A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
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Updated January 16, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is more budget-friendly and might thus appeal to you if you're looking for a cost-effective gaming laptop. It features a decent processor and graphics card suitable for casual gaming, but its heavier weight makes it less portable. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, on the other hand, is priced higher but offers more power and a better display, which can be beneficial for both demanding gaming and creative tasks. It also has a higher capacity for multitasking with more RAM and storage. Being lighter, the MSI is easier to carry around, and its superior battery is likely to last longer on a single charge. So if your priority is performance over price and you need better portability, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is the preferable choice, but for cost-effectiveness with acceptable gaming capabilities, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 fits the bill. 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 battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.8
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which contribute to smoother graphics and better gaming experiences. While both laptops have quality displays and capable CPUs, the MSI's superior GPU and the added benefit of a higher refresh rate makes it a better option for more demanding gaming and 3D applications compared to the Lenovo, despite the latter being a competent entry-level gaming laptop.
Engineering and Design
7.2
8.5
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.2/10
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 Gaming 3 is good.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers superior engineering and design capabilities due to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a more advanced GPU compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3, which also impacts the better screen quality of the MSI with higher color accuracy and brightness. While the Lenovo is heavier and slightly less portable, it potentially has better keyboard quality; both laptops have comparable speaker quality, operating noise levels, and screen size, although the MSI has a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals.
Screen Quality
7.2
7.6
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio boast high-resolution screens with adequate brightness and panel types that deliver sharp images and clear visibility, making them well-suited for browsing, video playback, and productivity tasks. When it comes to engineering and design, both laptops offer wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals in these fields see accurate colors and gradients necessary for detailed work. However, they fall short for gaming and 3D applications as their screens have lower refresh rates, which limits how smooth visuals appear during fast-paced scenes and could impact the gaming experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 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
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$549
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a price of $549 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
329.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers good general use capabilities with a solid main processor and sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, alongside a quality screen and reasonable portability, but with average battery life limiting mobility. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio, while more portable and with a longer battery life, also provides a superior display and stronger performance with its higher-end CPU and double the RAM, making it well-suited for more demanding tasks and usage on-the-go.
Content Creation
7.4
7.9
7.9/10
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 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
7.4
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 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
7.2
7.6
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$549 | $1,432 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 10.5'' x 0.86'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.1 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.16" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.49" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 329 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.1/10 | 7.9/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | 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 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 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 Gaming 3 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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