Laptops Review

The IdeaPad Slim 3 83ES0039GE is a robust and affordable all-rounder. it offers a wide range of features at a fair price. Find out what compromises it makes and whether it's the right laptop for you in our comprehensive review.

Simple design and flawless workmanship

The IdeaPad Slim 3 features a simple design and comes in a shade of blue called "Abyss Blue." The keys are black, and, like the black display bezels, contrast with the rest of the notebook. It's also available in gray.

The build quality is good, and the IdeaPad feels comfortable in the hand. Sure, you won't find aluminum in this price range, but the ABS plastic feels sturdy. Lenovo has had it tested to the military standard "MIL-STD-810H." This means it's resistant to extreme temperatures, humidity, shocks, and vibrations. However, since it's made of plastic, you shouldn't take any chances with it.

For a 16" notebook, the weight is moderate at 1.74 kg. The height is also pleasantly slim at 1.8 cm.

Without key illumination and Windows

The keyboard and touchpad do their job perfectly. There's no reason to complain. The keyboard has only one limitation: It doesn't have a backlight. So, you'll have to rely on adequate ambient lighting.

The IdeaPad Slim 3 comes with FreeDOS by default. If you want to use it with Windows, you'll need to install it. This is easily done from a USB stick. We have instructions for you here ( Installing Windows 11 from a USB stick ).

Connectivity not quite up to date

In terms of connectivity, you're well-equipped. You get two USB-A 3.2 Gen1 ports (5 Gbps), one USB-C 3.2 Gen1 port (5 Gbps) with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.2 (3840x2160p@60Hz), one HDMI 1.4 port (3840x2160p@30Hz), a 3.5mm combo jack, and an SD card reader.

For wireless communication, you have WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2, which provide a reliable wireless connection for most applications. The 5 Gbps USB ports offer a maximum transfer rate of 625 MB/s, which is sufficient for everyday use in most cases.

Office display uses the modern 16:10 format

Cheap laptops often skimp on the display. Fortunately, that's not the case here. The 16-inch display has a resolution of 1920x1200 pixels and displays content sharply. You also have more vertical space than a standard Full HD display in 16:9 format. That's very convenient.

The maximum brightness is 300 nits. This allows you to work comfortably even in bright environments, but it's not sufficient for outdoor use. Since the IPS display is matte, you won't have any annoying reflections.

You shouldn't necessarily use the IdeaPad Slim 3 for image editing, as its color space coverage is limited to 45% of the NTSC color space. Colors appear pale, but this isn't a problem for everyday office use and media consumption.

Acceptable performance for office and media consumption

The performance of the IdeaPad Slim 3 is easily sufficient for everyday use. It's equipped with an Intel Core i5-12450H. The processor is older, but it has enough power for surfing, streaming, office work, and other tasks. At the same time, it's an energy-efficient CPU, which means you can even be on the go for a while without the small power adapter. Lenovo isn't revealing the exact battery life; the battery has a capacity of 47Wh. Experience shows that a full workday with the IdeaPad Slim 3 isn't feasible. After 5-6 hours at the most, it's over. But the 65W power adapter fits in any bag, allowing you to work on the go without any problems. According to Lenovo, it charges back to 80% in just one hour.

The Core i5 has access to 16 GB of fast DDR5 RAM. Both RAM modules are soldered in place and cannot be upgraded. That's a shame, but not a big deal. There's no need to expand the RAM in the foreseeable future. For your data, there's a fast 1 TB SSD. In the CrystalDisk benchmark, it achieved 4634 MB/s read and 3606 MB/s write speeds. That's fast enough for everyday use.

The SSD can be replaced

The built-in SSD offers plenty of space for your data and won't need to be replaced any time soon. Should that become necessary, you can easily open the IdeaPad Slim 3 with a small Torx screwdriver. The SSD will then be positioned in the center of the case.

If you want to buy a new SSD, you have to pay attention to the format. It's an M.2 2242 SSD. Unfortunately, other sizes won't fit in the IdeaPad.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Affordable notebook for everyday use

The IdeaPad Slim 3 is a good all-around laptop for schoolchildren, students, and office workers looking for a reliable device for everyday use. It remains quiet even under load and offers enough performance reserves to allow you to use it for a long time.

The IdeaPad Slim 3 is priced at around €500*, which is a good price for what it offers. Compromises are necessary with the slightly older hardware and the soldered RAM. However, the Core i5 and 16 GB should be sufficient for everyday use for a few more years

For more details please visit https://www.lenovo.com/pk/en/c/laptops/ideapad/ideapad-3-series/?orgRef=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252F&srsltid=AfmBOooYIg3boX_KTp0aaSaLbXsbAZg3wqvM8i64FTPx5DEMONCl-1Ku