When choosing between the HP Spectre x360 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, consider that the Spectre usually offers better performance, build quality, and a premium feel with a higher price tag, making it suitable for demanding tasks and a luxurious experience. The IdeaPad 3 is more budget-friendly and handles everyday tasks well, but it may not cope as well with intensive applications. The Spectre's higher cost comes with features like touch screen and 2-in-1 convertibility, whereas the IdeaPad keeps it simple and cost-effective, making it a practical choice for basic usage without the frills. 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 Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.7/10
6.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a fast CPU, ample RAM, a high-quality screen, and a long battery life, making it very good for general use due to its balance of performance and convenience, and its lightweight and compact design enhance its portability. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" provides less powerful components and a lower quality screen, which makes it only fair for general use; however, it still covers basic tasks well and benefits from decent storage, keyboard, and speakers without significant noise or heat issues.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.0/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the HP Spectre x360 14 is somewhat better.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a balance between performance and portability but may not have the highest end GPU and screen refresh rate desired for top-notch gaming and demanding 3D applications; whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" provides a more budget-friendly option with moderate CPU and screen quality but also falls short in providing the immersive gaming experience that comes with higher screen refresh rates and advanced GPUs.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
6.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with a more powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU, excels in demanding engineering tasks and design work, also offering a superior screen for detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has modest specs that handle basic engineering applications but may struggle with more intensive software, and its screen might not be as sharp for design precision.
Content Creation
8.7/10
7.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
8.4/10
7.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is good.
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
8.6/10
6.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The HP Spectre x360 14 offers a high-resolution display with bright, vivid colors making it excellent for everyday tasks and professional design work, but it has a standard refresh rate, which is less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion is key. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3’s screen has adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks and casual engineering use, but it doesn’t offer the wider color gamut required for precision in design. Furthermore, like the HP, its standard refresh rate screen means gaming and 3D content won’t be as fluid or immersive as on displays designed for these purposes.
Build Quality
8.5/10
6.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,630
$490
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a price of $1,630 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" costs $490.
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
"The low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the HP Spectre x360 14 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
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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