Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 review
The Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 ranks as the #510 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 71. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #534-ranked features among 541 laptops. Consider the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 1 or Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 1, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a budget-friendly laptop that packs a punch at $700. While its build quality is just okay, the sleek design and beautiful OLED display make up for it. The Intel Core i5 processor and 16GB of RAM provide decent performance for heavy tasks like graphic design and office work. However, the integrated GPU is not powerful, limiting gaming capabilities. Battery life is around 4 hours and 30 minutes. Despite some drawbacks, this laptop offers great value for its price, making it a solid choice for students and office workers looking for an affordable device.
Build
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a decent build quality, but it's not exceptional for its price point. The chassis is made of plastic, which gives it a lightweight feel, but also makes it less premium compared to higher-end laptops. The middle part has a glossy finish, while the edges have a rougher texture. Unfortunately, there's no anodized coating like on more expensive models. The lid cover, however, features a nice aluminum construction with rounded edges. Overall, the build quality is just okay, considering it's a budget laptop priced around $700. If you’re after a better build, Lenovo Slim 7i could be the ideal option.
Display
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 boasts an impressive full HD OLED display, offering vibrant colors, good clarity, and up to 400 nits of brightness. While the resolution is only full HD, the OLED panel makes everything look beautiful. For office work or student use, this is more than sufficient. The display's highlight is its color accuracy and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks. Unfortunately, the speaker volume is low, but the display's quality makes up for it. Overall, the IdeaPad Slim 3's display is a significant upgrade over its competitors in the budget-friendly laptop market. Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded display.
Performance
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 delivers decent performance for its price point. Powered by an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU, it handles heavy tasks like graphic design and technical work with ease. The 16GB of RAM also makes multitasking a breeze. While gaming is possible, don't expect high frame rates. Integrated graphics, such as Intel Iris Xe G4, limit performance. Battery life suffers due to the high-performance CPU, clocking in at around 4 hours and 30 minutes. Overall, it's a solid choice for office work and basic tasks. For an improved performance, Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is worth considering.
Battery and Charging
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3's battery life is its most notable drawback. With a runtime of around 4 hours and 30 minutes, it falls short for a laptop in this price range. The high-performance CPU draws more power, making frequent charging necessary. Unfortunately, the battery can't be easily replaced, adding to the overall cost of ownership. This may not be a deal-breaker for those with limited mobility or constant access to a charger, but it's worth considering for those who need a laptop that can keep up on-the-go.
Connectivity
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers decent connectivity options for its price point. On the right side, you'll find an SD card slot and one USB-A port, while the left side features another USB-A port, a USB-C port that supports display output, and HDMI. However, it's worth noting that neither of the USB ports support high-speed data transfer, with both limited to 5 Gbps. Overall, connectivity is adequate but not exceptional. Take a look at Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 1 - its improved connectivity sets a new standard.
Features
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 boasts a sleek design with rounded corners, an aluminum lid cover, and a premium build quality. It features a full HD OLED panel, USB-A and C ports, SD slot, and HDMI 1.4. The keyboard is comfortable to type on, but the speakers have low volume. If you're after top-notch features, consider Lenovo Slim 7i.
Support and Maintenance
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a budget-friendly laptop with decent performance for its price range ($700). While it's not perfect, it offers a clean design, beautiful OLED display, and adequate processor power. The keyboard typing experience is comfortable, but the audio quality is average. Battery life is around 4 hours, which may require frequent recharging.
Pros
1. A decent laptop with a clean, sleek design that looks similar to the MacBook Pro 14.
2. The color is quite similar to the MacBook Pro 14, and the rounded corner look kind of alike.
3. The overall build quality is just okay, but for a $700 US laptop, it's not bad at all.
4. The lid cover is made of aluminum, and the edges are nicely rounded, which is a great job by Lenovo.
5. The OLED panel has more vibrant colors, good clarity, and up to 400 nits of brightness.
6. Typing experience on this laptop feels good, with large key caps and a slight curve.
7. Multitasking is very comfortable, thanks to the Intel Core i5 13420H processor and 16 GB of memory.
Cons
1. The chassis is made of plastic, which can feel cheap and flimsy.
2. There are leftover plastic bits along the edges, which detract from the overall build quality.
3. The keyboard doesn't feel solid like the aluminum one on higher-end models.
4. None of the connections support high-speed data transfer, as both USB-A and USB-C ports are limited to 5 GB/s.
5. The speaker volume is kind of low, even at full volume, making it difficult to hear in a small room.
6. The audio quality is average and sounds flat compared to other laptops.
7. Battery life is just about 4 hours and 30 minutes, which may not be sufficient for long trips or extended use.
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