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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a budget-friendly option often priced significantly less than the MSI Prestige 15, and it comes with a higher-refresh-rate screen, which is better for gaming. However, the MSI Prestige 15, with its midrange pricing, offers double the RAM for better multitasking and may have better build quality. Additionally, the Prestige 15 is lighter and thinner, making it more portable, but the IdeaPad has a larger battery capacity and also supports hardware ray tracing and DLSS for graphics, enhancing gaming performance. If gaming performance and price are your priority, the IdeaPad could be for you, while if you seek better multitasking and portability along with a touch of premium feel, consider the Prestige 15. 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 overall display quality
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 15
- Very good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.2
6.8
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 15 for general use, and gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the MSI Prestige 15 offer displays with adequate resolution and brightness, ensuring clear and vivid images for day-to-day tasks. In engineering and design, they both cover a significant range of the color gamut, providing accurate colors for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates may result in less smooth visuals, which is less ideal for fast-paced gaming or fluid 3D rendering.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability, though the MSI Prestige 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$549
$1,044
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a price of $549 and the MSI Prestige 15 costs $1,044.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
298.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The MSI Prestige 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, equipped with an AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, offers good performance for general tasks and gaming, though it is heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the MSI Prestige 15 which boasts a lighter frame and longer battery life alongside an Intel CPU and Nvidia GTX GPU, making it easily portable and suited for general use and productivity with a compromise on gaming capabilities. Both laptops have IPS displays with standard resolution, suitable RAM, and storage for everyday tasks, but the IdeaPad's higher refresh rate benefits gaming while the Prestige 15's larger battery and lighter weight enhance mobility and usage time away from a power source.
Gaming and AI
6.5
6.3
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Prestige 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a higher screen refresh rate, which is better for smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, while the MSI Prestige 15, despite its lower refresh rate, offers a more efficient GPU for these demands. The CPU and screen quality on both laptops are sufficient for gaming and 3D tasks, but they won't be as impactful on performance as the GPU and refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
7.2
7.2
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 boasts a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and an Nvidia RTX GPU, which are crucial for tasks in engineering and design that demand muscular processing and graphics capabilities, although it's heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the MSI Prestige 15, which offers more RAM, a lighter build for enhanced portability, and a superior screen quality that benefits detailed design work despite having a less powerful GPU.
Content Creation
7.4
7.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
7.2
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Prestige 15 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 15 has 7.5 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.
Build Quality
7.2
7.4
The MSI Prestige 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good 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 Prestige 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | MSI Prestige 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $1,044 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | 14.1'' x 9.2'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.1 lbs | 3.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 14.05" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.49" | 9.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Intel i5-1240P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 82 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 | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 298 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
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 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 Prestige 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | December 2022
"The MSI Prestige 15 offers a dazzling 4K image quality, and solid performance. The MSI Prestige 15 appears to consistently implement the guiding principle of throttling the solid and efficient hardware to such an extent that content creation succeeds perfectly. Performance-hungry tasks, on the other hand, are slowed down a little by the reduced power consumption. Conversely, this means that the case remains relatively cool and the dual fan subdued. The battery life also benefits somewhat. So the losses aren't really dramatic because full performance is still available for short bursts."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the MSI Prestige 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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