If you're looking to save money while still getting a versatile device, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 could be a good option; it offers the flexibility of a 2-in-1 which is ideal for general use and has decent battery life. However, for more demanding tasks such as 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Creator M14, while more expensive, provides better performance but may not last as long on a single battery charge. The MSI is also typically tailored for professionals in creative fields due to its high-quality display and powerful internals, whereas the Flex is more for casual or business users who value versatility and price. 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
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 generally has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, which means it can handle some gaming and 3D tasks, but won't perform as well or as smoothly as laptops with higher-end specifications. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14, with a better GPU and higher refresh rate screen, offers improved performance and smoother visuals, which is more suitable for gaming and 3D applications that demand quicker rendering of graphics.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with adequate CPU, RAM, and GPU, meets general engineering needs and offers flexibility with its touchscreen, but the MSI Creator M14, with superior screen quality and powerful internals, excels in performance-intensive tasks, although with a possible tradeoff in weight and noise. While both have good keyboards, the MSI's focus on creation might mean sacrificing portability and enduring more operating noise for a boost in power crucial for complex designs and simulations.
Screen Quality
7.3/10
7.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
400.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Lenovo Flex 5 16 for engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and MSI Creator M14 both have panels with resolutions and brightness levels that suit everyday tasks and viewing, making them pleasant for general usage. Engineering and design professionals would find the color accuracy and range of the displays on these laptops adequate for their work, considering their ability to represent a wide spectrum of colors. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion and rapid screen updates are crucial, the lower refresh rates of these laptops may lead to less smooth visuals compared to models specifically geared for these purposes.
Battery
11.5 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good build quality, though the MSI Creator M14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$779
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has a price of $779 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16, with its versatile design, is convenient for everyday tasks, offering satisfactory performance and screen quality for general use, while also being fairly easy to carry around with decent battery life. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14 provides an enhanced experience with better CPU and RAM, leading to smoother performance, and a higher screen quality suitable for more demanding tasks, although it may come with a premium in price and potentially reduced portability due to its build.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Creator M14 to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
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.
Software Development
7.5/10
7.8/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo Flex 5 16 and the MSI Creator M14 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."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Flex 5 16 or the MSI Creator M14
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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