The mid-range laptop market is fiercely competitive, with manufacturers constantly juggling where to spend money and where to cut corners. Lenovo’s IdeaPad series has long been a staple in the budget-to-midrange space, offering various configurations to suit different needs and price points. The IdeaPad Slim 3 aims to deliver solid performance without breaking the bank, targeting students, home users, and professionals who need a capable Windows laptop for everyday tasks.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15ABR8 (82XM00M6AU) packs some genuinely impressive specs for under $900 – a Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a massive 1TB SSD. On paper, this looks like excellent value. Lenovo has also thrown in a backlit keyboard and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability testing, which suggests this laptop can handle daily wear and tear.
However, there’s a catch. To hit this price point with those internals, Lenovo has made some questionable decisions – particularly with the display. At $898 from Bing Lee and Harvey Norman, does the IdeaPad Slim 3 deliver enough where it counts, or do the compromises ruin the experience? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Excellent Ryzen 7 performance for the price
- 16GB RAM in dual-channel configuration
- Generous 1TB SSD storage
- Backlit keyboard
- MIL-STD-810H durability certification
Cons
- TN display with poor viewing angles
- Low brightness at only 250 nits
- Soldered RAM means no upgrades
- Average speakers
- Modest 47Wh battery limits longevity
Key Specifications
- Display: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080) TN, 250 nits, anti-glare
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 5825U (8 cores, 16 threads, up to 4.5 GHz)
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4-3200 (soldered, dual-channel, not upgradable)
- Storage: 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
- Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics (integrated)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2×2), Bluetooth 5.2
- Battery: 47 Wh
- Ports: 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (data, Power Delivery, DisplayPort 1.2), HDMI 1.4, headphone/mic combo, SD card reader
- Keyboard: Backlit, English
- Camera: 720p HD with privacy shutter
- Weight: Starting at 1.62 kg
- Durability: MIL-STD-810H military-grade tested
- Price: Available from Bing Lee and Harvey Norman for $898
Design and Build Quality
The IdeaPad Slim 3 15ABR8 opts for a simple, understated design in Arctic Grey. The PC-ABS plastic construction keeps the weight down to a reasonable 1.62 kg, making it genuinely portable for a 15.6-inch laptop. While it’s not metal, the build feels more solid than HP’s budget offerings we’ve recently reviewed – there’s less flex in the chassis and keyboard deck.
Lenovo has put this laptop through MIL-STD-810H military-grade testing, which covers 21 different test scenarios including drops, vibration, extreme temperatures, and humidity. While that doesn’t mean you should throw it around, it does suggest the IdeaPad Slim 3 can handle the rigours of daily student or office life better than some competitors.
The Arctic Grey finish looks professional enough for work environments, and at 17.9mm thick, it’s reasonably slim for a budget laptop. The 88% screen-to-body ratio means Lenovo has kept bezels relatively thin, giving it a modern appearance.
One standout feature at this price is the backlit keyboard. Many budget laptops skip backlighting entirely, so having it here is genuinely useful for working in dim conditions. The camera privacy shutter is also a welcome inclusion for security-conscious users.
The build quality won’t wow you, but it feels competent and purposeful – exactly what you’d want from a laptop in this price range.
Display
Here’s where we need to have a serious conversation. The IdeaPad Slim 3 15ABR8 uses a TN (Twisted Nematic) display panel, and this is a significant problem. TN panels are cheaper to manufacture than IPS panels, but they come with major drawbacks: poor viewing angles, washed-out colours, and inferior contrast.
What does this mean in practice? Tilt the screen even slightly off-axis, and you’ll see colours shift and contrast degrade noticeably. If you’re watching a movie with someone else, whoever’s sitting off to the side will have a worse viewing experience. Working on colour-sensitive tasks like photo editing is essentially off the table.
The 250 nits of brightness is also quite low, making outdoor use difficult and even indoor use near windows challenging. The anti-glare coating helps somewhat, but there’s only so much it can do with such a dim panel.
The 1920 x 1080 resolution is sharp enough for text and general computing, which is fine for documents and web browsing. But the TN panel’s poor colour reproduction means images and videos look flat and lifeless compared to IPS displays.
This is particularly frustrating because Lenovo has invested in strong internals – the Ryzen 7, 16GB RAM, and 1TB SSD – but paired them with a display that actively detracts from the experience. You’re staring at this screen every time you use the laptop, and it’s a constant reminder of where Lenovo chose to cut costs.
For $898, you can find laptops with IPS displays that offer noticeably better viewing angles and colour reproduction. The ASUS VivoBook 15 OLED, for example, offers a stunning OLED display for not much more money. The TN panel here is the IdeaPad Slim 3’s biggest weakness.
Performance
Here’s where the IdeaPad Slim 3 redeems itself. The AMD Ryzen 7 5825U is a genuinely capable processor with 8 cores and 16 threads, delivering strong performance for everyday computing and beyond. While it’s a 2022-generation chip, it still handles modern workloads comfortably.
For students running multiple browser tabs, Office applications, Zoom calls, and maybe some light photo or video editing, the Ryzen 7 handles it all without breaking a sweat. The 16GB of DDR4 RAM in dual-channel configuration provides excellent multitasking capability – you can have dozens of Chrome tabs open, run multiple applications simultaneously, and switch between them smoothly.
