The Gateway 15.6" offers a larger screen and may be more cost-effective, but the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a higher resolution display and better overall build quality, keyboard, and speakers. The ThinkBook 13s also has additional features like touchscreen, a backlit keyboard, and is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight. For general use, both perform well, but for tasks involving better screen display, the ThinkBook 13s is superior. It's suitable for premium business tasks, while the Gateway could be seen as less refined but serviceable for everyday needs. 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 ThinkBook 13s.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" laptop offers a larger screen with good quality and is suitable for tasks that benefit from a spacious display and a full-sized keyboard, but it's heavier and less portable, with longevity during mobile use not as strong as some alternatives. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s provides higher screen resolution with touch capability, more powerful processing capabilities, and superior portability due to its lighter weight and smaller size, making it a better choice for on-the-go use with some sacrifice in screen real estate.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
7.5/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" has a less powerful processor and uses an older operating system, which can affect its performance in engineering and design workflows when compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which has a more advanced CPU and comes with a higher resolution screen, enabling more detailed visuals and greater multitasking capabilities.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.8/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.7/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize crisp visuals and color accuracy for everyday tasks and professional design work, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, with its good screen resolution and brightness, and stronger color gamut support, offers a more vibrant and detailed display than the Gateway 15.6". However, both the Gateway and Lenovo have lower refresh rates, which means they aren't ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion and quick screen updates are key. For general computing and engineering, the Lenovo's superior screen attributes make it the better choice, but neither will deliver the high-speed performance sought by gamers and those working extensively with 3D graphics.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Gateway 15.6" Fair gaming performance is primarily due to its dedicated GPU, which meets the minimum requirements for gaming and 3D applications but doesn't excel in handling the highest graphics settings or newer game titles; the screen quality and refresh rate are typical for laptops in its range, which don't support high frame rates. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s also provides fair gaming performance with a capable GPU for basic gaming and 3D needs; however, its smaller screen size and moderate refresh rate limit the potential for high-end gaming, although its CPU and overall screen quality are respectable for its category.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 15.6" and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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 best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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.