Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 vs Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
The Verdict
Lenovo's budget gaming laptop and premium business ultrabook serve entirely different markets. IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a larger 15.6-inch 120Hz IPS display with solid AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS performance, 8GB DDR5 RAM, and 256GB storage, making it competent for casual gaming and productivity at $799. ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 prioritizes portability with a sleeker carbon fiber chassis, superior 14-inch OLED display at 2880x1800, Intel 13th-gen processors up to i7-1365U, 16GB minimum RAM, and exceptional 15-hour battery life, commanding $1449 for business professionals. Gaming 3 excels in gaming capability and screen size, while X1 Carbon dominates in display quality, build materials, battery endurance, and overall refinement. Choose IdeaPad if gaming and value matter most; select ThinkPad for ultraportability and professional-grade features.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 if…
- →RTX 4050 at $799 is excellent value for entry-level gaming
- →120Hz display is a noticeable upgrade over 60Hz
- →Upgradeable RAM and storage via accessible panels
Buy the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 if…
- →Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- →Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- →Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
Pros
- RTX 4050 at $799 is excellent value for entry-level gaming
- 120Hz display is a noticeable upgrade over 60Hz
- Upgradeable RAM and storage via accessible panels
- Ryzen 5 7535HS handles both gaming and schoolwork
- Decent thermals for a budget chassis with dual-fan cooling
Cons
- 250-nit display is too dim for well-lit rooms
- 8 GB base RAM needs upgrading for modern games
- 256 GB SSD fills up fast — plan to add a second drive
- All-plastic build feels flimsy and creaks
- Speaker quality is poor — headphones are recommended
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11
Pros
- Incredibly light at 1.12 kg — ideal for travel
- Optional 2.8K OLED display is stunning for media and creative work
- Best-in-class ThinkPad keyboard with excellent key travel
- MIL-STD 810H tested for ruggedness and durability
- Good port selection includes USB-A, HDMI, and Thunderbolt 4
Cons
- OLED option significantly reduces battery life to around 10 hours
- 60Hz IPS panel feels behind the times
- Starting price of $1449 is expensive for the base config
- Soldered RAM limits upgradeability
- Integrated graphics only — not suitable for GPU-heavy workloads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 5.07 lbs (2.3 kg) | 1.12 kg |
| Material | Plastic | Carbon fiber and magnesium alloy |
| Dimensions | 14.19 x 10.14 x 0.91 inches | 315.6 x 222.5 x 15.36 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-A ports | 2 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | 1 | — |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 2 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 6 hours | Up to 15 hours (IPS) / 10 hours (OLED) |
| Capacity | 60 Wh | 57 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6 inches | 14 inches |
| Type | IPS anti-glare | OLED (IPS optional) |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 60Hz (90Hz OLED) |
| Brightness (nits) | 250 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 512 GB / 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB DDR5 | 16 GB / 32 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 6 cores / 12 threads | 10-core (2P + 8E) / 14-core (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U / i7-1370P |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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