If the primary concern is saving money while getting a machine for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a solid choice, however, its performance for demanding tasks like 3D design or video editing won't match that of the MSI Creator M14. The MSI, while more expensive, offers higher power suited for creative professionals and tasks like machine learning or gaming, along with potentially better build quality and display. On the other hand, the Lenovo will likely be lighter and offer longer battery life, making it more portable for day-to-day use. 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 15"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has no clear advantages over the MSI Creator M14.
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.2/10
8.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, while suitable for everyday tasks, may have limitations due to a less powerful CPU and lower RAM, which could affect multitasking and more demanding applications, and might also have a screen and battery life that doesn't match higher-end models. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14 offers stronger performance with a better CPU and more RAM, as well as a high-quality screen that enhances the viewing experience, making it well-suited for more intensive tasks and prolonged use, though it may come at a higher price and with different portability considerations.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
7.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1366 x 768
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 15" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, while serviceable for casual gaming, offers a more modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate, which can limit performance and visual smoothness in demanding 3D applications and games. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14 comes with a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, ensuring better gaming experiences and more fluid graphics for creative work in 3D modeling and animation, though it typically comes at a higher price.
Engineering and Design
5.8/10
8.4/10
4.2/10
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 15" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 typically has less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a weaker GPU, which makes it less capable of handling the demanding software used in engineering and design, while its screen quality is often lower, which can affect the detail and accuracy needed for such work. In contrast, the MSI Creator M14 usually offers a robust CPU, ample RAM, a high-end GPU, and superior screen quality, better suiting it for intensive tasks, although it may be less portable and slightly noisier under heavy loads.
Content Creation
6.3/10
8.0/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Creator M14 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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.
Software Development
6.3/10
7.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Creator M14 is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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
5.2/10
7.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The MSI Creator M14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3's screen may seem dull or not as sharp due to its lower resolution and brightness compared to the MSI Creator M14, which has a brighter and sharper display that enhances everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. The MSI Creator M14 also excels for engineering and design with a wider color gamut, providing more accurate color representation essential for professional photo editing and CAD work, while the IdeaPad 3's limited color range might leave colors looking less vibrant and precise. However, when it comes to 3D work and gaming, the MSI Creator M14 falls short due to a lower refresh rate, lacking the smoothness provided by screens with higher refresh rates which are vital for fluid animation and fast-paced action.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.8/10
The MSI Creator M14 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$360
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a price of $360 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is an enduring office notebook with a powerful Ryzen APU. Lenovo's office all-rounder easily handles office and internet applications as well as modest games - the Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM make this possible. The CPU and GPU can work at consistently high clock rates. The emission values are okay, but the noise emissions should be lower under medium to full load. The relatively light notebook (approx. 1.6 kg) achieves practical battery runtimes of about 10 to 11 hours."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" 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.
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