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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you're balancing budget and basic needs, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 with its larger screen is more cost-effective for everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and video streaming. However, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while more expensive, offers higher performance for demanding uses such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. It's also more portable due to its smaller size. Battery life is typically longer on less powerful laptops like the IdeaPad, but for intensive tasks, the MSI will provide the necessary power at the expense of battery duration. Choose the Lenovo for value and general use or the MSI for high-performance applications and better portability. 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"
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- 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
Gaming and AI
6.1
7.8
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 17" is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is equipped with an integrated AMD Vega 7 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which provides a fair level of performance for gaming and 3D tasks. In comparison, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio boasts a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165Hz, translating to smoother visuals and better handling of more demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6
8.5
5.8/10
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 17" is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio surpasses the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" in engineering and design use due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, double the RAM, and higher screen resolution and color accuracy, which are crucial for detailed and intensive tasks. On the other hand, the Lenovo is bulkier with a larger screen, may offer better battery life, and has quieter operating noise, but its less capable hardware makes it less suited for demanding engineering applications.
Content Creation
7.4
7.9
5.8/10
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 17" 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
6.7
7.6
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness, providing clear visuals for everyday activities like web browsing and video streaming. In the context of engineering and design, both laptops have displays that cover considerable ranges of color gamuts, ensuring precise color reproduction crucial for tasks such as graphic design and photo editing. However, for gaming and 3D applications, these models fall short because they lack high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth motion and a more immersive visual experience in fast-paced environments.
Battery
9.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
4.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" both have good portability, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
7.6
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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.
Cost
$784
$1,520
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a price of $784 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" is equipped with a moderate CPU and RAM setup suitable for everyday tasks, a larger screen with decent quality, and a longer battery life, making it a reliable choice for general use with a balance of performance and convenience. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers a more powerful CPU and double the amount of RAM for smoother multitasking, significantly better screen quality with a higher resolution and refresh rate, but comes at the cost of decreased battery life and higher price, catering to those who need extra power for more demanding applications while still being portable.
Software Development
7.2
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$784 | $1,520 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 10.8'' x 0.78'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.49 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.79" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | 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 | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 45 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.2/10 | 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 | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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Dig into reviews and images
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 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 17" 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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