I wanted to like this Lenovo laptop, but it cuts too many corners

Price When Reviewed

$769

Best Prices Today: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a 15-inch funds touchscreen laptop computer, and we examined a $769 configuration accessible by way of Costco. I’m typically a fan of Lenovo laptops, however this one isn’t as much as the usual I count on from them. While this laptop computer does have a pleasant design and strong construct high quality, it appears like so many corners have been minimize — and the worth has crept up sufficient — that the ensuing product isn’t an awesome deal. This is the sort of product that makes ‘budget’ really feel like a warning, and right here’s why.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Specs

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has an Intel Core 5 210H CPU. While that is an Intel Core (Series 2) processor, it’s primarily based on final 12 months’s Raptor Lake hardware somewhat than this 12 months’s Lunar Lake hardware. That means you gained’t discover a neural processing unit (NPU) for Copilot+ PC options and different AI duties right here. You additionally gained’t discover the improved energy effectivity and dramatically boosted built-in graphics Lunar Lake delivered right here, both.

• Model quantity: 15IRH10R (83Okay4000RUS)
• CPU: Intel Core 5 210H
• Memory: 16 GB DDR5 RAM
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Graphics
• NPU: None
• Display: 15.3-inch 1920×1200 IPS show with 60Hz refresh fee and contact display screen
• Storage: 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam with bodily privateness shutter
• Connectivity: 1x USB Type-C (USB 5Gbps), 2x USB Type-A (USB 5Gbps), 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x combo audio jack, 1x SD card reader, 1x energy connector
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• Biometrics: IR digicam for facial recognition with Windows Hello
• Battery capability: 60 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 13.52 x 9.43 x 0.74 inches
• Weight: 3.59 kilos
• MSRP: $769 as examined

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The laptop computer’s design is kind of good. It’s fabricated from plastic — no metallic chassis right here — however that clean plastic feels advantageous and there’s nothing creaky or low-quality feeling right here. In its “Cosmic Blue” shade scheme, it’s a pleasant darkish hue that has extra of a blue scheme within the mild. It’s a contemporary Lenovo design that appears loads like higher-end Lenovo laptops.

The hinge feels strong and opens to 180 levels if you wish to lie the machine flat, though I would like each arms to open the laptop computer. It’s a wonderfully serviceable design. It doesn’t look low-cost.

This being a budget-priced client laptop computer, there are a number of popups proper out of the field — however you’ll be able to uninstall McAfee antivirus, for instance, and dismiss the opposite notifications. Those assist maintain the worth down. It’s annoying out of the field, however it’s advantageous.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has an okay keyboard full with a quantity pad on the proper — I like having that quantity pad on bigger laptops like this one, however some individuals could want skipping the quantity pad. It has a backlight, too.

The keyboard feels affordable. Lenovo laptops are likely to have good keyboards, and that is comfy sufficient, however it’s additionally a little bit mushy for a Lenovo keyboard. While typing, I discover the plastic across the keys pushes down into the chassis as I backside out the keys. It contributes to that barely mushy feeling. It’s advantageous for a funds laptop computer, however I eye that value and wonder if that is really within the funds value vary.

The trackpad feels good. It’s extra to the left than it’s on many laptops, however that facilities it beneath the first keyboard space. The floor is good and clean, however after all it’s plastic — a glass trackpad simply feels smoother. The click-down motion feels good to me.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Display and audio system

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3’s 15.3-inch 1920×1200 IPS show is the weakest a part of the expertise. At 300 nits of brightness, it’s on the dim facet on paper. But the show feels unusually dim — and never simply dim, however the colours really feel somewhat uninteresting. I cranked it as much as 100 % brightness and nonetheless really feel like I wish to have it brighter.

The anti-glare coating does work effectively. But a better decision could be good at this measurement — or not less than a panel with extra vibrant colours and higher distinction. The 60Hz refresh fee right here can be somewhat low-end, however it’s the least of my considerations with this show.

This is a touch-screen laptop computer — the contact display screen works effectively, after all. A contact display screen is all the time good to have.

The audio system are additionally missing. They’re on the quiet facet, and the audio high quality is somewhat tinny. I hearken to each Steely Dan’s Aja and Daft Punk’s Get Lucky on Spotify after I evaluate laptop computer audio system. Both the instrument separation in Aja and the bass in Get Lucky had been unusually dangerous for laptop computer audio system. While the construct high quality and design are good, it is a funds laptop computer by way of and thru.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a 1080p digicam with a bodily privateness shutter — which is nice to see. The webcam itself doesn’t really feel notably particular — the colours really feel washed out. Still, it’s a wonderfully serviceable webcam if you happen to want the occasional video assembly. I’ve seen individuals in surprisingly senior positions use a lot worse webcams of their conferences!

