When considering the Gateway 15.6" versus the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, you have a choice between affordability and premium features. The Gateway is more budget-friendly and will handle everyday tasks adequately, but if you need better performance for engineering applications, the ThinkPad X13 typically offers more powerful hardware. The ThinkPad is also known for its durability and better keyboard, making it a favorite for heavy typing and business use. However, the Gateway might offer a larger screen, which is a plus for media consumption, but it will be less portable and may have a shorter battery life compared to the ThinkPad, which is built for mobility and long-lasting power. Choose the Gateway for casual use and savings, or invest in the ThinkPad for robust performance and a machine suited for professional environments. 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 ThinkPad X13.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
The Gateway 15.6" offers a balance between affordability and essential functions, making it suitable for day-to-day tasks with adequate CPU and RAM, but the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 excels with a superior CPU, more RAM for multitasking, a higher quality screen, and longer battery life, all in a more portable design, justifying its higher price for users needing a more robust machine. While both have decent storage and acceptable keyboard and speaker quality, the ThinkPad X13 typically has better heat management and quieter operation, enhancing its overall user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 ThinkPad X13 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop with a dedicated GPU and higher screen refresh rate provides smooth visuals suitable for gaming and 3D applications, but it's typically heavier and has a shorter battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while offering a more compact and durable design for mobility and longer battery life, may have a less powerful GPU and lower refresh rate, resulting in less optimal performance for intensive graphics tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
8.0/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop may have a suitable CPU and enough RAM for light engineering and design tasks, but it likely falls behind the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, which offers superior processing power, memory, and a high-quality screen, all of which are crucial for more demanding engineering software. While the Gateway is a viable budget-friendly option, the ThinkPad X13 further justifies its higher price with benefits in portability, keyboard comfort, and lower operating noise, making it a better choice for professionals needing to work efficiently on the go.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.2/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
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
8.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very 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
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 ThinkPad X13's superior panel type, higher resolution, and greater brightness offer clearer and more vibrant visuals, making it preferable over the Gateway 15.6". In the context of engineering and design, the ThinkPad X13 stands out with a wider color gamut, accurately reproducing a broader spectrum of colors which is essential for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rates needed for smooth motion, although their resolutions and panel types are adequate for moderate usage.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very 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
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
"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 ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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