You’ll need a laptop with enough power for your recording needs that is also stable so as not to cause any interruptions during your podcasting sessions. If you’re looking for a laptop that can handle your podcasting needs without breaking the bank, then the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a great option. It has an attractive design and powerful performance, and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
To find out more, read our review and see why it’s so popular.
About Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15”
Lenovo Group Limited is a Chinese multinational technology firm specializing in creating, manufacturing, and marketing various electronics, computers, software, business solutions, and other services. Some of their most well-known products include their ThinkPad line of laptop computers, IdeaPad laptops, Yoga and Legion laptops, IdeaCentre and ThinkCentre desktop computers, and smart TVs. In 2021, Lenovo became the world’s biggest personal computer vendor by unit sales.
The IdeaPad laptops were released to the public in January 2008. IdeaPad is a series of budget laptops created and sold by Lenovo. Though more powerful Lenovo laptops have been released recently, the IdeaPad 3 is still a great option for those looking to buy a computer on a tight budget.
Build & Design
The IdeaPad 3 15 weighs 3.75 pounds (1.7kg) and measures 0.78 inches (19.9mm) at its thinnest point. This laptop is lightweight and easy to transport, making it ideal for those on the go.
Plus, this laptop has a sturdy construction. It comes with a polycarbonate body, but the display and bottom are primarily plastic, and the construction has no visible gaps.
It is impressively compact with a smooth finish on the lid, giving it a more sophisticated and luxurious appearance than you might expect with a plastic laptop. While the rim and the base have a brushed matte finish, making Lenovo Ideapad 3 less prone to scratches.
Its base has a sizable air intake for the large fan and an exhaust along the back edge between the lid and hinge, making it a simple and cost-effective laptop.
Lenovo does a great job of maximizing the space for the keyboard, including a number pad for more efficient calculations and productivity. The key presses have a nice, soft feel, and the keys are nicely spaced out. The shortcut keys at the top are a nice bonus, although there is no backlighting for the keyboard. Sadly, the trackpad is a bit small, but it is still substantial and reactive.
Display
The Lenovo Ideapad 3 has a decent 15.6-inch display with a 1080p resolution. The colors look washed out, and the contrast is fair, but the display is still sharp enough to show off individual pixels at a normal viewing distance. The 16:9 aspect ratio is great for watching media. Still, a 16:10 or 3:2 aspect ratio would have been better for productivity, giving you more vertical space to view documents or websites.
The Lenovo Ideapad 3 comes with a 720p front-facing camera that provides decent video quality, with fairly clear images and good handling of brightness. However, the whole image can be slightly overexposed.
To provide extra security, there is a physical privacy shield located above the monitor; yet, this does not disable the camera at the software level, meaning audio can still be recorded when it is closed.
Performance & Battery Life
This IdeaPad is an excellent choice because it features 12 GB of RAM, perfect for multitasking, which is hard to find in this price range. In addition, the 256GB NVMe Solid State Drive is sufficient for podcasting and boots up quickly, making it an unbeatable bargain.
Furthermore, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is equipped with the renowned Dolby Audio. This advanced audio technology provides cinema-quality sound for recording and playback of your podcast. You can enjoy clear sound at maximum volume levels without any distortion. However, the bass response is not particularly powerful.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 laptop is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, which ensures smooth performance for producing podcasts with superior quality and professionalism. This processor enables the computer to run quickly and efficiently.
Besides, it has an interesting Q-Control feature that lets you quickly switch between different tabs for a more productive workflow. Additionally, the device has been equipped with an energy-saving mode that helps to preserve battery life, enabling the laptop to run for up to 12 hours when fully charged.
Specifications |
Basic InfoManufacturer: Lenovo Product Type: Laptop Operating System: Windows 10 Home 64-bit Processor & Chipset:
Memory : Up to 12GB (4GB soldered + 8GB SO-DIMM) DDR4-3200 offering Optical Drive Type: None Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard Physical Dimension: 359.2 x 236.5 x 19.9 mm (14.14″ x 9.31″ x 0.78″) Weight: 1.65 kg (3.6 lbs) Color Options: Platinum Grey Memory card reader: 4-in-1 card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC) Manufacturer Warranty: 1 Year |
DisplayScreen Size: 15.6 inches Resolution: 1920×1080 Screen Type: HD IPS anti glare display Backlight Technology: Yes Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 Network & CommunicationEthernet: No Onboard Ethernet WLAN: Wi-Fi® 6, 11ax 2×2 Bluetooth: 5.1 |
Battery & PowerBattery: Integrated 38Wh Max Battery Life:
Battery Timing: Local video (1080p) playback@150nits: 7 hr Power Adapter: 65W Round Tip (2-pin, Wall-mount) |
Interfaces/PortsConnectivity
HDMI: 1.4b Audio jack: 3.5mm Combo Jack Gifts: Woov HDMI Cable |
Other RequirementsSpeakers: 2x 1.5W, Dolby Audio Audio Chip: High Definition (HD) Audio, Realtek® ALC3287 codec Microphones: Dual Array Microphone Web camera: HD 720p with Privacy Shutter |
Final Verdict On Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15”
PROS | CONS |
Low cost | Charging laptop is not possible through USB-C |
Ample RAM | Prolonged use of the keyboard may cause fatigue |
Solid and reliable construction | The screen brightness could be improved |
Comfortable typing | Audio quality of the stereo speakers is not outstanding |
Lightweight and portable | |
Effective cooling system | |
Reasonable battery life |
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 is a great budget laptop that offers reliable performance, a sleek form factor, and touch functionality. It is suitable for podcasters and media professionals looking for a mid-range laptop with a vibrant display and webcam that offers good battery support. If you’re looking for a laptop to do podcasting and media work, then the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an excellent choice.
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