Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Review

If you’ve found yourself on Reddit searching “laptops on a budget”, you might have come across the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 as a potential option. Most people are skeptical of any laptop below a certain price range, I am not one of them. All computers have a target audience.

This Lenovo IdeaPad 3 review aims to be as candid as possible about its performance, display, reliability, and how well it pairs with Office tools. Here we will be presenting only the real-world strengths as well as limitations. Keep reading to find out if the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 budget laptop is the real deal.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Performance, Pricing & Hardware Durability

When picking out a laptop from a line of them at the store the most people would do is check the speed, how fast the laptop responds to movement on the trackpad, or try booting it up. For this Lenovo IdeaPad review, I will look at 3 main components: daily performance, value for your buck, and overall build. Let’s go through each one.

Everyday Performance

If everyday use is the benchmark to test quality, then I would say the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 works pretty well. It is smooth, responsive, and can carry out tasks like web browsing or document editing with relative ease.

I would say as a budget-friendly option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 12th Gen performance is nothing to scoff at. It is best suited for students. They can easily listen to their lectures, complete their assignments, or do research for their term papers on Intel 12th Gen i3 or i5 models.

If you’re conflicted between configuration models, I would say go for the 8GB RAM without hesitation. That being said, I would prefer my Acer Aspire 5 because of its slightly faster SSD.

The two are equally competent when it comes to lighter tasks but if you need a computer for more complex tasks (let's say streaming) avoid the 4GB RAM single-channel configuration on the Lenovo.

Price & Value:

The whole appeal of the Lenovo IdeaPad series is the price point. I understand people being skeptical because of the “you get what you pay for” mentality. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 holds its ground pretty well in the ‘price-for-value’ category.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a solid laptop for its price. Configurations like the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD retail for about $400. They’re able to multitask with impressive speeds, the RAM allows for smooth operation for day-to-day tasks and the SSD gives you a quick boot.

In comparison, an Acer does have similarly priced Chromebooks such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 priced at around $449 but offers a $150 discount. The Acer comes with an Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, and a touchscreen but reviewing them side-by-side I found the Lenovo better at running traditional desktop software.

ThinkPads are in a league of their own. An older model, even a refurbished one, can offer business-grade performance, is robust, comfortable to use, and can retail for about $420 easily. However, an older model might also be worse for wear, might have a limited warranty, and might not be able to compete with newer models.

A quick comparison table might make this easier to dissect

For that price and those features, I would say that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a fantastic option for students. They can even make use of back-to-school discounts to save even more on a brand new laptop that will make their academic years a breeze.

Build Quality & Repairs:

The Lenovo IdeaPad has a plastic body for the most part. Excluding a few elements in the keyboard deck, the IdeaPad was made to be portable and therefore a metal body is not practical with the design. The Chassis is, of course, plastic but I found it to be quite solid, especially with its 165-degree hinge.

The simple design might not always be a drawback, though. It can allow for easy access to the computer's internal hardware. Just a few loose screws and you can lift the bottom panel to tinker around with components like the SSD, Wi-Fi card, and battery (in case you need a replacement, don’t mess with it otherwise, I learned that the hard way).

iFixit does have detailed guides on several IdeaPad models. Meaning they believe it does have a certain level of repairability, but they haven’t assigned it a repairability score.

Outlook aside, you can always improve whatever’s on the inside. Upgradability largely depends on the model you’re working with. For example, some models come with 4GB RAM and a SO-DIMM slot for allowing a 12GB upgrade, others may allow for a whopping 16GB upgrade, and certain models don’t allow upgrades at all (watch out for those).

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Software Compatibility, Office Tasks & Creative Limits

The specifications of any computer don’t matter if it's not compatible with softwares, features, and apps (online or offline) that you need every day. In my Lenovo IdeaPad 3 review, I have evaluated its compatibility with several tools and made note of its limitations, and can confidently tell you that the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 works well with the following:

1. Office Suite Compatibility:

Here is a list of all the Office Suites that worked extremely well for me

Microsoft Office

• Impressively smooth on both 4GB and 8GB configurations.

