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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you prioritize robustness and higher performance for demanding tasks, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 may justify its higher price. However, if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option for everyday use, the MSI Modern 14 offers decent performance for general activities. The ThinkPad usually has better build quality and keyboard, making it suitable for business users who value durability and typing comfort. On the other hand, the MSI might be lighter and more portable, appealing if you frequently travel. Keep in mind, the better the performance and build quality, the more you typically have to invest. 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 ThinkPad T14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo ThinkPad T14.
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.2
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers robust CPU and RAM configurations suited for multitasking and various applications, with a high-quality screen and long battery life, making it ideal for users needing performance and mobility throughout the day. Meanwhile, the MSI Modern 14, while also providing a strong CPU and RAM for general use, emphasizes its lightweight design for portability, though this may come at the cost of reduced battery life compared to the ThinkPad.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.0
4.0/10
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
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and the MSI Modern 14 are both equipped with GPUs that are capable but not specialized for heavy gaming or 3D work, leading to an adequate but not high-end experience in these areas. While their CPUs and screen quality are decent, contributing positively to the overall performance, the lack of a high screen refresh rate means that neither laptop will provide the smooth visuals preferred by serious gamers or professionals in 3D modeling.
Engineering and Design
8.0
6.6
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 stands out with robust processing power and memory, making it suitable for demanding engineering software, while its high-quality screen benefits design tasks. In comparison, the MSI Modern 14, while also suitable for engineering and design, offers a balance between performance and portability, with a comfortable keyboard and quieter operation for extended use.
Content Creation
8.3
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 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
7.1
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the MSI Modern 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
6.9
6.4
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14's screen is well-suited for general use and engineering due to its higher resolution and brightness, allowing for clearer text and vivid images, along with a wide color gamut that ensures accurate color representation for professional design work. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D applications because it has a lower refresh rate, which can lead to less smooth motion and responsiveness. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14, while offering adequate screen quality for everyday tasks and design with fair color reproduction and brightness, also does not cater well to gaming or 3D needs because of its similarly insufficient refresh rate.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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
8.0
7.0
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,241
$748
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a price of $1,241 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
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Key similarities
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad T14 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,241 | $748 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.5'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.96 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.51" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.93" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 39.3 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 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 | 321 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.5/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.4/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 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 Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | December 2023
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
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 ThinkPad T14 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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