The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a budget-friendly option that generally costs significantly less than the MSI Prestige 14, making it a strong choice if price is a major consideration. The IdeaPad 3 offers an AMD Ryzen processor and a satisfactory level of performance for everyday tasks, but may lag behind in more intensive applications. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 14 comes with a more powerful Intel processor and is geared towards more demanding work like photo and video editing, thanks to its higher memory and storage. It's also lighter and thinner, enhancing its portability. The Prestige 14's higher cost might be justified if you need a more capable machine for complex tasks, value a more portable design, or anticipate needing double the storage space. The trade-off with the Prestige 14 is that you'll spend more, but if that aligns with your needs, it may be a worthwhile investment. 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 battery life
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
313.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The MSI Prestige 14 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, with modest RAM and CPU power, is adequate for basic tasks, while the MSI Prestige 14 provides enhanced performance with its higher RAM and more capable processor, better suiting multitasking and demanding applications. Additionally, the Prestige 14 offers superior screen quality with better color coverage, more storage space, and a lighter build for increased portability, albeit with slightly less battery life compared to the IdeaPad 3.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.1/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 14 outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with a better CPU and GPU, as well as a screen that offers higher color accuracy, which is essential for engineering and design tasks. Additionally, while the MSI provides more RAM and is lighter, offering increased portability and performance, the Lenovo offers longer battery life and quieter operating noise, which could be beneficial for extended use in quiet environments.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
6.9/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When picking a laptop for general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3's screen may do the job, but the MSI Prestige 14 offers a brighter display and sharper resolution, leading to a more pleasant viewing experience. For engineering and design tasks, the MSI Prestige 14 stands out with its wider color gamut, providing more accurate colors that professionals require. However, neither option excels in gaming or 3D applications because they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
10.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 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
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" both have very good portability, though the MSI Prestige 14 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 14 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
$1,040
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the MSI Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
The MSI Prestige 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the MSI Prestige 14 are both labeled as fair for gaming and 3D tasks because they have integrated graphics with moderate performance suitable for lighter gaming and basic 3D applications, but not for high-end gaming or complex 3D work, which requires more powerful GPUs. Additionally, both laptops have a standard screen refresh rate and quality that supports average visual experiences, but they do not have the higher refresh rates and superior screen quality often preferred by gamers and professionals in 3D fields.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.5/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for content creation.
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
7.3/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good 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 3 14" and the MSI Prestige 14 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 Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" or the MSI Prestige 14
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.