Lenovo’s new IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a more budget-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio laptop

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The IdeaPad Gaming 3 lineup for 2022, which includes two Intel 12th Gen-equipped models, and two AMD Ryzen 6000-series-equipped models, each with a 16-inch option, has been updated. The Legion 5 Pro has a 16:10 aspect ratio display with the option to go up to 1600, which is more desirable because it offers more vertical space for browsing, gaming, or anything else you want to do. They're not particularly good at watching movies or TV shows, which are usually presented in a 16:9 aspect ratio.

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The IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptops look the same, but the specifications differ in some ways. The IdeaPad Gaming 3i supports up to Intel's Core i7-12700H processor and up to Nvidia's RTX 3060 (105W total graphics power) or Intel.

The model supports up to 1 Terabyte of PCIe NVMe M.2 storage and up to 32GB ofDDR4 3,200MHz RAM. It only supports the RTX 3060-equipped one. You can get the QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution display with either size of the 3i, the smaller of which goes up to 350 nits of brightness, or the 16-inch screen, which can go up to 500 nits.

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The laptops can be configured with up to the Ryzen 7 6800H processor and the RTX 3050 Ti. The graphics are getting less attention. The storage situation is the same, but you can get up to 32GB of fasterDDR5 4,800MHz RAM in this one. It doesn't support Thunderbolt 4 as you might have expected. The 16-inch model can support WQHD with the same display specifications as the 15.6-inch model.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3 and 3i have the same dimensions and weight. The 16-inch models are thinner at 20.9mm-thick and weigh about 5.5 pounds. The grey or white versions of the models will be available. If you want more power, you can upgrade to a 60Wh four-cell battery on the base model. The 16-inch model has a four-cell battery.

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Any configuration that appeals to you seems like a big step up from the 2020 model that I reviewed. The newer model has more subtle branding, a refined design, more processor options, better graphics, and better displays. I'm happy to see that the Legion 5 Pro series has a bigger, taller display. It all leads to slightly higher prices.

The IdeaPad Gaming 3i with Intel will be available in April. The starting price for the 16-inch model is more than double the price of the 14-inch model. The IdeaPad Gaming 3 is expected to launch in June with a starting price of $1,139.99, while the 15.6-inch model is expected to launch in May with a starting price of $929.