The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is a budget-friendly option with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, less memory and storage, and integrated Vega graphics, which makes it suitable for everyday tasks and light computing needs. It’s lighter and may offer better battery life, but it might struggle with demanding applications or gaming. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs more but is equipped with a more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the memory and storage, and a high-end Nvidia RTX graphics card, making it well-suited for intensive 3D work, machine learning, and gaming, although it is slightly heavier and may have a shorter battery life. If cost is a major factor and your computing needs are basic, go for the Lenovo. If performance in demanding tasks is crucial and you’re willing to invest more, the MSI is 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"
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9/10
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
313.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a less powerful CPU and graphics unit, less RAM, and a lower-quality screen compared to the MSI Stealth 14 Studio which makes it sufficient but not exceptional for general use, whereas the MSI has a powerful CPU and dedicated graphics, more RAM, and a higher-quality, higher-resolution screen, leading to a smoother and more versatile performance.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3's AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Vega 7 GPU and 60Hz screen refresh rate make it less suited for high-end gaming and 3D applications compared to the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher 165Hz refresh rate, providing smoother visuals and better overall gaming performance. While both laptops have decent CPUs and good screen quality, the superior GPU and refresh rate of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio are particularly beneficial for gaming and 3D tasks, which demand more graphics processing power and faster screen updates for an optimal experience.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
8.5/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.1/10
7.9/10
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" are both good for content creation, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
7.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
313.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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 has an adequate screen that provides a decent resolution and brightness good enough for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. For engineering and design work, it doesn't excel as it has limited color accuracy and range, which are vital for tasks that require precise color representation like photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the MSI Stealth offers a superior experience with higher resolution and a panel type that ensures crisp, clear images, though its refresh rate isn't optimal for the smoothest motion in fast-paced games or 3D rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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
7.6/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" has a price of $490 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
14.0in
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 Stealth 14 Studio 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 Stealth 14 Studio 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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14" or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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