Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i 15.6" Full HD Arctic Grey 2023 Review

The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is a basic laptop that knows its place. It's for someone who needs a simple Windows machine for web browsing, documents, and video calls, and doesn't want to spend much. The Intel N305 CPU and 8GB of RAM are fine for that, but you're not getting any extra power or future-proofing here.

It's got a decent number of ports, which is a nice surprise, and the touchscreen is a bonus for the price. But the 128GB storage is tiny, and the TN screen is dim and washed out. This is a laptop built to a very strict budget.

Performance is exactly what you'd expect from the specs. The Intel N305 CPU lands in the 16th percentile, so it's slow compared to most laptops, but it can handle basic tasks. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics is fine for streaming video, but that's it. Gaming is a non-starter, scoring a 12.3 out of 100. The 8GB of RAM is also in the bottom 20%, so don't expect to have dozens of browser tabs open. It's a machine for one thing at a time.

The value here depends entirely on the price you find. It ranges from $239 to $450 across different sellers. At the low end, around $250, it's a fair deal for a basic, new laptop with a touchscreen. At $450, it's a terrible buy. You can find much better specs from older refurbished models or other budget brands at that price. Always hunt for the $239 deal.

Compared to its direct budget rivals, the Slim 3i's main advantage is the touchscreen and port selection. A similarly priced Acer Aspire or HP Pavilion might have a slightly better screen or more storage, but lack the touch input. It's not in the same universe as the high-end competitors listed, like the MacBook Pro or gaming laptops. Those are for completely different users with ten times the budget. For a true ultraportable, the ASUS Zenbook Duo is in another league for productivity, but costs four times as much.

Buy this if you're a student or someone who needs a bare-bones, new laptop for under $300 and you really want a touchscreen. It's a decent machine for writing papers, attending Zoom classes, and light web use. Do not buy this if you need storage for photos or music, care about screen quality, want to do any multitasking, or find it priced above $300. There are better options.