The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is a budget-friendly choice that’s less expensive while offering good all-around capabilities for everyday tasks, such as web browsing, office work, and media consumption. However, if your work involves more demanding tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, or gaming, you might prefer the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 despite its higher cost, as it comes with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card that can handle those intensive applications better. Additionally, the Slim Pro 7 has a sharper and higher resolution display, which could be beneficial if screen quality is important to you. Yet, both these enhancements in the Slim Pro 7 also impact its battery life negatively and add to its weight compared to the IdeaPad 3, making it less portable. So your decision should consider whether performance or cost and portability are more critical for your needs. 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"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
Very good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
313.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 boasts a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher-resolution touchscreen with better color coverage, making it superior for demanding tasks and a richer visual experience compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14", which has a lower-tier CPU, less RAM, and a standard screen without touch functionality. Additionally, the Slim Pro 7 has a longer battery life with a slightly heavier build facilitating better portability, as opposed to the IdeaPad 3 which is more affordable but offers fewer high-end features.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz, compared to the integrated Vega 7 graphics and 60Hz refresh rate in the IdeaPad; these factors contribute to smoother visuals and better handling of graphics-intensive tasks. Additionally, the Slim Pro 7 offers a higher resolution display, enhancing screen quality which is also important for an immersive gaming experience.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.7/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is better for engineering and design because it has a stronger processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU, enhancing performance in demanding tasks, plus a higher resolution and larger screen for clearer detail. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is more budget-friendly but comes with a modest processor, less RAM, and an integrated GPU, which could slow down intensive engineering applications, and it has a standard resolution screen which is less ideal for intricate design work.
Content Creation
7.1/10
8.0/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is good.
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
7.8/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for software development, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is somewhat better.
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
6.4/10
7.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a sharper, brighter display for everyday tasks like browsing or document editing, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 stands out for general use with its higher resolution and brighter screen compared to the IdeaPad 3. For design and engineering work which demands color accuracy for tasks such as image editing or CAD modeling, the Slim Pro 7's superior color range coverage can make a significant difference. Conversely, for gaming or working with 3D applications where smooth motion is key, neither laptop is ideal due to their lower refresh rates, but keep in mind the IdeaPad 3 may fall further behind in immersive visual experiences due to its lower overall screen quality.
Battery
10.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has 12 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
7.8/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$490
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 costs $1,200.
"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 Slim Pro 7 is an attractive, portable laptop that’s ideal if you need a combination of CPU and GPU performance. It also nails the fundamentals with solid connectivity, an enjoyable keyboard, a large touchpad, and top-notch webcam. Display quality is a weakness, but it’s an acceptable compromise for the laptop’s extremely competitive $1,199 MSRP. The Slim Pro 7 is a versatile, affordable laptop and hard to beat for the price."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" or the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
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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