Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" vs MSI Creator M14

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has ample screen space and is equipped for everyday activities, but it's larger size makes it less portable; its CPU and RAM are sufficient for common tasks, but the MSI Creator M14, with its superior screen quality, stronger CPU, and longer battery life, excels in both performance and mobility, making it very good for general use, though it may come at a higher price. The MSI also likely has a more favorable keyboard and speakers, which, along with better heat management and quieter operation, contribute to a superior overall experience for regular use and content creation.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, with its modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate, offers an acceptable experience for casual gaming and entry-level 3D tasks, while the MSI Creator M14, equipped with a more powerful GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, provides smoother and more immersive gameplay, which is crucial for demanding games and complex 3D work. Furthermore, both laptops have capable CPUs and decent screen quality, but these features are secondary to the graphical performance and refresh rates that predominantly influence gaming and 3D modeling experiences.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 has modest CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities which can handle some engineering tasks, but its screen quality and overall performance may not meet the demands of more intensive design software, whereas the MSI Creator M14, with its superior CPU, RAM, and high-quality GPU, is built to smoothly run complex engineering applications. However, the MSI Creator's benefits in power and display do come at a higher cost and reduced portability when compared to the more lightweight, less expensive Lenovo IdeaPad 3, which might still be favored for everyday use and less demanding engineering tasks.

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.

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.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3's screen may have a good resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and is color accurate enough for engineering and design work, but its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for 3D applications. Similarly, the MSI Creator M14 also offers a high-quality display with good color representation important for precision in design tasks, yet falls short for gaming due to its modest refresh rate. For gaming and 3D, a higher refresh rate is crucial to ensure smooth motion which neither the IdeaPad 3 nor the Creator M14 excel in, potentially making them less attractive to users with those specific needs.

Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.

PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.