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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is a higher-priced laptop with stronger general performance and a significantly longer battery life, suitable for those who prioritize a blend of portability and power for tasks like productivity work and casual content creation. If cost is a primary concern, the MSI Modern 14 may be more appealing, but if you require stronger performance and longer unplugged usage, investing in the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i could be the better choice. 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 7i
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good battery life
- Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
340.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offers a superior screen that can render sharper details and more accurate colors, essential for users needing clarity and color fidelity for tasks like photo editing or graphic design, but lacks the high refresh rate desired by gamers for smooth visuals in fast-paced games. The MSI Modern 14 has a slightly lower quality display which might not be as sharp or color-accurate, still suitable for everyday tasks and some professional work but might not satisfy users with stringent color requirements. Both laptops are not ideal for gaming and 3D rendering due to their screens' lower refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid motion during gameplay.
Battery
11.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 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.
Build Quality
7.8
7.0
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$899
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has a price of $899 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
340.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
11.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offers better battery life and a higher quality display, making it suitable for users needing longer use without charging and those who prioritize screen clarity for general tasks. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 is also suitable for general use with similar CPU and RAM, but has a shorter battery life and lower display color coverage, although it runs on a newer operating system, which may appeal to users looking for recent software compatibility.
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
9.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is fair for gaming and 3D with its Intel i7 Iris Xe GPU and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate, which may limit performance in high-speed gaming scenarios. Similarly, the MSI Modern 14 offers modest gaming and 3D capabilities, employing an AMD Ryzen Vega 7 integrated GPU along with the same standard 60Hz refresh rate display, indicating similar limitations in rendering fast-paced visuals smoothly.
Engineering and Design
7.1
6.6
5.5/10
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 7i to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i offers better suitability for engineering and design tasks due to its stronger Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, which are more capable for such demanding tasks than the MSI Modern 14's AMD Ryzen 5 and Vega 7 graphics.
Content Creation
7.7
7.2
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
7.5
7.1
5.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and MSI Modern 14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$899 | $525 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 8.2'' x 0.59'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.99 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.62" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.2" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1165G7 | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 60.7 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 340 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 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 | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Ted Needleman
| January 2022
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
MSI Modern 14
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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 7i 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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