The Gateway 15.6" is more affordable and could suffice for general use with its decent processor and integrated graphics, but its gaming and engineering ability is limited; it runs Windows 10 Home and its screen isn't ideal for fast motion or color critical work. On the other hand, the Lenovo LOQ 15, while costlier, offers significantly better performance for 3D, machine learning, and gaming thanks to its powerful AMD processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card; it also has Windows 11 Home, a higher refresh rate display for smoother visuals, and better color reproduction for tasks where color accuracy is important. 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
Advantages of the Lenovo LOQ 15
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.6/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Lenovo LOQ 15 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" has an Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics which are suitable for everyday tasks and light multimedia use with decent battery life, making it quite portable and budget-friendly for general activities. In contrast, the Lenovo LOQ 15 with a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and discrete Nvidia graphics offers better performance for demanding applications and has a higher-quality screen, but it's slightly heavier and has shorter battery life, marking it as ideal for users needing extra power who don't mind trading off some portability and battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, compared to the Gateway 15.6" that uses an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and has a lower refresh rate of 60Hz. While both laptops have similar CPUs and screen quality, the GPU and refresh rate are particularly crucial for smooth and detailed gaming experiences, which explains why the Lenovo is considered better for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.9/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is considered very good for engineering and design use due to its superior AMD Ryzen CPU, Nvidia RTX GPU, and a higher screen refresh rate, which translates to smoother visuals and better performance in demanding tasks compared to the Gateway 15.6", which has a less powerful Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics, and a lower refresh rate screen.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo LOQ 15 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
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 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
7.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Lenovo LOQ 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 Lenovo LOQ 15 offers superior screen resolution and brightness, enhancing viewing comfort and clarity compared to the Gateway 15.6". When it comes to engineering and design, the Lenovo boasts better color accuracy, which is vital for precise work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to insufficient refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo LOQ 15 has 6 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
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Gateway 15.6" has good portability, while the Lenovo LOQ 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo LOQ 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
$1,179
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Lenovo LOQ 15 costs $1,179.
"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."
"Even after a short time with the LOQ 15, you'll find it has a lot going for it, but ultimately it's just "good"—not quite a star. The performance is respectable for the hardware it’s running, but Lenovo had to make some design sacrifices to trim the price. One of the better aspects is the keyboard, making it one of the better low-cost gaming laptops to actually put your hands on."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo LOQ 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
Consumer hours saved
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.