Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" IdeaPad 1 15IJL7 Gray 2023
Microsoft Surface Laptop 15" 7th Edition Black 2024
What Buyers Say
Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" IdeaPad 1 15IJL7 Gray 2023
User feedback on this budget laptop is sharply divided. Several verified buyers praise its value for schoolwork, large screen, backlit keys, and lightweight design, especially for under $300. However, multiple verified users report severe issues like random shutdowns, extremely short battery life measured in minutes, and intermittent black screens that make the device unusable. Warranty and customer service complaints are also prominent, with one reviewer accusing the seller of being unresponsive and comparing them to "three raccoons in a trenchcoat."
Pros
- Great value for school under $300
- Large screen size
- Backlit keys for caps and num lock
- Lightweight and portable design
- 12GB RAM for multitasking
Cons
- Random shutdowns and glitches after 6 months
- Extremely short battery life (minutes, not hours)
- Intermittent black screen (5-10 seconds)
- Poor warranty and customer service response
- Requires plugin for some browsers
Microsoft Surface Laptop 15" 7th Edition Black 2024
Users are very satisfied with the Surface Laptop, praising its build quality, smooth trackpad, excellent screen brightness, and long battery life. One reviewer noted a printer connectivity issue, but overall sentiment is highly positive. The magnetic charging port is also appreciated for its durability.
Pros
- Excellent screen brightness
- Smooth trackpad
- Great battery life
- Well-constructed build
- Magnetic charging port
Cons
- Printer connectivity issue
Scores
Specifications
| Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" IdeaPad 1 15IJL7 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 15" 7th Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Intel Celeron N4500★ | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 |
| CPU Multi-Core Score | No data | |
| Cores | 2 | 12★ |
| Frequency | 1.1 GHz | 3.4 GHz★ |
| L3 Cache | 4 MB | 6 MB★ |
| Graphics | ||
| GPU* | Intel UHD Graphics★ | Qualcomm Adreno |
| GPU Benchmark Score | ||
| Type | integrated | integrated |
| VRAM | 20 GB★ | — |
| VRAM Type | Shared | Shared |
| Memory & Storage | ||
| RAM | 12 GB | 32 GB★ |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 | LPDDR5X★ |
| Storage 1 | 1 TB | 1 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | SSD | NVMe SSD★ |
| Storage 2 | 128 GB★ | — |
| Storage 2 Type | eMMC | — |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6" | 15" |
| Resolution | 1920 px | 2496 px★ |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz★ |
| Brightness | 250 nits | 600 nits★ |
| Connectivity | ||
| USB-C Ports | 1 | 2★ |
| USB Ports | 3★ | 1 |
| Thunderbolt | — | USB4 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 7★ |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4★ |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.55 kg★ | 1.66 kg |
| Battery | — | 66 Wh★ |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
Pros & Cons
Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" IdeaPad 1 15IJL7 Gray 2023
- Strong social proof (92nd percentile)92nd %ile
- Strong reliability (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Strong storage (72nd percentile)
- Below average cpu (1st percentile)1st %ile
- Below average user sentiment (5th percentile)5th %ile
- Below average ram (23rd percentile)
- Below average screen (34th percentile)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 15" 7th Edition Black 2024
- Strong cpu (99th percentile)99th %ile
- Strong social proof (95th percentile)95th %ile
- Strong screen (89th percentile)89th %ile
- Strong reliability (81st percentile)81st %ile
- Below average gpu (28th percentile)
Pricing
Lenovo IdeaPad 15.6" IdeaPad 1 15IJL7 Gray 2023 offers 1.5x better value for money
Verdict
Scores 74 overall, wins 8 of 8 usage categories and 13 of 30 specs.
