Microsoft’s Surface Pro 9 represents the latest version of what has become the industry standard for detachable 2-in-1 tablets. It’s also one of the best laptops out there, period. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i is a bold new contender against an established machine.
There is one main factor that differentiates them: price. The IdeaPad Duet 5i is significantly cheaper (and configurable) than the Surface Pro 9. Does that give it enough power to stand up?
Specifications and configurations
| Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 | |
| Dimensions | 11.35 inches x 7.49 inches x 0.37 inches | 11.3 inches x 8.2 inches x 0.37 inches |
| Weight | 1.85 pounds | 1.94 pounds |
| Processor | Up to Core i7-1255U | Intel Core i5-1235UIntel Core i7-1255UMicrosoft SQ 3 (5G models) |
| Graphics | All the way to Intel Iris Xe | Intel Iris XeMicrosoft SQ 3 Adreno (5G models) |
| working memory | Up to 16 GB LPDDR4x | 8GB to 32GB LPDDR58GB or 16GB LPDDR4x (5G model) |
| Display | 12.4 inch 16:10 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS | 13-inch 3:2 PixelSense 2880 x 1920 IPS up to 120Hz |
| Storage | Up to 512 GB PCIe SSD | 128GB to 1TB portable PCIe SSD128GB to 512GB portable PCIe SSD (5G models) |
| Contact | That | That |
| port | 2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 11 x 3.5 mm audio jack | 2 x USB-C with Thunderbolt 41 x Surface Connect port 1 x Surface Keyboard port 1 x nano SIM (5G models) 2 x USB-C 3.2 (5G models) |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 Additional 5 GB WWAN |
| Webcam | 5MP front with IR camera for Windows 11 Hello5MP rear | 1080p with infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello10MP on the back |
| Operation system | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Battery | 50 watt-hours | 60 watt-hour |
| Price | $790+ | $1000+ |
| Evaluation | 3.5 out of 5 | 3.5 out of 5 |
Even weeks after its release, there’s still only one configuration of the IdeaPad Duet 5i, the $790 model with a Core i3-1215U, 8GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, and an included keyboard skin. The Active Pen is $30 extra. It’s a cheap machine, but it also has limited storage space, with no expandability.
The Surface Pro 9 starts at $1,000 for a Core i5-1235U, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD. The Signature Type Cover and Surface Slim Pen 2 add $280 to the price. You can spend as much as $2,600 for a Core i7-1255U, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The 5G model powered by the Microsoft SQ 3 ARM CPU ranges from $1,300 to $1,900.
To shape
- 1. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i
- 2. Microsoft Surface Pro 9
The IdeaPad Duet 5i and Surface Pro 9 are similar tablets in many ways. Both have rounded edges, have similar display bezels, and are made of aluminum. The IdeaPad comes in two colors, Storm Gray and Stone Blue, while the Surface Pro 9 comes in Platinum, Slate, Sapphire and Forest (with the 5G version only coming in Slate). Both are 0.37 inches thick, with the IdeaPad slightly lighter. Even with its slightly smaller screen, the IdeaPad Duet 5i is as wide as a Microsoft tablet and about half an inch shallower.
Both tablets have a stand that extends from the middle of the back of the tablet and it works well on both and holds the tablets at different angles. Both are smooth to operate and rigid, with a solidly built case that resists bending and bending. From an overall design perspective, neither tablet has a major advantage.
The IdeaPad Duet 5i comes with a folio keyboard with quick switches and wide key spacing, which allows for comfortable typing. Its touchpad is large enough and sensitive. The Microsoft Type Cover keyboard is also well made, with fast, precise switches and a good touchpad. Its advantage, however, is that it is supported at an angle. This reduces stress on the wrists and allows for a more ergonomic typing experience.
