The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is a budget-friendly option with a larger 14-inch screen, sufficient for general use, and comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Vega 7 graphics, making it suitable for less demanding tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, while more expensive, offers a more compact 13.3-inch touchscreen with higher resolution and aspect ratio, significantly better build quality, improved portability, and a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor with Radeon 680M graphics suitable for more intensive tasks including engineering and light 3D work. The ThinkPad Z13 further benefits from longer battery life and additional features like a fingerprint reader for security. Consider the ThinkPad Z13 if you need a more robust, portable, and higher-performing machine and don't mind investing more money; otherwise, the IdeaPad 3 can handle everyday tasks at a more accessible price point. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
313.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
379.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 outshines the IdeaPad 3 in general use due to its superior CPU and double the RAM, providing faster and smoother performance for multitasking; its screen also offers higher quality with better resolution, color coverage, and brightness. Moreover, the ThinkPad Z13 boasts greater portability with a lighter build and equally long-lasting battery life, enhancing its appeal for users on the move without compromising endurance.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.3/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a decent processor and sufficient RAM for general engineering and design tasks, but its integrated graphics and standard screen quality may limit performance with graphic-intensive workloads. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers a more powerful CPU, greater RAM, superior graphics capabilities, and a higher-quality screen, which together provide smoother performance and better visuals for more demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.8/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is somewhat better.
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
7.7/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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
7.0/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
379.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3's screen is adequate for tasks like web browsing and document editing due to its acceptable resolution and brightness, but the lack of a high-quality panel may not deliver the best color or sharpness for more demanding work or entertainment. The ThinkPad Z13, with better brightness and resolution and a superior panel, offers more vivid colors and sharper details, making it more suitable for professionals who need accuracy for design and engineering projects. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D modeling as they lack high refresh rates crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced graphics, which are less of a concern for general use or technical applications.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has very 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
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 costs $1,000.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" falls short for gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to its AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Vega 7 graphics, which is reasonable for lighter gaming but lacks the power for demanding games and 3D applications, and it also has a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate which isn't ideal for fast-paced games.
Battery
10.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has 10 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.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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."
"In the premium ultraportable space, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 competes with the best of the best, and still manages to shine. The design is an impressive departure from the bland bare-metal laptop that's become so popular in recent years, and the AMD-powered system has performance that's just as impressive. It's a stark alternative to the Intel-based majority, and it stands up well enough to the impressive Apple M2 processor."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
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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