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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its higher price, offers a touch-enabled, higher-resolution display and is more portable, making it well-suited for general use and tasks that benefit from a touch screen. It has better overall performance for general use but less suited for 3D tasks and engineering software. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, at a lower price, provides a dedicated gaming-class GPU, making it more suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering programs, although it does not have a touch screen and is slightly less portable than the Flex 5. Choose the Flex 5 for versatility in everyday tasks and the IdeaPad Gaming 3 for better performance in graphic-intensive tasks. 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
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.3
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and IdeaPad Gaming 3 offer panels with adequate resolution and brightness, providing clarity and comfort for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design, the screens' ability to represent a wide range of colors is crucial, and both laptops have good color gamut coverage, aiding professionals in seeing accurate color representation in their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is essential, their lower refresh rates may not deliver the fluid visual experience that fast-paced gaming or high-frame-rate 3D rendering typically requires.
Battery
11.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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.
Cost
$779
$549
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $549.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.6
7.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for general use because of its capable CPU and ample RAM, combined with a high-resolution screen that increases productivity, while its 2-in-1 design and long battery life enhance portability. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers strong performance with a dedicated graphics card and high refresh rate display for smooth visuals, yet it's generally less portable and has shorter battery life, making it more suited to stationary use or gaming needs where it excels.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.5
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, geared more for versatility with its 2-in-1 convertible design, has an integrated GPU which is generally less powerful for gaming and 3D tasks compared to the discrete Nvidia GPU found in the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3; also, the IdeaPad Gaming 3's screen has a higher refresh rate which is preferable for smoother gameplay, though both have decent screen quality and capable CPUs for fair gaming performance.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is suitable for engineering and design because it offers a high screen resolution which is beneficial for detailed work, and its Intel CPU and integrated GPU are competent for various tasks; however, with less operating noise, it may trade off some performance compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, which boasts a stronger AMD CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, better geared towards graphics-intensive applications but may be less portable and have louder operating noise.
Content Creation
7.6
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
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 Gaming 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.
Software Development
7.5
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.2
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Flex 5 16 | Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$779 | $549 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 5.1 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 14.16" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.99" | 10.49" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1255U | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 52.5 Wh | 60 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 400 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.4/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
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 Gaming 3
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | October 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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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