If saving money is a priority and you mainly engage in tasks like word processing, web browsing, and light photo editing, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is a solid and more affordable choice; it's also lighter and easier to carry around. However, if you need high performance for gaming, 3D rendering, or intensive machine learning projects, the MSI GE66 Raider, despite being more expensive and less portable, offers significantly more power to handle those demands proficiently. Remember that the Raider's increased performance usually comes with a tradeoff in battery life compared to the ThinkPad. Choose the laptop that aligns closely with your primary usage and mobility needs. 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 portability
Advantages of the MSI GE66 Raider
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
8.6/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The MSI GE66 Raider is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The MSI GE66 Raider is equipped with a higher-end GPU and a screen with a faster refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications where these features provide smoother and more immersive experiences. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while having a capable GPU and decent screen quality, doesn't match the Raider's performance and visual fluidity, therefore it's less suited for such demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.0/10
9.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI GE66 Raider is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its considerable CPU and RAM capabilities, suits engineering tasks well, and its renowned keyboard quality is a plus for extensive typing, though its GPU and screen may not match the MSI GE66 Raider, which boasts superior graphics and display for rigorous design work. While the Raider excels in power for demanding applications, its heft and sound may be trade-offs against the X13's balance of performance and easier portability.
Screen Quality
6.9/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
321.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The MSI GE66 Raider has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and the MSI GE66 Raider both offer panels with suitable resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, with the Raider having a slight edge due to its higher brightness and sharper display. For engineering and design, the MSI's display covers a wider range of color gamuts, providing more accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for detailed and color-critical work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, despite their decent resolutions and panel types, both laptops fall short as they do not offer the high refresh rates needed for a smoother visual experience in fast-paced games and 3D rendering.
Battery
8.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the MSI GE66 Raider has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,241
$3,199
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a price of $1,241 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,199.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and MSI GE66 Raider are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with its efficient CPU and ample RAM, offers reliable performance and a high-quality screen for everyday tasks, while being lightweight and boasting long battery life enhances its portability. On the other hand, the MSI GE66 Raider, also equipped with a powerful CPU and plenty of RAM, focuses on delivering a superior screen experience and excels in heavier tasks, but this comes at the cost of reduced battery life and less portability.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI GE66 Raider and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for content creation.
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
8.1/10
8.4/10
8.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and MSI GE66 Raider both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and the MSI GE66 Raider compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 or the MSI GE66 Raider
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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