The Lenovo Legion 9i offers top-notch performance for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering or machine learning due to its higher-end processor and powerful graphics card, but this comes with a higher price tag and less portability due to its larger screen and heavier weight. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 14 is more affordable and portable with a lighter weight and longer battery life, but its performance, particularly for graphics-intensive tasks, won't match the Legion, as it has a less powerful processor and integrated graphics. Consider your primary use: for demanding tasks and lesser concern for budget and portability, choose the Legion; if price sensitivity and portability are paramount with moderate performance sufficing, go for the Prestige. 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
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.5/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for general use due to its superior CPU, ample RAM, high-resolution Mini LED screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the MSI Prestige 14, which offers balanced portability with good battery life, a decent screen, and a capable CPU for less demanding tasks.
Gaming and AI
9.2/10
6.2/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 14 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for gaming and 3D applications due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 165, which provides smoother visuals and better handling of complex graphics. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 14 is equipped with a less powerful integrated graphics Iris Xe and a standard screen refresh rate of 60, limiting its gaming and 3D capabilities compared to the Legion 9i.
Engineering and Design
9.6/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI Prestige 14 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for engineering and design due to its higher-tier CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality, offering better performance for intensive tasks; whereas the MSI Prestige 14, while still good for engineering and design, has less powerful components but gains an edge in portability, which could benefit users frequently on the move. In considering somewhat important factors, the Lenovo might have a more comfortable keyboard and quieter operation, features that can enhance user experience during long working sessions, but the MSI's potentially better speaker quality may appeal to those who prioritize multimedia consumption.
Content Creation
8.7/10
7.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for content creation, while the MSI Prestige 14 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
8.3/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the MSI Prestige 14 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
9.7/10
6.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
313.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution, vibrant panel that offers excellent brightness and covers a wide color gamut, facilitating precise color work. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, its lower refresh rate may not deliver as smooth an experience, which is crucial for fast-paced visuals. The MSI Prestige 14 also provides a good display for general use and professional design tasks with sufficient resolution and color accuracy, but like the Legion, its refresh rate isn't designed for the high demands of gaming or 3D content creation.
Battery
3.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 has 8.5 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
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Prestige 14 has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality, while the MSI Prestige 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$1,040
$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 Prestige 14 costs $1,040.
"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."
"The MSI Prestige 14” is excellent for productivity and business use cases, but it is not ideal for creators or visual content editors. The Prestige was able to power through days of email, spreadsheets, and text documents without breaking a sweat and was a joy to use. The additional ports were a breath of fresh air, as most laptops seem to be moving towards just Thunderbolt ports. The security options made signing in effortless, with two quick, more secure, and faster options than even the most complex alphanumeric passcode."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the MSI Prestige 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.
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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