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Updated March 22, 2024·
When deciding between the Lenovo Legion 9i and the MSI Creator M14, consider that the Legion 9i, often pricier, usually offers high performance geared towards gaming and demanding tasks with a robust build but may be heavier and have shorter battery life. Conversely, the MSI Creator M14 is likely more budget-friendly, still capable for general use and creative tasks with a focus on portability and longer battery life, but might not match the Legion's performance for the most intensive applications. Choose the Legion for superior power and gaming, or the MSI for cost savings and mobility. 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 Legion 9i
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Best in class overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Creator M14
- Good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.2
7.3
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Creator M14 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i boasts a superior GPU and a high screen refresh rate, essentials for smooth and immersive gaming and 3D experiences, whereas the MSI Creator M14, with a decent GPU and adequate refresh rate, offers satisfactory performance but may not handle intense graphics with the same ease. Although both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the Legion's emphasis on top-tier graphics makes it a better fit for the most demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
9.6
8.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Creator M14 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i, with its robust CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality GPU, excels in tasks that require significant processing power and graphical capabilities, making it ideal for demanding engineering and design software, while its superior screen quality ensures crisp and accurate visual output. On the other hand, the MSI Creator M14, while still offering solid performance components suitable for engineering and design, is more portable and provides a balance with good keyboard and speaker quality, yet it may produce more operating noise during intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.7
8.0
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI Creator M14 are both very good for content creation, though the Lenovo Legion 9i 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
9.7
7.5
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the MSI Creator M14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Lenovo Legion 9i's superior resolution and brightness enhance everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, while its panel type provides broad viewing angles. Engineering and design users benefit from the Legion 9i's extensive color gamuts, allowing for accurate color work, which is also true for the MSI Creator M14, although to a lesser degree. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as their screens don't offer the high refresh rates required for smooth motion rendering.
Battery
3.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Creator M14 has 4.5 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The MSI Creator M14 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality, while the MSI Creator M14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a price of $3,420 and the MSI Creator M14 costs $1,500.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.0
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI Creator M14 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo Legion 9i delivers robust processing power and ample memory for smooth multitasking, coupled with a high-quality screen and respectable battery life, balancing performance with mobility for everyday tasks. Whereas the MSI Creator M14 offers similar benefits in CPU performance and screen quality, with added storage capacity and a focus on creative tasks, though it may trade off slightly in battery life and portability.
Software Development
8.3
7.8
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo Legion 9i to be very good for software development, while the MSI Creator M14 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.
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How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the MSI Creator M14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | MSI Creator M14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $1,500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 12.4'' x 9.2'' x 0.88'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 3.53 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i7-13620H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 350 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Lenovo Legion 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | December 2023
"The Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the MSI Creator M14
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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