Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i Review: A Great Option for the Casual Gamer

POSITIVES

✓ Price

Solid specs for the budget price point with different options

✓ Look and feel

Polished and professional looking

✓ Lightweight

Only 4.8 pounds

NEGATIVES

✘ One color backlit keyboard

Just blue

✘ Weak speakers

Sound appears to be flat when volume increases

✘ Decent colors for the display

Not ideal for designers or editors

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Retail Price: $829+

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DISCLAIMER: LENOVO SENT US A REVIEW UNIT OF THE IDEAPAD GAMING 3I LAPTOP BUT ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE OUR OWN

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Product Specs +

• 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display
• 10th Generation Intel Core i7 (i5 option available)
• Windows 10 OS
• up to 120 Hz refresh rate
• 8 GB of RAM
• 1 TB of storage (512 GB option available)
• 720p Camera
• 2 x USB 3.2
• USB-C 3.2
• HDMI 2.0
• RJ45
• Headphone/mic combo
• Bluetooth 5.0
• Dolby Audio
• 45W battery

The Basics

The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is essentially an updated version of the Lenovo IdeaPad L340 but with a name change and update with this year’s release. There are three different configurations offered with prices starting at $799 and going as high as $879. The version that I’m reviewing today is their highest end model and has a 10th generation i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 512 GB of storage, and an NVIDIA GTX 1650 graphics card. It also has 2 slots for expandable RAM as well.

On first impressions, the IdeaPad Gaming 3i looks like it can be more expensive than what it retails for. It has a very clean and sleek look with a brushed plastic feel that doesn’t feel cheap. The curves in the design are noticeable but not awkwardly shaped. It’s also incredibly lightweight at 4.8 pounds, especially for a gaming laptop and would be easy to travel or walk across campus with. In terms of ports, there’s a lot that Lenovo offers here. There’s a power connector, RJ45, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C, an audio jack on one side and then additional USB-A port on the other end. 

Some Drawbacks

When you open up the laptop, which by the way does pass the one-finger test, you’re greeted with a blue backlit keyboard and while you can’t change the color on this, I really like the hue of this blue and had no problem using it. It’s also adjustable at two levels so if you don’t like your letter keys to be lit, you can easily change that look. The keys themselves are tactile with very good travel distance and feel premium possessing a nicely curved shape. As for the touchpad, it’s average sized and feels a little more plastic than I’d like. However, I imagine that most users will be like me and use a mouse while gaming so it didn’t bother me as much in the grand scheme of things. 

The speakers on the IdeaPad Gaming 3i are bottom side firing and even though they get pretty loud, the sound appeared flat to me. In many scenarios, I think you’d be wearing headphones. Just remember there are certain sacrifices to be made in build quality for a sub-$1,000 laptop.

Let’s move on to display. The IdeaPad Gaming 3i has a 15.6” FHD 1920 x 1080p IPS display. It also has a 120 Hz refresh rate which is quite satisfying on the games I’ve been playing on here. That being said, the colors on this laptop are just decent in my opinion. Playing games is still immersive and a visually appealing experience, but if you’re going to be doing any kind of design work using editing apps like Photoshop or Lightroom, this might not be the best laptop for those scenarios. Instead, this display would work out fine for someone who is more of a casual gamer and is a student or programmer or data scientist. 

Speaking of games, it has been a very enjoyable experience playing on this computer. The IdeaPad Gaming 3i is a very well-built laptop in terms of parts configuration and I’ve had minimal frame drops while playing. Overall I’d say this is a very solid gaming laptop. It also does well with cooling. In my usage, it doesn't get too hot or even loud. If you’ve tried out the EVOO gaming laptop you probably can’t get the fan noise out of your head. It isn’t like that here. Intensive AAA titles may force you to drop the settings on occasion, but overall it keeps up with a modern gamer’s needs pretty well. 

Overall Thoughts

Honestly, I enjoyed using this laptop a lot more than I thought I would. It won’t blow you away with looks nor specs, but given the price point and overall build quality that Lenovo offers for the IdeaPad Gaming 3i, I’d recommend this for the casual gamer looking for a versatile laptop. Despite some shortcomings like a cheaper feeling touchpad and less vibrant display, for $879 or less depending on your configuration, this is a very solid option.

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