If budget is a priority and you're using the laptop for everyday tasks like browsing and office work, the Lenovo IdeaPad might serve you well and save you money. However, if you need high performance for creative work like video editing or graphic design, the MSI Creator, although more costly, will provide the necessary power and display quality, but it will also be heavier, affecting its portability. Keep in mind that a more powerful laptop like the MSI will often have shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo, which is optimized for more casual use and generally lasts longer on a single charge. 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 3 14"
Very good portability
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
6.9/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
313.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers decent performance for everyday tasks with an adequate processor and memory, but the MSI Creator M14 steps up with higher screen quality and more powerful internals for smoother multitasking and media consumption, catering to more demanding general use. While both are portable, the MSI will likely last longer on a charge, making it better for on-the-go use, though this might come at a higher price.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
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 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a modest graphics card that provides acceptable performance for casual gaming and less complex 3D tasks, and its screen refresh rate is adequate for general use, but not ideal for fast-paced games. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14 comes with a more powerful graphics card that can handle demanding games and 3D applications more smoothly, complemented by a higher screen refresh rate which makes for more fluid visuals in gaming and faster screen updates.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
8.4/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, while suitable for general tasks, may struggle with engineering software due to less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a basic GPU, alongside a screen that might not be as sharp or color-accurate for design work. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14, with its superior CPU, higher RAM capacity, dedicated graphics, and a high-quality display, excels in handling the demanding applications typical in engineering and design, though it may be less portable and could have a louder operating noise under load.
Content Creation
7.1/10
8.0/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
7.1/10
7.8/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 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 3 14" 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
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" provides adequate resolution and brightness but doesn't stand out, while the MSI Creator M14 offers higher resolution and better brightness, enhancing the viewing experience. Engineering and design professionals may find the Lenovo's color gamut lacking compared to the MSI Creator M14, which displays a wider range of colors more accurately. However, for 3D applications and gaming, both laptops fall short due to their limited refresh rates, with the MSI having only a slightly better panel type and resolution that might benefit these tasks marginally.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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
6.5/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$490
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" to have very good portability, while the MSI Creator M14 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
"The low-priced IdeaPad 3 14 delivers on core functionality. Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14 meets all the basic requirements for an inexpensive office laptop. The matte IPS display is bright enough, the performance is high for the class, and the input devices are rock solid. In addition, the mostly quiet operation including the useful performance modes, cool surface temperatures, easy maintainability as well as expandable working and mass storage all contribute to the IdeaPad 3 14's value proposition."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" 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.
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.