The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is a more budget-friendly option and also has a gaming laptop appearance; it offers solid performance but at the cost of less storage and RAM compared to the MSI Summit E16 Flip. The MSI, on the other hand, is pricier but comes with a higher resolution touchscreen, better portability due to its lighter weight, and a premium business look. It also has more battery capacity and a more versatile port selection including Thunderbolt. Suitable for both gaming and business, the MSI may be a better option for intensive workloads and multitasking, whereas the Lenovo provides good value for more casual gaming and general use. 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
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
Very good overall display quality
Good speakers
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
7.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for engineering and design, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 is suitable for engineering and design use due to its solid AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, which can handle computational and graphical tasks, although it has less RAM which may be a limiting factor for more complex projects. The MSI Summit E16 Flip shines with a higher-resolution touchscreen display, a more powerful Nvidia RTX GPU, and double the RAM of the Lenovo, making it ideal for demanding engineering simulations and detailed design work; however, it is more portable and has quieter operating noise, which enhances its usability in diverse environments.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
8.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
329.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The MSI Summit E16 Flip has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
Considering your needs, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 offers a solid screen for everyday tasks and design work thanks to its adequate resolution and brightness, but its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for fluid gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Summit E16 Flip steps up with a higher resolution and brightness, providing crisp and vibrant visuals for both general use and professional creative work, but it is also not the best choice for gaming due to its lower refresh rate. If screen quality for engineering tasks and general usage is your priority, the MSI might be your best bet, but if you're also interested in gaming, neither option is optimized for that purpose due to refresh rate limitations.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 both have good portability, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$549
$1,550
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has a price of $549 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,550.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip outperforms the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 in gaming and 3D applications due to its stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which make visuals smoother and more detailed, especially useful in fast-paced games. While both have quality IPS screens, the MSI’s screen also boasts better resolution, enhancing the overall visual experience, albeit typically at a higher price point.
Content Creation
7.4/10
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
7.3/10
7.6/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip has 8 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
7.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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 Summit E16 Flip compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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