• Lag-free typing, formatting, spreadsheet calculations, and presentation building.

• Use an 8GB dual-channel configuration for heavier files such as massive Excel sheets.

Google Workspace

• Works like a dream in Chrome browsers if you have an 8GB configuration.

• If you have a 4GB configuration, you might run into occasional reloads when the workload is heavier or when multitasking or switching between tabs.

WPS Office

• By far, my favorite Office Suite to work with on the IdeaPad 3 is WPS Office because it is extremely lightweight.

• Very responsive, no lags or reloads

• It is reliable even on 4GB configurations with basic CPUs like Ryzen 3

2. Creative & Casual Use

Here is my experience using the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 for recreational or creative purposes

Photoshop

• Light tasks like resizing, cropping, and color adjustment work fine.

• The pace slows down when I try working on high-resolution raw files or use too many layers.

• You might want to get Ryzen 5 with 8GB configuration models for Photoshop, it is a heavy software, so more space and better processing power will only work in your favor.

Canva

• Once again the the 8GB configuration beats the 4GB one. You’ll find the website works better when it has more room to play.

• High-definition images or image-rich designs are considerably difficult for 4 GBs to handle

CapCut (Video Editing)

• Basic 720p-1080p editing worked without a hitch

• Rendering is more manageable on Ryzen 5/8GB variants, so that is my recommendation if you are into editing videos for your social media or for work.

3. Playable Games

Plenty of students are into gaming these days, and they ask me if the Lenovo they got on a budget is good for gaming.

• I am happy to report that you don’t have to give up on Minecraft if it's the Java or Bedrock edition, it should run at about 50-60 fps on the medium setting

• Valorant players rejoice, you can play your favorite game in your dorms again at 50-60 fps on medium setting with Vega 6 graphics.

• If you’re into games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy or Elden Ring, you’re going to have to invest in a good gaming laptop because the IdeaPad 3 is meant for light work and light gaming.

4. Limitations

While the IdeaPad is a fully functional everyday use laptop, it's not the best laptop on the market, and so it does have some downsides. Personally, I didn’t like the following constraints.

No Touchscreen

Given the laptop’s lightweight, I thought a touchscreen would make the tablet experience a bit more elevated, but unfortunately, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 does not support one. If you’re an artist or a graphic designer, you might want to look into a Lenovo Slim review or the Lenovo Flex 5 for your artistic pursuits.

Low Color Accuracy

Jobs like photo retouching, editing, or graphic design require you to be acutely aware of colors and for that you need a good visual display. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case with Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with its 45% NTSC, narrow viewing angles, and low-end IPS panels.

No USB-C

Pre-2022 variants lack the USB-C altogether, so no USB-C charging and no DisplayPort. As someone with USB-C cables all over the house, I find this aspect particularly annoying.

Is the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Right for You?

Depending on your occupation? Could be true, could be false. Let’s go through a couple of them

Students

Is Lenovo IdeaPad 3 good for students? I’d have to say yes. The plastic casing makes it easy to carry around campus, the battery lasts you a good 7-10 hours if you want to do your assignments in the library and don’t want to worry about finding a charging spot. The keyboard is pretty responsive and basic programs run with decent speed.

Pair that with Office Suites, preferably a free one like WPS Office, and you have a convenient laptop for all your academic needs.

Home & Hybrid Workers

It's a great budget-friendly option for office workers as well, whether you’re working from home or at the office, you can trust your IdeaPad 3 to carry out glitch free Web conferencing, document sharing, and streaming. I recommend you use an external camera for better quality video conferencing, the built-in cam is 720p.

Entry-Level Creators & Casual Gamers:

Do I recommend this laptop to creatives, designers, or hardcore gamers? No, it wasn’t designed for that, and that’s okay. There are plenty of other Lenovo models that were made for those needs. You can use the IdeaPad 3 for browser-based tools and a bit of light gaming when the mood strikes.

