Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14ITL6 in review: Quiet, affordable office notebook

The Ideapad 3 14ITL6 belongs to the simple office notebooks in the 14-inch format. The present variant is powered by a Celeron 6305 processor and is available at prices below 300 Euros. The competitors include devices like the Acer Aspire 1 A114-61 , the Samsung Galaxy Book Go , and the Acer Swift 1 SF114-34 .

The IdeaPad does not feature high-quality casing materials like aluminum and magnesium. The chassis is made of silver-gray plastic. A brushed look is simulated on the base unit’s upper side and the lid’s back via an imprint.

The laptop doesn’t show any workmanship flaws. The base unit and lid can be twisted too easily. The battery installed in the device (screwed, not glued), as well as the rest of the hardware, are accessible after removing the base unit.

The IP3 comes with two USB-A ports (USB 2. 0, USB 3. 2 Gen 1) and one USB-C port (USB 3.

2 Gen 1). An external monitor can be connected via HDMI. The SD memory card reader (reference card: AV PRO SD 128 GB V60) belongs to the slow representatives of its kind.

The WLAN transfer rates determined under optimal conditions (no other WLAN devices in the immediate vicinity, short distance between notebook and server PC) turn out well and correspond to the possibilities of the WiFi chip (Realtek RTL8822CE; 802. 11 ac). The Lenovo computer is shipped with pre-installed Windows 10 Home in S mode, an upgrade to Windows 11 is possible.

In any case, the free upgrade to the full version of Windows 10/11 Home should be carried out. Otherwise, only applications from the Microsoft Store can be used. The flat, slightly roughened keys of the unlit chiclet keyboard have a short travel and a clear pressure point.

The key resistance is okay. The keyboard yields slightly during typing. It did not prove to be annoying.

All in all, Lenovo delivers a keyboard that is suitable for everyday use. The smooth surface of the multi-touch ClickPad (approx. 10.

5 cm x 6. 4 cm) makes it easy for the fingers to glide. It also responds to inputs in the corners.

The pad offers a clear pressure point, the stroke turns out a bit uneven: it is bigger in the lower corners than in the center of the lower edge. While the matte 14-inch screen (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) delivers a surprisingly good brightness value (331. 9 cd/m²), the contrast (783:1) does not meet the target (> 1,000:1).

Nevertheless, the value is completely acceptable compared to the price level of the laptop. PWM flickering could not be determined. In the state of delivery, the screen shows a just acceptable color deviation.

However, this is not really noticeable to the viewer. The display cannot fully reproduce the AdobeRGB (38%), sRGB (55%), and DCI-P3 (37%) color spaces. The viewing-angle stable IPS panel can be read from any position.

Outdoors, it is quite possible to read the screen if the sun does not shine too brightly. Lenovo delivers a simple 14-inch notebook with the Ideapad 3 14ITL6, whose computing power is sufficient for coping with simple office and Internet applications. The three manufacturer-specific energy profiles (“Smart Cooling”, “High Performance”, “Battery Saving Mode”) do not play a role in the configuration variant here.

The benchmark results are always the same. This looks different for models with stronger processors. The base clock of 1.

8 GHz is also the maximum speed of the built-in Celeron 6305 dual-core processor (Tiger Lake). Hyperthreading (two threads per core) is not supported. The CPU runs the CPU tests of the Cinebench R15 benchmark with 1.

8 GHz (mains operation) and with 1. 4 to 1. 8 GHz (battery operation).

The Celeron can work at full performance permanently – the Cinebench R15 loop test shows that. The installed combination of Celeron and 4 GB working memory is not made for high performance, it manages simple office and Internet applications. The system works smoothly for the most part.

Occasionally, there are hiccups: the computer allows itself a second to think when setting up folder contents; too many browser windows or applications open at the same time lead to a sluggish system. The PCMark results are on the expected level. Lenovo leaves a part of the computing power idle because the working memory (4 GB, DDR4, onboard) only runs in single-channel mode.

Subsequent activation of the dual-channel mode would be possible by installing a memory module. The notebook has an unoccupied working memory bank. The transfer rates of the available memory are at a normal level for DDR4-3200 memory.

The installed 256 GB SSD (PCIe 3, M. 2 2242; 2280 models also fit) delivers good transfer rates, but it is not one of the top SSD models. A 2.

5-inch mounting frame is included in the notebook’s scope of delivery, but the SATA ribbon cable required for connecting a corresponding storage medium is not. Intel’s UHD Graphics Xe G4 core can work permanently with a maximum clock (1,250 MHz) – this is shown in the Witcher 3 test. The benchmark results are below the previously determined average of this GPU.

An increase in graphics performance could be achieved by activating the dual-channel mode (= installation of a memory module). The IdeaPad is not a gaming notebook. However, the hardware can smoothly display one or the other frugal, older game at low settings – titles like Diablo III, Dota 2 Reborn, and Tomb Raider should be mentioned here.

However, the dual-channel mode should be enabled in any case (see comparison chart). All in all, the IdeaPad produces little to no noise. In everyday use (office, Internet), the fan is usually silent and there is no noise.

Under load, it barely revs up and is at best perceptible in quiet environments. The registered maximum of 44 dB(A) should not be taken too seriously. We only encountered this level during a very high load.

The temperatures are within a green zone in everyday use (office, Internet). Even under full load (stress test), the case only warms up to a minor extent. The CPU temperatures do not give cause for concern.

The CPU runs at full power (1. 8 GHz) at the beginning of the stress test (Prime95 and Furmark run for at least one hour). Later on, the clock fluctuates between 1.

4 and 1. 8 GHz. The graphics core runs at the maximum clock (1,250 MHz) throughout.

The stress test represents an extreme scenario. We use this test to check whether the system runs stably under full load. The stereo speakers produce a decent sound that could use more bass.

The IdeaPad belongs to the frugal computers: the maximum power consumption of just under 31. 4 watts is reached at the beginning of the stress test. Both the stress test and the Witcher 3 test are run with quite constant power consumption.

The power supply is more than adequately sized with a nominal power of 65 watts. The 14-incher achieves a runtime of 7:09 h in our practical WLAN test. Here, the load when calling up websites is mapped using a script.

The IdeaPad 3 gets its attractiveness from the price level. You can get a 14-inch notebook for less than 300 Euros (~$300) that barely heats up, works quietly to silent, and delivers decent battery runtimes. Lenovo Ideapad 3 14ITL6 – A quiet, mobile writing, surfing, and streaming machine High performance is not intended: Celeron 6305 CPU, 4 GB working memory, and a 128 GB SSD are sufficient for the demands of simple office and internet applications.

The hardware should only be expected to handle a few simultaneously opened browser windows or applications. One of the system’s bottlenecks could be mitigated a bit: installing a memory module would give the system more reserves and, as a bonus, a bit more computing power due to the active dual-channel mode. The matte FHD screen (IPS) will not win any prizes, but it is more than appropriate for the price level of the computer.

Positive: the notebook comes with a one-year Microsoft 365 license. An alternative to the IdeaPad would be the Acer Swift 1 SF114-34 . It offers more CPU power, operates completely silently, and delivers better battery runtimes.

Weaknesses: an expansion of the working memory would not be possible, and the laptop has a weaker GPU. The Lenovo Ideapad 3 14ITL6 is available in the configuration we tested (Celeron 6305, 4 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD) at the time of testing for a price of 222 Euros at Cyberport. de at the time of the test.

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