The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (2021) is a 15.6 inch budget gaming laptop. It's nearly identical in design to its sibling, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021), but with Intel 11th Gen CPU options instead of AMD Ryzen processors. You can configure the laptop up to a Core i7 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti, which can deliver a smooth 1080p gaming experience in demanding titles. There are multiple display options, including a 120Hz and 165Hz panel that'll provide better responsiveness than the base 60Hz option. There's NVIDIA Optimus support to help extend battery life in light workloads, but like most budget gaming laptops, there isn't a MUX switch, resulting in a slight performance drop. Models with 8GB of memory and even some 16GB models are in a single-channel configuration, so if you don't plan on upgrading the memory yourself, it's best to opt for a 16GB model in dual-channel mode.
Our Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i has an Intel Core i5-11300H CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated GPU, 8GB of memory, and 1256GB of storage in the form of a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD and a 1TB 2.5 inch 5400rpm hard drive. You can also configure the laptop with a Core i5-11320H, a Core i7-11370H, or a Core i7-11390H. There isn't much performance difference between the two Core i5s, and the same applies to the two Core i7s, though the i7s are faster than the i5s and can provide slightly higher frame rates in games. In terms of the GPU configuration, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 can achieve around 60 fps at 1080p, but you'll have to play at low settings in most games. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 is faster than the GTX 1650 and will get you a more stable 60 fps or more with high settings. The RTX 3050Ti is marginally better than the RTX 3050, providing only a few frames more per second at the most in graphically demanding games.
Our Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is okay for school use. It's a slightly bulky and heavy laptop, so it isn't the most portable, and its battery lasts only about 6 hours of light productivity, not enough to get through a typical school day. The keyboard doesn't cause fatigue over an extended period of use, and the touchpad is large and responsive. The screen displays decently sharp images and text and provides enough space for split-screen multitasking, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat intense glare. The base Intel Core i5-11300H and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 configuration can handle general productivity tasks and some more demanding workloads. If you need even more processing power for intensive tasks like graphic design or 3D animation, you can configure the laptop with a faster Core i7 and an RTX 3050 or 3050Ti GPU.
- Feels well-built.
- Screen provides enough space for multitasking.
- Comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad.
- Dedicated GPU can handle some demanding workloads.
- Battery lasts about 6 hours of light productivity.
- Display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare.
- Webcam image looks too dark.
- Not the most portable due to bulky size and weight.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is decent for gaming. The base Intel Core i5-11300H and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 can deliver a near 60fps gaming experience at 1080p, but you'll have to play at low settings in most games. Otherwise, you can upgrade to an RTX 3050 or 3050Ti, which will provide smoother gameplay and allow you to play at higher settings. You also have to make sure to get 16GB of memory, as the 8GB configuration will result in lower frame rates and stutters. Thankfully, it's very easy to access the internals, meaning you can upgrade the memory yourself later on. The 60Hz display has a slow response time, delivering a blurry image in fast-moving scenes with visible ghosting, but you can get a better-performing 120Hz or 165Hz panel. The performance over time is superb as there's no throttling whatsoever on the CPU or GPU.
- CPU and GPU don't throttle under load.
- 120Hz and 165Hz display options.
- RTX 3050 and 3050Ti can provide smooth gameplay at 1080p.
- User-upgradeable memory and storage drive.
- Limited CPU multi-thread performance.
- Single-rank x16 memory in single-channel mode hampers performance.
- 60Hz display with a slow response time and no VRR support.
- No MUX switch.
- Must play at low settings to get smooth gameplay on GTX 1650 models.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is mediocre for media consumption. It isn't very portable as it's slightly bulky and heavy, and its battery lasts only a little over 3 hours of video playback, so you'll have to bring the charger. The screen looks a bit washed out and doesn't get bright enough to combat glare, though you can upgrade to a brighter panel with 100% sRGB coverage that'll look much better. The speakers are better suited for spoken content than music or movies as they don't have much bass or treble extension, and unfortunately, they don't get very loud.
- 100% sRGB panel option.
- Flicker-free backlight helps reduce eye strain.
- Screen handles reflections well.
- Blacks look gray in dim settings and colors look washed out.
- Quiet speakers.
- Display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare.
- Battery lasts only a little over 3 hours of video playback.
