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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen and a number pad, which might benefit productivity tasks and make for a more comfortable desktop-like experience; however, it's heavier, potentially making it less ideal for travel. If you often work with multiple applications open or require a sharper display and easier portability, the Slim 5i is a better option; if screen size and a number pad are priorities and portability isn't as much of an issue, then the IdeaPad 3 17" may suit your needs well. 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 Slim 5i.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.7
6.4
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, and engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has a larger screen which is beneficial for general use and engineering tasks as it can display more content, making multitasking easier, yet the lack of advanced color gamuts limits its suitability for precise design work. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while having fair screen quality, may not stand out in any particular area, with both laptops having screens that aren't optimized for gaming or 3D applications due to lower refresh rates. Without superior color accuracy or high refresh rates, neither laptop is ideal for high-end design or gaming, but both can suffice for everyday tasks and casual media consumption.
Build Quality
6.5
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen and longer battery life, making it a suitable choice for users prioritizing display size and less frequent charging for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, despite having a slightly smaller screen, comes with more RAM and a more portable design due to its lighter weight and smaller dimensions, catering to those who require more multitasking capabilities and easy transport. Additionally, the Slim 5i boasts superior keyboard and speaker quality which could enhance the overall user experience for daily tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.3
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have GPUs that aren't top of the line for gaming and 3D tasks, as well as having a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is fair for gaming but not high enough for a premium gaming experience. Additionally, the IdeaPad 3 comes with an AMD GPU, which is suitable for moderate gaming, while the Slim 5i includes an Intel GPU which also supports casual gaming; both laptops have quality IPS screens but the processors and screen quality, although competent, don't reach the high standards required for intense gaming or advanced 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i to be good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i stands out for engineering and design due to its superior main processor, double the amount of RAM, and higher-quality GPU compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17", which has a lower-grade processor, less RAM, and a less powerful GPU, making it only fair in performance for demanding tasks. The Slim 5i also benefits from a higher resolution and higher pixel density display for sharper images, while the IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen with fair color accuracy, useful for less intensive design work but not ideal for precision tasks.
Content Creation
7.4
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$784
$828
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $828 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 4.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | Intel i5-1335U | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 56.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 315 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
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 Slim 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
HT Tech
Robin Sinha | February 2021
"The device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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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