For rigorous tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, the MSI Summit E16 Flip generally offers superior performance and graphics capabilities, but this comes at a higher cost and with reduced battery life. On the other hand, if you prioritize battery longevity, portability, and saving some money, while mainly using your laptop for general tasks like browsing and office applications, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is a solid choice. Keep in mind, though, that its performance may not be as high when it comes to more demanding 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 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
Very good portability
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers a solid CPU and RAM setup that ensures smooth general usage, along with a high-quality screen and renowned keyboard, making it a reliable and comfortable choice for everyday tasks. Meanwhile, the MSI Summit E16 Flip, while also providing good performance for general use, adds the versatility of a convertible design and touch screen, but tends to be less portable and have a slightly shorter battery life than the ThinkPad.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
6.9/10
8.0/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a better screen than the MSI Summit E16 Flip for software development, and content creation, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers a balance of resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D gaming, where smoother visuals are key. The MSI Summit E16 Flip, with its higher brightness and strong color reproduction, excels in delivering crisp visuals for both general use and professional design tasks, ensuring accurate color work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which do not support the high frame rates ideal for dynamic and immersive gameplay.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good portability, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,241
$1,413
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has a price of $1,241 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,413.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14's GPU may handle casual gaming, but its standard refresh rate limits the smoothness of fast-paced action, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip offers a better GPU and higher refresh rate for more fluid visuals. Although both laptops have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the MSI's edge in GPU and refresh rates make it the more suitable choice for gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.0/10
7.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 to be very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 delivers solid performance with its high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and professional GPU, ideal for engineering software, while its renowned keyboard quality and robust build suit long hours of work; however, its screen quality and speakers are less impressive. The MSI Summit E16 Flip, with its powerful GPU and high-resolution screen, excels in design tasks requiring detailed visuals and is a versatile option with its 2-in-1 form factor, though it may be heavier and noisier which could impact portability and work environment comfort.
Content Creation
8.3/10
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad T14 to be very good for content creation, while the MSI Summit E16 Flip 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip has 8 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.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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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