An editing laptop is very important for graphic designers. However, most graphic designers rely more on a desktop for editing because it provides better performance on a lower budget. Second, the cost of an editing laptop is usually very high. But to come out of this idea, Lenovo has launched their IdeaPad series Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i laptop.
Lenovo slim 3i is an affordable photo editing laptop with average build quality and performance. The perfect combination of the GeForce MX330 graphics card with Core i5’s latest processor can provide optimal performance within graphic designers’ budget. So Ideapad slim 3i laptop can be the perfect choice for a maiden-level graphic designer.
Central Processing Unit
In addition to the Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i i5 10th gen, there are other versions available where processors like Core i3 or ryzen 7 have been used. However, considering the overall performance, Core i5-1035G1 Processor is the best, so we have chosen this version. Yes! Core i5-1035G1 Processor has been used as CPU in this reviewed Lenovo laptop.
This 10th gen Intel processor has a 6 MB Smart Cache with 4 cores and 8 threats. This processor in the Ice Lake series has a 1.00 GHz base frequency and Max Turbo Frequency of 3.60 GHz. This processor will never disappoint the user in terms of overall performance as well as editing performance. It is also a great processor for professional-level graphic designers.
Memory and Storage
Two variants of Lenovo slim 3i i5 10th generation are available in the market. However, two variants have 8 GB memory as rapid access memory. Equipped with dual channels, these ddr4 rams are capable of providing bus speeds of up to 2666 MHz. With these super-fast RAMs, it is possible to get faster access to other software besides editing.
The basic difference between this laptop’s two variants for photo editing on a budget is in storage capability. There is a 1 TB HDD as storage. However, the above version uses a 256 GB solid-state drive with 1 TB HDD. Judging by the overall performance, SSD is far ahead of HDD in terms of performance. But if you have a tight budget, you have to take the HDD variant.
Graphic Processing Unit
This laptop uses a GeForce MX330 graphics card. This 2GB card manufactured by NVIDIA is an entry-level graphics card. In terms of performance, it’s far below full-fledged gaming-class video cards like the GeForce MX330 GTX and RTX series.
However, it is much faster than ordinary integrated graphics processors, such as the Intel UHD series, which you can find on many laptops. This is great as a budget editing graphic card.
Display and Battery
Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i features a 15.6″ full HD display. This massive display features an LED Backlight and Narrow Bezel at the same time. The main attraction of this 1920×1080 pixels Antiglare display is that it can be tilted up to 180 degrees. While this display is perfect for editors or graphic designers, it may not provide high performance to gamers.
Lenovo claims that this laptop can provide almost 8 hours of battery backup by manufacturing them. However, Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i review of real users shows that they are claiming that it has provided a backup of around five hours. However, in the case of multitasking, the backup may be a bit down, depending on the full use.
Keyboard and touchpad
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i features a high-quality keyboard layout with good-quality spaced keys. The key’s distance is fairly perfect, quite comfortable, and enjoyable for typing the original key. The Keyboard is quite comfortable for everyday use.
The touchpad of this best budget laptop for photo editing is relatively large and smooth to the touch. The touchpad also has enough real estate for your swipe gestures. However, users complain about the Keyboard. It does not have the backlit feature.
Ports and Connectors
This laptop has a total of three USB ports, including two 1st gen 3.1 USB ports and one 2.0 USB port. Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i does not have any USB Type-C port. It has three USB ports and an HDMI port, a micro-SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Since it has built-in Wi-Fi connection capability, no Ethernet port is provided. Wi-Fi 2 x 2, 1 x 1 AC offers a fast and stable wireless connection.
Design and Build Quality
Slim, however, has a slight difference with the name. Budget laptops usually do not pay much attention to design and build quality. However, in the case of Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i, this concept is completely wrong. Despite being slim compared to other budget laptops, the IdeaPad Slim 3i is relatively heavy in weight and weighs 1.85 kg.
Designed in the dimensions of 14.25-inch x 9.98-inch x 0.79 inch, this laptop has a great metallic finish. The laptop’s display can adjust up to 180 degrees, making it stand out from other budget laptops for photo editing. Made of high-quality plastic, this laptop looks almost like a metallic build. The design quality never mentions that it is a budget laptop.
Performance
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i features a Core i5 10th Gen processor with GeForce MX330 2GB Graphics. The CPU was a combination of 8GB of DDR4 RAM that can be extended to 12GB. Our picked model arrived with 1 TB of hard disk drive and 256 GB solid-state drive storage.
Performance in the Slim 3i was good enough, and multitasking was quite smooth among the editing software. If you are going to use this laptop for basic photo editing, you will not have any problem. However, it should not be used in the case of heavy gaming because it is unable to provide a great performance case of heavy gaming. It can be used for some casual games or even mobile games that work on a PC.
Final Thought
Lenovo Ideapad slim 3i is one of the ideal photo edit laptop markets for graphic designers in terms of affordable price. The IdeaPad Slim 3i enables you to provide performance from basic editing to professional level.
Ability to quickly access the software, exclusive design, and many more features set this laptop apart from others. If you need the best laptop on a budget, consider our IdeaPad slim 3i review and pick up the perfect product.
