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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Precision 5470 is designed for more intensive tasks with its higher-end processor and dedicated graphics card. It's suitable for 3D work, machine learning, and engineering software, and it offers good portability and build quality but has a higher price. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is budget-friendly, suitable for general use with decent battery life but limited processing power for demanding applications. Its display quality is lower, and it lacks a dedicated graphics card, meaning it's not ideal for intensive graphics work or gaming. Consider the Dell Precision 5470 if performance and specialized tasks are your priorities, or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" if cost and basic functionality are more important. 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 Dell Precision 5470
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the Dell Precision 5470.
Key differences
General Use
7.7
6.2
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The Dell Precision 5470 is better for general use because it is equipped with a high-end CPU, more RAM, and a superior screen with higher resolution and color accuracy, which contributes to a clearer and more vibrant display. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a lower-tier CPU, less RAM, and a lower quality screen, but it compensates somewhat with a quieter operating noise and better heat management.
Gaming and AI
6.7
5.8
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Dell Precision 5470 is better for gaming and 3D tasks because it has a dedicated Nvidia RTX A1000 graphics card, which is significantly more powerful for these tasks than the integrated Intel UHD Xe G4 graphics in the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15". Additionally, the Dell's IPS screen provides better color accuracy and viewing angles compared to the Lenovo's TN panel, enhancing the visual gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
7.8
5.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is poor.
The Dell Precision 5470 is equipped with a powerful Intel i7 processor, ample RAM, and a dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design applications, along with a higher quality screen. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a less powerful Intel i3 processor, less RAM, an integrated GPU, and a lower-quality screen, rendering it less capable for intensive tasks required in engineering and design work.
Content Creation
7.8
6.3
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Precision 5470 is 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
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 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
7.3
5.2
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize display quality for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the Dell Precision's higher resolution and brightness will offer a clearer and more vibrant experience than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. For engineering and design work where precise color representation matters, the Dell Precision's wider color gamut ensures more accurate colors, a feature less pronounced on the IdeaPad. However, for gaming and 3D modeling, the Dell Precision falls short due to a lower refresh rate, which means less fluid motion compared to laptops designed with high refresh rate screens specifically for those purposes.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.2 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.5
The Dell Precision 5470 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
$1,669
$360
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Precision 5470 has a price of $1,669 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $360.
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How the Dell Precision 5470 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Precision 5470 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,669 | $360 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.26 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 14.26" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.27" | 9.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 35 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 500 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 4 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell Precision 5470
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Brian Westover | August 2022
"The Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
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 Dell Precision 5470 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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