What you need to know
- Lenovo announced new 16-inch IdeaPad Gaming 3i (Intel) and Gaming 3 (AMD) laptops at MWC 2022.
- Refreshed 15-inch IdeaPad Gaming 3i and 3 models with 12th Gen Intel and AMD Ryzen 6000 CPUs were also announced.
- A new Legion M600s Qi wireless gaming mouse, announced at MWC 2022, is the lightest Qi mouse ever.
- Laptop availability spans from April to June 2022, with prices starting at $929.
The Lenovo Ideapad Gaming series just got a bit bigger at MWC 2022. These affordable gaming laptops — which Lenovo positions as perfect options for new or casual gamers and students — have a new look, new performance hardware, and new size. Along with a seventh-gen refresh to existing 15-inch models with Intel and AMD hardware, there are now also 16-inch models available for those who need just a bit more screen space and battery life.
Whereas older IdeaPad Gaming models were more in line with Lenovo's standard IdeaPad notebooks, the refreshed Gen 7 options have moved to a new design that's more akin to the high-end Legion series. There's now a ledge along the back of the laptop that houses sizable exhaust vents and a bunch of the laptop's ports.
Lenovo says ventilation is up to 20% larger than the previous generation, with 10% more airflow thanks to quad (rear and side) exhaust. A blue accent for the exhaust offsets nicely with the Glacier White and Onyx Grey color schemes. Furthering the aesthetic appeal is optional four-zone RGB lighting for the keyboard. The 16-inch models might be better for streamers, as their webcam gets a bump up to FHD for a clearer picture.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3i (15) and Gaming 3i (16)
Starting off with a closer look at the Intel-based IdeaPad Gaming 3i laptops, Lenovo has gone with the latest 12th Gen Intel Core H-series CPUs. You can get up to a Core i7-12700H with 14 cores in both laptop sizes, accompanied by up to 32GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM and up to 1TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage. As for graphics, both laptops come with up to a discrete NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop or Intel Arc GPU.
Here's a closer look at the Intel-based IdeaPad Gaming 3i laptop specs.
| Category | IdeaPad Gaming 3i (15) | IdeaPad Gaming 3i (16) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H | Up to 12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700H |
| RAM | Up to 32GB DDR4-3200MHz | Up to 32GB DDR4-3200MHz |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop Intel Arc (optional) | Up to NVIDIA RTX 3060 Laptop Intel Arc (optional) |
| Storage | Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD | Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Display | Up to: 15.6 inches 16:9 aspect ratio 2560x1440 (QHD) IPS, 165Hz, 100% sRGB, 350 nits | Up to: 16 inches 16:10 aspect ratio 2560x1600 (QHD+) IPS, 165Hz, 100% sRGB, 500 nits |
| Ports | Thunderbolt 4 Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) HDMI 2.0 Ethernet 3.5mm audio combo | Thunderbolt 4 Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) HDMI 2.0 Ethernet 3.5mm audio combo |
| Audio | Dual speakers Nahimic audio | Dual speakers Nahimic audio |
| Wireless | Up to Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 | Up to Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | 60Wh 45Wh | 71Wh |
| Dimensions | From 0.85 inches (21.8mm) thin | From 0.82 inches (20.9mm) thin |
| Weight | From 5.29 pounds (2.4kg) | From 5.51 pounds (2.5kg) |
| Color | Glacier White Onyx Grey | Onyx Grey |
| Availability | April 2022 | June 2022 |
| Price | From $990 | From $1,490 |
Intel models include a Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio. Up to Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are available for wireless connectivity.
The 16-inch model's main attraction — alongside the more robust 71Wh battery — is the larger display with 16:10 aspect ratio. It has a 2560x1600 (QHD+) resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color, and 500 nits brightness. The 15.6-inch display still has a 16:9 aspect ratio, though it has the same QHD+ resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, and 100% sRGB color.
The 15-inch IdeaPad Gaming 3i is expected April 2022 and should start at about $990. The 16-inch model is expected a bit later in June 2022, starting at about $1,490.
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (15) and Gaming 3 (16)
If you're a fan of AMD, Lenovo has you covered with 15- and 16-inch IdeaPad Gaming 3 models. They're packing the latest AMD Ryzen 6000 H-series CPUs, with up to the Ryzen 7 6800H with eight cores. You can add up to 32GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, 1TB of M.2 PCIe NVMe storage, and a discrete NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti Laptop GPU.
Here's a closer look at the available specs as listed by Lenovo.
| Category | IdeaPad Gaming 3 (15) | IdeaPad Gaming 3 (16) |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Up to AMD Ryzen 7 6800H | Up to AMD Ryzen 7 6800H |
| RAM | Up to 32GB DDR5-4800MHz | Up to 32GB DDR5-4800MHz |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti Laptop | Up to NVIDIA RTX 3050 Ti Laptop |
| Storage | Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD | Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD |
| Display | Up to: 15.6 inches 16:9 aspect ratio 1920x1080 (FHD) IPS, 165Hz, 100% sRGB, 300 nits | Up to: 16 inches 16:10 aspect ratio 2560x1600 (QHD+) IPS, 165Hz, 100% sRGB, 500 nits |
| Ports | USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) HDMI 2.0 Ethernet 3.5mm audio combo | USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) Two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1) HDMI 2.0 Ethernet 3.5mm audio combo |
| Audio | Dual speakers Nahimic audio | Dual speakers Nahimic audio |
| Wireless | Up to Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 | Up to Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | 45Wh 60Wh | 71Wh |
| Dimensions | From 0.85 inches (21.8mm) thin | From 0.82 inches (20.9mm) thin |
| Weight | From 5.29 pounds (2.4kg) | From 5.51 pounds (2.5kg) |
| Color | Glacier White Onyx Grey | Onyx Grey |
| Availability | May 2022 | June 2022 |
| Price | From $929 | From $1,140 |
Due to the AMD platform, there's no Thunderbolt 4 here. Instead, you get USB-C 3.2 (Gen 2) and an otherwise similar port selection with two USB-A 3.2 (Gen 1), HDMI 2.0, Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio combo. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 are available.
Display options differ quite a bit here compared to the Intel model, at least for the smaller 15.6-inch screen. It has a lower 1920x1080 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio, as well as a 165Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color, and 300 nits brightness. The larger 16-inch display is on par with the Intel model, with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 2560x1600 resolution, 165Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB, and 500 nits brightness.
The 15-inch AMD-based IdeaPad Gaming 3 is expected May 2022 with a starting price of $929. The 16-inch model is expected June 2022 with a starting price of $1,140.
Lenovo Legion M600s Qi Wireless gaming mouse
To accompany these new gaming laptops, Lenovo introduced the Legion M600s Qi Wireless gaming mouse. It weighs in at just 75g, which Lenovo says is the lightest Qi mouse ever. Its feet are made from Teflon for a smooth glide, it as a 19,000 DPI with Pixart 3370 sensor, and six programmable buttons.
Built-in RGB can be customized with 16.8 million color combinations, and you can connect it to your PC with 2.4GHz receiver or Bluetooth. The built-in battery recharges via USB-C or Qi charger, and you can get up to 10 hours of life after charging for just 10 minutes. The mouse is expected September 2022 and should cost about $100.
