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Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" provides ample storage and more memory, which may result in smoother multitasking, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen, which can enhance your viewing experience, especially for media consumption. The IdeaPad 1 has a slightly better battery life for longer use away from a power source. Moreover, both models have similar build quality and portability, although the IdeaPad 3 is slightly larger and heavier due to its bigger screen, making it slightly less convenient to carry around. Neither is particularly suited for intensive gaming, but within their own capabilities, you can expect similar performance from their built-in graphics for casual gaming or light graphical tasks. If portability and multitasking are priorities, consider the IdeaPad 1 15", but if a larger screen and slightly better color coverage is more important for your use, the IdeaPad 3 17" might be the better option. 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 IdeaPad 1 15"
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15".
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.4
6.7
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen and better resolution, resulting in sharper images and more workspace compared to the IdeaPad 1 15", which has a smaller display and lower resolution. When it comes to engineering and design, the IdeaPad 3's larger gamut coverage ensures more accurate color reproduction necessary for detailed work, while IdeaPad 1 may fall short in displaying the full spectrum of colors precisely. However, both laptops lack high refresh rates which are crucial for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications, leading to a less optimal experience for these specific tasks.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" both have only fair build quality, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is suitable for general use due to its combination of a stronger CPU, ample RAM, a high-quality IPS screen, and decent portability with good battery life, although it may be slightly less portable than smaller laptops. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen for those who prefer a bigger display and also provides good screen quality and battery life, but is less portable and has a slightly less powerful CPU and less RAM, which may affect multitasking and performance.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a slightly more powerful GPU with integrated Vega 8 graphics and an adequately bright screen, which makes it fair for gaming and 3D applications within its performance range. Both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, reinforcing that they're fair but not optimal for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" with its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Vega 8 GPU is slightly more suitable for engineering and design tasks which demand better processing power and graphics, although its lesser screen size might limit the workspace. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a larger screen with higher resolution and color accuracy which is beneficial for design work, but has a somewhat weaker AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and Vega 7 GPU, potentially making it less adept at handling complex engineering software. Both laptops, given their large screens and fair portability, may not be ideal for frequent travel; the keyboards and speakers are decent, whereas operating noise is managed well, ensuring a quiet working environment.
Content Creation
7.4
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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
7.3
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
12.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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.
Battery
10.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 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.
Cost
$741
$784
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a price of $741 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$741 | $784 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.57 lbs | 4.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.18" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.29" | 10.79" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 12 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 42 Wh | 45 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 307 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | 9.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 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 | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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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 IdeaPad 1 15" 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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