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Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and the MSI Modern 14 involves considering whether you prioritize performance and multitasking over portability and battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad has a larger screen and longer battery life, suitable for extended use and consuming media, but it's heavier, making it less portable. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 is lighter and has a smaller screen, better for on-the-go use. Moreover, the MSI has more RAM, which can benefit multitasking and certain workloads, though it may have a shorter battery life due to a smaller battery capacity. Both feature AMD Ryzen processors and integrated graphics, making them capable for general use and light creative tasks, but neither is ideal for intensive gaming or high-demand engineering applications. 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 5 15"
- Very good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.5
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
341.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI Modern 14 have screens that offer sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, making them suitable for general use. However, for engineering and design work, these laptops don’t cover professional color gamuts, limiting the accuracy needed for color-sensitive tasks. Both models lack the high refresh rates preferred for smooth visuals in 3D applications and gaming, making them less ideal for those specific needs.
Battery
11.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.0
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$690
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has a price of $690 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
341.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and 8GB of RAM combined with a 15.6" screen offers a large, quality display and sufficient processing power for general use, boasting a longer battery life and a sturdy build suitable for work and leisure. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14, although it has a smaller 14" screen which enhances its portability, compensates with more RAM at 16GB and a high-quality keyboard, also equipped with a capable AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, making it an attractive option for those who value lightweight design without compromising on performance for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.2
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
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI Modern 14 both have integrated graphics with the Vega 8 and Vega 7 respectively, not dedicated GPUs, which limits their gaming and 3D capabilities; and their standard 60Hz screen refresh rates are less ideal for fast-paced games that benefit from higher rates.
Engineering and Design
6.7
6.6
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" with its 15.6-inch larger screen, more entry-level integrated GPU, and ample processing power from an AMD Ryzen 7 is suitable for everyday engineering tasks, but may not handle intensive design applications with ease due to the modest GPU power and limit of 8GB of RAM.
Content Creation
7.3
7.2
6.8/10
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 5 15" 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
7.3
7.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" 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.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$690 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.2'' x 0.67'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.08 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.18" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5825U | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 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 | 341 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 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 | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | August 2021
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
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 5 15" 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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