The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is generally less expensive, lighter, has better battery life, and comes with a touchscreen. It also has superior portability and higher scores for keyboard and webcam quality. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6" is priced higher but offers double the RAM, which can enhance performance for multitasking and demanding applications. However, it's heavier and lacks a touchscreen. Both provide ample storage and have similar display quality, but if high performance for engineering tasks is a priority, the additional RAM of the Gateway could be more beneficial. If you prioritize cost, battery life, and portability, the Lenovo is the better option. 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 IdeaPad 5 15".
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
Good for software development
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
6.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" has a capable Intel CPU and ample RAM but is held back by its average screen brightness and color coverage, which are significant for engineering and design work that requires accurate color representation and detail. Despite its better screen and portability, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" may be less suited for multitasking in engineering due to having less RAM and a solid but less powerful integrated GPU compared to dedicated options, yet its higher screen brightness can be a plus for design tasks.
Software Development
6.7/10
7.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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
6.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the screen quality of both the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is suitable due to their adequate resolution and brightness, but they might fall short for more color-critical tasks since their panels don't excel in color accuracy. These models will suffice for engineering and design tasks as long as the work isn't highly dependent on precise color representation, given their screens do not cover the wider color gamuts that professionals often require. However, for gaming and 3D work, neither laptop is ideal, as they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth visuals, and the moderate importance of resolution and panel type isn't fully addressed to deliver the best experience in these demanding scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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
$600
$690
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $600 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $690.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Gateway 15.6" is well-suited for general use with a capable Intel i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a good portability score, though it has lower ratings for speaker and build quality, indicative of a potential compromise in multimedia experience and durability. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" offers a very good keyboard and speaker quality for a more premium interaction experience, an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with integrated graphics for smooth operation, but with half the memory, which may affect multitasking performance.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.2/10
3.6/10
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
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 15.6" has Intel's Iris Xe graphics which, while capable for light gaming and 3D work, do not match the performance of dedicated gaming GPUs, and its screen, with a 60Hz refresh rate, is standard but won't provide the smoother visuals that high refresh rate displays offer in fast-paced games.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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 IdeaPad 5 15" 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 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
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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