The HP Dragonfly Pro 14 is a more expensive option with higher performance due to its powerful processor and double the RAM, suitable for intensive tasks and engineering applications. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is more affordable and still capable for general use, but with less RAM and a less powerful processor, it may struggle with demanding software and multitasking. The Dragonfly is also less heavy, adding to its portability. If budget is a concern and your needs are basic, the IdeaPad might suffice, but for better performance and multitasking, consider the Dragonfly. 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
Very good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has no clear advantages over the HP Dragonfly Pro 14".
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
405.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14 excels in areas critical for general use, offering more RAM for efficient multitasking, a high-quality screen for clear visuals, and top-notch keyboard feel, contributing to a very good portability score despite its premium build quality. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while also providing ample battery life, falls short with less RAM which could slow down multitasking, a lower screen color score that results in less vibrant display, and a fair keyboard quality, which together might not match the overall user experience offered by the HP model.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
5.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
6.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is better for engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a superior GPU, which are crucial for demanding software applications, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, with lesser RAM and a lower-end integrated GPU, is less capable for such intensive tasks.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.2/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for content creation, though the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
7.8/10
7.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for software development, though the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is somewhat better.
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
7.1/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
405.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Dragonfly Pro offers vibrant colors and sharp resolution ideal for professionals in engineering and design who rely on color accuracy and detail, but its standard refresh rate makes it less suitable for the fast-paced visuals needed in gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and casual design work, but lacks the wide color gamut desired by design professionals. Neither laptop is optimized for gaming or 3D work that demand high refresh rates for smooth and responsive visuals.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a price of $1,400 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $400.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Dragonfly Pro 14" to have very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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