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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for better graphics performance and a higher-quality display, with a focus on more intensive tasks like 3D work or gaming, the IdeaPad 5 Pro is the stronger choice. It boasts a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, higher screen resolution, and improved display color accuracy, which is especially beneficial for engineering and creative work. However, the IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen and might save you a bit of money if your needs are centered around more basic tasks like web browsing, office applications, and media consumption. It also has a longer battery life than the pro model, which might be advantageous if mobility and less frequent charging are priorities. Both models have similar storage and processors, but the IdeaPad 5 Pro includes more RAM, making it better suited for multitasking and demanding applications. 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 17"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is better suited for engineering and design use because it has a higher-performing CPU, double the RAM, a dedicated GPU, and better screen quality with a higher resolution and refresh rate compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, which has a less powerful integrated GPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen. While the IdeaPad 3 has a slightly larger screen size, the IdeaPad 5 Pro's higher portability and superior keyboard and speaker quality make it more versatile for intensive tasks and use on the go.
Screen Quality
6.7
7.8
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
If you prioritize a crystal-clear display for everyday tasks like browsing the web, working in Office applications, or watching movies, both the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and IdeaPad 5 Pro offer ample resolution and brightness, ensuring sharp text and vibrant visuals. For those in engineering and design, these laptops present accurate colors and wide color gamuts, essential for precise photo editing or detailed CAD work. However, if you're into fast-paced gaming or creating dynamic 3D animations, you may find their refresh rates lacking, leading to less fluid motion and slower response times compared to specialized gaming laptops.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$784
$860
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro costs $860.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers solid performance for general tasks with its AMD Ryzen CPU and Vega graphics, but its larger 17.3-inch screen and satisfactory battery life make it less portable than smaller laptops. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, while also providing good general use capability with a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and RTX graphics, has a higher screen resolution and quality on a 16-inch screen, along with a much better battery life, though it might be overqualified if you're not utilizing it for high-performance activities.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.5
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is limited in gaming and 3D capabilities due to its integrated Vega 7 graphics and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which are suitable for casual play but may struggle with intensive graphics and fast-paced action.
Content Creation
7.4
7.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
7.2
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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
9.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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 17" and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $860 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 4.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 5 6600HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 409 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | December 2022
"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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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.
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