I’m considering buying a laptop primarily for ESL teaching and schoolwork, with minimal gaming needs. I’ve been offered an Ideapad 3-14IIL05 for about $128.30. Given the specs, is this a reasonable price for such a laptop in 2025? What should I look for to ensure it’s a good deal?
That’s a decent price for the features it offers.
The price is justifiable. Consider upgrading to 16GB of RAM if possible for better long-term use, or perhaps choose a model with a newer CPU and a larger battery since you don’t need it for intensive tasks.
@Vale
Upgrading might be limited; most Ideapad 3 models support only up to 12GB because they have 4GB soldered on the motherboard.
Angel said:
@Vale
Upgrading might be limited; most Ideapad 3 models support only up to 12GB because they have 4GB soldered on the motherboard.
That’s a pity! In that case, I’d recommend aiming for at least 16GB RAM to ensure it remains functional for future needs.
It should suffice for web browsing and office work.
It’s adequate for productivity tasks. However, you might want to consider a used ThinkPad for enhanced durability, especially models from the T or X series.
It’s good for basic tasks, but not suitable for gaming.
For academic and work-related tasks, it’s more than sufficient.
It’s generally good, but be aware of potential issues like hinge durability, which has been a problem for some users.
It’s fine for basic computing like web surfing, office work, and light gaming with low settings. Consider adding more RAM and possibly an SSD if it comes with an HDD for better performance.
Even at $150, it would be a good deal, considering it can handle basic functions well.
For general productivity like document editing, it’s quite efficient and better than many new laptops under $200.
Other laptops with similar performance are selling for over $400, so it’s a bargain.
Why does it list the processor speed at 1GHz?
Lyle said:
Why does it list the processor speed at 1GHz?
That’s the base frequency. It can boost up to over 3GHz under certain conditions.
Lyle said:
Why does it list the processor speed at 1GHz?
That’s the base frequency. It can boost up to over 3GHz under certain conditions.
How do you activate the boost? Is it something I need to set manually?
@Jai
It’s automatic, based on the laptop’s demand and thermal capacity. No manual setting is needed unless you’re specifically overclocking, which is different.
It’s adequate for office tasks, definitely.
Despite the attractive price, consider that it doesn’t have USB-C, and 8GB RAM may not be enough for more demanding software in the future.