The 24-inch Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 is a handsome, modern desktop that checks a lot of boxes for all-in-one buyers – sleek design, stellar display, and strong performance. The F0EW005TUS features a mobile AMD Ryzen 3 processor rather than the Intel Core processor found in most AIOs, and a 256GB SSD hard drive teamed with 8GB of memory to accelerate the speed of the solid-state drive.
While a little chunkier than the Apple iMac with Retina display, a model like the IdeaCentre AIO 3 uses this extra space to hose a pair of decent speakers, an optical drive and a three-in-in one card reader. The AMD-powered model we’re reviewing is particularly interesting, as such chips are a rarity in the all-in-one space. That it comes in slightly cheaper than its equivalent Intel models increases its appeal, making it a great choice for most home-office users.
Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 Specs
- Display size: 24 Inches
- Screen Resolution : 1920 x 1080
- Processor: ‎2.7 GHz AMD Ryzen_3_4300u
- RAM : 8 GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB SSD
Design
The IdeaCentre 3’s external design is notable too. While it looks like a monitor on a tubular stand, it separates its processing innards from the monitor in a rectangular box that sits directly on the desk. From here, a single black-colored arm rises on the right, through a single C-curve, and joins the 24-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) resolution screen at the back.
It is great to look at, beating many other all-in-ones that are available on the market, especially on aesthetics. There are no front-facing USB ports to plug things into, but you have all of them at the back and sides. The side bezels here are particularly thin compared to an Apple iMac, but the top bezel is thick to accommodate a webcam, so is the bottom bezel to create space for the built-in speakers.
With this design, it means all the machine’s ports are tucked away on the back and side of the monitor. The side ports are quite accessible too, with a USB 3.1 port, an SD card reader, a headphone jack all on the left side, while the right side holds an optical port and an on/off switch. The back side holds an Ethernet port, HDMI, two USB 2.0 and a USB 3.1 port. No USB-C or Thunderbolt here.
Also bundled into the package are a standard mouse and keyboard, that allows you to get working immediately you unbox the machine.
Display
Though 4K displays have appeared on most AIOs on the market, the Lenovo F0EW005TUS keeps the price reasonable with a more modest full-HD panel. When you watch a trailer for Planet Earth II, everything from the frozen tundra in the North to the dry forests of the equator look compelling and well-detailed.
Above the screen is a webcam fitted with a TrueBlock Privacy Shutter for manually closing and opening the webcam while not using it.
There’s no way around it – the IdeaCentre all-in-one 3 looks like a premium device. The display is brighter than most devices Lenovo puts out, hitting somewhere around 350 nits of brightness when maxed out. If you’re planning on using this PC in a room with lots of light, it shouldn’t be a problem, and the deep picture makes the viewing experience much enjoyable.
Performance
The IdeaCentre F0EW005TUS is a pretty well-rounded system, letting you do just about anything you’d want to do with an office-centric machine. The system’s 2.7GHz AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Mobile Processor and 8GB of RAM allow you to run up to 20 browser tabs without missing a beat. The processing power offered by the AMD Ryzen 3 CPU makes for pretty solid midrange performance, ranging from basic media editing, MS Office projects and media consumption.
The AIO’s 256GB solid state drive is a better option over traditional spinning hard drives, meaning you benefit from fast media transfers and enhanced overall performance. With AMD Radeon driving the visuals, the IdeaCentre 3 is built for day-to-day use rather than gaming and strenuous multimedia work. If you want to play games on this desktop, you’re better off playing Candy Crush and other low-end games.
Bottom Line
The Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 is an elegant, space-saving all-in-one PC that offers decent all-around performance and a couple of unexpectedly clever design touches. Our enthusiasm is tempered by the awkward port placement and mediocre speakers, and the webcam has image quality issues to go with the privacy-preserving benefits. It’s far from a perfect machine, but all in all, the IdeaCentre 3 is a good value in a mainstream PC and the flaws are not reasons not to buy this AIO desktop.
Though more expensive systems like the Dell Inspiron 27 AIO offer premium touches such as a dedicated graphics, higher-quality sound or a better selection of ports, those systems also cost more. Even the moderately priced HP 24-Xa0032 sells for nearly $300 more, and premium powerhouses such as the 27-inch Apple iMac 27-inch with 5K Retina are even pricier, but it does add more capabilities.
If you just want an all-in-one PC for everyday use, the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 (F0EW005TUS) offers good performance with an extra dose of style, making it a classy addition to your home-office.
Recommended Configuration
Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3, 24" All-in-One Computer, AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Mobile Processor, Integrated Graphics, 8GB DDR4, 256GB M.2 NVMe SSD, DVD RW Drive, Windows 10, F0EW005TUS, Business Black
The Review
Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 (F0EW005TUS)
The Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 (F0EW005TUS) is an elegant, space-saving all-in-one PC that offers decent all-around performance and a couple of unexpectedly clever design touches.
PROS
- Sleek design
- Hideaway webcam
- Strong AMD Ryzen performance
CONS
- Hard-to-reach ports and slots
- No easy access interiors
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
