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Updated January 12, 2024·
When choosing between the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15", consider your primary activities. If performance, especially in intensive tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning, is important and you're willing to invest more, the ASUS is likely the superior option. It typically has stronger processing power and graphics capabilities suited for demanding applications. Conversely, if your needs are more geared towards general use like web browsing, office work, and media consumption, and you prefer to save money, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 may suffice. It usually offers adequate performance for everyday tasks, often at a significantly lower price than high-end gaming laptops. Additionally, high-performance laptops like the ASUS typically have shorter battery life and are heavier, affecting portability, while budget-friendly models like the Lenovo might offer longer battery life and be easier to carry around, but with lower performance. Consider these tradeoffs carefully in line with your budget and requirements. 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 Zephyrus M16
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16.
Key differences
General Use
7.9
6.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is better for general use due to its significantly more capable CPU and GPU, much higher resolution and quality IPS screen, and more RAM, which collectively deliver smoother and more responsive performance in a variety of tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is more portable, slightly lighter, and has a longer battery life but falls short with a lower-end CPU, less RAM, and a lower quality TN screen, which makes it less suitable for demanding applications and multitasking.
Gaming and AI
8.5
5.8
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 excels in gaming and 3D applications due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, enhancing fluid visuals and graphics performance. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a modest Intel UHD Xe G4 graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate of 60 Hz, which limits its ability to handle intensive gaming and 3D tasks smoothly.
Engineering and Design
8.8
5.8
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is better for engineering and design because it has a high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and a superior-quality IPS screen which are very important for such tasks, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a lower-tier CPU and integrated graphics, less RAM, and a lower-resolution TN screen that doesn't match the demands of engineering software. Additionally, while the M16 is less portable due to its weight and size, its tradeoffs in keyboard and speakers quality, along with operational noise, are more favorable for intensive work than the IdeaPad 3, which, despite its lighter weight and somewhat quieter operation, falls short on the performance front.
Content Creation
8.2
6.3
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
7.7
6.3
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
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
9.0
5.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a high-resolution display that provides sharp and clear visuals for general use and design work, along with excellent color accuracy that benefits professional engineering and design tasks. However, its lower refresh rate may not deliver the smoothest experience in fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3's lower-grade screen means less vivid and crisp images for any task, and its lack of advanced color gamut and lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for engineering, design, and 3D work.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$360
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $360.
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Key similarities
Battery
4.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 5 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,059 | $360 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.83'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.26" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.69" | 9.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900H | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 35 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 627 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.3/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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.
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