If you prioritize cost and basic tasks such as web browsing and document editing, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is substantially more affordable and offers simple capabilities suitable for general use. However, if your needs include intensive engineering work, 3D rendering, machine learning, gaming, or demanding multitasking, the MSI GE66 Raider, while significantly more expensive, provides much higher performance. The Raider also has a better display and gaming-focused features, but it is heavier and less portable than the lightweight Lenovo. Additionally, the MSI's powerful components may reduce battery life compared to the more modest Lenovo. 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 14"
Very good portability
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.1/10
8.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
239.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has modest specs with a lower-end CPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen, leading to limited performance and display quality, although its lighter weight and longer battery life offer increased portability and usage time between charges. The MSI GE66 Raider, on the other hand, boasts a high-end CPU, substantial RAM, and a superior screen, making it much more capable for demanding tasks and providing a premium visual experience, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable.
Gaming and AI
5.5/10
8.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a basic TN panel with a standard refresh rate, which makes it poor for gaming and 3D tasks. In contrast, the MSI GE66 Raider features a high-end Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU and an IPS screen with a higher refresh rate, offering an excellent gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
9.1/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
6.2/10
8.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4/10
8.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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
5.3/10
8.2/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
239.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1's screen may fall short in sharpness, clarity, and brightness, impacting daily activities like browsing and streaming, while the MSI GE66 Raider offers a bright, sharp display, enhancing the overall experience. In engineering and design, the IdeaPad 1 lacks wide color gamut coverage essential for precise color work, whereas the GE66 Raider's superior color range supports professional-grade graphics work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, the GE66 Raider, despite its excellent resolution and panel type, doesn't deliver the fluid motion required for an optimal gaming experience.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
8.5/10
The MSI GE66 Raider has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$153
$3,199
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a price of $153 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
"The IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" or the MSI GE66 Raider
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,995
Recommendations made
21,883
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.