If you prioritize high-end performance for tasks like gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 would be a worthwhile investment. It typically offers superior graphics and processing power, which are essential for these activities. However, it comes with a higher price tag and might be less portable due to a heavier build or larger size. On the other hand, if you seek a more budget-friendly option for everyday use or less demanding gaming, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 can provide decent performance at a more affordable price. It might also offer better portability and longer battery life but expect lower performance in intensive tasks. Consider your primary uses and whether the cost difference justifies the performance gain with the ASUS. 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
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
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
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and 3D applications due to its high-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 240Hz, which can deliver smoother visuals and better handle graphically intensive tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, while serviceable, has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 2050 GPU and a lower screen refresh rate of 120Hz, which means it can't offer the same level of performance and fluidity in games or 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.2/10
9.5/10
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 Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is excellent for engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and superior screen quality offering more colors and brightness, which enhance detail and precision for tasks. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is considered good, providing a balance of capable processing power and graphics at a lower cost, but with less RAM and a lesser screen quality, which may impact multitasking and the fidelity of visual tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.4/10
9.5/10
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 Zephyrus M16 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
9.0/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 likely provides a high resolution and bright display, making text, images, and videos look sharp and vibrant, which may not be as pronounced on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3. When it comes to engineering and design, the ASUS probably offers wider color gamuts, leading to more accurate color representation which is essential for detailed work, although the Lenovo still delivers good quality, just not at the same level. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, both models may fall short due to lower refresh rates, meaning they won't be as smooth or responsive as models with higher refresh rates more suited for fast-paced visuals.
Battery
4.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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
8.5/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$549
$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 Gaming 3 costs $549.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a strong CPU, more RAM, high-quality screen, and exceptional speaker quality which make it versatile for various tasks but with less battery life and less portability. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 provides adequate performance with decent screen quality, longer battery life, and better portability, making it practical for everyday use and a viable budget-friendly alternative.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.3/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Zephyrus M16 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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