First Look: In Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming 3, 2022 AMD & Intel CPUs Anchor a Fresh Design

Lenovo has refreshed its mainstream-priced IdeaPad Gaming 3 laptop with several variants, including AMD and Intel options at two sizes each.

We last reviewed the IdeaPad Gaming 3i in 2020, and this version shares some design language, but it’s been fused with Lenovo’s Legion gaming line and split into two screen sizes. The AMD-based version is called the Gaming 3, and the Intel version the Gaming 3i. Each will be available in variants at 15 and 16 inches.

We were able to get an in-person look at this system prior to its announcement—watch our hands-on rundown in the video below.

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IdeaPad Gaming Renewed: A Refreshed Mainstream Design

While this machine does look much like the previous Gaming 3, some refinements are clear. The general chassis shape is similar, and sticks to a plain look with some angular edges. Both sizes are available in the Onyx Gray color, but the 15-inch version also comes in a Glacier White.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

The biggest change is the rear, which opts for a Legion-like rear block that contains many of the ports and a strip of extra thermal hardware inside. The ventilation is also visibly different, with a new grille design at the back end.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

The 15-inch model version weighs 5.29 pounds, which isn’t particularly portable nor especially heavy for a gamer at this screen size. It’s perfectly fine for a gaming system, particularly a more mainstream offering that will spend most of its life plugged in, and that isn’t adding cost by going for ultra portability. The 16-inch version is only a bit heavier, at 5.5 pounds.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

Obviously, the display sizes are the main differences between the two. The 15-inch version is technically a (standard) 15.6-inch display in a 16:9 aspect ratio. The Intel version maxes out at QHD resolution, while the AMD model tops out at full HD. Both will be offered in variants that feature up to a 165Hz refresh rate. The larger panel option for both AMD and Intel is a true 16-inch display in a 16:10 aspect ratio, also at a QHD resolution and a 165Hz refresh rate.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

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AMD or Intel: Choose Your Flavor

The real differentiator, though, is in the two CPU branches of this same system, bringing the latest processors from each of these major component makers. At both sizes, the AMD Gaming 3 is less expensive than the Intel Gaming 3i, making it the true entry-level option.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

That doesn’t mean the AMD Gaming 3 shies away from processing power, though: Both sizes max out at the Ryzen 7 6800H CPU, part of AMD’s latest Ryzen 6000 Series CPU generation. (See our first look at Ryzen 6000 performance with a Ryzen 9 chip.) Even the best GPU on offer does not stray into high-end territory, however, going up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti. That keeps this system in the entry-level range in terms of graphics potential. Beyond those parts, the Gaming 3 goes up to 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

Now, over to the Intel side with the Gaming 3i. Like the AMD model, this uses Intel’s newest generation of processors, the 12th Generation “Alder Lake” chips H-series chips. The 3i maxes out at the Core i7-12700H, which should bring plenty of power based on our tests of these processors so far.  (See our first performance look at those, too, in a Core i9 laptop sample.)

The GPU ceiling is a bit higher on Team Blue’s side, topping out at Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3060. That pushes the power more into a midrange class than the RTX 3050 Ti could. The memory and storage limits are the same as the Gaming 3’s.

(Photo: Molly Flores)

Both models offer good connectivity, including two USB 3.2 ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI port, and an Ethernet jack. The USB-C connections on the Intel model support Thunderbolt 4. There’s also support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0.

Starting with the least-expensive configurations (the AMD ones, in terms of starting price), the 15-inch Gaming 3 will launch in May starting at $929, while the 16-inch model starts at $1,139.99 and will be available in June.

As for the Intel-based units, the 15-inch Gaming 3i will start at $989.99, and will release in April. The larger-panel Intel models will start at $1,489.99, and are expected to launch in June.

Check back in to PCMag when these products release for full reviews.