The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 range sits squarely in the budget laptop market, targeting students, home users, and anyone who needs a reliable everyday machine without spending a fortune. Since last year, Lenovo has refreshed several IdeaPad 1 configurations with newer AMD Ryzen 7000-series processors, improved display brightness on select models, and slightly slimmer chassis designs that make the range more competitive against rivals from Acer and ASUS. Whether you are after a compact 14-inch model for carrying between lectures or a larger 15.6-inch screen for working from the kitchen table, there is an IdeaPad 1 configuration to suit. The range does not target power users or gamers, but for web browsing, word processing, video calls, and light media consumption, these machines punch well above their price point. This comparison covers five of the most relevant IdeaPad 1 configurations available in the UK right now, breaking down who each one suits and where the trade-offs lie.
Quick Verdict
Best Overall: Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15ALC7 (AMD Ryzen 5 5500U), the best balance of performance, screen size, and everyday usability for most buyers.
Best Value: Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14IGL7 (Intel Celeron N4020), stripped-back specs keep the price low for ultra-light tasks and Chromebook-style use.
| Model | Price | Processor | RAM / Storage | Display | Battery Life | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IdeaPad 1 15ALC7 (Ryzen 5 5500U) | Check price | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | 8 GB / 256 GB SSD | 15.6-inch FHD IPS | Up to 7.5 hrs | 1.65 kg |
| IdeaPad 1 14ADA05 (Ryzen 3 3250U) | Check price | AMD Ryzen 3 3250U | 4 GB / 128 GB SSD | 14-inch FHD TN | Up to 6 hrs | 1.5 kg |
| IdeaPad 1 14IGL7 (Celeron N4020) | Check price | Intel Celeron N4020 | 4 GB / 64 GB eMMC | 14-inch HD TN | Up to 7 hrs | 1.41 kg |
| IdeaPad 1 15AMN7 (Ryzen 5 7520U) | Check price | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | 8 GB / 512 GB SSD | 15.6-inch FHD IPS | Up to 8 hrs | 1.62 kg |
| IdeaPad 1 14AMN7 (Ryzen 3 7320U) | Check price | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | 8 GB / 256 GB SSD | 14-inch FHD IPS | Up to 8 hrs | 1.46 kg |
How We Picked
These five models were selected by reviewing the IdeaPad 1 configurations currently listed on Amazon UK and cross-referencing availability, verified customer reviews, and independent benchmark data from sources including NotebookCheck and Laptop Mag. We prioritised models that represent distinct steps in the performance and price ladder rather than near-identical configurations, so each pick serves a genuinely different type of buyer. Processor generation, RAM upgradeability, display panel type, and real-world battery life were weighted heavily in our assessment, as these factors have the greatest day-to-day impact for the target audience of budget laptop buyers. Build quality observations are drawn from hands-on reports and aggregated user feedback. Pricing reflects current Amazon UK listings and is subject to change.
Buying Guide
Processor: AMD vs Intel at this price point
Within the IdeaPad 1 range, AMD Ryzen processors consistently outperform Intel's Celeron and Pentium chips in both single-core and multi-core tasks. The Celeron N4020 in the 14IGL7 is best suited to single-application use, while even the older Ryzen 3 3250U in the 14ADA05 handles light multitasking more comfortably. If your budget allows, choosing a Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 model will make a noticeable difference to how the laptop feels during everyday use. The newer Ryzen 7000-series Mendocino chips (7320U and 7520U) offer improved power efficiency and slightly better integrated graphics compared to the older 5000-series, though peak multi-threaded performance is similar or slightly lower in the Ryzen 3 7320U versus the Ryzen 5 5500U.
RAM: how much do you actually need?
For Windows 11, 8 GB of RAM is the practical minimum for a comfortable experience with multiple browser tabs and a productivity application running simultaneously. The 4 GB configurations (14ADA05 and 14IGL7) will feel slow in everyday multitasking. If you are looking at the 14ADA05, factor in the cost of a compatible 8 GB SO-DIMM upgrade when comparing prices. On the newer Mendocino-based models (14AMN7 and 15AMN7), RAM is soldered to the board, so the 8 GB you buy is the 8 GB you keep. There is no upgrade path, making the initial configuration choice more important.
