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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Considering your choice between the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the LG Ultra 16, understand that the Lenovo offers a larger screen that can be beneficial for multitasking and productivity but it's heavier, which could make it less ideal for on-the-go usage. The LG, on the other hand, is significantly lighter and more compact, making it much more portable. The LG also has a higher battery capacity, offering longer use between charges, and greater RAM which is better for demanding tasks and multitasking. However, both laptops are similarly priced with comparable main processors and built-in graphics, suggesting that neither should have a significant edge in general performance. Choose the Lenovo if you prioritize screen size and don't mind extra weight, or go for the LG if portability and battery life are your top concerns. 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 LG Ultra 16.
Advantages of the LG Ultra 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Excellent battery life
- Good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.7
6.2
17.3in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
270.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the LG Ultra 16 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 16 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3's larger screen and higher resolution enhance readability and detail for general tasks and precision work required in engineering and design, but its standard refresh rate limits its capability for smooth rendering in 3D applications and gaming. The LG Ultra's balance between resolution and screen size is adequate for everyday tasks and sufficient for most engineering and design work, though the absence of wider color gamuts may affect color-sensitive tasks. Neither laptop, with their standard refresh rates, is ideal for gaming or 3D work, where smoother visual performance is key.
Battery
9.0 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 16 has 17 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
3.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability, though the LG Ultra 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$784
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the LG Ultra 16 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
270.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The LG Ultra 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers ample screen real estate with its 17" display, making it suitable for users who prefer larger visuals and don't need to move their laptop often, despite its heavier build and shorter battery life. In contrast, the LG Ultra 16, while slightly smaller in screen size at 16", provides a higher resolution for sharper images, double the RAM for better multitasking, and boasts superior battery life and portability, ideal for users on the go who require a balance between performance and mobility.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
10.0/10
The LG Ultra 16 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" with AMD Vega 7 graphics and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz is fair for gaming and 3D because while it has a modest GPU suitable for less demanding games, its refresh rate may not be ideal for fast-paced titles. Similarly, the LG Ultra 16, although it has a slightly better AMD Vega 8 graphics and the same screen refresh rate of 60Hz, also falls into the fair category for gaming and 3D applications due to its competent yet not high-end GPU and standard refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG Ultra 16 to be good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" with its Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB RAM, and Vega 7 GPU delivers adequate power for engineering and design tasks yet may struggle with more demanding applications, and its larger screen size is an advantage for detailed work, but this affects its battery life and portability negatively compared to the LG Ultra 16.
Content Creation
7.4
7.7
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 LG Ultra 16 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
7.5
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
6.7/10
The LG Ultra 16 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.
Build Quality
6.5
6.5
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and LG Ultra 16 both have 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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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the LG Ultra 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | LG Ultra 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.64'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 3.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 9.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
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 | 17 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 72 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 | 270 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
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 | No | |
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 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
LG Ultra 16
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NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | October 2022
"Unlike the gram, the Ultra PC isn't designed to be as lightweight as possible. The 16-inch laptop is a whole 400 g (0.88 lb) heavier than its 16-inch gram counterpart partly because its chassis is not made of magnesium. Other than that, the Ultra PC seems like a copy of the gram – but with longer battery life, lower noise levels, and a clean, delicate look."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" or the LG Ultra 16
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.
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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