Finding a mid-range laptop that strikes the perfect balance between performance, features, and affordability can be quite challenging. However, the Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS aims to fulfill these requirements with its impressive specifications and attractive design.
With an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, and a 15.6" HD Touchscreen, this laptop offers a solid foundation for everyday computing tasks and multimedia consumption.
In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the different aspects of the Lenovo Ideapad 3, evaluating everything you need to know to help you make an informed decision. Is this the best laptop in the market? No. But it might be the perfect option for you and that's what we're here to find out!
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Laptop Name | Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS |
| Display | 15.6" HD Touchscreen |
| Resolution | 1366 x 768 |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 Dual-Core 3.0GHz Processor |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 Hours |
| Weight | 3.64 Pounds |
Who's this laptop for?
The Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS is perfect for students, professionals, and casual users who need an affordable and reliable laptop for everyday tasks.
It's lightweight and portable, making it convenient for students to carry between classes. Professionals will appreciate its reliable performance for productivity tasks and video conferences. Casual users will enjoy its affordability and ability to handle web browsing and media streaming. Overall, this laptop caters to a wide range of users looking for a capable everyday laptop without breaking the bank.
Design, Display, and Keyboard
The Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS features a fairly standard design that's easy on the eyes thanks to its minimalistic styling. Its slim profile and clean lines make it visually appealing, while the Almond color adds a touch of sophistication. Also, the laptop is lightweight, weighing in at just 3.64 pounds, which makes it highly portable and suitable for on-the-go use.
The 15.6" HD Touchscreen display offers a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels, providing good colors and decent image quality for everyday tasks, web browsing, and media consumption.
We're not going to lie, HD is a bit surprising in this day and age when most budget laptops ship with a Full HD display, more so when you consider the 15-inch form-factor. However, if you're a student or a casual user you can get by. Having said that, if screen resolution is a deal-breaker for you then we'd suggest looking at other budget options such as the ASUS VivoBook 15 F1500EA-AS31.
Moving on with the review, we can tell you that the touchscreen functionality adds an extra layer of convenience, allowing users to interact with the laptop in a more intuitive way, such as zooming, scrolling, and tapping. It works well but it's nothing to write home about.
Lastly, the keyboard on the Lenovo Ideapad 3 is comfortable and well-spaced, making typing a breeze. Although it does not have backlighting, the layout is ergonomic and intuitive, ensuring a pleasant typing experience even in low-light conditions. Additionally, the touchpad is adequately sized and accurately tracks finger movements, enhancing the overall usability of the laptop.
Performance
Under the hood, the 81X800ENUS is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 dual-core processor. With a base clock speed of 3.0GHz and the ability to reach up to 4.10GHz with Intel Turbo Boost technology, this processor offers ample power for everyday computing tasks, such as web browsing, word processing, and media streaming. It handles these tasks with ease, ensuring smooth performance and responsiveness.
Accompanying the processor is 8GB of DDR4 RAM, which provides sufficient memory for multitasking and running multiple applications simultaneously. Whether you're working with several browser tabs open, editing documents, or engaging in light photo editing, the Lenovo Ideapad 3 can handle these tasks without slowing down or experiencing significant lag.
However, if you're a hardcore multitasker who's going to do his fair share of video editing and photo editing we would suggest considering an alternative with 16 GB of RAM such as the other Lenovo convertible; Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 82HU015AUS.
Storage-wise, this laptop is equipped with a 256GB PCIe NVMe solid-state drive (SSD). The SSD offers fast boot-up times, allowing you to start your laptop quickly and access your files without delay. It's the standard these days amongst laptops in this price range. For more storage you'd have to spend a bit more.
For the non-technical crowd, this configuration translates to a laptop that can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, email, document editing, and media streaming without any issues. It provides a smooth and efficient user experience, even when running multiple applications simultaneously. It's not a powerhouse by any means but for people who will mainly work on web-based applications, edit office documents and stream videos it's more than enough.
On the graphic's side of things, the Lenovo Ideapad 3 is equipped with integrated Intel UHD Graphics, which offers sufficient performance for casual gaming, video streaming, and multimedia consumption. While it may not deliver the same level of graphical prowess as dedicated graphics cards, it is capable of handling some popular games at lower settings and offers smooth playback of high-definition videos.
Then again, we would doubt that anyone would be buying this particular notebook with gaming in mind. For a gamer you'd be better off looking at notebooks such as the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-57Y8, Acer's foray into the budget-gaming space.
What Are Customers Saying?
Customers who have purchased the Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS have generally expressed satisfaction with their purchase. Many appreciate the laptop's lightweight design and sleek appearance, which gives it a premium look and feel.
The laptop's performance meets the needs of most users, with positive remarks about its ability to handle everyday tasks, web browsing, and media consumption with ease. Customers also commend its reliability and suitability for work, school, and personal use.
Some customers have mentioned minor issues, such as occasional screen flickering or relatively short battery life. However, these concerns are outweighed by the laptop's overall performance and affordability. It is important to note that battery life can vary depending on usage patterns, and the provided 7-hour battery life should suffice for most users during a typical work or school day.
Overall, the feedback from customers suggests that the Lenovo Ideapad 3 is a solid choice for individuals seeking a reliable, mid-range laptop that offers good performance and value for money.
Connectivity, Webcam, and Battery Life
The Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS comes with a range of connectivity options to ensure compatibility with various peripherals and accessories.
It includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, one USB 2.0 Type-A port, an HDMI port, and a combination audio jack. These ports provide ample connectivity for external storage devices, printers, displays, and audio peripherals.
Curiously enough, there's no USB Type-C port, nor an ethernet port. The lack of an ethernet port ona budget laptop is understandable but the lack of a USB Type-C port in 2023 seems a bit out of date and could definitely represent a problem for some users, so keep that in mind.
In terms of wireless connectivity, the laptop features Wireless-AC Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth, allowing for seamless wireless internet connections and peripheral connectivity. Again, this is not the latest WiFi standard but that's actually quite normal amongst laptops in this price range.
The built-in HD webcam and microphone are useful for video conferencing, online meetings, and the likes. It gets the job done.
Finally, battery life is an essential consideration for users who require portability and need their laptop to last throughout the day. On that front, the Lenovo Ideapad 3 offers a lithium-ion battery that can provide up to 7 hours of usage on a single charge, between 4 and 5 hours on a mixed to intensive usage.
While this may not be the longest battery life among laptops, it is reasonable for most day-to-day tasks and allows for several hours of productivity or entertainment without requiring immediate recharging.
Wrapping Things Up: Should You Buy It?
In conclusion, the Lenovo Ideapad 3 81X800ENUS is a respectable mid-range laptop that offers an solid balance of performance, design, and affordability. With its 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, web browsing, and media consumption.
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics card provides satisfactory graphical performance for casual gaming and multimedia applications. The laptop's design is sleek and lightweight, making it highly portable and visually appealing.
Is it the best laptop in the market? No, it's not. We would've liked to see a Full HD display along with a USB Type-C port to really push for this laptop but with its current specs while not a bad laptop you might still want to check out alternatives such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 82HU015BUS, the HP 15-dy5599nr, or ideally the ASUS VivoBook 15 F1500EA-AS31 for the best balance between specs and price.