WPS Office: A Perfect Match for Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Users

Your choice of laptop does not change the fact that you need Office tools to go along with it, and you need a good one. Fortunately, we don’t have to use our remaining budget to have access to Microsoft Office when we have WPS Office doing the same job but better, for free.

Why WPS Office is a Perfect Match

I downloaded WPS Office when my laptop was acting up and I needed something light that wouldn’t freeze up every few minutes. It ended up being way more useful than I expected.

It works with all Microsoft formats: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, so I can send files to anyone without worrying about weird formatting glitches. It barely takes up any RAM. I’m using it on a Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (definitely not a powerhouse), and it still runs smoothly.

Even the free version gives you all the essentials: a clean PDF editor, cloud sync, and this AI writing tool that’s actually helpful when I get stuck rewriting stuff. The premium version’s there if you need more, but I’ve been fine with the basics so far.

Here’s a quick overview of the core apps I use:

• WPS Writer

A solid alternative to Microsoft Word. It handles all my documents from essays and reports to business documents. Features like tables, images, comments, and track changes are all there in a familiar layout.

• WPS Presentation

It is perfect for creating slide decks when PowerPoint isn’t available. It supports animations, transitions, and full compatibility with .ppt/.pptx formats.

• WPS Spreadsheet

Ideal for budgeting, tracking data, and running calculations. It supports formulas, charts, pivot tables, and conditional formatting.

• WPS PDF

One of the suite’s standout features. You can view, annotate, merge, and convert PDFs, including converting between PDF and Word, without needing third-party software.

Steps to Get Started

Ready to start using Office tools without spending a dime? Here’s how to get WPS Office up and running on your device in just four easy steps:

Step 1: Open your browser and head to the official WPS Office website. Click on the “Free Download” button; your installer will start downloading right away.

Step 2: Once it’s downloaded, just run the installer. WPS works well on both Windows and Linux, so if you're on a Lenovo IdeaPad 3, go ahead and click the “Install” button to get started.

Step 3: Launch WPS Writer, Spreadsheet, or Presentation to create documents, crunch numbers, or design slides. Fully compatible with Microsoft Office file types.

Step 4: Boost productivity with built-in AI tools that assist with writing, editing, and formulas. Perfect for students, professionals, or anyone working with data.

Make use of these Top WPS AI Features for Spreadsheets:

AI Formula Assistant

No need to memorize complex formulas. Just type what you want in plain English (e.g., “Calculate total sales for August”), and the AI will generate the correct formula for you.

Smart Data Cleaning

Tired of manually cleaning messy spreadsheets? Let AI handle it. This tool detects and fixes duplicate entries, missing values, formatting errors, and more, so your data is clean and ready to go.

FAQs

1. Is the IdeaPad 3 enough for basic university work?

I’d have to say, Yes! It is a simple machine but it can still do a lot of the tasks students need computers for, paired with WPS Office, it handles essays, research, and Zoom effortlessly.

2. Can I upgrade the RAM/storage later?

Your upgradability depends on the model you purchased. Some models allow SSD upgrades, but many have soldered RAM. It is best to check your SKU.

3. Is the display good enough for binge-watching?

Casual viewing? Yes, video lectures? Yes, a movie marathon? Probably not. It’s fine for casual viewing, but not bright enough for outdoor use.

4. Will it last more than 3 years?

Yes, just because it is economical does not mean its not durable, with careful use and SSD upgrades, it’s reliable for up to 4–5 years.

5. Does WPS Office support Excel and Word file formats?

Oh, without question. Absolutely! WPS Office is 100% compatible with .docx, .xlsx, .pptx files.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3: Affordable and Capable, But Is That Enough?

I’ve reviewed enough laptops to know that not every laptop is for everybody. In the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 review, we looked at various users and their needs. We looked at its performance and upgradability. We looked at how it supports different software and Office Suites.

There are people who can appreciate a solid, simple machine without it having a lot of flourishes, and that is the best part about the variety of the products I review. I know somewhere out there is a reader who will appreciate the pluses of a simple PC. Whatever choice you make with your PC, the choice you can never go wrong with is WPS Office.