The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" tends to be less expensive, has a larger screen, and longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and good for those on a budget. However, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, while pricier, offers a higher-resolution touchscreen, a more powerful processor, more storage and RAM, and is lighter, making it better for engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and machine learning. The ThinkBook 13s also has better build quality, better speakers, and is more portable due to its smaller size and lower weight. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14"
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
313.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s outperforms the IdeaPad 3 14" for general use primarily due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, which aids in smoother multitasking, and a higher resolution screen with better color accuracy, which enhances visual tasks and media consumption. Additionally, the ThinkBook 13s is more portable and has a longer-lasting battery, making it a better choice for on-the-go use, despite its higher price point compared to the more budget-friendly IdeaPad 3, which is still sufficient for basic tasks but lacks the advanced features and performance of the ThinkBook.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.5/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is better suited for engineering and design due to its higher-performing Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful integrated GPU which can handle more demanding software used in these fields. Additionally, its screen is superior with a higher resolution and more accurate color representation, factors that are crucial for design work, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has modest specs that offer fair performance that might not keep up with intensive tasks and have a less vibrant display.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.8/10
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 ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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 has a decent balance of resolution and brightness, which is sufficient for everyday tasks, but its limited color range and average resolution can make it less ideal for engineering and design applications that require precise color accuracy. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers higher resolution and brighter display, enhancing visual clarity and detail, making it a better choice for professional design work where color fidelity and sharpness are crucial. However, both laptops have displays with lower refresh rates which aren't optimal for gaming and 3D rendering, where fluid motion and quick screen updates are key for an immersive experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
$390
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $390 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s are both described as fair for gaming and 3D largely due to their integrated GPUs, which can handle some gaming and 3D applications but are not as capable as dedicated gaming GPUs. Additionally, both have screens with a 60Hz refresh rate which is adequate for many tasks but may not be as smooth for fast-paced games when compared to higher refresh rate displays, and despite having reasonable screen quality, they don't excel in the areas most critical for high-end gaming and 3D uses.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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 best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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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