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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a budget-friendly option with a larger battery capacity and higher screen brightness, which may benefit prolonged usage and visibility in various lighting conditions. However, the MSI Bravo 15, despite being more expensive, has a better GPU and higher refresh rate for smoother visuals, which could be preferable for gaming and intensive graphics tasks. Both have similar storage and RAM, but the MSI may perform slightly better in 3D, machine learning, and engineering applications. If portability is a concern, the MSI is slightly lighter, though both laptops are not particularly light. Ultimately, if cost is a primary concern and you need a device for general use with reasonable gaming capabilities, the Lenovo could be suitable; if you're open to investing more for higher graphics performance and a smoother display for more demanding games and tasks, the MSI could be the better 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 Gaming 3
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good portability
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.2
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, with its RTX 2050 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 120Hz, offers a fair gaming experience, while the MSI Bravo 15's higher-end RTX 4050 GPU and 144Hz refresh rate deliver a more fluid and detailed gaming and 3D performance. Although both laptops have IPS screens with full HD resolution, the MSI's superior graphics processor and faster screen refresh rate make it better suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Screen Quality
7.2
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3's display offers sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and the panel type ensures vibrant colors, making it suitable for general use and engineering/design where color accuracy is key. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D applications as its refresh rate isn't high enough to deliver the smooth visuals demanded by these tasks. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15, while also presenting ample brightness and resolution for general activities, provides less optimal color representation for professional design work and similarly lacks the high refresh rate required for the best gaming and 3D experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 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.
Cost
$549
$862
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a price of $549 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.1
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 outperforms the MSI Bravo 15 in general use with a more powerful CPU, leading to smoother multitasking and more demanding applications. Additionally, the IdeaPad has a higher-quality screen and longer battery life, providing better viewing experiences and more time unplugged, which are advantageous for day-to-day activities.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.2
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Bravo 15 are both suitable for engineering and design use due to their capable AMD processors, sufficient RAM, and dedicated Nvidia GPUs which are essential for running engineering applications and handling design tasks. While both have good quality IPS screens, the Lenovo offers a slightly brighter display and better color coverage which is beneficial for design work; however, the MSI has a higher refresh rate screen and is lighter, thus slightly more portable for those who need to move their workstation frequently.
Content Creation
7.4
7.1
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Bravo 15 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
6.8
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 to be good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 to have good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
6.7
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 to have good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 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 Gaming 3 and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | MSI Bravo 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $862 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.1 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.49" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 267 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | October 2022
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is one of the most powerful RTX 3050 Ti laptops. If you disregard the mediocre quality of the case in terms of the material and workmanship, Lenovo has created a successful budget gaming laptop with the IdeaPad Gaming. Thanks to high TDPs and constant performance development, the Core i5-12500H and GeForce RTX 3050 Ti are able to show their full power, while in contrast, the (mostly slower) competitors deliver a better battery life. However, hardly any of the alternative laptops are able to reach the image quality of the Gaming 3. Most of the competitors are left behind in terms of the color space and brightness."
MSI Bravo 15
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | July 2023
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the MSI Bravo 15
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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