- Not the most portable due to bulky size and weight.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is great as a workstation. You can configure the laptop up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti, which is capable of handling demanding tasks like video editing and 3D rendering; however, the Intel CPUs might struggle a bit in heavily multi-threaded workloads as they only have 4 cores and 8 threads. The performance over time is superb, though, as there's no thermal throttling whatsoever on the CPU or GPU, and the fans don't get overly loud under load. Unfortunately, its single USB-C port doesn't support charging or video output and can only transfer data at USB 3.2 Gen 1 speed of up to 5Gbps.
- CPU and GPU don't throttle under load.
- Dedicated GPU can handle some demanding workloads.
- User-upgradeable memory and storage drive.
- Limited CPU multi-thread performance.
- Single-rank x16 memory in single-channel mode hampers performance.
- USB-C doesn't support charging or video output.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is decent for business use. It's a well-built and sturdy-feeling laptop, but it isn't very portable as it's slightly bulky and heavy. You'll have to carry the charger because its battery lasts only about 6 hours of light productivity. The keyboard provides a great typing experience and doesn't cause fatigue over time, and the touchpad is large and responsive. Its Intel 11th Gen CPU can handle most productivity tasks like text formatting, web browsing, spreadsheets, and presentations. The display is decently sharp and provides enough space for multitasking; however, it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare. Unfortunately, the webcam's video quality is mediocre as the image looks too dark.
- Feels well-built.
- Screen provides enough space for multitasking.
- Comfortable keyboard and responsive touchpad.
- CPU can easily handle productivity tasks like text formatting and spreadsheets.
- Battery lasts about 6 hours of light productivity.
- Display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare.
- Webcam image looks too dark.
- Not the most portable due to bulky size and weight.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 29, 2023: Added mention of the HP Victus 15 (2022) as an alternative with a wider port selection in the Ports section.
- Updated Apr 14, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Apr 04, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 21, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (model 82K100LQUS) with an Intel Core i5-11300H CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 dedicated GPU, 8GB of memory, and 1256GB of storage. The screen, CPU, GPU, memory, and storage are configurable; you can see the available options in the table below. Our review applies only to variants with a model number starting with '82K1'. We've reviewed the AMD-based Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) separately.
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Our display and performance results are only valid for the configuration we tested. If you come across a different configuration option not listed above, or you have a similar Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it. Some tests, like black uniformity and color accuracy, may vary between individual units.
You can see our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
Like the AMD-based Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021), the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i is among the better budget gaming laptops in terms of build quality and the quality of its keyboard and touchpad. However, its Intel 11th Gen CPU doesn't perform as well as other laptops in its price range, like the AMD-based IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the HP Victus 16 (2021).
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (2021) and the Acer Nitro 5 15 (2020) are very similar budget gaming laptops. The Lenovo comes out ahead in terms of user experience because it has a better keyboard and touchpad, and it's available with more powerful GPU options that can provide higher frame rates in games. The Acer's keyboard isn't uncomfortable; it just doesn't register some keystrokes at times, which might be a dealbreaker for some. The Acer has much longer battery life, lasting over four hours longer than the Lenovo in light productivity workloads, albeit only slightly longer when gaming.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (2021) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) are very similar overall. The main difference is that the IdeaPad Gaming 3i has Intel 11th Gen CPU options, while the IdeaPad Gaming 3 has AMD Ryzen 5000-series CPU options. The IdeaPad Gaming 3's AMD Ryzen CPUs perform significantly better than the IdeaPad Gaming 3i's Intel CPUs in multi-threaded workloads, making the AMD system a much better choice for CPU-intensive games and applications. The AMD-based IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a more powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU option, which isn't available on the Intel-based system.
The Dell G15 (2022) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (2021) for gaming and other demanding production workloads like video or 3D graphics. The Dell is available with newer and faster Intel 12th Gen. CPUs, as well as more powerful GPU options, like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 and 3070 Ti. It's also available with a 240Hz QHD display, whereas the Lenovo is only available with FHD screens. However, the Lenovo is more portable, and it feels more sturdily built. The Lenovo also has a better keyboard and touchpad, and it doesn't get as hot or loud under load.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (2021) and the HP Victus 16 (2021) are both budget gaming laptops available with Intel 11th Gen. CPUs and NVIDIA dedicated GPUs. The HP has a larger and more responsive touchpad, as well as a wider port selection that includes an additional USB-A port and HDMI 2.1 support instead of HDMI 2.0. On the other hand, the Lenovo doesn't get as hot or loud under load, and its keyboard feels more comfortable to type on for extended periods. The HP has more powerful CPU options with more cores and threads, providing better performance in CPU-intensive games and applications. It also has a higher-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU option, which isn't available on the Lenovo.
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