When choosing between the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17", consider the following tradeoffs. The IdeaPad 1 14" is significantly cheaper and more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight. It's suitable for basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, and it's quieter since it operates without a fan. On the other hand, the IdeaPad 3 17" offers better performance with its more powerful processor and graphics, a larger and higher resolution screen, and more storage space, making it suitable for more demanding tasks, though it is bulkier and costs more. If portability and price are your priorities, the IdeaPad 1 might suit you well, but if you need a more capable machine for intensive tasks and prefer a larger display, the IdeaPad 3 is a justified investment. 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
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
6.1/10
7.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
239.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" underperforms for general use due to its basic Intel Celeron processor, smaller RAM capacity, lower screen resolution, and lower-quality TN panel which affects screen colors and brightness when compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17". Conversely, the IdeaPad 3 outshines it with a more powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor, double the RAM, a larger and sharper IPS screen, which contributes to better screen color and quality, and despite its larger size, it maintains a reasonable balance between performance and portability, also offering a better-quality keyboard, though its larger size can affect portability and it may not be as quiet under load.
Gaming and AI
5.5/10
6.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 17" is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
6.6/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is considered poor for engineering and design use primarily because it has a very basic CPU and graphics unit, limited RAM, and a lower-quality display, factors which are crucial for demanding tasks like CAD or 3D modeling. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is rated fair due to its more capable processor, double the RAM, better integrated graphics, and a larger, higher-quality display, making it more adequate for such work, though still less portable due to its larger size.
Content Creation
6.2/10
7.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4/10
7.2/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
5.3/10
6.7/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
239.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" screen likely lacks clarity and vibrancy due to lower resolution and brightness, which is less ideal for tasks requiring visual details like general use. With the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17", the larger, brighter display with better resolution enhances visual precision for engineering and design work by accurately representing colors within broader color gamuts. However, both models may not be optimal for 3D gaming due to their likely lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid visuals during fast-paced gaming or animation work.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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.
Cost
$153
$784
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a price of $153 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
"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."
"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 14" 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.
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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