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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Precision 5470 is more expensive and offers better performance for intensive tasks such as engineering work, due to its more powerful processor and discrete Nvidia graphics. This makes it suitable for professional applications and 3D work, at the trade-off of being less portable and having a smaller screen than the Lenovo. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is less expensive, has a larger screen, and a more modest AMD integrated graphics; it's aimed at general use and lighter tasks, with better portability due to its lower price and less weight. Both have similar battery life for typical use, but if your work requires a number pad, only the Lenovo comes with one, and it may be preferred for its larger display when considering general and entertainment use. 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 engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Dell Precision 5470.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.1
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
The Dell Precision 5470 is considered better for gaming and 3D because it has a dedicated Nvidia RTX A1000 graphics card, which offers superior graphics performance over the integrated AMD Vega 7 graphics found in the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17". While both laptops have screens with the same refresh rate, the Dell's GPU is more capable of handling intense graphics, making it preferable for demanding applications.
Engineering and Design
7.8
6.6
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
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 17" is only fair.
The Dell Precision 5470, with a more powerful CPU, dedicated GPU, and higher quality screen, excels in engineering and design, providing robust performance and detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a weaker integrated GPU and less RAM, which makes it adequate for basic tasks but may struggle with more demanding engineering software and workloads.
Screen Quality
7.3
6.7
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
500.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Precision 5470 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" have resolutions and panel types that provide clear and sharp images, making them suitable for general use and satisfying the need for detailed work in engineering and design. Their panels cover a range of colors that ensure accurate color representation essential for engineering and design tasks. However, both laptops have lower refresh rates, which is less ideal for the smooth visuals required in gaming and 3D applications that benefit from faster screen updates.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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 17" 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
$784
$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 17" costs $784.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
500.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Dell Precision 5470 excels in general use due to its more powerful CPU and higher amount of RAM, coupled with superior screen quality and portability, albeit with a higher price tag; however, its battery life is on par with the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17", which offers a larger screen for enhanced visibility and is also well suited for general tasks, but has a more modest CPU and less RAM, which may affect multitasking performance and speed. Both laptops offer decent storage, but the Dell's higher portability may appeal to those who need to work on the go, whereas the Lenovo's larger screen and keyboard with a number pad may be more comfortable for prolonged use in a stationary setting.
Content Creation
7.8
7.4
9.1/10
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 Dell Precision 5470 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
7.7
7.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 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.
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How the Dell Precision 5470 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Precision 5470 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,669 | $784 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.2'' x 8.3'' x 0.74'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.26 lbs | 4.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.22" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.27" | 10.79" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 72 Wh | 45 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 500 nits | 307 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 4 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 2 | |
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 17"
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | December 2022
"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 Dell Precision 5470 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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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