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Updated March 21, 2024·
When choosing between the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and the MSI Cyborg 15, consider that the ThinkPad typically offers superior build quality and keyboard comfort, which can be important for business users or those who type a lot. The MSI, on the other hand, usually has more powerful graphics capabilities, making it a better fit for gaming or graphics-intensive tasks. The ThinkPad often has a longer battery life, potentially making it better for travel, while the Cyborg's larger size and potentially shorter battery life reduce its portability but may provide a larger screen for entertainment or multitasking. The higher cost of the ThinkPad can be justified by its durability and professional features; however, if performance in demanding applications is a priority and budget is a concern, the MSI could offer more bang for your buck. 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 X13
- 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
- Good speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.3
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
321.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
8.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its strong CPU and sizeable RAM, excels in handling extensive multitasking and complex applications smoothly, offering a high-quality screen and long battery life for on-the-go productivity, while maintaining a lightweight design for portability. In comparison, the MSI Cyborg 15 provides enough CPU power and RAM for everyday tasks, but with emphasis on better storage options, game-friendly speakers, and enhanced cooling at the cost of being bulkier, thus potentially limiting its portability.
Gaming and AI
6.7
7.2
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while reliable for general use, has a modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate which may not handle intensive gaming and 3D tasks as smoothly as desired. On the other hand, the MSI Cyborg 15 boasts a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing gameplay and 3D rendering performance, though at a higher price and potentially reduced battery life compared to the Lenovo.
Engineering and Design
8.0
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with a strong CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, ensures smooth multitasking and precise visuals crucial for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 supplements these with a powerful GPU, enhancing performance for design software that requires graphic-intensive capabilities. Both laptops manage a balance between portability and performance, though the ThinkPad typically offers a more robust keyboard and quieter operation, factors also important for long design sessions.
Content Creation
8.2
7.5
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
8.1
7.2
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 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
6.8
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 features a display that provides clarity and brightness, making documents and websites easy to read and view, which suits general use well; however, its modest refresh rate limits the smoothness desired in gaming. For engineering and design, the ThinkPad's screen offers a wide range of colors, but it may still fall short for the most color-critical tasks due to limited coverage of professional color gamuts. The MSI Cyborg 15 has a balanced display for everyday tasks and some design work, but its average color range and refresh rate might not satisfy professional designers or provide the immersive experience gamers seek.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
6.7
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,459
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a price of $1,459 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
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Key similarities
Battery
8.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X13 | MSI Cyborg 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,459 | $1,100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | 14.2'' x 9.9'' x 0.9'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.87 lbs | 4.37 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.88" | 14.15" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.46" | 9.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 321 nits | 234 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1440p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
MSI Cyborg 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | April 2023
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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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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