After initial setup and the million Windows updates to install, I used the Lenovo assistant app to update the system bios. For whatever reason, bios update aren't available through the normal Windows Update mechanism. Core i5 11th generation processor: When it comes to doing day to day tasks like browsing, video conferencing, this mid-range processor (1135G7) does not disappoint.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Core i5 11th Gen, 4GB Ram, 1TB HDD Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Core i5 11th Gen, 4GB Ram, 1TB HDD

The screen is comfortably the worst part of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. I don’t expect a particularly high-quality screen at the price, but twisted nematic panels are hard to stomach in 2020. An IPS display, even a bad one, would make this a much better laptop for video and gaming. PCMark 10 and 8 are holistic performance suites developed by the PC benchmark specialists at UL. The PCMark 10 test we run simulates different real-world productivity and content-creation workflows. We use it to assess overall system performance for office-centric tasks such as word processing, spreadsheet work, web browsing, and videoconferencing. PCMark 8, meanwhile, has a storage subtest that we use to assess the speed of the system's boot drive. Both yield a proprietary numeric score; higher numbers are better. (See more about how we test laptops.)

Lenovo IdeaPad 3, core i5 11th Generation, 15-inch, 4GB, 1TB specs:

After fully recharging the laptop, we set up the machine in power-save mode (as opposed to balanced or high-performance mode) where available and make a few other battery-conserving tweaks in preparation for our unplugged video rundown test. (We also turn Wi-Fi off, putting the laptop into airplane mode.) In this test, we loop a video—a locally stored 720p file of the Blender Foundation short film Tears of Steel—with screen brightness set at 50% and volume at 100% until the system quits. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3’s matte finish means it can actually be used outdoors on a sunny day reasonably comfortably. Watching a cached Netflix movie won’t be much fun, but text editing look OK, thanks to the very high contrast involved. Yes, it’ll look dim, but you can make the text out. It runs Windows 10 S, which means you’re restricted to Windows Store apps unless you switch it to full Windows 10. You can do this for free in a matter of seconds, although will see some performance compromises. It's fair to say that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 looks like what it is: a budget laptop. But at the same time it's a well-built portable computer, which at 1.6 kilograms (that's 3.5 lbs) isn't at all difficult to lug around the office or the house. Unless you need something really compact or a lot of screen real estate, this laptop hits the sweet spot between giving you lots of display to look at without sacrificing too much in the way of mobility. Despite the low price, we'd expect it to last you a good few years. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 won’t last through a full day of work but if you just need it to hang on through an afternoon working in a cafe, no problem.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15 Inch Full HD Laptop (Intel Core i5, 8GB Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 15 Inch Full HD Laptop (Intel Core i5, 8GB

Battery:These systems do not support batteries that are not genuine Lenovo-made or authorized. Systems will continue to boot, but may not charge unauthorized batteries. Attention: Lenovo has no responsibility for the performance or safety of unauthorized batteries, and provides no warranties for failures or damage arising out of their use. Battery life (and recharge times) will vary based on many factors, including system settings and usage.

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You don’t get a graphics card, just the integrated graphics that is part of the Core i3 processor. There was little point in subjecting the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 to our usual gaming tests, but I did try out Skyrim to see if it would run. I'm replacing a heavy, 9yr-old, flakey 17" HP, 900p. So I'm thrilled with how much lighter, cooler, and quieter this Lenovo is.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (14-inch) Review | Trusted Reviews Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (14-inch) Review | Trusted Reviews

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is not a great laptop for movie-watching or basic gaming. While this laptop can technically play Skyrim – more on that later – the limited colour reproduction does not remotely show that fantasy world at its best. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 i5 is a proper 15-inch laptop you can buy in Kenya, this Lenovo IdeaPad computer can run applications like Word, Excel simultaneously without lag credited to the 11th generation chip from intel. The price in Kenya for this 11th Gen Core i5 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is Ksh.57499 Lenovo has been in the laptop game for a long time now of course, and that's reflected in the solid build quality and reassuring feel of the IdeaPad 3. The screen hinge feels robust, the outer plastic casing feels durable, and you get the impression that this is a laptop that's going to last and last. If the kids manage to get hold of it, for example, you won't have to worry about it snapping in half... probably.

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It performs the basics just fine, thanks to an unusually deep and responsive keyboard and near-silent running. However, the screen is poor and its battery doesn’t get quite close enough to all-day use. But is it still a good value laptop? This line-up had me wondering why the IdeaPad 3 comes with Windows 10 S instead of full Windows. A Core i3-1005G1 is much more powerful than the kind of Intel Pentium Gold processor that usually gets the cut-down OS. As ever, there’s nothing wrong with a Core i3. Then I shrunk the windows partition to make room to install Linux. I use Fedora, but any modern Linux should work. No surprises. Hardware drivers were all in the default repos. (The machine has an Intel WiFi 6 card and Realtek audio.) And talking of lists, be sure to take a look at T3's best lightweight laptops guide if you want a portable PC that doesn't weigh much.

IdeaPad 3 15” Laptop | Lenovo US IdeaPad 3 15” Laptop | Lenovo US

Lenovo says its IdeaPad laptops are made for “thin and light” portable use. But it hasn’t followed this up with a particularly large battery.

Want the numbers? My SpyderX Pro says it covers just 55.4% of sRGB, 38.2% of Adobe RGB and 39.3% of DCI P3, which means it offers dreadfully poor colour accuracy. Maximum brightness is also way below the average at 223 nits, resulting in a poor 706:1 contrast. You have the metal-effect plastic base, mid-grey keyboard keys, a textured plastic hinge and a cheap-looking screen. Lenovo has made some great-looking mid-price laptops over the years, but this cheaper one won’t convince too many eyes – it’s anything but a budget model close-up. That metal effect illusion works best from a distance.