Finding an entry-level laptop that goes beyond being a mere paperweight can be quite challenging. Many budget-friendly options often sacrifice performance and features, leaving users with a less-than-satisfactory computing experience.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (81X700FUUS) that we're going to be looking into today boasts a 14-inch Full HD display with a narrow bezel design. It is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, with 2 cores and 4 threads, providing reliable performance for day-to-day tasks. The laptop comes equipped with 8GB of RAM, offering decent multitasking capabilities for casual use and in terms of storage, it features a 128GB SSD, which ensures faster boot times and app loading.
In this review, we'll take a closer look at the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS, a promising everyday notebook that aims to strike a balance between affordability and functionality. Will this be the best notebook for you? That's what we've set out to uncover in this extensive and thorough review today.
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-1115G4 (Total Cores: 2, Total Threads: 4, Max Turbo Frequency: 4.10 GHz, Cache: 6 MB) |
| Graphics Card | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Display | 14” Full HD (1920x1080) with narrow bezel |
| Memory | 8GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB SSD (PCIE x 4) |
| Cooling System | N/A |
| Connectivity | 2x USB 3.0 Ports, 1x USB 2.0 Port |
| Webcam | 720p camera with dual microphone |
| Battery | Up to 7.5 hours battery life |
Who's this laptop for?
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS is a budget-friendly laptop designed for students, casual users, and professionals seeking a reliable and efficient device for everyday tasks. With its 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD, it handles web browsing, word processing, and multimedia consumption with ease.
The compact 14-inch display, enhanced by Dolby Audio, ensures an enjoyable media experience and smooth video calls. Its lightweight and slim design make it perfect for on-the-go productivity, while the physical shutter for the webcam adds an extra layer of privacy for business-related meetings. If you're looking for an affordable and practical laptop for day-to-day use, the IdeaPad 3 is a solid choice.
Design, Display, and Keyboard
The 81X700FUUS embraces a sleek and minimalist design, with its platinum grey finish exuding a professional yet understated appearance.
The narrow bezels on two sides of the 14-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080 pixels) display create a more immersive viewing experience, ideal for media consumption and productivity. Additionally, the laptop's portability is enhanced by its slim and lightweight build, making it easy to carry on the go. In several ways, it reminds us of the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 82HU015AUS convertible.
The keyboard on the IdeaPad 3 is well-spaced and comfortable to type on, making it suitable for extended typing sessions. It should be noted that the keyboard is not backlit, as is often the case when we're talking about budget-friendly notebooks such as this one and boasting the 14-inch form factor also means that there's no dedicated numpad on the side, providing more spacious keys for your everyday typing needs.
Performance
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS is equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, which delivers reliable performance for everyday tasks. With its two cores and four threads, this processor can handle web browsing, email, document editing, and other routine activities smoothly. The base clock speed of 3.00 GHz ensures responsiveness, and when more power is needed, it can turbo boost up to 4.10 GHz.
For the non-technical crowd, this means that the IdeaPad 3 will boot up quickly and launch applications without any noticeable delays. Whether you're working on documents, checking emails, or streaming videos, the laptop will handle these tasks with ease.
The 8GB of RAM ensures smooth multitasking, allowing you to have multiple applications open simultaneously without experiencing sluggishness. For casual users, students, and professionals, this means seamless switching between different tasks without any performance hiccups.
More RAM, such as 16 GB would be great for powerusers that need to work with literally dozens of things open at a time but if that's not your case and you're going to have 10-12 tabs open while maybe listening to spotify on the background then 8 GB should be more than enough. Otherwise you could also consider the ASUS VivoBook 16 M1605YA-ES52 for better multitasking performance.
To further enhance its day-to-day performance, the IdeaPad 3 comes with a 128GB SSD. Unlike traditional hard drives, an SSD provides faster data access and app loading times. This means you'll spend less time waiting for the laptop to start up or applications to load, and more time being productive.
