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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" depends on your preferences for performance, battery life, and screen features. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is more portable with a higher-resolution and brighter touch display, better for tasks like editing and drawing, and has a stronger general and engineering performance due to its processor and RAM. Conversely, the IdeaPad 3 has a larger screen but is less portable, with a lower resolution and no touch capabilities, making it more suited for media consumption and less demanding tasks. Both have comparable storage, but the Flex 5 offers better battery life and performance overall for a slightly higher price. 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 Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Flex 5 16.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.2
6.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is better suited for engineering and design due to its higher RAM capacity, a more powerful Intel i7 CPU, and superior integrated graphics, which are all crucial for running complex software smoothly. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has lesser RAM, a less capable AMD Ryzen 5 CPU with integrated Vega graphics, and a lower screen resolution and quality, making it less optimal for demanding engineering tasks but it may offer a slightly quieter operating noise and larger screen size.
Screen Quality
7.3
6.7
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and IdeaPad 3 17" offer screens with adequate resolution and brightness, making text and images clear and comfortable to view. In engineering and design, their color range may meet the needs for most tasks but might not satisfy professionals seeking precision for high-quality prints or detailed digital art. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-moving visuals are key, the lower refresh rates on these laptops could result in less fluid motion compared to specialized gaming laptops.
Battery
11.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16's higher RAM and its latest Intel CPU make it suitable for multitasking and general use scenarios, while its 2-in-1 convertible design, higher resolution touchscreen, and strong battery life add to its versatility for various tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.1
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
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 Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its Intel i7 integrated graphics and a screen that has modest refresh rates and quality, is suitable for casual gaming and basic 3D work; however, its GPU may limit performance for intensive gaming or advanced 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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.
Software Development
7.5
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
6.5
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to have good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$740
$784
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $740 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$740 | $784 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 4.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 10.79" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 45 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 307 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | December 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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.
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