For general use, the HP EliteBook 845 G9, with its better keyboard, more robust build quality, and higher performance scores, is a solid mid-range choice, but it comes at a higher price. It's also branded as a premium business laptop with features like a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for added security, but with only average battery life. Its 16:10 aspect ratio screen is an advantage for productivity tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a budget-friendly option with a larger 15.6-inch touch screen and an aspect ratio of 16:9, which might be preferred for watching videos. It sacrifices some performance, notably in keyboard quality and general build, but offers better heat management and lower noise levels. Neither device is suitable for intensive gaming or high-end creative tasks that require powerful GPUs. 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 EliteBook 845 G9
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has no clear advantages over the HP EliteBook 845 G9.
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
7.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
402.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the HP EliteBook 845 G9 is somewhat better.
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 outshines the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use primarily due to superior processing power and memory, which are very important for overall performance, as well as better screen quality and portability. While both laptops have adequate storage and similar battery life, the EliteBook offers more RAM and a more powerful CPU, enhancing its efficiency and multitasking capabilities, along with a higher build quality that impacts keyboard and speaker experience, whereas the IdeaPad, despite its lower performance, maintains a fair balance for less demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
6.1/10
6.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 stands out with superior screen quality, more RAM, and a stronger CPU and GPU, making it a robust choice for demanding engineering and design tasks; its portability and keyboard are also praised, enhancing its professional use. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while slightly more portable, has lower screen quality, less RAM, and a less powerful CPU and GPU, which limits its capability for more intensive tasks despite its lower price and acceptable portability.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.1/10
6.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for software development, though the HP EliteBook 845 G9 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
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 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 EliteBook 845 G9 stands out for general use with its superior resolution and brightness, making for a crisp and vibrant display, which also benefits engineering and design tasks needing accurate colors, despite its lower refresh rate being less than ideal for high-frame-rate gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 provides adequate display characteristics for general tasks and sufficient color accuracy for engineering and design but falls short for gaming and 3D due to a modest refresh rate. Overall, the distinguishing factor lies in the balance between resolution and color fidelity for professional work against the refresh rate needed for smooth motion in gaming and 3D visuals.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has 12 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.
Build Quality
8.0/10
6.5/10
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 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
$740
$400
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The HP EliteBook 845 G9 has a price of $740 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 costs $400.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP EliteBook 845 G9 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The HP EliteBook 845 G9's AMD Radeon 660M GPU and 60Hz refresh rate allow fair gaming and 3D experiences, but its screen size and resolution are tailored towards productivity rather than immersive gaming. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3’s integrated AMD Vega 6 graphics offer modest gaming capabilities, paired with a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which is adequate for non-intensive games, but it may lag behind in demanding 3D applications due to its less powerful CPU compared to the HP.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.2/10
6.3/10
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 EliteBook 845 G9 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for content creation.
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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP EliteBook 845 G9 to have very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the HP EliteBook 845 G9 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 compare to other laptops
"The high-end version of the HP EliteBook 845 G9 with a Ryzen 9 PRO 6950HS, 32GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD packs a lot of power, but is still quiet and cool enough to operate in noise-sensitive environments. Quiet, cool and drawing on a massive 40 watts from the APU at the same time, however, is not possible. The 14-incher only has a single-fan solution and it only just manages to keep an near unthrottled Ryzen 9 in check."
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 EliteBook 845 G9 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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