If price is a major concern, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is a more budget-friendly option and is suitable for basic tasks like browsing, document editing, and light media consumption. It's also lightweight and thus highly portable, with a fanless design for silent operation. However, if you require higher performance for more demanding applications like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI GF65 Thin, while more expensive, offers a powerful processor, dedicated graphics, and a high-refresh-rate display. Its performance capabilities far exceed those of the IdeaPad, but it is heavier and might have shorter battery life due to its more powerful components. 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
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
5.5/10
6.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" falls short in gaming and 3D applications due to its basic Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a standard 60Hz screen, which provide limited graphical capabilities and smoothness. On the other hand, the MSI GF65 Thin performs better because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a higher 144Hz screen refresh rate, enhancing its capacity to handle more graphically intensive games and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
6.7/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin is only fair 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
6.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both only fair for content creation, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
5.3/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
239.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad’s display may disappoint due to its lower resolution and lack of brightness, which can lead to a less vivid and sharp experience, while the MSI GF65's higher resolution and brighter display provide clearer and more comfortable viewing. When it comes to engineering and design, the MSI GF65 offers a slight advantage with a fair representation of color gamuts, showing colors more accurately, whereas the Lenovo's poor color range can lead to less precise color work. For gaming and 3D applications, the MSI's advantage in refresh rate allows for smoother motion, which is crucial for these activities, although its screen quality isn't exceptional, and both laptops may not offer the high resolution or panel quality necessary for the most immersive experience.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
6.7/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" both have only fair build quality, though the MSI GF65 Thin has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$153
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a price of $153 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both only fair for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a weaker CPU, less RAM, a lower-resolution TN panel, and is less suitable for multitasking, which hampers its performance for general use compared to the MSI GF65 Thin, which has a stronger CPU, more RAM, and a higher-resolution IPS display for better overall user experience.
Software Development
6.4/10
6.3/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" and the MSI GF65 Thin compare to other laptops
"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 GF65 Thin offers a GeForce RTX 3060 on a budget. The MSI GF65 is a relatively inexpensive RTX 3060 laptop and, perhaps not coincidentally, it also comes with a slower-than-average RTX 3060 GPU. Other laptops we've tested thus far with the same GPU are about 10 to 15 percent faster. CPU performance is also slightly slower than average unless if users decide to enable Cooler Boost mode. Colors, black-white response times, Thunderbolt, and DisplayPort are either average or completely omitted. Gamers who want to maximize performance-per-dollar without sacrificing RAM or SSD upgradeability will find the lightweight MSI GF65 attractive."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" or the MSI GF65 Thin
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.