The Gateway 15.6" is a less expensive option suitable for general use, but the Lenovo Flex 5 16, while somewhat pricier, offers a better overall experience, including a higher resolution touchscreen, which can be very useful for design or media tasks. The Lenovo also has a more modern processor, which can provide smoother performance for demanding applications and multitasking. It has longer battery life and higher screen brightness, which you'll appreciate if you often work on the go or in brightly lit areas. However, the Gateway is also a competent machine for everyday tasks, offering the same storage and RAM as the Lenovo. If budget is a concern and you don't need the additional features of the Lenovo, the Gateway may suffice. However, if you're looking for enhanced performance and features, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is the stronger choice. 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 15.6"
The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Flex 5 16.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.4/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16's better CPU and screen resolution make it more suitable for engineering and design tasks than the Gateway 15.6", which has a lower-performing CPU and screen quality. Additionally, the Lenovo offers more modern features like a convertible design and higher color coverage, enhancing its utility for design work.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is somewhat better.
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
6.7/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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
6.1/10
7.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop offers a balance of resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks but lacks the wider color gamut needed for precise engineering and design work; its screen is also limited by a lower refresh rate which diminishes the experience for gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo Flex 5 16, on the other hand, provides better overall screen quality with good resolution and brightness and a more robust color range, benefiting users in engineering and design fields, though it still falls short for gaming and 3D due to an insufficient refresh rate. Both laptops are more aligned with general use and professional tasks rather than high-refresh-rate activities like gaming and 3D content creation.
Battery
8.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$380
$740
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 costs $740.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 15.6" and Lenovo Flex 5 16" are both considered fair for gaming and 3D because they come equipped with integrated GPUs that can handle moderate gaming and 3D tasks, but might not provide the best experience for more graphically demanding games. Additionally, both have a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is standard for most tasks but not optimal for high-refresh-rate gaming that could benefit from smoother visuals.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 compare to other laptops
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo Flex 5 16
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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