If affordability is a priority and you're looking for a laptop for general use, consider the Gateway 15.6". The Lenovo Legion 5 15", while more expensive, offers superior performance for gaming, 3D work, and machine learning tasks, with a build that's more durable and specifications that can handle intensive software. However, the Legion is heavier and less portable than the Gateway, which could be a deterrent if you travel frequently or prefer a lighter device. The Lenovo's higher price tag corresponds with its capabilities which might not be necessary if your computing needs are more basic. 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 portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 5 15"
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" outperforms the Gateway 15.6" in gaming and 3D largely because it has a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, which is superior to the Gateway's integrated Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe graphics, and also offers a higher screen refresh rate that contributes to smoother gaming visuals. While both laptops have similar CPU capabilities and screen quality, the GPU and refresh rate are particularly crucial for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
8.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 5 15” outperforms the Gateway 15.6” for engineering and design due to its higher screen resolution and better GPU suited for demanding tasks, paired with a high-quality CPU and ample RAM for multitasking. Conversely, the Gateway has a fair keyboard and speaker quality, but it isn't as capable as the Lenovo, which offers very good keyboard quality along with superior speakers and cooling system, making it more comfortable to use, despite being slightly less portable.
Software Development
6.7/10
7.3/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 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
8.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 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.
For general use, the Gateway's screen offers enough clarity, but the Lenovo Legion 5's higher resolution and brighter display, owing to better panel technology, provides a clearer, more vibrant viewing experience. When it comes to engineering and design work, the Lenovo has an edge with a color-accurate display that covers a wider range of color gamuts, making it more suitable for professionals who require precision. While both laptops fall short for 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, the Lenovo still offers a slightly better experience because of its superior resolution and panel type, but avid gamers and 3D designers might seek out laptops specifically tailored for those tasks with higher refresh rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has 4 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gateway 15.6" has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 5 15" has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo Legion 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
$380
$999
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Lenovo Legion 5 15" costs $999.
The Lenovo Legion 5 15" and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Gateway 15.6" offers a balance suitable for general use with its Intel i5 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a Full HD screen, prioritizing portability with a lighter weight while providing suitable performance for everyday tasks. The Lenovo Legion 5 15" steps up with a more powerful AMD Ryzen processor for demanding applications and a higher resolution screen for sharper visuals, but it is slightly heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable but better for intensive media consumption or gaming.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 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.
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How the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo Legion 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 Legion 5 15 is an affordable gaming laptop with a lot of power. The new AMD processor Ryzen 7 5800H offers plenty of performance and it is also very efficient. The combination with the fast 130W version of the GeForce RTX 3060 ensures high gaming performance. We also like the fast 165 Hz display with the 1080p resolution. The automatic graphics switching causes some problems with stutters, which are very annoying. If you do not need long battery runtimes, you should definitely deactivate the hybrid graphics mode in Lenovo's Vantage app. The Legion 5 15 is never silent."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo Legion 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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