The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers better performance for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and machine learning because it has a faster main processor and better GPU. It also features a higher resolution display with touchscreen capabilities and a higher build quality, making it a good option if screen quality and durability are priorities. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 is more budget-friendly, lighter, and offers basic capabilities sufficient for general use. However, the battery life is shorter, and it's less suitable for demanding tasks. If cost and portability are more important than high-end performance, the MSI Modern 14 could be the better choice. 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 Z13
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13.
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
7.2/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
379.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is favored for general use due to its higher screen quality, with better brightness and color coverage, and a longer battery life that enhances portability; it also boasts a slightly more powerful CPU and superior build quality. The MSI Modern 14, while also suitable for general use, trades off screen display prowess and a bit of portability for a more budget-friendly option, still providing ample CPU performance and memory for everyday tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.6/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 stands out in engineering and design due to its superior AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, more powerful Radeon 680M GPU, and higher-quality screen with better brightness and color coverage, plus excellent keyboard quality that is conducive to long work sessions.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is somewhat better.
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
7.7/10
7.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is somewhat better.
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
7.0/10
6.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
379.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers a crisp and bright display with a high resolution that enhances everyday activities like browsing and watching videos, while the MSI Modern 14 provides an adequate display that's acceptable for most tasks but might not be as vivid or sharp. The ThinkPad Z13 excels in engineering and design due to its wider color gamut coverage that ensures accurate color representation which is essential for precise work, while the Modern 14's color range is more limited, possibly affecting color-sensitive tasks. However, both fall short for gaming and 3D applications since neither laptop has a high refresh rate, leading to less fluid motion compared to specialized gaming laptops.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has 10 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.
Portability
Excellent
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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
$1,000
$748
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $748.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a more powerful GPU with the AMD Radeon 680M and a higher screen resolution, making it better for gaming and 3D applications than the MSI Modern 14, which uses a Vega 7 integrated with the CPU. Both laptops have a standard screen refresh rate, which is less ideal for gaming where higher refresh rates are preferred, and they use IPS screens known for good color reproduction, which helps in visual clarity in games and 3D work but isn't the best for the fastest refresh rates.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
"In the premium ultraportable space, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 competes with the best of the best, and still manages to shine. The design is an impressive departure from the bland bare-metal laptop that's become so popular in recent years, and the AMD-powered system has performance that's just as impressive. It's a stark alternative to the Intel-based majority, and it stands up well enough to the impressive Apple M2 processor."
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 Z13 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.
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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