The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is a more expensive option suitable for intensive gaming and advanced tasks like 3D rendering and engineering, given its higher performance components. Its larger screen and battery provide extended use but make it less portable. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is budget-friendly and lighter, ideal for general use and casual tasks. It also has a touchscreen, which the ASUS lacks. Balancing cost against performance needs is key; if gaming and intensive tasks are a priority, ASUS is better, whereas for everyday computing at a lower cost, the Lenovo is a sensible choice. 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
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has no clear advantages over the ASUS TUF Gaming A16.
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
7.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers better performance for general use due to its superior CPU, more RAM, and higher screen quality, but it is heavier and has a larger form factor which affects portability. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is more portable due to its lighter weight and thinner design, but its performance for general use is limited by a weaker CPU, less RAM, and lower screen quality.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
5.9/10
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 Slim 3 is poor.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is better for gaming and 3D applications because it has a higher screen refresh rate and a more powerful GPU compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, which offers a standard screen refresh rate and an integrated GPU that's less suited for such tasks. Additionally, the TUF Gaming A16 is equipped with a better CPU and higher quality screen, further distinguishing it as the superior choice for gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
6.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 Slim 3 is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is equipped with a more powerful CPU, a dedicated GPU, and a higher capacity of RAM, suited for demanding engineering and design applications, along with a quality screen that is important for such tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while lighter and potentially more portable, has a less powerful integrated graphics solution and less RAM, making it less suitable for intensive engineering and design work.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, a laptop with a bright and sharp display makes the viewing experience more comfortable, which explains why the ASUS offers good quality with its higher resolution and better panel. In engineering and design however, color accuracy is crucial for precise work, and the ASUS again stands out with its wider color gamut support. Gaming and 3D tasks benefit from fluid visuals, so the poor gaming quality of both laptops stems from their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smoothness avid gamers usually seek.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 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
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$838
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $838 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $400.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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
7.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 Slim 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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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."
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 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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