Updated January 10, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that's lightweight and suitable for basic tasks like browsing and document editing, the Gateway 14.1" laptop would be appropriate. However, if you need higher performance for gaming, 3D modeling, machine learning, or intensive engineering tasks, and you're willing to invest more, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 with its powerful processor, superior graphics card, and larger and faster storage would be better, though it is heavier and slightly less portable. The Lenovo also has a higher-quality keyboard, screen, and build, plus features like a backlit RGB keyboard and additional ports for connectivity. Give Feedback
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
Very good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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
5.6/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
208.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 offers a superior performance for general use with a more powerful AMD Ryzen processor, ample RAM, and higher quality screen, also boasting greater resolution and brightness than the Gateway 14.1", which has a less capable Intel Celeron CPU, minimal RAM, and a lower quality display. Additionally, the Legion includes a robust dedicated graphics card, better speaker and keyboard quality, and a higher portability score despite being heavier, contrasting with the Gateway's limitations such as weaker speakers and keyboard, lower RAM amount for multitasking, and basic integrated graphics.
Gaming and AI
5.4/10
7.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has an Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics, which are less capable of handling gaming and 3D tasks compared to the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 that comes with a more powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
8.0/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Gateway 14.1" has less memory and a lower-end processor and graphics, which make it less suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5, equipped with much more memory, a powerful processor, and a high-performance graphics card, is better capable of handling those intensive applications. Additionally, the Lenovo's higher screen resolution and better color coverage provide a clearer and more accurate visual experience, important for design work, over the Gateway's less impressive display.
Content Creation
5.8/10
7.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
5.8/10
7.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
6.0/10
7.2/10
14.1in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
208.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 14.1" laptop's screen might not offer the vibrancy and clarity needed for demanding applications due to its fair resolution and brightness, which suffice for daily tasks but lack the precision and wide color gamut required for engineering and design. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5, with its good resolution and brightness, provides a clearer and more vibrant display that benefits both general use and professional design work, although it still falls short for gaming and 3D due to a refresh rate that isn't high enough for the smooth visuals gamers and 3D professionals prefer. For activities outside of gaming and 3D rendering, both laptops offer screens that meet basic needs, but the Lenovo stands out with better color reproduction and clarity for tasks that require more visual detail.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Gateway 14.1" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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
Fair
14.1in
SIZE
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gateway 14.1" has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has good 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
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 14.1" has a price of $99 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
"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."
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 14.1" or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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.
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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