Storage: SSD vs eMMC
The difference between eMMC storage (found in the 14IGL7) and a proper SATA or NVMe SSD (found in all other models) is significant in practice. eMMC is slower to read and write, which affects boot times, application loading, and file transfers. It is also typically available only in smaller capacities. If you are choosing between two similarly priced models and one has eMMC while the other has an SSD, choose the SSD every time. A 256 GB SSD is workable for most users who rely on cloud storage for large files, while 512 GB provides enough headroom to store a reasonable media library locally.
Display: IPS vs TN panels
Budget laptops frequently cut costs by using TN display panels, which have narrower viewing angles and less accurate colour reproduction than IPS panels. In the IdeaPad 1 range, the older 14ADA05 and 14IGL7 use TN panels, while the newer 14AMN7, 15AMN7, and 15ALC7 use IPS. If you spend several hours a day looking at your screen, the IPS upgrade is worth paying for. The difference is immediately visible when you tilt the screen slightly or view it from an angle, and colours appear more natural and consistent across the panel.
Portability and battery life
All IdeaPad 1 models are reasonably portable, ranging from 1.41 kg to 1.65 kg. The 14-inch models are easier to carry in smaller bags, while the 15.6-inch models offer a more comfortable typing and viewing experience at a desk. Battery life across the range spans from around six hours (14ADA05) to eight hours (14AMN7 and 15AMN7). If you regularly work away from a power socket for a full day, the newer Mendocino-based models offer the best endurance. Charging via USB-C is not available on any current IdeaPad 1 model, so you will always need to carry the proprietary charger.
Who should avoid the IdeaPad 1 range entirely?
The IdeaPad 1 is not designed for video editing, photo editing in Lightroom or Photoshop, software development, or gaming beyond very light browser-based titles. If any of these are regular activities, stepping up to the IdeaPad 3 or IdeaPad 5 range, or considering a laptop with a dedicated GPU, will save considerable frustration. The IdeaPad 1 is an excellent everyday machine within its intended scope, but trying to push it beyond that scope will lead to disappointment.
Final Verdict
Across the five IdeaPad 1 configurations reviewed here, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15ALC7 with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U stands out as the overall winner for most UK buyers. It offers a six-core processor that handles genuine multitasking, a 15.6-inch IPS display that is pleasant to use for extended periods, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and a build quality that feels robust enough for daily use. The 256 GB SSD is the only meaningful compromise, and for users who lean on OneDrive or Google Drive for storage, it is rarely a problem in practice.
For buyers on the tightest budgets who genuinely only need one application at a time, the IdeaPad 1 14IGL7 delivers basic functionality at the lowest possible outlay. For those who want the latest AMD generation in a compact, portable form factor, the 14AMN7 is an excellent choice. Whatever your priority within the range, the IdeaPad 1 consistently delivers more than its price tag suggests, which is why it remains one of the most searched budget laptop lines in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most undergraduate coursework, the IdeaPad 1 is more than adequate. Models with a Ryzen 5 processor and 8 GB of RAM handle essay writing, research browsing, video lectures, and Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace without difficulty. If your course involves video editing, CAD software, or data science tools, you will need a more powerful machine, but for humanities, business, and general arts subjects, the IdeaPad 1 is a practical and affordable choice.
It depends on the specific model. The older IdeaPad 1 14ADA05 includes a standard SO-DIMM slot, meaning RAM can be upgraded relatively easily by the user. However, the newer Mendocino-based models (14AMN7 and 15AMN7) have RAM soldered directly to the motherboard, which means no upgrade is possible after purchase. Always check the specifications of the exact configuration you are buying before assuming upgradability.
Yes, all current IdeaPad 1 models sold in the UK ship with Windows 11 Home pre-installed. Some older stock may still carry Windows 11 S Mode, which limits application installation to the Microsoft Store only, but this can be switched to the full version of Windows 11 Home at no cost through the Microsoft Store settings. It is worth checking the product listing to confirm which version is included.
Yes, all IdeaPad 1 models can run Microsoft 365 (formerly Office), though performance will vary by configuration. On the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 3 models with 8 GB of RAM, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint run smoothly. On the 4 GB RAM models, performance is acceptable for lighter documents but may slow when working with large spreadsheets or complex presentations. A Microsoft 365 subscription is not included and must be purchased separately.
Yes, streaming video from Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, and similar services is one of the tasks the IdeaPad 1 handles most comfortably. Even the entry-level Celeron model manages 1080p streaming without buffering on a stable connection. The IPS display models (15ALC7, 15AMN7, 14AMN7) provide a noticeably better viewing experience with more accurate colours and wider viewing angles compared to the TN panels on older configurations.