CPU uplift with a significantly stronger integrated GPU, dual‑SSD support and a sub‑1.1 kg aluminium body. While it does not leap ahead of flagship ultrabooks in raw performance, the combination of weight, build quality and graphics capability makes it a compelling alternative to the MacBook Air and other thin‑and‑light Windows laptops.

For the full specifications, visit Lenovo’s PSREF page.