The next test we run is video transcoding using the HandBrake 1.4 app, which is an open-source tool for converting multimedia files to different resolutions and formats. Our review unit is available from with Windows 10 installed, but the retailer also offers a Windows 11 variant for $560. At around $500, the IdeaPad 3 14 sits comfortably on the cusp of both worlds, boasting an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.

Lenovo's IdeaPad line of laptops is comparable to that of the Dell Inspiron or HP Pavilion series-midrange to low-end machines that run the gamut on price, size, and features. It earns our latest Editors' Choice award for budget Windows laptops. At $519, it leans toward the expensive end of the budget spectrum, but this 14-incher comes packed with just about everything you’d want for a notebook in its price range, including a full HD display, a sturdy chassis, and a comfortable keyboard, all pulled together by on-point performance and some unexpected luxuries for the money. So when you come across a standout inexpensive laptop like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14, it’s a welcome reprieve. Balancing a tight budget with a feature set that mostly consists of the necessities isn't easy when you're evaluating a sea of machines that all look more or less the same. If you're in the market for a budget laptop, you're faced with some tough decisions.

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Lenovo ideapad 3 touchscreen laptop