When choosing between the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, consider that the IdeaPad Gaming 3, being a gaming laptop, offers higher graphic performance suitable for gaming and graphic-intensive tasks; however, it may be bulkier and have a shorter battery life compared to the ThinkPad T14. The ThinkPad T14, on the other hand, is built for business and general use, offering durability, better portability, and longer battery life, but it comes at a higher cost and may not perform as well in demanding graphics tasks. Consider your primary use—gaming and graphic work or business and general productivity—when making your choice. 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
Good overall display quality
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers superior CPU performance and additional RAM, enhancing multitasking and overall speed for demanding applications compared to the IdeaPad Gaming 3, making it a strong choice for intensive tasks beyond general use. While both have good screen quality, the ThinkPad T14 typically provides better battery life and portability, though the IdeaPad Gaming 3 might have an edge with better heat management and a keyboard designed for gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.0/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, with its high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and dedicated GPU, excels in handling demanding engineering software, and has a vivid screen for detailed design work, although it's heavier and noisier under load. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while providing solid CPU and RAM for engineering tasks and exceptional keyboard quality for typing comfort, trades off some graphics performance and screen vibrancy for better portability and quieter operation.
Content Creation
7.4/10
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
8.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good.
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
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and ThinkPad T14 both offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, which depend on clear visuals and color accuracy. Despite these strengths, neither laptop has a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth rendering in 3D applications and gaming. Additionally, the panels may not excel in the wider color gamuts preferred by design professionals, impacting the fidelity of color reproduction for more sensitive design tasks.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$549
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a price of $549 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a dedicated GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it suitable for gaming and 3D applications, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, although having a capable CPU and good screen quality, lacks the graphical prowess and refresh speed, placing it at a disadvantage for more demanding graphics tasks. Therefore, for users primarily focused on gaming or 3D work, the IdeaPad Gaming 3 would be the preferred choice, whereas the ThinkPad T14 could still handle moderate gaming and 3D applications, but with potentially lower performance and less smooth visuals.
Battery
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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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