The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers more screen real estate which is beneficial for multitasking and content consumption, but is heavier, making it less portable than the smaller Lenovo ThinkBook 13s. The ThinkBook has a higher screen resolution and better color accuracy, making it ideal for tasks that require visual precision. With more RAM, the ThinkBook might perform better in multitasking and demanding applications, whereas the IdeaPad provides solid general use performance and has a numeric keypad, which may be convenient for data entry. The ThinkBook has a longer battery life and a higher portability score, suiting users who travel frequently. Both have similar storage capacities, ensuring ample space for most users. Opt for the IdeaPad if you prioritize a larger display and numeric keypad at a slightly higher price, or choose the ThinkBook for better portability, screen quality, and performance in professional 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 IdeaPad 1 15"
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
7.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
12.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s outperforms the IdeaPad 1 15" for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, superior Intel Iris Xe graphics, and higher resolution and color accuracy of its screen, which is essential for detail-oriented work. Additionally, the ThinkBook offers better portability, keyboard, and speaker quality, although it might operate louder than the IdeaPad under heavy use, which is an important consideration for work environments.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ThinkBook 13s offers better screen quality due to a superior panel type, likely better resolution, and higher brightness levels, which provide clearer and more comfortable viewing experiences. With engineering and design in mind, this laptop's display likely covers a wider range of color gamuts, which ensures accurate and vivid color reproduction, essential for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, neither laptop is ideal for Gaming and 3D applications because both have poor refresh rates, which can hinder the smoothness and responsiveness required in these scenarios, although the ThinkBook still maintains better resolution and panel quality.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$741
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a price of $741 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is suitable for general use with its solid CPU and RAM, allowing for smooth multitasking and adequate performance for everyday tasks, albeit with a modestly performing screen and speakers, balanced by great heat management and a sizeable screen.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are rated fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated GPUs that are less powerful compared to dedicated gaming GPUs and their displays have standard screen refresh rates. While the IdeaPad has an AMD Ryzen integrated graphics which provides decent capability for less demanding games, and the ThinkBook 13s with its Intel Iris Xe graphics offers similar performance, neither is equipped for high-end gaming or professional 3D work due to the limitations in GPU power and screen refresh rate.
Content Creation
7.4/10
7.8/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
12.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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
7.3/10
7.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
12.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
"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."
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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