( Here's how to choose the best laptop CPU.)īut enough about the insides-the outsides are just as important. In the IdeaPad 3 14, this translates to standout performance, separating it from many of its competitors in the same price bracket. (Higher-end Ryzen 5000U-series CPUs are based on the newer Zen U is an outlier.) Overall, the six-core, 12-thread processor has more than enough fuel in the tank for basic internet and word processor needs, as well as moderately complex tasks, without any noticeable lag.
AMD’s Ryzen mobile CPUs have become formidable chips in recent years, and despite the 5500U being built on the older AMD Zen 2 architecture, the silicon still performs well and is a commanding starting point in the budget-laptop market. But the lower amounts are par the course for laptops of this price range, and the processor is the star of the show here. The stock memory and storage amounts are on the low side-we like to see 16GB of RAM and 512GB of solid-state storage these days. Do this at your own risk, however, as it could violate your warranty. But it's worth noting that savvy laptop users can swap one of the two unsoldered 4GB RAM sticks for an 8GB RAM stick and bump the total RAM to 12GB. Outside of the OS choice, there are no customization options for this iteration of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14. Our review unit is available from with Windows 10 installed, but the retailer also offers a Windows 11 variant for $560. At around $500, the IdeaPad 3 14 sits comfortably on the cusp of both worlds, boasting an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.
Lenovo's IdeaPad line of laptops is comparable to that of the Dell Inspiron or HP Pavilion series-midrange to low-end machines that run the gamut on price, size, and features. It earns our latest Editors' Choice award for budget Windows laptops.
At $519, it leans toward the expensive end of the budget spectrum, but this 14-incher comes packed with just about everything you’d want for a notebook in its price range, including a full HD display, a sturdy chassis, and a comfortable keyboard, all pulled together by on-point performance and some unexpected luxuries for the money. So when you come across a standout inexpensive laptop like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14, it’s a welcome reprieve. Balancing a tight budget with a feature set that mostly consists of the necessities isn't easy when you're evaluating a sea of machines that all look more or less the same. If you're in the market for a budget laptop, you're faced with some tough decisions.
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