Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop Review 2023 Is This the Best Budget Touchscreen Laptop?

Description

Design and Build Quality

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop in Abyss Blue instantly caught my attention with its sleek and professional design. The 15.6-inch full HD touchscreen is surrounded by narrow bezels, giving it a modern and clean appearance. Its anti-glare IPS display not only helps reduce reflections but also makes it comfortable to use in different lighting conditions. Weighing just 3.74 pounds, it’s lightweight enough to carry around without feeling like a burden. The 1TB SSD and 24GB DDR4 RAM are neatly packed into a durable yet slim chassis measuring 0.78 inches thick, making it portable yet robust.

What I appreciated most was the build quality, which feels solid and reliable. The hinges are sturdy, and the keyboard offers satisfying tactile feedback, ideal for long typing sessions. However, the plastic body might not appeal to those who prefer premium metallic finishes.

Performance and Multitasking

Powered by the Intel Core i5-1155G7 processor, this laptop delivers impressive performance for most tasks. The 24GB of high-speed RAM ensures smooth multitasking, even when I had over 20 browser tabs and several applications running simultaneously. The Intel Iris Xe Graphics is more than capable of handling light gaming, video editing, and graphic design software.

During testing, I noticed how efficiently it handled Windows 11 Home, which felt snappy throughout my usage. Booting up the system and transferring large files was a breeze thanks to the 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, which offers lightning-fast speeds. That said, while this setup is excellent for productivity, it might struggle with heavy-duty gaming or demanding 3D rendering tasks.

Display and Touchscreen Capabilities

The 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen is a standout feature, especially for those who enjoy touch gestures while browsing or navigating software. The 300-nit brightness is sufficient for most indoor environments, though I found it slightly lacking in direct sunlight. The IPS panel ensures consistent colors from different viewing angles, which was a nice touch when watching movies or sharing the screen with others.

However, the 45% NTSC color gamut could be a limitation for professionals who require accurate color representation, such as photographers or video editors. While the touchscreen is responsive and smooth, some users might prefer a higher refresh rate for gaming or fast-paced content.

Connectivity Options

I was pleasantly surprised by the range of connectivity options available on this laptop. It features USB-C 3.2, USB-A 3.2, and USB-A 2.0 ports, alongside an HDMI port and an SD card reader. The Wi-Fi 6 support ensures faster and more reliable internet connectivity, which was noticeable during video calls and file downloads.

The inclusion of a headphone/microphone combo jack is practical for casual users and professionals alike. While the 720p built-in webcam and microphone are convenient for virtual meetings, the camera quality could be sharper, especially for work-related video conferencing.

Positives

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop offers several key benefits that make it a strong contender in its category:

• Powerful Intel Core i5 processor for smooth performance.
• 24GB RAM enables seamless multitasking, even with demanding applications.
• 1TB SSD provides ample space and fast data transfer speeds.
• Lightweight and slim design, perfect for portability.
• Touchscreen functionality adds versatility and ease of use.

Areas for Improvement

While the laptop is impressive overall, it does come with some shortcomings that potential buyers should consider:

• 45% NTSC color gamut is not ideal for color-critical tasks.
• Plastic build might not suit those looking for a premium feel.
• 720p webcam quality could be better for professional video calls.

Competitive Options

In this price range, there are several product contenders worth mentioning. The Dell Inspiron 15 offers a comparable touchscreen display but falls behind with its lower RAM and storage configurations. Meanwhile, the HP Pavilion 15 provides a more premium metallic build, though it typically comes with a slightly less powerful processor.

Compared to these alternatives, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop shines with its high RAM capacity and SSD storage, making it ideal for multitaskers and those needing ample file storage. However, if a metallic finish or superior color accuracy is a priority, competitors like the MacBook Air or Microsoft Surface Laptop might be worth exploring, though they come at a significantly higher cost.

Price Worthiness

The price to quality ratio of this laptop makes it highly attractive for students, professionals, and casual users. It manages to strike a balance between performance, storage, and portability, which isn’t always easy to find in this category. While it might not cater to heavy gamers or those needing professional-grade color accuracy, it’s more than capable of handling daily productivity tasks with ease.

If you’re someone who values responsive touchscreen functionality, fast storage, and excellent multitasking abilities, this laptop is certainly worth considering. The robust performance combined with a reasonable investment makes it a smart choice for many users, though there are minor trade-offs to keep in mind.

Additional information