Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) vs Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
Both are good choices with different strengths. The Acer Aspire 16 has Thunderbolt or USB4 and has a backlit keyboard, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a sharper screen, has a brighter screen and has an SD card reader.
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Key differences
- Sharpness Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 wins
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3's screen is sharper: 3K against Full HD.
- Brightness Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 wins
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3's screen is brighter (500 against 400 nits), so it's easier to see near a window.
- Ports Depends on you
Only the Acer Aspire 16 has Thunderbolt or USB4, while only the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has an SD card reader.
- Extras Acer Aspire 16 wins
Only the Acer Aspire 16 has a backlit keyboard.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Acer Aspire 16 if…
- You plug things in: it has Thunderbolt or USB4 (for fast docks and drives).
- You want a backlit keyboard, handy for typing in dim rooms.
- You want fewer chargers: it charges over USB-C, like most phones.
Choose the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 if…
- You read, write or edit photos a lot: its 3K screen makes text and images crisper.
- You work near windows or outside: its screen is brighter at 500 nits.
- You plug things in: it has an SD card reader (for camera cards).
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 leads on the screen; elsewhere the two are closely matched. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
Both laptops are very close on performance.
Their processors are in the same class: both are powerful enough for photo and video editing, and both have 16 GB of memory.
| Spec | Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS |
| Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | AMD Radeon 680M Graphics |
| AI engine (NPU) | 11 TOPS | — |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | LPDDR5X | DDR5-4800 |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 24 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Partly upgradeable |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 | PCIe 4.0 x4 NVMe M.2 2242 |
| Storage slots | — | 2 |
Screen
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is ahead on the screen.
It has a sharper screen and has a brighter screen, and the Acer Aspire 16 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 16" | 16" |
| Resolution | Full HD+ (2048 x 1280) | 3K (2880 x 1800) |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Panel | OLED | OLED |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 400 nits | 500 nits |
| Colour range | 100% DCI-P3 | 100% DCI-P3 |
| HDR | DisplayHDR True Black 500 | DisplayHDR True Black 600 |
| Finish | — | Glossy |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
Battery and size
The Acer Aspire 16 is ahead on battery and weight.
It charges over USB-C and is slimmer, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 17.5 hours | Up to 16.5 hours |
| Battery capacity | 53 Wh | 60 Wh |
| Charger | 65 W | 65 W |
| Charges via | USB-C | round tip |
| Fast charging | — | Rapid Charge Boost: 2 hours runtime from 15 minutes |
| Weight | 1.64 kg | 1.58 kg |
| Dimensions | 359.7 x 253.2 x 11.4-17.9 mm | 360 x 251 x 16.9-17.9 mm |
| Materials | Aluminium lid; recycled-plastic bottom cover | aluminium top, PC-ABS bottom |
| Durability | — | MIL-STD-810H (21 tests) |
| Colour | Iron | Luna Grey |
| Colours available | — | Luna Grey |
Ports and wireless
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is ahead on ports and wireless.
The Acer Aspire 16 has Thunderbolt or USB4, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has an SD card reader and has Wi-Fi 7.
| Spec | Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2x USB-C USB4 / Thunderbolt 4 (charging, DisplayPort), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5 mm headphone/microphone combo | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (USB PD 45-65W, DisplayPort 1.2), 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5 mm audio, 1x SD card reader, 1x round-tip power connector |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 | None |
| External displays (max) | — | 2 |
| Card reader | None | SD |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6E | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The Acer Aspire 16 is ahead on extras.
It has a backlit keyboard, and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 1080p | 1080p + IR |
| Webcam privacy | — | physical shutter |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | No |
| Keyboard | White backlight, AcerSense key, Caps Lock indicator, microphone mute indicator | UK English, non-backlit, numeric keypad |
| Login | Fingerprint | Face |
| Number pad | Yes | Yes |
| Touchpad | Precision multi-gesture touchpad | Mylar, 75 x 120 mm |
| Speakers | 2 speakers | 2x 2 W, Dolby Audio |
| Microphones | 2 microphones | dual-array |
| Pen | — | No |
| Security | Kensington lock, BIOS user and supervisor passwords, Windows Hello fingerprint | firmware TPM 2.0, face recognition |
Software and model
Both run Windows.
So the same apps work on both, and they get the same kind of updates.
| Spec | Acer Aspire 16 (A16-71M) | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | NX.J5LEK.003 | 83K80050UK |
| Released | — | 2025 |