The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is more suited for those who need a versatile device since it can be used as both a laptop and tablet and has a higher resolution screen with a taller aspect ratio, which is beneficial for productivity tasks. It's a bit lighter than the MSI, but its performance might not match the MSI Bravo 15, which has a dedicated graphics card and a higher refresh-rate screen, making it better for gaming and graphics-intensive tasks, though with half the RAM of the Lenovo. If battery life and the convenience of a 2-in-1 device are less important to you compared to gaming or graphics performance, the MSI might be the better choice despite being more costly. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
400.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers better general use thanks to its higher RAM, superior screen quality with a higher resolution and touch capability, and longer battery life, along with being lighter and more portable, contributing to its versatility as a 2-in-1 convertible.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.2/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a screen refresh rate limited to 60Hz, which together deliver only fair gaming and 3D performance. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15 is equipped with a superior Nvidia RTX 4050 dedicated GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, making it better suited for smooth gaming and 3D applications.
Software Development
7.5/10
6.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Bravo 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers commendable screen characteristics for general use and engineering tasks through a blend of suitable resolution and panel brightness, providing crisp and vivid imagery, while its good color coverage supports accuracy in engineering and design applications. However, its refresh rate doesn't favor the high-paced visuals crucial in gaming and 3D work, resulting in less fluid motion representation. Meanwhile, the MSI Bravo 15’s moderate color gamut range makes it less ideal for precision-required design work, although its general resolution and brightness deliver an acceptable experience for everyday activities.
Battery
11.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$779
$862
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
The MSI Bravo 15 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is fitting for engineering and design due to its high-resolution touchscreen and ample RAM, supported by a capable CPU and integrated GPU, ideal for multitasks that rely more on CPU than graphics. On the other hand, the MSI Bravo 15, with its stronger dedicated GPU and higher refresh screen, is more suitable for tasks that leverage GPU performance, although it has less RAM than the Lenovo, which may limit performance in certain scenarios involving large datasets or complex simulations. Both have IPS panels ensuring good screen quality, but the Lenovo offers a quieter work experience with its better fan noise management, while the MSI Bravo 15 has a higher gaming potential due to hardware like DLSS and ray tracing.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.1/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to have good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Flex 5 16 to have good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the MSI Bravo 15
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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