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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Let's start by considering your needs and preferences. If you prioritize a large screen and don't mind a larger, less portable device, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with a 17-inch display may suit you, especially for tasks like watching videos or working with multiple applications side-by-side. However, keep in mind that this usually means a heavier laptop, which is less convenient to carry around. On the other hand, if you prefer a more compact and lightweight laptop for easier portability, the MSI Modern 14 would be more appropriate. It's likely to be more comfortable to travel with or move around frequently, though you'll trade off screen real estate. Performance-wise, it depends on the specific configurations of each model, but typically, larger laptops have more room for powerful components and better cooling, which may lead to better performance for tasks such as gaming or heavy multitasking. Battery life is another consideration; smaller laptops like the MSI Modern 14 can often offer longer battery life since they power smaller screens and may use less energy overall. For intensive engineering tasks or any work involving 3D, machine learning, or gaming, make sure to check the graphics capabilities, processor power, and memory of each laptop. A powerful CPU and dedicated GPU (if your work requires it), along with plenty of RAM, will ensure smooth performance. Overall, balance between screen size, portability, performance, and battery life against your most common tasks, and consider how much you're willing to spend, as typically, more powerful specifications come at a higher price. Choose the one that aligns closely with your daily activities and offers the best combination of features for your specific situation. 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 17"
- The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the MSI Modern 14.
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.7
6.4
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, and engineering and design.
When considering the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI Modern 14 for general use, the larger screen size of the Lenovo offers a more immersive experience, and it likely has higher resolution and brightness, leading to clearer and more vibrant displays. For engineering and design, the Lenovo probably has wider color gamuts, rendering more accurate colors which is essential for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, which means less smooth visuals during fast-paced scenes, even though the Lenovo's larger screen may offer a modest advantage in visual workspace.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 has 6 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
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$784
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the MSI Modern 14 contain integrated graphics that handle less demanding games and 3D tasks but may struggle with high-end gaming or complex 3D applications, also, their screen refresh rates are not optimal for fast-paced games. While both laptops have capable processors and decent screen quality, their GPUs and refresh rates don't match those of dedicated gaming or high-end 3D laptops.
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Modern 14 and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both only fair for engineering and design.
Both the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the MSI Modern 14 are equipped with a sufficient CPU and GPU for basic engineering and design tasks, with the MSI having a higher RAM which is beneficial for multitasking. The Lenovo provides a larger screen which improves screen quality for design work, but the MSI offers greater portability and a higher-quality keyboard, making it a better choice for on-the-go use despite its smaller display.
Content Creation
7.4
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI Modern 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
7.2
7.1
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and MSI Modern 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.
Build Quality
6.5
7.0
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Modern 14 to have good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | December 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
MSI Modern 14
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Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" or the MSI Modern 14
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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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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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