If you prioritize battery life and portability, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has an edge due to its lighter design and longer-lasting battery. However, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a more powerful graphics card and a higher refresh rate screen, making it better suited for gaming or graphics-intensive tasks. The ThinkPad is typically less expensive, which may suit budget-minded buyers, but if you require superior graphics performance for 3D, machine learning, or gaming pursuits, the Stealth might justify its higher price. Keep in mind, though, that the Stealth is heavier, which could affect its portability. 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
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has an integrated AMD Radeon 680M graphics chip and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, making it fair for gaming and 3D applications where these aspects can limit performance and visual fluidity. Conversely, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4060 dedicated GPU and a higher refresh rate of 165Hz, enhancing its ability to handle demanding gaming and 3D tasks with improved graphical fidelity and smoother visuals.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good.
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is rated higher for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, which are better suited for resource-intensive tasks like 3D modeling and machine learning compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13's AMD CPU and GPU. The MSI model also boasts a higher capacity battery and a screen with a faster refresh rate and better color accuracy, enhancing visual work; however, it is heavier and not as portable as the lightweight ThinkPad, which may be more comfortable for on-the-go use.
Screen Quality
7.0/10
7.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
379.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth 14 Studio for software development, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio both offer screens with high resolution and brightness, which are key for clarity and visibility in general use, while their extensive color gamut coverage ensures accurate color reproduction crucial for engineering and design tasks. However, their displays likely have lower refresh rates that are less suited for the smooth visuals required in high-end gaming and 3D applications, where a high refresh rate is critical for a responsive and immersive experience. The type of panel used in these laptops, while sufficient for general and professional work, might not offer the fast response times and high refresh rates preferred for gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
10.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio has 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 14 Studio has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$1,520
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a price of $1,000 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio costs $1,520.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both good for general use.
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is well-suited for general use due to its lightweight design, which enhances portability, solid battery life for longer use without charging, and a high-quality screen, along with features that support productivity such as an excellent keyboard. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth 14 Studio offers greater storage and a more powerful graphics card, desirable for more graphics-intensive tasks, but it has a shorter battery life and is less portable due to its heavier weight.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 14 Studio and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 are both 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
7.7/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and MSI Stealth 14 Studio are both 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.
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How the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and the MSI Stealth 14 Studio 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."
"You'll find a versatility in the MSI Stealth 14 Studio that isn’t matched by many content-creator laptops we've tested of late. The small frame allows you to (potentially) work from anywhere with an outlet and, if noise isn’t a concern, run your most demanding of programs, thanks to some powerful hardware inside. The MSI Stealth 14 Studio is an attractive and powerful option if you want a portable laptop to be the center of your content work setup."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 or the MSI Stealth 14 Studio
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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