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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If portability is a priority, both the Gateway 14.1" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" offer similar lightweight and compact designs. However, if you need more power and storage for tasks like photo editing or multitasking, the Lenovo IdeaPad has a more capable processor and four times the storage space. It also boasts more RAM, which means smoother performance in most situations. Although the IdeaPad is typically more expensive, it may provide a better experience for general use and more demanding applications, while the Gateway suits basic tasks and comes at a lower price. Neither laptop is ideal for intensive gaming or engineering software. 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 14.1"
- The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14".
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
5.6
6.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has lower RAM and a less powerful Intel Celeron CPU compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"'s higher RAM and AMD Ryzen CPU, which provides better performance for general use. The Lenovo also has significantly higher screen brightness, which contributes to a better viewing experience, alongside a longer reported battery life and a backlit keyboard, features that enhance usability, especially in various lighting conditions and during travel.
Gaming and AI
5.4
6.0
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU which is less powerful for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"'s AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Vega 7 GPU, leading to inferior performance. Both have similar screen refresh rates and screen quality, but the better GPU in the Lenovo makes it more suited for gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
5.5
6.1
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has a lower-end Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and weaker integrated graphics, which makes it poorly suited for the demands of engineering and design software, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" with its more powerful AMD Ryzen processor, double the RAM, and better Vega graphics can handle such tasks more competently. The Gateway's lower screen quality also impacts the ability to work on detailed visual tasks, which is less of an issue with the Lenovo's higher brightness and overall screen quality.
Content Creation
5.8
7.1
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
5.8
7.1
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" 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
6.0
6.4
14.1in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Gateway and Lenovo IdeaPad offer screens that meet the basic requirements, but they don't stand out in terms of sharpness, color, or brightness which are crucial for a comfortable viewing experience. For engineering and design tasks, these laptops provide workable solutions but lack the extensive color range professionals need for precision work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, both models fall short as they don't have the high refresh rates needed for smooth motion, and their resolutions and panel technologies are not ideal for immersive visual experiences.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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.
Build Quality
5.1
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$99
$490
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $490.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.1in
SIZE
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and Gateway 14.1" both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gateway 14.1" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 14.1" | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$99 | $490 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 13.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.75'' | 12.8'' x 8.5'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.35 lbs | 3.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.1" | 12.76" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.78" | 8.49" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4020 | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 64 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 45 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.1" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 208 nits | 313 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.1/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Gateway 14.1"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | September 2021
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marvin Gollor | February 2023
"The low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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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