If you need high performance for tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 with its more powerful processor and higher-grade graphics would be a strong choice, although it comes at a higher price and has a shorter battery life. On the contrary, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers decent performance for less demanding games and general use, and also provides longer battery life for extended use on-the-go, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 could be more suitable. The Lenovo also has a slightly better portability owing to its weight and design. Keep in mind, the ASUS has a very high refresh rate display which benefits fast-paced gaming, while the Lenovo has a solid build but not as advanced in screen refresh rate or overall power. 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 Scar 15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
6.5/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is equipped with a higher-end graphics card, the Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti, and boasts a screen refresh rate of 300Hz, which are crucial for a smooth, visually stunning gaming and 3D experience. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 2050 graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate of 120Hz, which may result in less fluid graphics in games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
7.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is considered very good for engineering and design due to its superior CPU, higher RAM, and a more powerful GPU, which are all critical for demanding tasks, along with a high refresh rate screen that benefits design work. On the other hand, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is also suitable for engineering and design with a capable AMD CPU and a decent GPU, it offers less RAM and a lower-tier GPU than the ASUS, which may affect performance in intensive applications despite having a slightly better screen brightness and contrast ratio.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
9.2/10
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 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have panels with resolution and brightness that provide clear and vivid displays suitable for tasks like web browsing, watching videos, and office work, making them good choices for general use. For engineering and design where color accuracy is crucial, both laptops might offer similar levels of color gamut coverage, ensuring that professionals who work with visual media can expect true-to-life colors. However, the screen quality for Gaming and 3D on these laptops may not be optimal because they lack high refresh rates, which are critical for smooth motion and a more immersive experience in fast-paced games and 3D applications.
Battery
5.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$549
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $549.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.3/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 to have good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 compare to other laptops
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
"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 Scar 15 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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