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Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio depends on your needs and budget. The Lenovo is more wallet-friendly and adequate for everyday tasks or light work. It has a larger screen, but the display quality and resolution are lower than the MSI. The MSI, while more expensive, offers significantly better performance with a higher-end processor and dedicated graphics, making it suitable for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, engineering software, and gaming. It's also more portable due to its smaller size and comparable weight, plus it has a higher resolution and better quality display. Battery life will usually be longer on less powerful machines like the Lenovo, so if you prioritize battery life and cost savings over performance, it could be the better choice. Conversely, if performance and high-quality visuals are paramount, the MSI is the superior option. 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 Stealth 14 Studio.
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.2
7.8
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
5.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" with a basic CPU and graphics, moderate display quality, and limited battery life is adequate for light tasks and budget-conscious users. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio's superior CPU and graphics, higher resolution and color accurate screen, double the RAM and storage, alongside improved keyboard and speaker quality, make it a better fit for demanding applications and multitasking, but at a higher cost and with a more gamer-centric design.
Gaming and AI
5.8
7.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1366 x 768
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 15" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" falls short for gaming and 3D use because it has an Intel UHD Xe G4 GPU and a basic 60Hz screen refresh rate, both inadequate for the demanding graphics and rapid response needed in these activities. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio performs well in these areas, owing to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher 165Hz screen refresh rate, ensuring smoother visuals and better handling of fast-paced action.
Engineering and Design
5.8
8.5
4.2/10
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 15" is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" falls short for engineering and design due to its less capable CPU, insufficient RAM for complex tasks, and a lower resolution and quality screen, which are critical for precise work in these fields. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio excels with a more powerful CPU, double the RAM for multi-tasking, much higher GPU performance for demanding software, and a higher resolution display that provides clearer and more accurate visuals.
Content Creation
6.3
7.9
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is 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
7.4
4.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
7.6
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1366 x 768
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a display that lacks in resolution and brightness, making it less ideal for tasks where clarity and visibility are key, such as browsing the web or watching videos. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers a higher resolution and brightness, providing crisper and more vibrant imagery crucial for precision in engineering and design work, though its color range may not fully cover professional standards. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the MSI's lower refresh rate may not deliver as fluid motion as desired, despite its adequate resolution and panel technology.
Build Quality
6.5
7.6
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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
$1,520
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has a price of $360 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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Key similarities
Battery
5.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" has 5 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$360 | $1,520 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 10'' x 0.78'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.75 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.26" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.98" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1115G4 | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 5 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 35 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1366 x 768 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | February 2023
"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."
MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | June 2023
"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 15" 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.
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