If you need a laptop for heavy tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 delivers superior performance, but it's less portable and more expensive. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is more budget-friendly and portable, offering good performance for general use and less intensive gaming; however, it may fall short for demanding applications due to lesser power and a smaller display. Both laptops have dedicated graphics for gaming and creative tasks, but the battery life on the Lenovo is comparable while the ASUS excels in screen quality and processor performance. Choose ASUS for top-tier gaming or professional creative work, and Lenovo for cost-effective, everyday gaming and general use. 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 ASUS ROG Strix G18
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18, with its superior CPU, more RAM, and higher screen quality, provides a smoother and more effective experience for general use, thanks to the high refresh rate display and excellent color coverage, though it is less portable due to its larger size and weight. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, while offering slightly lower levels of performance and screen quality due to its mid-tier processor and lower display resolution, is more portable and more affordable, balancing reasonable capabilities for everyday tasks with better ease of transport.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.5/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 delivers excellent gaming and 3D performance due to its more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, which has a less capable GPU and a lower refresh rate, making it adequate for gaming but not as exceptional. Additionally, the ASUS's superior screen quality, influenced by a higher resolution and pixel density, contributes to its edge over the Lenovo for visually demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 stands out for engineering and design use with its powerful Intel i9 processor, ample 16GB RAM, and superior Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, paired with a high-resolution, high-refresh-rate screen that ensures detailed and smooth visuals, though at the cost of portability due to its larger size and weight. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a balance with a capable AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 2050 GPU, sufficient for engineering tasks, and its smaller screen and lighter weight make it more portable, but the reduced RAM and lower screen quality may limit performance and visual detail.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
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
8.1/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
8.7/10
7.2/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering design because of its high-resolution display, which offers crisp and detailed visuals, along with a panel type that likely provides wide viewing angles and solid brightness levels, ensuring good visibility in various lighting conditions. Its panel also likely covers a broad spectrum of color gamuts essential for engineering and design, offering precise color accuracy and range which is crucial for these tasks. However, its poor rating for gaming and 3D applications suggests that it may have a lower refresh rate, leading to less fluid motion rendering which is key for high-speed gaming experiences and smooth 3D animations.
Portability
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$549
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $549.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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.
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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