If price is a big concern and you mainly use your laptop for everyday tasks like web browsing, working on documents, or watching videos, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 would be a satisfactory option; however, if you find yourself frequently on the move and require a laptop that’s lighter and more portable, or if you need higher performance for more demanding applications like photo editing or multitasking, investing in the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x could pay off despite its higher cost. The ThinkBook also typically offers a more premium build quality and potentially longer battery life, which could be important if you're going to rely on your laptop for long periods away from a power source. 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 Slim 3
Very good battery life
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
Good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has moderate processing power and memory which is adequate for basic tasks, but its screen quality and battery life don't match the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, which offers a sharper display and longer usage unplugged, making the latter a better choice for intensive tasks and on-the-go use. The ThinkBook 13x also tends to have a more portable design and superior build quality that enhances keyboard feel and helps maintain quieter operating noise and better heat management, justifying its higher price for users that value these aspects.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x both have GPUs that can handle gaming and 3D applications at a basic level, but lack the higher screen refresh rates favored by avid gamers for smoother visuals. While both laptops offer decent CPUs and screen quality that contribute positively to the experience, their performance in gaming and 3D tasks won't match that of specialized gaming laptops with more advanced GPUs and faster screens.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x likely has a more powerful CPU and GPU, along with higher RAM and superior screen quality, which are crucial for engineering and design tasks, offering smoother performance and better visuals. While the IdeaPad Slim 3 is more budget-friendly and still adequate for basic tasks, its components may be less capable, but it offers the benefits of being lighter and quieter, which enhances portability and comfort during extended use.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 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
7.1/10
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
6.4/10
8.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 provides an adequate display with respectable resolution and brightness, but it might not offer the crispness and viewing angles of higher-end panels. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, on the other hand, offers a higher quality display with better resolution and brightness, making it ideal for vivid and sharp imagery for productivity and multimedia consumption. However, both models fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the smooth visuals required for high-paced gaming or smooth 3D rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$390
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a price of $390 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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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