The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is a more portable and slightly less expensive option, with a smaller screen size suitable for general use and travel. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen for better visibility and a bit more power for tasks like engineering, but it is less portable and costs more. Both have similar battery life and neither is built for intensive gaming, but for regular work and entertainment, the 17" model's bigger screen could enhance the experience, while the 14" model is easier to carry around. If budget is a concern and you value portability, you might lean towards the 14" model; for a more comfortable screen and better multitasking, the 17" could be preferable. 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 3 14"
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
Good for general use
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.4/10
6.7/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
If you're focused on general tasks like browsing and watching videos, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen with better resolution and brightness, enhancing visuals and comfort for everyday use. For engineering and design work, the same model provides superior color accuracy, crucial for detail-oriented tasks, but keep in mind, it's not top-tier for color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D content, neither laptop will excel due to lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid motion and responsiveness in fast-paced scenarios.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$490
$784
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" to be good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
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
6.0/10
6.1/10
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 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are similar in gaming and 3D performance as both have integrated graphics with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U and 5625U Vega 7 respectively and a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz. However, despite similar core specifications, the larger screen of the IdeaPad 3 17" could provide a more immersive experience but may compromise on portability compared to the smaller 14" model.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
6.6/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both equipped with mid-range AMD Ryzen processors and integrated Vega graphics, which provide sufficient performance for engineering and design tasks but may struggle with very demanding software. While the 14" model offers better portability and high screen sharpness, the 17" model provides a larger screen and more storage space, which can be beneficial for detailed design work; however, both have screen qualities and RAM that are adequate yet not top-tier for professional engineering and design use.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.4/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
7.1/10
7.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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 3 14" 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.
Build Quality
6.5/10
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have only fair 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 IdeaPad 3 14" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" compare to other laptops
"The low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
"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 3 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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