In the Harry Potter series, certain characters are seen as extremely smart while others are not. Of the characters in the trio, Hermione is seen as the smartest because she does great at school and is a skilled witch, but Harry is seen as having a lot of intellectual ability, too. Overall, fans view Ron as the least smart of the three.
While Ron might not have the same strengths as the other, too, he definitely isn’t incapable. He was about as good in school as Harry, and he had his moments where he was smarter than both Harry and Hermione, too. On the other hand, he also had areas where he wasn’t as smart.
Smarter: He Believed In Things Like Myth And Superstition
Ron was always the person out of the trio who believed the most in things like myths, fables, and superstitions. While this might seem like something that doesn't make him as smart, the fact that they live in a magic world changes things. Ron did take stock in things like the Tale of the Three Brothers. While some of his beliefs, such as about the Grim, weren’t accurate, there were also some that were. He was a bit more understanding of the fact that there were magical and hard to explain forces at play in the world.
Not As Smart: He Got The Worst O.W.L. Results
It’s no surprise that Hermione got exemplary O.W.L. results as she was by far the smartest person in their year when it came to school work. Harry also did pretty well overall, but he wasn’t nearly as good as Hermione.
While Ron and Harry’s results weren’t vastly different as they both failed two courses and ed the rest, Harry did get slightly higher grades including an Outstanding one in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Smarter: He Could Be Rather Intuitive
While Ron might seem obtuse about some things, and he definitely could be, he could also be rather insightful. Maybe this came from the fact that he grew up in the wizarding world or because he could be a bit more anxious about things, but he would often provide insight or wonder at things that turned out to be true. Oftentimes the things that he voiced fears about turned out to have some basis in fact or come to .
Not As Smart: Most Of The Time He Was The Laziest Of The Three Of Them
Hermione was by far the most studious of the group, and she worked hard in addition to being naturally intellectual. Both Harry and Ron could be a bit lazy about their school work, but Ron was the laziest by far. While Harry would sometimes slack off, he also often just had issues finishing schoolwork because of other serious things happening in his life. Ron was the one who was most likely to just be lazy and to expect things to be handed to him. He also was the one who wanted Hermione’s help the most when he didn’t want to work hard.
Smarter: When He Reminded Hermione To Use Magic
While Ron might not have been the strongest magic out of the trio, he was good at encouraging his friends, and there is something important about this, too. He was the one who reminded Hermione that she was a witch and could use magic during Sorcerer’s Stone when they landed on the Devil’s Snare. Ron often knew he wasn’t as skilled as Hermione or as quick as Harry, but he knew how to lend his strengths.
Not As Smart: He Wasn’t A Stand Out In Any Subject
Hermione was someone who did really well in basically every Hogwarts subject, but even Hermione had her weak spots such as Divination, where she didn't excel. Harry was a slightly above average student in some subjects, but he really was amazing at Defense Against the Dark Arts. Ron, on the other hand, was mostly just average across the board.
He wasn’t a poor student, and he could manage most things when he tried. He was good at Defense Against the Dark Arts, but he didn’t have one area where he really stood apart.
Smarter: The Vast Knowledge He Had About The Culture Of The Wizarding World
One important area of expertise that Ron brought to the table was his knowledge of the wizarding world. While Hermione did study to learn about magic and the history of the wizarding world, she didn't’ grow up in it. Ron had the advantage of being raised in a wizarding family, so he just had the cultural knowledge that one has from growing up in a certain place and culture. He was able to provide a lot of insight and help because of this.
Not As Smart: He Wasn’t Good At Planning Things And Relied On Others To Do So
Ron was the person in the trio who didn’t always think ahead or pull his weight. While he did have many strengths and helped his friends often, he wasn’t the one doing a lot of things like planning ahead or thinking through strategy. Hermione was the person who did a lot of this, and Ron often seemed to have the idea that he should just have people take care of him such as when the trio was searching for the Horcruxes.
Smarter: When He Was Really Good At Wizard’s Chess
Ron might not have been the most exemplary student or the best wizard duelers out there, but he did have a few surprising talents. He was really good at wizard’s chess. This shows he had a brain that was good at strategy and that he could learn hard concepts when he put his mind to them. His skill at this game also came in handy when the trio tried to get the Sorcerer’s Stone and, without him, they likely wouldn’t have won.
Not As Smart: He Lacked Tact And Emotional Intelligence
There are many different ways to be smart and show intelligence. Being smart is a rather subjective thing, and there isn’t just one way or one area to show intellect. Emotional intelligence and the ability to work well with others can be a form of smarts, and this is another area where Ron didn't’ do very well. He was often blunt and even kind of mean, and he wasn’t the most charismatic or emotionally smart person.
