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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is a budget-friendly option that's lighter and offers silent, fanless operation, with a smaller 14-inch screen, less storage, and a simpler Intel Celeron processor, suitable for basic tasks like web browsing or office applications. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" might cost you more but comes with a larger 15.6-inch screen, more storage, double the memory, and a higher performing Intel i3 processor, making it better suited to more demanding tasks. Choose the IdeaPad 1 if affordability and portability are your main concerns, or opt for the IdeaPad 3 if you need better performance and are willing to pay a bit more. 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 14"
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14".
Key differences
Screen Quality
5.3
5.2
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
239.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" have similar screen quality.
If you prioritize a sharp and vivid display for everyday tasks, both Lenovo IdeaPad 1 and IdeaPad 3 may disappoint because they often come with lower resolutions and dimmer screens, affecting clarity and the enjoyment of content. For engineering and design work, accurate color representation is crucial, and these models may fall short in reproducing a wide spectrum of colors, leading to less precise visual outcomes. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key, the lower refresh rates of these laptops can result in a less fluid experience, even if their resolutions and panel types are adequate for casual use.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 5 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" both have only fair build quality, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$153
$360
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a price of $153 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" costs $360.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.1
6.2
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
239.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both only fair for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
5.5
5.8
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both poor for gaming and AI.
Both the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" have integrated graphics, with the former sporting Intel UHD Graphics 600 and the latter Intel UHD Xe G4, which are not powerful enough for gaming or 3D applications that require dedicated GPUs. Additionally, their screens have a limited refresh rate of 60Hz and basic screen quality due to lower resolution panels, which do not provide the visual fidelity or fluidity that gaming and 3D tasks typically demand.
Engineering and Design
5.5
5.8
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both poor for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is not suitable for engineering and design tasks primarily because of its less powerful Intel Celeron processor and minimal RAM, which limit the software it can run efficiently, while its basic integrated graphics fall short for design applications. Similarly, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" comes with a somewhat better Intel i3 processor and more RAM, but it still lacks the needed graphical performance and has a low-resolution screen that doesn't provide the clarity and space that engineering and design tasks often require.
Content Creation
6.2
6.3
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both only fair 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
6.4
6.3
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" are both only fair 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 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$153 | $360 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.88" | 14.26" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 9.98" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4020 | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 64 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 32 Wh | 35 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 239 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | August 2021
"The IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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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