The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a more budget-friendly option with a lighter weight and longer battery life, suitable for general use and carrying around. The MSI GF65 Thin, while more expensive, offers a powerful processor and high-end graphics suitable for gaming, 3D rendering, and intense engineering tasks. If you prioritize portability and value, choose the Lenovo; if you need higher performance for demanding applications and are okay with a heavier device and shorter battery life, the MSI would be the better choice. 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"
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI GF65 Thin
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is suitable for gaming and 3D tasks with its integrated AMD Ryzen GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, providing a fair experience for casual gaming and basic 3D applications. The MSI GF65 Thin, on the other hand, offers a more robust gaming experience due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, making it better suited for intensive gaming and more demanding 3D tasks, albeit at a potentially higher price point and with less portability.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
6.7/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for engineering and design, though the MSI GF65 Thin is somewhat better.
The MSI GF65 Thin is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and an Intel i5 processor, making it more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 3, which has an AMD Ryzen 5 integrated Vega 7 GPU and processor that provide fair performance for such tasks but may fall short during intensive workloads. Additionally, the MSI offers a higher screen refresh rate and superior thermal management which can be a deciding factor for engineering and design users who require smooth visuals and sustained performance.
Software Development
7.1/10
6.3/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is good for software development, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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
6.4/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
262.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a better screen than the MSI GF65 Thin for software development, and content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and the MSI GF65 Thin offer adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for daily tasks like browsing and video streaming, but their panel types may not provide the best color or viewing angles. When it comes to engineering and design, neither laptop covers professional color gamuts extensively, which could lead to less accurate color reproduction – a drawback for detail-oriented work like graphic design or video editing. For gaming and 3D applications, the refresh rate on both laptops is not high enough for smooth, tear-free visuals that avid gamers or 3D designers look for, and while resolution and panel type are okay, they don't match the high standards required for these activities.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 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
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has very good portability, while the MSI GF65 Thin has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$490
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the MSI GF65 Thin costs $1,100.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and MSI GF65 Thin are both only fair for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is adequate for general use, offering a solid AMD Ryzen processor and sufficient RAM for typical tasks, while its moderate screen quality, lightweight design, and fair battery life make it portable yet average in longevity. Meanwhile, the MSI GF65 Thin caters to more performance-focused users with its powerful Intel processor and superior graphics, but its higher weight and shorter battery life make it less portable and more suited to stationary use or gaming, despite having better heat management and additional storage.
Content Creation
7.1/10
6.8/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" to be good for content creation, while the MSI GF65 Thin 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.
Build Quality
6.5/10
6.7/10
The MSI GF65 Thin and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the MSI GF65 Thin 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."
"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 3 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.
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