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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Gateway 11.6" is less expensive and more portable, making it suitable for basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video streaming. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers significantly better performance for engineering tasks, 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming due to its powerful processor and graphics card. The Lenovo also has a larger, higher resolution display, which is better for multimedia and multitasking, but it is heavier and less portable. If budget constraints are a priority and you need a laptop for lighter, everyday use, go for the Gateway. Otherwise, if you require more robust performance for specialized tasks, the Lenovo is the better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.6
7.4
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" falls short for general use primarily due to its weaker CPU, limited RAM, and lower-resolution screen which may hinder smooth multitasking and crisp visuals, despite its high portability and long battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a powerful CPU, more RAM, and a higher-resolution screen, ensuring better performance and clearer images for a variety of tasks, at the cost of being less portable and having a battery life that is good but not as long-lasting as ultra-lightweight options.
Gaming and AI
5.6
6.5
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.5/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" falls short in gaming and 3D applications due to its basic Intel UHD Graphics 600 and a modest 60Hz screen refresh rate, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is better equipped for these tasks with its Nvidia RTX 2050 GPU and a higher 120Hz screen refresh rate. Additionally, the Gateway's Intel Celeron processor and lower screen quality further limit its performance in comparison to the Lenovo's more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and superior screen resolution and quality.
Engineering and Design
5.5
7.1
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Gateway 11.6" has lower performance for engineering and design because it's equipped with a basic Intel Celeron processor and Intel UHD Graphics, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 boasts a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 2050 GPU, making it better suited for demanding tasks. Additionally, the Gateway's screen quality is lower with its smaller size and lower resolution, compared to the Lenovo's larger, higher resolution display, which is important for design clarity and detail.
Content Creation
5.7
7.3
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
5.7
7.1
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
5.7
7.2
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a higher resolution and brighter display compared to the Gateway 11.6", providing a clearer and more vibrant viewing experience. For engineering and design, the Lenovo's display covers a wider range of color gamuts, ensuring more accurate color reproduction which is essential for this type of work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Gateway 11.6" falls short due to its lower refresh rate, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, despite being better than the Gateway, still has a refresh rate that may not satisfy the most demanding gaming and 3D scenarios.
Portability
Excellent
Good
11.6in
SIZE
15.6in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1
7.2
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has good build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$89
$549
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
The Gateway 11.6" has a price of $89 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 costs $549.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Gateway 11.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
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How the Gateway 11.6" and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 11.6" | Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$89 | $549 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.6 lbs | 5.1 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4020 | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | UHD Graphics 600 | RTX 2050 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 60 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 11.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 329 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.2/10 | 7.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | N/A | White | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | October 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 11.6" or the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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