If cost is a primary concern, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers basic functionalities suitable for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and streaming media at a lower price point. On the other hand, the MSI Prestige 15 is typically more expensive, but it delivers significantly better performance which is suitable for more demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D design, and gaming. It also usually has a longer battery life, which is convenient if you need to work on the go. The Prestige 15 is heavier, though, making the IdeaPad 3 more portable for those who prioritize lightweight devices. 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 Prestige 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good overall build quality
Very 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
298.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 offers moderate CPU performance and RAM, which is adequate for routine tasks, but its lower screen quality and battery life might not satisfy users who need their device to be highly portable and operational for extended periods without charging. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 15 provides stronger performance due to a better CPU and more RAM, making it more suitable for demanding applications, along with a superior screen and longer battery life, although it comes at a higher price and may be less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
7.2/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 15 is good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, with a moderate processor and RAM, integrated graphics, and a fair display, is adequate for engineering and design tasks but may struggle with more complex projects. In comparison, the MSI Prestige 15 offers a stronger processor, double the RAM, a dedicated graphics card, and a higher quality display, making it better equipped for demanding engineering and design workloads.
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
60Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
When considering screen quality for general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and the MSI Prestige 15 both offer clarity and brightness, with the Prestige edging ahead with a higher resolution that makes text sharper and images more detailed. For engineering and design, the Prestige stands out with its wider color gamut ensuring more accurate color representation, key for tasks like photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D, both fall short due to lower refresh rates which means they won't deliver as smooth motion or as responsive an experience that games often require.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 15 has 7.5 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
7.4/10
The MSI Prestige 15 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
$1,044
$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 15 costs $1,044.
The MSI Prestige 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
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 15 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
7.2/10
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 15 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" to have very good portability, while the MSI Prestige 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" and the MSI Prestige 15 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 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" or the MSI Prestige 15
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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