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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" depends on your needs. If you need higher performance for tasks like photo editing or multitasking, the Gateway, with its larger screen, more memory, and better processor may be worth the higher price. However, it's heavier, which impacts portability. The Lenovo, on the other hand, offers the basics for everyday use like web browsing and document editing, at a lower cost and with easier portability due to its lighter weight and smaller form. It also runs quietly since it's fanless. But, its lower memory and processor mean it's less suitable for intensive tasks. 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"
- Good for general use
- Good for content creation
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.0
6.1
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Gateway 15.6" is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop offers better performance for general use with a more powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a higher quality IPS screen, making it suitable for a variety of tasks, while its heavier weight and larger size might make it less portable than some alternatives. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a lower quality TN screen, which could hinder performance, but its small size and lighter weight improve its portability and may suit users who prioritize ease of carrying over multitasking or intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
6.2
5.5
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Gateway 15.6" is only fair for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.0
6.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Gateway 15.6" is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
6.1
5.3
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
The Gateway 15.6" has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Gateway 15.6" offers a better experience due to its superior resolution and brightness, making the display clearer and easier to view under various lighting conditions, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has lower brightness and resolution, leading to a less vibrant and sharp image. For engineering and design tasks, the Gateway's fair screen encompasses more of the color spectrums professionals need, such as DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which means colors will be more accurately represented compared to the Lenovo, where the color range is limited. The Gateway falls short for gaming and 3D applications because of its subpar refresh rate, creating less smooth visuals in fast-moving scenes, while its higher resolution and panel type are not enough to outweigh this disadvantage, and the Lenovo, having the same limitation but a lower resolution overall, offers an even poorer experience for these activities.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1
6.0
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has only fair 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
$100
$160
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $100 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" costs $160.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
5.5
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Software Development
6.7
6.4
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Gateway 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both only fair 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
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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 Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 15.6" | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$100 | $160 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | 12.9'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.8 lbs | 3.09 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.75" | 12.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 32 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 239 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 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 | 10/10 | |
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 | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | 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 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | August 2021
"The IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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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