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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize gaming performance and are willing to invest more, the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 with its more powerful graphics card and higher RAM is a better choice and also offers slightly longer battery life. Its slim design makes it more portable compared to the IdeaPad Gaming 3, despite the latter being less expensive. However, if budget is a significant concern and you're looking for good gaming performance at a lower cost, the IdeaPad Gaming 3 still delivers decent playability. Both have non-touch IPS screens with similar resolutions, but the Legion Slim 7's screen has a higher refresh rate, which is favorable for fast-paced games. 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 Gaming 3
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6".
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.4
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 2050 graphics card and a lower screen refresh rate of 120Hz, whereas the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 comes with the superior Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher refresh rate of 165Hz, making it better suited for gaming and 3D applications that demand smoother visuals and quicker response times. The Legion Slim 7 will generally provide better gaming performance and display fluidity due to these factors, though it may come at a higher cost.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.8
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Lenovo Legion Slim 7 are both suited for engineering and design owing to their robust CPUs, sufficient RAM, and capable GPUs suitable for intensive software applications; their IPS screens with full HD resolution favor clear and precise visuals. While the IdeaPad Gaming 3 is slightly heavier with a stronger CPU suitable for demanding engineering tasks, the Legion Slim 7 is lighter, making it more portable, and has a higher screen refresh rate, better for fluid visuals.
Screen Quality
7.2
7.7
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Lenovo Legion Slim 7 both offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness that are crucial for clarity and visibility in general use, and also provide satisfactory color accuracy for tasks like engineering and design, where precision in color representation is important. However, their lower refresh rates, which are less critical for general use and professional design software, fall short for gaming and 3D applications where higher refresh rates are vital for smooth motion and a more immersive experience. While both models are suitable for everyday tasks and professional work, avid gamers and those heavily into 3D graphics might find the screen performance lacking for their specific needs.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability, though the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$549
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a price of $549 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and Lenovo Legion Slim 7 both offer good performance for general use due to their capable CPU and sufficient RAM, alongside quality IPS displays. The Legion Slim 7, however, stands out with its lighter weight and longer battery life, enhancing its portability and usability on the go, while also having a higher RAM count which aids in multitasking.
Content Creation
7.4
7.7
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
7.3
7.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 has 9 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.
Build Quality
7.2
7.6
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good 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 Gaming 3 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.69'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.1 lbs | 4.19 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.49" | 9.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 71 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | 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 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | October 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
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NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | November 2022
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 is a slim Legion notebook that is just as excellent with Nvidia & Intel. However, the Legion Slim 7i slightly sullied by lacklustre battery life. You get a slim aluminium chassis, great input devices, decent port selection, fast high-quality WQXGA display and great performance. Supporting Thunderbolt 4 is one advantage of the Intel/Nvidia model tested in this review. Moreover, this variant has slightly higher CPU performance as well as better GPU performance in certain applications (e.g. CUDA-based apps). The Lenovo Legion S7i is thin, premium and performant – but less efficient than its AMD counterpart."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
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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