Updated March 22, 2024·Prices updated 24 hours ago
If you're looking to save money and need a laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web, using office applications, and streaming video, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is a sensible choice due to its affordability and adequate performance for general use. However, if you require a machine for high-performance tasks such as gaming, 3D modeling, machine learning, or engineering software, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, while more expensive, offers significantly better performance and is designed to handle demanding applications. Keep in mind, the MSI model will likely be heavier and have a shorter battery life, making it less portable than the Lenovo. 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 Slim 3
Good portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
While the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers a balance of portability and battery life suitable for everyday tasks, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its higher-quality CPU and RAM, delivers smoother performance for more demanding applications. The MSI also boasts a superior screen which enhances visual tasks, though it may compromise on portability and battery life due to its more powerful components and larger display.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
8.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is poor.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has modest graphics capabilities that can handle some gaming and 3D applications but may struggle with high-end demanding tasks, whereas the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio comes with a top-tier GPU and a high refresh rate display, ensuring a premium gaming and 3D experience. Additionally, the MSI's superior CPU and screen quality further enhance its performance and visual output, making it a preferable choice for those seeking top-notch performance in games and 3D-intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, while suitable for lighter tasks, may struggle with the demands of engineering software due to its modest CPU, RAM, and GPU when compared to the MSI Stealth 15M, which includes high-end components for intensive workloads such as 3D modeling or data analysis; the latter also boasts a superior screen quality for precise visual work. However, the MSI model is less portable and could have a louder operating noise, which are tradeoffs for its significantly enhanced performance.
Content Creation
7.2/10
8.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
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
7.1/10
8.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
6.4/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a display that provides satisfactory sharpness and brightness for typical daily tasks and productivity work, but its limited color range might not be ideal for precision tasks in engineering and design, and its lower refresh rate can hinder the smooth visual experience desired for gaming and 3D applications. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio's display offers higher resolution and better color accuracy which benefits professional design and engineering software by providing more precise color representation, but like the Lenovo, it falls short for gaming and 3D because of a refresh rate that isn't as high as specialized gaming laptops. This means, while the MSI is superior for visual clarity and color work, neither laptop is optimal for the fast-paced refresh demands of high-end gaming or 3D rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$390
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a price of $390 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | May 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is decent for use as a workstation. Its Intel CPU and integrated graphics can only handle light productivity tasks, not demanding workloads like video editing or 3D graphics. You also can't do any color-critical work because the available displays have a narrow color gamut. It has a good port selection, but its USB-C lacks Thunderbolt 4 support. On the upside, it has a comfortable keyboard and doesn't get hot or loud under load."
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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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