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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use with a focus on affordability, the Gateway 11.6" laptop provides basic functionality and is light for easy portability. If you require higher performance for engineering tasks, intensive 3D rendering, or gaming, and you are willing to invest more, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is considerably better equipped, with a more powerful processor, superior graphics capabilities, and a larger, higher-resolution display. However, its larger size and weight mean it's less portable than the Gateway. It's also important to consider battery life: the IdeaPad Pro 5i offers fewer hours of typical usage compared to the Gateway. 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 Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6
7.7
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" offers limited capabilities with a basic Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and a screen resolution less suited for multitasking or high-definition content, which makes it less ideal for general use, despite its excellent portability and extended battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is equipped with a high-performance Intel i7 processor, ample 16GB of RAM, and a superior screen with higher resolution for clearer visuals, which collectively enhance the experience for general use, even though it’s heavier and offers a slightly reduced battery life.
Gaming and AI
5.4
7.4
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.7/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" uses an entry-level Intel UHD Graphics 600, which along with its basic Intel Celeron processor and standard 60Hz screen refresh rate limit its gaming and 3D capabilities. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i includes a far more powerful Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU, a high-end Intel i7 processor, and a higher 120Hz screen refresh rate, providing a much better experience for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.4
8.1
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" laptop is not suitable for engineering and design due to its lower performance Intel Celeron processor, minimal RAM, and basic Intel UHD Graphics, which limit complex task handling and rendering capabilities compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, which excels with its higher performance Intel i7 processor, substantial RAM, and advanced Nvidia RTX GPU, essential for demanding engineering software and design workflows. Additionally, the Lenovo offers a larger, higher-resolution display which is critical for detailed design work, while the Gateway's smaller, lower-resolution screen is less optimal for such tasks.
Content Creation
5.7
7.7
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
7.7
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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
5.7
7.8
11.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 11.6" likely falls short across the board due to a low resolution and dim display, which hampers visibility and clarity, making it suboptimal for any use where screen quality is a priority, including general use. The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i, with a higher resolution and brighter screen, offers a more pleasant viewing experience for general and professional tasks; however, it may not have the wide color gamut needed for precision in engineering and design tasks. Furthermore, despite its better general display qualities, the IdeaPad Pro 5i may have a lower refresh rate, making it less suitable for 3D applications and gaming where fluid motion and quick screen updates are crucial.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has 6 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
Excellent
Good
11.6in
SIZE
16.0in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$89
$950
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i costs $950.
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How the Gateway 11.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 11.6" | Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$89 | $950 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.6 lbs | 4.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 7.5" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4020 | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 64 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 11.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 409 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
Tom's Hardware
Brandon Hill | January 2024
"Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5i represents an impressive opening salvo for Meteor Lake in the ultraportable space against familiar foes from AMD and Apple. Not only does the Core Ultra 5 125H processor provide good performance across the board, but battery life remains a strong point against the Acer Swift Edge 16 with its AMD Ryzen 7 7840U processor. It can’t quite match the endurance of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but the gap is shrinking."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 11.6" or the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5i
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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