The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is designed for those seeking a basic, affordable laptop for light tasks like browsing, document editing, and streaming; its smaller screen, lower resolution, limited storage and memory reflect its budget orientation and result in lower overall performance. The MSI Katana 17, on the other hand, is priced higher due to its much larger screen, higher resolution, superior processing power with an advanced Intel processor and Nvidia graphics, which make it suitable for demanding applications like gaming, video editing, and 3D modeling. It also comes with significantly more storage and memory. Note that the Lenovo is more portable due to its lighter weight and smaller size, whereas the MSI will have a 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 Katana 17
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.1/10
7.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
239.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is considered poor for general use due to its limited RAM, basic CPU, lower resolution TN screen, and modest battery and storage, making multitasking and high-definition media consumption less than ideal. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 excels with a powerful CPU, ample RAM, a higher resolution IPS screen for better image quality, and a larger battery, but it is less portable due to its greater size and weight.
Gaming and AI
5.5/10
7.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Katana 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" offers an Intel UHD Graphics 600 for visualization, which is less capable in handling complex gaming and 3D tasks, and its screen refreshes at a standard 60 times per second, making it less smooth for fast-paced scenes compared to gaming-optimized models.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
8.4/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Katana 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a lower-end CPU and GPU and less RAM, making it less capable of handling the demanding tasks of engineering and design software, and its screen quality is lower, offering a less sharp and vibrant display. In contrast, the MSI Katana 17 is equipped with a more powerful CPU and high-performance GPU, substantial RAM, and a higher-quality IPS display, which together provide the necessary performance and visual clarity for engineering and design applications, albeit at the cost of less portability due to its larger size and weight.
Content Creation
6.2/10
7.8/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Katana 17 is 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
7.5/10
3.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Katana 17 is 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
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
239.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
256.0 nits
The MSI Katana 17 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad’s lower resolution and brightness make text and images less crisp and vibrant than the MSI Katana 17, which offers higher brightness and clear visuals. For engineering and design tasks, the MSI has better color reproduction encompassing a wider range of colors, essential for precision work, unlike the Lenovo which falls short in displaying accurate colors. In the context of 3D and gaming, the MSI's limitation in refresh rate can make fast-paced visuals appear less smooth, while the Lenovo's poor resolution and panel type result in less immersive and detailed imagery, though its refresh rate is not the primary concern.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Katana 17 has 3 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
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the MSI Katana 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.0/10
7.2/10
The MSI Katana 17 has 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
$1,367
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a price of $153 and the MSI Katana 17 costs $1,367.
"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 Katana 17 B13V laptop impressed us in its main area of competency - gaming. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 ensures high-performance levels which can compete with the previous generation's RTX 3070 Ti. In addition to the speedy GPU, the MSI comes with a 144 Hz display as well as an RGB keyboard and provides a very good typing experience. Despite the power at hand, the laptop remains comparatively cool."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" or the MSI Katana 17
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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