When it comes to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14, the primary considerations are price, performance, and portability. If budget is a top priority and you're looking for a device that offers good value for gaming and everyday tasks, the IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a solid choice, as it is significantly less expensive. However, it is heavier and bulkier, which might make it less convenient for carrying around. The Slim Pro 7 14, on the other hand, is priced higher but comes with a more powerful graphics card and a higher resolution, taller aspect ratio display that could be preferable for creative work and productivity. Additionally, it offers double the storage and memory, a higher battery capacity, and is more lightweight and compact, making it an excellent option for those who prioritize portability and performance for demanding applications. Consider the Slim Pro 7 14 if you need a higher-end, portable laptop and are willing to invest more, especially if you're into resource-heavy tasks like video editing or 3D design. Otherwise, the IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers substantial savings while still covering the basics for gaming and general use. 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
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
Very good for general use
Very good for content creation
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is favored for general use due to its higher screen resolution and quality, larger RAM, longer battery life, and a more portable design, making it easier to carry around and use for longer periods without charging. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, while still good for general activities, has a bulkier form, shorter battery life, and a lower resolution screen, but it offers a larger screen size and is better suited for gaming due to its dedicated GPU and high refresh rate display.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers solid performance for engineering and design due to its strong CPU and RAM, while its GPU and quality screen make it suitable for tasks requiring visual and computational power. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14, however, while also sharing a strong CPU and doubling the RAM, boasts a superior GPU and a higher resolution screen, enhancing its ability to handle complex graphic workloads, but it is also more portable and quieter, making it a better choice for mobile use and work environments that benefit from less distraction.
Content Creation
7.4/10
8.0/10
7.9/10
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 Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
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
7.3/10
7.8/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 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
7.2/10
7.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen than the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offer screens with suitable resolution and brightness, providing clear visuals for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, they both have solid color accuracy, ensuring that professionals can rely on the display for color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short as they lack the high refresh rates desired for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals, even if they have decent resolution and panel technology.
Battery
8.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has 12 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.5in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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 Slim Pro 7 14 costs $1,200.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a less powerful Nvidia RTX 2050 GPU, which provides fair gaming performance, while the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 boasts a more capable Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, delivering good gaming and 3D performance. Additionally, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 likely has a higher screen refresh rate, offering smoother visuals that are particularly beneficial in fast-paced games.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 is an attractive, portable laptop that’s ideal if you need a combination of CPU and GPU performance. It also nails the fundamentals with solid connectivity, an enjoyable keyboard, a large touchpad, and top-notch webcam. Display quality is a weakness, but it’s an acceptable compromise for the laptop’s extremely competitive $1,199 MSRP. The Slim Pro 7 is a versatile, affordable laptop and hard to beat for the price."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
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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