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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
Choosing between the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the MSI Modern 14 depends on your preferences. The Lenovo has a larger screen, better screen resolution with a taller aspect ratio, and a larger battery, which translates to a bit more weight, making it slightly less portable than the MSI. However, battery life is longer on the Lenovo. Both have the same amount of RAM and storage, but the Lenovo's processor and integrated graphics are from Intel, while the MSI has AMD equivalents, which sometimes differ in performance depending on the task. If you favor portability and a lower price, the MSI may be your preference, but if you want a larger display and longer battery life, you might lean towards the Lenovo. Both are suitable for general use and are not specialized for intensive gaming. 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 5i
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.4
6.4
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
315.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for software development.
For general use, both the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the MSI Modern 14 offer adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for daily tasks like browsing and document editing, but they may lack the vibrant colors and sharpness of higher-end displays. When considering engineering and design, their screens may not cover the wider color gamuts needed for precise color work, an important factor for professionals who rely on color accuracy. Meanwhile, for gaming and 3D applications, their lower refresh rates can limit the smoothness of motion, which is less ideal for fast-paced visuals that benefit from quicker screen updates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.0
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$828
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a price of $828 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.2
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
315.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is well-suited for general use due to its ample RAM for multitasking, a processor that handles everyday tasks with ease, a high-resolution screen with good color coverage for a pleasing viewing experience, and a sizeable battery ensuring longevity on the go. The MSI Modern 14, while also equipped with sufficient RAM and a competent processor, boasts a more portable frame and a display with higher pixel density, offering sharp images, but has a shorter battery life compared to the IdeaPad Slim 5i.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the MSI Modern 14 both offer integrated graphics solutions—Intel Iris Xe and AMD Vega 7, respectively—neither of which are as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, limiting their prowess in gaming and 3D applications. Additionally, both have standard 60Hz refresh rate screens which are adequate for general use but may not be as smooth as higher refresh rates preferred in gaming scenarios.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i outperforms the MSI Modern 14 for engineering and design due to its superior integrated graphics in the Iris Xe, which supports more complex visual and computational tasks, along with a higher screen resolution, which provides better clarity for detailed work. While the MSI Modern 14 offers good overall performance, the Vega 7 integrated graphics and lower screen resolution make it less suitable for demanding engineering software and intricate design applications.
Content Creation
7.4
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Modern 14 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
7.4
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Modern 14 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.
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How the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$828 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.17 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56.6 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 315 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
HT Tech
Robin Sinha | February 2021
"The device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i or the MSI Modern 14
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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Why trust us
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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