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Updated January 10, 2024·
Let's focus on the key aspects to consider while choosing between the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3. The Acer Nitro 5 17 tends to offer robust performance for gaming and more demanding tasks such as video editing, thanks to its larger size which usually allows for better cooling and potentially more powerful hardware. However, this also makes it less portable than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, which might be more convenient to carry around. The Lenovo would likely be a better fit for everyday use and mobility, but may not match the Acer in raw performance for intensive tasks. Battery life often varies depending on usage, but larger laptops like the Acer Nitro 5 may have room for a bigger battery, while the Lenovo could be more power-efficient due to potentially lower-spec components. Ultimately, if you prioritize high-end gaming or resource-heavy applications and don't mind a larger, heavier laptop, the Acer Nitro 5 is worth considering. Otherwise, for more balanced everyday use and easier portability, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 may be the better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Nitro 5 17
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good overall display quality
- Good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- Good portability
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.5
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 offers superior gaming and 3D performance largely due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 360 Hz, compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3's Nvidia RTX 2050 and 120 Hz refresh rate. Although both have similar screen quality and processors, these differences in GPU and refresh rate make the Acer more suited for intense gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Nitro 5 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 17, with a stronger GPU and more RAM, is better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, ensuring smoother performance and efficient multitasking, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a capable but less powerful GPU and less RAM which might be adequate for some but not for the most intensive tasks. Additionally, the Acer's larger screen provides more space for detailed work, although this makes it less portable compared to the smaller and lighter Lenovo, which may also offer a slightly better keyboard experience.
Screen Quality
8.2
7.2
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, a laptop with a vibrant display, high resolution, and ample brightness enhances the viewing experience, which both the Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offer. When it comes to engineering and design, professionals look for accurate color representation across various spectrums like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, and here, both laptops provide satisfactory performance. However, gaming and 3D applications demand high refresh rates for smooth motion, and in this aspect, both the Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 fall short, leading to a less than ideal experience in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Fair
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good portability, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$830
$530
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a price of $830 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $530.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.8
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both solid choices for general use due to their capable CPUs and ample RAM, which ensure smooth multitasking and everyday performance. However, the Acer has a larger screen and more storage but is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo, which offers better portability and longer battery life, albeit with a smaller screen and less storage.
Content Creation
7.8
7.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.4
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.2
7.2
The Acer Nitro 5 17 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 5 17 | Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$830 | $530 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.9'' x 11'' x 0.98'' | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.95 lbs | 5.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.89" | 14.16" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.02" | 10.49" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57.5 Wh | 60 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | August 2021
"The Acer Nitro 5 17 is a solid mid-range gamer. The Nitro 5 does not belong to the top group of RTX 3070 notebooks: Compared with the RTX 3070 notebooks tested so far, the computer delivers below-average frame rates - this is due to the 100-watt TGP. The GPU performance can be increased a bit with a firmware update. The device scores with a high level of CPU performance. Throttling is not a concern. CPU and GPU can produce their performance constantly. The laptop heats up moderately under load. The noise development is on the usual class level."
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | October 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 5 17 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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