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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is less expensive and offers solid performance with good battery life, making it suitable for general use and light productivity. However, if you need higher performance for tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio, which comes with a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, is the better choice despite being more expensive. The MSI also features a higher refresh rate which is beneficial for smooth visuals in gaming. On the other hand, the Lenovo is lighter and has a marginally larger screen, favoring portability and comfort for everyday tasks. 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 battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3
7.8
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio delivers a better gaming and 3D experience primarily due to its higher-end Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card, compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i's integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics. Additionally, the MSI has a higher screen refresh rate, which provides smoother visuals and is beneficial for fast-paced games, whereas the Lenovo's lower refresh rate means that on-screen action may not appear as fluid.
Engineering and Design
7.0
8.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offers a good balance for engineering and design with a capable CPU and integrated graphics, but the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a superior CPU and a dedicated high-performance GPU, making it very good for more demanding engineering software and 3D work. Additionally, while both laptops offer high-quality screens and the same amount of RAM, the MSI has a much higher refresh rate and better color coverage which benefits design tasks, though its higher power components make it less portable and likely louder under load compared to the more modest Lenovo.
Content Creation
7.4
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for content creation, though the MSI Stealth 14 Studio is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.4
7.6
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
315.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i likely offers adequate resolution and brightness, making it suitable for everyday tasks, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers similar features with potentially better brightness or color representation. In engineering and design, color accuracy is crucial; the MSI may have a wider color gamut covering DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which is less apparent on the Lenovo. When it comes to 3D, the MSI Stealth's lower refresh rate might limit the smoothness of movement making it less ideal for gaming despite its adequate resolution and panel quality.
Battery
8.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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.
Cost
$828
$1,432
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a price of $828 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,432.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.8
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
315.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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.
Software Development
7.4
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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 Slim 5i and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i | MSI Stealth 14 Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$828 | $1,432 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | 12.4'' x 9.7'' x 0.75'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.17 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.02" | 12.4" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.88" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56.6 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 315 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 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 Slim 5i 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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