A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gateway 15.6" is priced in the lower midrange and comes with a more powerful Intel i5 processor, more RAM, and an abundant storage capacity which make it a strong fit for general use and capable in handling some engineering tasks. However, it is heavier and is noted to have a shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, which is less expensive and includes a touchscreen feature, making it more suitable for extended mobility and casual use. The Lenovo also has a slightly better screen for colors and comes with Windows 11, whereas the Gateway runs Windows 10. If you need better performance and can handle less portability and shorter battery life, the Gateway could be the better choice, while the Lenovo offers a lighter form factor and longer battery life for everyday tasks and budget-conscious users. 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 Slim 3.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
- Good for software development
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.1
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
Both the Gateway 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 have screens with resolution and brightness that are adequate for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, which is why they're fair for general use. For engineering and design, where color accuracy is critical, these laptops provide only average performance due to limited color gamut coverage, making them less ideal for professionals who require precise color representation. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates and the resolution may not be as crisp as desired for high-end gaming experiences, hence the poor screen quality rating in this aspect.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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
$600
$390
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $600 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $390.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Gateway 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use.
The Gateway 15.6" offers more RAM and a capable Intel CPU, favorable for multitasking and general productivity, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, despite having a touchscreen and newer operating system, is held back by less RAM and a less powerful AMD CPU, affecting performance for demanding tasks. Additionally, the Gateway's higher portability score reflects better balance between its size and weight, making it more suitable for carrying around, while the Lenovo compensates with a slightly better battery life and screen brightness.
Gaming and AI
6.0
5.9
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
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are considered fair for gaming and 3D because of their integrated graphics; the Gateway has an Intel Iris Xe and the Lenovo has an AMD Vega 6, which can handle moderate gaming but aren't as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs. Both have standard refresh rates and IPS screens which support decent picture quality and viewing angles but lack the high refresh rates and exceptional screen quality sought by serious gamers and professional 3D designers.
Engineering and Design
6.2
6.1
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gateway 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Gateway 15.6" with an Intel i5 processor and 16GB of RAM offers ample power for engineering software, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3's AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 8GB of RAM are suited for moderate tasks but may struggle with intensive workloads; both feature average screen quality with sharpness and colors that are adequate for design but not outstanding.
Content Creation
7.0
7.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 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.
Software Development
6.7
7.1
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 to be 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 15.6" | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $390 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.8 lbs | 3.52 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.75" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen 3 7330U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 47 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | Yes | Yes | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
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 Slim 3
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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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