The dual-array microphones right here don’t impress, both — they picked up my voice advantageous, however the sound high quality wasn’t notably nice.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 slim has an IR digicam for facial recognition with Windows Hello, so you’ll be able to register together with your face. This works effectively! And I’m happy to see facial recognition {hardware} right here.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Connectivity

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 does have a good choice of ports for a funds laptop computer. On the precise facet, this machine has a USB Type-A port and a full-size SD card reader.

On the left facet, Lenovo features a energy connector (this machine doesn’t cost through USB-C, like many different laptops) together with a second USB Type-A port, an HDMI 1.4 out port, a USB Type-C port, and a combo audio jack. It’s good to see HDMI out together with a number of USB Type-A ports and an SD card slot.

This machine helps Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2 — no future-proof Wi-Fi 7 or Bluetooth 5.4 right here.

While that is definitely sufficient for many individuals, all of it feels a bit low-end when so many laptops are transport with help for Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1 out, Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Performance

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 performs advantageous in day-to-day duties like shopping the net, utilizing Office apps, listening to music on Spotify (assuming you will have headphones,) and utilizing different typical Windows desktop apps. While the Intel Core 5 210H processor right here isn’t a pace demon, it’s greater than adequate for typical Windows desktop use.

As all the time, we ran the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 by way of our standard benchmarks to see the way it performs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of total system efficiency.  With an total PCMark 10 rating of 5,763, the IdeaPad Slim 3 comes a good approach behind dearer laptops with high-end CPUs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on total CPU efficiency. Since it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.

The IdeaPad Slim 3 produced a multi-threaded rating of 3,270 right here. The Intel Core 5 210H with its eight cores (4 efficiency cores and 4 effectivity cores) didn’t produce massive numbers on this multithreaded benchmark — which doesn’t signify real-world use except you will have a demanding and multithreaded CPU-heavy workload.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. This is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, however it runs over an prolonged interval. This calls for the laptop computer’s cooling kick in, and plenty of laptops will throttle and decelerate underneath load.

The Intel Core 5 210H on this machine completed the encode course of in 2,330 seconds, which is almost 39 minutes. That’s a very long time — however once more, this isn’t the sort of machine you purchase if you happen to’re seeking to run intensive CPU-heavy workloads.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This isn’t a gaming laptop, however it’s nonetheless good to verify how the GPU performs. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.

Meteor Lake’s built-in Intel Graphics right here actually dragged this machine down. With a rating of 3Dmark Time Spy rating of 1,164, that is three to 4 instances slower than trendy laptops with Intel Lunar Lake’s Arc graphics {hardware}. If you wish to play the occasional sport or run a GPU-intensive app, this growing old platform is a significant disadvantage.

Overall, whereas the IdeaPad Slim 3 did a advantageous job of working typical desktop purposes, its efficiency doesn’t shine. The multithreaded efficiency isn’t a giant deal right here, however the low built-in graphics efficiency hurts.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Battery life

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a 60 Watt-hour battery, which isn’t notably large however is affordable — Lenovo might’ve gone right down to a 50 Watt-hour battery to save lots of on value.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. We set the display screen to 250 nits of brightness for our battery benchmark. This is a best-case situation for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly, and actual battery life in day-to-day use is all the time going to be lower than this.

The machine lasted for a mean of 561 minutes — that’s almost 9 and a half hours — earlier than suspending itself. That could seem to be a powerful quantity, however it implies that it has no hope of constructing it by way of an eight-hour workday in actual use. The mixture of the much less power-efficient Raptor Lake {hardware} and a 60 Watt-hour battery life sees to that. But this machine seems much less spectacular as a result of Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm have made large strides in energy effectivity since Raptor Lake’s launch. This was regular. But by mid-2025, you are able to do a lot better.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Conclusion

When I evaluate laptops, I wish to ask “Who is this for?”. Even if a laptop computer doesn’t make sense for most individuals, there’s often somebody who will find it irresistible. But after I take a look at the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, I actually don’t get it. The design and construct high quality are good, and it presents affordable desktop efficiency and a better-than-average port choice, except you scrutinize the specs too carefully.

But the worth of $769 simply feels too excessive for a machine the place nothing actually shines. If the show appeared higher or not less than wasn’t so uninteresting, I feel I might see the argument for this machine. When I take a look at PCWorld’s list of the best laptops, I see each funds laptops which might be a lot cheaper — and laptops in the same value vary that provide a greater expertise.

On the opposite hand, if you happen to don’t want all that a lot out of your PC and you discover this on sale for much less, it’ll do okay. But I can’t suggest the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 at its retail value.