The Surface Pro 9 comes with an additional port, the Surface Connect port, which allows charging without using one of the precious USB-C (with Thunderbolt 4 on the Surface Pro 9 Intel version) ports. Neither have SD card readers, and both have Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1. The ARM-based Surface Pro 9 supports 4G/5G WWAN for an always-connected internet.
The IdeaPad Duet 5i has a 5MP front and rear camera, while the Surface Pro 9 has a 1080p front camera and a 10MB rear camera. Both have infrared cameras for Windows 11 Hello passwordless support.
Performance
Mark Coppock / Digital trends
The Core i3-1215U CPU in the IdeaPad Duet 5i is the only currently available option, and it’s a 15-watt 12th generation Intel processor with six cores (two Performance and four Efficient) and eight threads. On paper, it’s significantly slower than the Surface Pro 9’s 15-watt, 10-core (two Performance and eight Efficient), 12-thread Core i7-1255U.
However, in our benchmarks, the IdeaPad Duet 5i was plenty fast for productivity tasks. It lagged behind the Surface Pro 9, but not as much as we expected, and the biggest difference was in the intense Cinebench R23 benchmark. Interestingly, the IdeaPad was faster in the PCMark 10 Complete test of a mix of productivity, media consumption and creative tasks.
Overall, both tablets are good productivity, but creators should look for something else.
| Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5i (Core i3-1215U) | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (Core i7-1255U) | |
| Geekbench 5 (single / multiple) | Bal: 1,513 / 5,676 Perf: 1,515 / 5,970 | Bal: 1,170 / 6,518 Perf: 1,598 / 8,165 |
| Handbrake (seconds) | Ball: 251 Perf: 181 | Ball: 166 Perf: 127 |
| Cinebench R23 (single / multi) | Bal: 1,488 / 4,087 Perf: 1,582 / 4,842 | Bal: 1,124 / 7,537 Perf: N/A |
| PCMark 10 Complete (the more the better) | 4,578 | 4,045 |
Display
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
The IdeaPad Duet 5i’s 12.4-inch IPS display has a 16:10 aspect ratio and 2560 x 1600 resolution, compared to the Surface Pro 9’s 13.0-inch 3:2 2880 x 1920 IPS display. Microsoft’s tablet uses a 120Hz refresh rate which makes Windows 11 lighter and provides a better writing experience, especially with the Surface Slim 2 Pen’s support for tactile feedback.
However, in terms of quality, the IdeaPad’s screen was much brighter and had wider colors and deeper contrast. The Surface Pro 9 had better color accuracy though. Both are good for productivity and writing, though again the Surface Pro 9 is the better platform for digital writing and sketching.
| Lenovo IdeaPad Due 5i (IPS) | Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (IPS) | |
| Brightness (nits) | 605 | 409 |
| AdobeRGB range | 90% | 80% |
| sRGB range | 100% | 99% |
| Accuracy (DeltaE, lower the better) | 2.99 | 1.24 |
| Contrast ratio | 1,670:1 | 1050:1 |
Portability
Image used with permission of the copyright holder
As mentioned above, the two tablets are similar in size and equally portable. Both are much thicker and heavier with attached keyboards.
The Surface Pro 9 has a larger 60 watt-hour battery, compared to the IdeaPad Duet 5i’s 50 watt-hour battery. Even so, they had similar battery life, lasting around eight hours in our web browsing test. Neither is likely to get you through the day on a single charge, but their bricks are light enough to carry around.
IdeaPad Duet 5i holds its own
There’s no doubt that the Surface Pro 9 is the more advanced laptop, with a 120Hz display, haptic feedback in the Active Pen, and an overall more refined experience. And it can be configured with more RAM and storage, at a significantly higher price.
But the IdeaPad Duet 5i is a more affordable machine and holds its own in terms of performance and battery life. The bottom line is this: if the tablet is going to be your only laptop, then the Surface Pro 9 is worth the price. But if you’re adding a tablet to a range of other devices, then the IdeaPad Duet 5i provides a budget option that’s quite attractive.
Editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn