If price is a major concern and your computing needs are basic, such as web browsing, word processing, and light media consumption, then the Lenovo IdeaPad may suit you well. However, if you're involved in creative pursuits like video editing or design, or you require powerful hardware for tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning, the MSI Creator is designed for those intensive applications, though it comes with a higher price tag. Moreover, the MSI likely offers better display quality, which is crucial for creative work, but it may be heavier, making it less convenient for travel. 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 IdeaPad 1 15"
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 overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers basic CPU and RAM capabilities suitable for everyday tasks, with decent battery life and portability; however, the MSI Creator M14 steps up with a more powerful processor and additional memory, ensuring smoother performance for more demanding applications, enhanced by a higher-quality screen for better viewing experiences. While both have satisfactory storage, keyboard, and speaker quality, the MSI's emphasis on productivity and creativity may come with a tradeoff in increased operating noise and heat under heavy loads compared to the Lenovo.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
7.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a less powerful GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for demanding 3D tasks and gaming compared to the MSI Creator M14, which boasts a stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate for smoother visuals and better performance in these areas. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's superior graphics capabilities make it a better choice for users focused on gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
8.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
12.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1, while more affordable and lightweight for easy portability, may not offer the robust CPU, ample RAM, dedicated GPU, and high-quality screen necessary for complex engineering tasks. The MSI Creator M14, on the other hand, provides stronger processing power, more memory, superior graphics, and a better display, which are essential for demanding software but comes at a higher cost and could be less portable.
Content Creation
7.4/10
8.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
12.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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
7.3/10
7.8/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
12.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both good for software development, though the MSI Creator M14 is somewhat better.
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
6.4/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" offers adequate resolution and brightness, but it may not stand out due to its basic panel type, while the MSI Creator M14 provides a higher quality display that can offer sharper images and more vivid colors. In the realm of engineering and design, the MSI Creator M14 is likely to be more suitable because it covers a wider range of color gamuts, which is crucial for precision in color work, unlike the Lenovo which may not match up in color accuracy. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, both laptops could fall short as they do not prioritize high refresh rates which are essential for smooth motion rendering, although their resolution and panel types may provide reasonable clarity and viewing experience for less demanding games.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 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
6.0/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$741
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has a price of $741 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" 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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