The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a budget-friendly alternative for basic tasks. While the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has flaws, it also has certain advantages, not the least of which is the laptop’s current low price. It checks the boxes if you are mainly concerned with day computing duties, price, and durability.
Reasons to buy:
- Reasonably priced
- Robust, long-lasting construction
- Comfortable typing experience
Reasons to stay away:
- The battery life is average
- The screen might be brighter
- The components are low powered
Suppose there is one takeaway from this Lenovo IdeaPad 3 review. In that case, it is that it is one of the greatest laptops on the market right now. Thought, it is not because of its flashy design or powerful performance. It is because it is not ridiculously costly. With a Lenovo laptop, you will get the most bang for your buck.
Of course, we have seen much speedier and more sophisticated Lenovo laptops in recent times. However, if you are searching for the cheapest laptop possible, the IdeaPad 3 must be worthwhile to consider. We will explain why in detail in our Lenovo IdeaPad 3 review.
You will not be able to play demanding games on it, nor will you be able to use it to begin a career in video production. However, it does have several strengths worth highlighting. It is excellent for everyday computing and web browsing, dealing with email addresses and spreadsheets. You will enjoy its TV and movie streaming.
Review of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3: Screen Design
The IdeaPad 3 has a 14-inch screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Moreover, it is an intelligent and sharp display. Although, the bezels around the display are more significant than those found on the best laptops. Furthermore, the viewing angles and back to the atmosphere are not especially spectacular. This is a laptop that must be judged in proportion to its budget . However, we were pleased with it for the money.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3’s display holds up well. Whether you are browsing the web, writing an essay, or kicking back and watching movies from your favourite video streaming platform. It does not have a touchscreen, but you should not expect to have this touch-screen feature at this price. While the 16:9 aspect ratio is not quite as good as 16:10 for papers and webpages. However, it works great for video, as we discovered after a fast YouTube binge.
Firm Design
Of course, Lenovo has a long history in the laptop business, which is evident in the IdeaPad 3’s excellent build quality and reassuring feel. The screen hinge is sturdy, and the outer plastic case is laborious, giving the sense that this is a laptop that will last a long time. One does not need to worry about splitting it in half if the kids get their hands on it.
Keyboard Shape Representation
It is worth discussing the Lenovo IdeaPad 3’s typing experience. There is not a comprehensive keyboard with a number pad. However, it is otherwise fantastic: The keystrokes are gentle yet solid, the keys are adequately spaced, and the function keys at the top have the standard array of shortcuts (for volume, brightness, and so on). While the keyboard lacks backlighting, we can live with it, and the trackpad, while small, feels robust and quick.
Webcam & Ports : The numbers and positions
Another good detail is the privacy cover on the webcam immediately above the screen, which provides extra peace of mind once you have finished your video calling for the day. Three USB-A ports, an HDMI-out port for an external display, a 3.5 mm headphone socket, and an SD card slot ensure that you can connect peripherals and other devices to your laptop with ease.
Weight of Lenovo IdeaPad 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 appears to be precisely what it claims to be: an inexpensive laptop. At the same time, it is a well-made portable computer that, at 1.6 kilograms (3.5 pounds), is not difficult to transport about the office or around the house. Unless you require something ultra-compact or with many screen real estate, this laptop strikes the sweet spot of providing much display without sacrificing too much mobility. Despite the modest price, we believe it will serve you well for several years.
Performance and features of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Our IdeaPad 3 review model came with a 10th-generation Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, which is not the fastest or most powerful Intel chipset. However, it will be enough for most everyday computer chores. Because of the integrated Intel UHD Graphics G1 arrangement, gaming and other graphically intensive jobs are limited. However, most of us accomplish with a computer for most tasks, and it is beautiful.
Machine configuration involves 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD internal storage. You would not want to try running Windows 10 on anything less, but you can get by with this kind of configuration. On the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, we did some online browsing, emailing, and media playback and everything moved along fairly quickly. However, if you try to overload the laptop with many browser tabs or open applications, you can run into issues. You can also check some of remedies here.
Peace of Quietness with Lenovo IdeaPad 3
It is worth noting that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 was remarkably quiet during our time with it, with the fans only infrequently whirling up when the laptop was put to the test. Note that the machine comes preinstalled with the restricted Windows 10 S Mode. You can upgrade to Windows 10 complete for free in about a minute. However, you will lose some performance and security benefits.
General Purpose Programs and Multimedia Performance
In general, we found that the IdeaPad 3 handled program and webpages admirably. The integrated Dolby audio system will not win any awards any time soon. However, it is better than you would expect for a laptop at this price point. It is more than acceptable for some fast bursts of music or the conversation and audio accompanying movies and TV shows. As a media player, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 performed admirably.
Battery Time in Lenovo IdeaPad 3
With regular, undemanding use, we got 3-4 hours of battery life. That is, with the screen set to maximum brightness. Hence, if one is willing to dim it a touch then he will surely get a longer time between charges. Furthermore, it is not a laptop that can be used without a power source for an entire day. However, it will suffice for a train ride or an afternoon at a coffee shop. Other laptops will give you a significantly longer battery life, but they will also cost you more.
In our tests, an uninterrupted 2 hours of video streaming with the screen on maximum brightness reduced the battery from 100% to 75%. It implies about 8 hours of video playback in total if you do not do anything else with the laptop in the meantime.
Price and judgement on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3
You would believe that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a reasonably unimpressive laptop based on our evaluation. However, everything is relative depending on the price. And, this laptop is relatively inexpensive indeed. However, it is usually available for around £400 right now. At that price, we are ready to overlook a few flaws.
Yes, you can pay more for a laptop with a more transparent, brighter screen, longer battery life, and more robust components. However, the IdeaPad 3 is difficult to beat when it comes to value for money and bang for your buck. That is why we are glad to include it as a budget option in our best laptops list. The IdeaPad 3 could be ideal for you to understand what you are getting and what you are not getting.
Multimedia Processing and IdeaPad 3′ Accessories
The laptop’s 4GB of RAM makes it unsuitable for stacking photos in Adobe Photoshop or playing anything but the most basic games. However, the i3 engine and SSD storage ensure that you receive decent speed for your day-to-day computing chores. The IdeaPad 3 is powerful enough to get us through a full day of work, and it is light enough to be carried around easily.
Typing Experience contributing to choice of Lenovo IdeaPad 3
The typing and trackpad experience is one of the most excellent features of the total IdeaPad 3 package, and it is worth emphasizing again. Suppose you have many essays, reports, or spreadsheets to do. In that case, the Lenovo laptop is up to the challenge – it may not be made of the highest-quality materials. However, it feels solid, and it is ready for long work hours.
Summing the Review of Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Whether you use S Mode on this laptop or not, Windows 10 is getting better and better, and it can now work on slower components as well. It is important to note that a Mac laptop at this pricing is now unavailable. Of course, Chromebooks are an option, but with Google Chrome loaded on the IdeaPad 3, you will have access to all Chrome OS has to offer, plus a lot more.
While the screen and battery life could be better, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 scores well in terms of overall usability, typing experience, connectivity options, and the Intel Core CPU inside. If you are looking for a low-cost laptop, this should be at the top of your list.