For the technical crowd, the i3-1115G4 processor strikes a balance between power efficiency and performance. While it might not be suitable for resource-intensive tasks like gaming or video editing, it excels in handling typical computing needs. The 8GB of RAM complements the processor well, providing enough memory for smooth multitasking under relatively basic usage.
However, the 128GB SSD might be a bit limited in terms of storage space for some users. If you need more storage for media files, games, or large applications, you might consider external drives or cloud storage options.
In conclusion, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 delivers a solid day-to-day performance suitable for everyday computing tasks. Whether you're a casual user or someone who needs a reliable laptop for work or study, the 81X700FUUS offers smooth operation, quick boot times, and efficient multitasking, making it a practical choice for budget-conscious users seeking a dependable entry-level laptop.
Graphics Card
Moving towards the graphics department of this review, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS relies on integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is sufficient for handling everyday graphics tasks and basic multimedia needs. We've used it with this in mind and had no issues streaming marathons of Netflix's Black Mirror or doing some light photo editing on this laptop.
However, it should be noted that this graphics solution is not designed for gaming or rendering intensive 3D graphics.
For casual gamers or those needing more graphical horsepower, a dedicated graphics card would be more suitable. On that front we would entice you to check out one of the most interesting budget gaming laptop's to hit the market this year, the Acer NITRO 5 AN515-58-57Y8. The price point is slightly higher - though it's currently on sale - but the specs are much more in line with hardcore graphical productivity.
What are Customers Saying?
Customer reviews for the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS have been generally positive. Users have praised its speedy performance and smooth boot-up times, making it a reliable option for daily tasks.
However, it's important to note that some customers have pointed out that the integrated graphics might not be sufficient for heavy gaming or demanding graphical applications. Again, we're talking about an extremely affordable laptop over here so that's not really surprising.
Connectivity, Webcam, and Battery Life
The IdeaPad 3 offers a reasonable selection of ports, including two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port, as well as an SD card reader. This provides enough connectivity options for connecting peripherals and external displays.
Much like the Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS there's no USB Type-C port nor an ethernet port. However, unlike this interesting touchscreen notebook, the model we're reviewing today does feature a Full HD display.
The built-in 720p webcam, coupled with the dual microphone, offers a solid quality when it comes to videoconferencing and the likes. It doesn't have any of the interesting features we've seen in other models such as the AI noise reduction of the ASUS VivoBook 15 F1500EA-AS31 but if you're not going to spend your day-to-day taking conference calls then this is not a big deal.
Regarding battery life, the 81X700FUUS impresses with its up to 7.5 hours of usage on a single charge. This battery life is sufficient for a typical workday or extended periods of web browsing and media consumption, making it suitable for on-the-go use.
In our experience, though, under mixed usage with brightness set at 70% this number is far closer to 5-6 hours. It's still good but not at the top of the game when it comes to laptop battery life, something users can attest to.
Special Features
The laptop's special features include Dolby Audio, which enhances the audio quality for a more enjoyable entertainment experience, helping the budget laptop go above and beyond what we're used to seeing in this price range.
Additionally, the physical shutter for the webcam is a noteworthy addition, ensuring user privacy and peace of mind. The IdeaPad 3's thin and light design further enhances its portability, making it a versatile companion for users who need to work and play from various locations.
Conclusion
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 81X700FUUS is a commendable everyday notebook that excels in offering reliable performance and essential features at an affordable price. It provides a seamless computing experience for non-technical users, making it an ideal choice for students, casual users, and professionals seeking a budget-friendly laptop for everyday tasks.
While it might not be suitable for intensive gaming or graphics-heavy applications, its snappy performance, respectable battery life, and thoughtful design make it a worthy contender in the entry-level laptop market.
Ultimately, if you're looking for an entry-level laptop that doesn't compromise on performance and functionality, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a solid choice. Whether you need a device for productivity, multimedia, or casual use, this notebook delivers dependable performance with practical features.