The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with its better graphics and faster processor, is well-suited for gaming and heavy-duty tasks such as 3D rendering and intensive engineering work. It costs more, but it also comes with a higher-quality display and longer battery life. However, due to its heaviness and larger power brick, it's less convenient to carry around compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17". The Lenovo is a budget-friendly laptop with enough capability for general use and everyday tasks. Though its performance is lower for gaming or professional work, it's lighter and thus easier to transport. Both have ample screen size, but the ASUS offers a higher refresh rate and more vibrant colors. If gaming or high-performance applications are a priority, the ASUS is a better fit, while the Lenovo is more suited for general use and better portability. 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 TUF Gaming A16
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the ASUS TUF Gaming A16.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 stands out for gaming and 3D applications due to its superior GPU and high screen refresh rate, which enhance game visuals and make animations smoother compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17", which has an integrated GPU with less power and a lower refresh rate screen, making it less optimal for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
6.6/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for engineering and design due to its stronger CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful dedicated GPU, which are critical for demanding tasks and graphics-heavy software. Additionally, the A16 offers a higher refresh rate and better screen quality, essential for precision work, while the IdeaPad has a larger screen but with lower resolution and less vibrant colors.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, both the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for tasks like browsing, video streaming, and document editing. When it comes to engineering and design, the importance of color accuracy means both laptops' screens, presumably offering decent coverage of professional color gamuts, can handle the nuanced color work required. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast motion is common, their lower refresh rates may lead to less smooth visuals compared to laptops with displays designed specifically for high refresh rates, which are preferred in these scenarios.
Battery
12.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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
7.2/10
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is equipped with a stronger CPU and double the RAM, making it more suitable for demanding tasks, and its higher refresh rate screen offers smoother visuals, though it's heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a larger screen, which is better for multitasking and media consumption, and it boasts a longer battery life and superior heat management, providing a quieter and cooler user experience at the cost of lower performance due to its weaker CPU and lesser RAM.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
7.3/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$789
$784
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $789 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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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