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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gateway 15.6" is generally a less expensive option and has an all-around performance suitable for general use. However, the Lenovo Slim 7 16" offers a significantly better display with higher resolution, brightness, and a touchscreen, which is great for engineering and creative work. The Lenovo also has a more powerful processor and graphics card, making it better for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. It is lighter, despite having a larger screen, and offers better portability with a higher battery life. If you require higher performance and a better screen for professional or creative tasks, and don't mind spending more, the Lenovo Slim 7 16" would be the better choice. Otherwise, for everyday tasks and if budget is a concern, the Gateway might suffice. 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 Slim 7 16.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim 7 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" with an Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics is sufficient for everyday tasks, and it has a decent battery life, making it a good choice for general usage. In contrast, the Lenovo Slim 7 16, which sports a powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and discrete Nvidia RTX graphics, not only handles general tasks with ease but also offers higher screen resolution and quality, superior battery life, and better portability due to its lighter build, though it may come at a higher price point.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" has a capable GPU and decent screen refresh rate that provides an adequate experience for gaming and 3D applications; however, the Lenovo Slim 7 16 offers a similar GPU performance with a slightly better screen quality, but with a less emphasis on gaming-focused screen refresh rates, positioning it also as fair for such tasks. Both laptops may not match dedicated gaming laptops but can handle moderate gaming and 3D work, balancing performance with their respective CPU strengths, while not prioritizing the highest screen refresh rates sought by hardcore gamers.
Engineering and Design
6.2
7.5
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop's Intel i5-1135G7 processor and integrated graphics are less powerful for engineering and design tasks compared to the Lenovo Slim 7 16's AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, which better support intensive tasks and provide higher quality graphics and processing power. Furthermore, the Lenovo offers superior screen quality with a higher resolution and brightness, enhancing visual work, whereas the Gateway's lower screen quality might affect the finer details of design work.
Content Creation
7.0
7.6
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
7.6
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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, the Gateway's screen may be adequate for daily tasks and less demanding engineering work with decent resolution and acceptable brightness, but the lack of higher color gamut coverage can reduce its effectiveness for professional design tasks. The Lenovo Slim 7, with a higher-quality display, provides excellent sharpness and color fidelity, boosting its performance for general use and demanding color work in engineering and design. However, neither laptop is optimized for 3D tasks or gaming, as the slower refresh rates may lead to less fluid motion and a less responsive experience in these scenarios.
Battery
8.0 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has 9.5 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
7.8
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
$591
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Lenovo Slim 7 16 costs $591.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo Slim 7 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 15.6" | Lenovo Slim 7 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$380 | $591 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.69'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.8 lbs | 4.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.75" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 9.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 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 | 9.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
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 Slim 7 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | March 2022
"At $1,011, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro is a real bargain among full-sized laptops, with a handsome 16-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio touch screen, a speedy CPU, a comfortable keyboard, ample memory, and a roomy solid-state drive. It's not a blazing gaming rig or mobile workstation, but it doesn't pretend to be. Its biggest negative is that it may be hard to find—during our review, it sold out and was marked "Temporarily Unavailable" on Lenovo's site."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo Slim 7 16
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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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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About the laptop team
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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