The 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD is genuinely impressive at this price point. You get massive storage for documents, photos, videos, and applications, plus the speed benefits of modern solid-state storage. Boot times are quick, applications load rapidly, and you won’t be worrying about running out of space anytime soon.
The integrated AMD Radeon Graphics handle everyday tasks comfortably and can even manage some light gaming. Older titles and esports games like Valorant, League of Legends, or CS2 on lower settings are playable. You’re not buying this for gaming, but it’s nice to know casual gaming is an option.
One downside: the RAM is soldered to the motherboard with no upgrade path. You’re stuck with 16GB, which is fine for most users now but could become limiting in a few years as software demands increase.
Thermal management seems reasonable – the laptop gets warm under load but doesn’t reach the uncomfortable temperatures we’ve seen in some HP budget models. Fan noise is present during intensive tasks but not excessively loud during basic computing.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The backlit keyboard is a genuine highlight of the IdeaPad Slim 3. Having backlighting at this price point is rare and genuinely useful for working in dim conditions – whether that’s late-night study sessions or working in poorly lit offices.
The keyboard itself offers decent key travel and feedback, making it reasonably comfortable for extended typing sessions. It’s not exceptional, but it’s noticeably better than the mushy keyboards we’ve encountered on HP’s budget models. The full-size layout with slightly recessed keys provides good tactile response.
The trackpad is generously sized at 69 x 104mm and uses a buttonless Mylar surface with Windows Precision Touchpad support. Multi-touch gestures like two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, and three-finger swipes work reliably. The surface is smooth enough for comfortable navigation, though it doesn’t have the premium glide of glass trackpads found on more expensive laptops.
Overall, the input experience on the IdeaPad Slim 3 is solid for the price – the backlit keyboard alone sets it apart from many competitors in this range.
Audio
The dual 1.5W stereo speakers with Dolby Audio optimization are functional but nothing special. Audio sounds thin with minimal bass response, which is typical for budget laptops. They’re adequate for system sounds, YouTube videos, and video calls, but music and movies sound flat and lifeless.
The speakers fire towards the user rather than downwards, which helps somewhat with clarity, but there’s only so much you can do with small drivers in a thin laptop chassis. For any serious media consumption or video calls where audio quality matters, you’ll want headphones or external speakers.
It’s worth noting that the sound quality is average rather than terrible – it’s on par with other budget laptops and better than some we’ve tested.
Battery Life
The 47Wh battery is modest for a 15.6-inch laptop, and it shows in real-world use. With mixed usage – web browsing, document editing, video streaming – you’re looking at around 5-6 hours before needing to plug in. That’s enough for a short workday or a few lectures, but not quite all-day endurance.
The Ryzen 7 5825U is reasonably power-efficient, which helps stretch the battery life, but there’s only so much efficiency can do with a relatively small battery. If you’re doing more intensive tasks, expect battery life to drop to 4-5 hours.
The 65W power adapter charges the battery reasonably quickly, and the USB-C port supports Power Delivery, which means you could potentially charge from a compatible USB-C charger if needed.
For a laptop at this price and size, a 50-60Wh battery would have been more appropriate. The 47Wh capacity feels a bit stingy, particularly for students or professionals who need all-day mobility.
Pros:
- Excellent Ryzen 7 5825U processor delivers strong performance
- 16GB RAM in dual-channel configuration for smooth multitasking
- Generous 1TB SSD provides ample storage
- Backlit keyboard is rare and useful at this price
- MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability certification
- Lightweight at 1.62 kg for a 15.6-inch laptop
- Camera privacy shutter for security
- Good port selection including USB-C with Power Delivery
- Wi-Fi 6 for modern connectivity
- Better build quality than some budget competitors
Cons:
- TN display with poor viewing angles and colour reproduction
- Low 250 nits brightness unsuitable for bright environments
- Soldered RAM with no upgrade path beyond 16GB
- Modest 47Wh battery limits all-day use
- Average speaker quality requires headphones for media
- Display is the weakest link in an otherwise solid package
Final Verdict
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15ABR8 is a frustrating laptop to review because it gets so much right but stumbles badly in one critical area. The Ryzen 7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD deliver excellent performance for the price. The backlit keyboard, MIL-STD-810H durability certification, and solid build quality show that Lenovo hasn’t skimped everywhere.
But that TN display is a deal-breaker for many users. You’ll notice the poor viewing angles, washed-out colours, and low brightness every single time you use this laptop. It’s the thing you interact with constantly, and Lenovo chose to cut costs here rather than on internals you might not notice as much in everyday use.
At $898 from Bing Lee or Harvey Norman, this represents good value if you can live with the display limitations. For students who primarily work with documents and don’t need colour accuracy, or for users who plan to connect to an external monitor most of the time, the strong internals might justify the compromise.
If Lenovo had paired these internals with even a basic IPS display, this would be an easy recommendation. As it stands, the IdeaPad Slim 3 15ABR8 is a capable laptop held back by a disappointing screen. Only consider it if you’re willing to accept a subpar display in exchange for strong performance, or if you primarily use an external monitor.
For most users, spending an extra $100-200 on a laptop with a better display will result in a far more enjoyable experience over the laptop’s lifetime. Your eyes will thank you.
