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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The LG Ultra 13 is a bit pricier and offers a better battery life and higher portability due to its lighter weight, making it ideal for those on the go. It's well-suited for general use and benefits from a quality keyboard. The MSI Modern 14, while less expensive, provides more storage and a larger screen but has a shorter battery life, which might not be as convenient for long periods away from power outlets. Both have similar performance capabilities for engineering tasks and 3D/machine learning but the LG Ultra might edge out slightly in general performance. Neither is designed for intensive gaming. 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 LG Ultra 13
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
- Good speakers
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.9
6.4
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The LG Ultra 13 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, and engineering and design.
The LG Ultra 13, with its superior panel type and higher resolution, is ideal for crisp text and vivid images suited for general use and engineering tasks that require color accuracy. Its mediocre refresh rate, however, limits the smoothness necessary in high-speed gaming or 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 provides adequate resolution and color reproduction for daily tasks and design work without excelling in any specific area, while also falling short for gaming due to a less-than-ideal refresh rate.
Battery
10.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The LG Ultra 13 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
2.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$529
$599
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The LG Ultra 13 has a price of $529 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $599.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.2
7.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The MSI Modern 14 and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use.
The LG Ultra 13's Ryzen 7 processor along with 16GB of RAM ensures smooth operation for general use, while its high screen color accuracy and the extended battery life make it suitable for portable productivity and media consumption. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14, with a slightly bigger screen and similarly equipped with 16GB of RAM, offers more storage space and is a fit for general use, though its shorter battery life compared to the LG might limit its usage on the go. Both laptops have good quality IPS displays and are lightweight, enhancing their portability and usability for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The LG Ultra 13 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The LG Ultra 13 and MSI Modern 14 are fair for gaming and 3D because both have integrated graphics in the processor that are less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs and standard 60Hz refresh rates, which don't allow for the high frame rates preferred in gaming. However, the LG's CPU has a higher performance capability compared to the MSI's, and while both have quality IPS displays, the LG provides better color coverage, contributing to better overall screen quality for rich visuals in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.6
6.6
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The LG Ultra 13 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The LG Ultra 13 with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and a decently bright screen is suitable for engineering and design, but its smaller screen may limit detailed work, and its integrated GPU handles basic tasks but isn't suited for heavy 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 offers more storage and a slightly larger screen, with a comparable AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and integrated GPU, but its lower screen color coverage could affect color-sensitive design work, while also being slightly heavier, impacting portability.
Content Creation
7.2
7.2
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The LG Ultra 13 and MSI Modern 14 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
7.2
7.1
4.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The LG Ultra 13 and MSI Modern 14 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.0
The LG Ultra 13 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the LG Ultra 13 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| LG Ultra 13 | MSI Modern 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$529 | $599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.1'' x 8.1'' x 0.6'' | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.16 lbs | 3.08 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.08" | 12.68" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.14" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | Vega 7 | Vega 7 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 10 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 51 Wh | 39 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 311 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 8.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
LG Ultra 13
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | April 2017
"The 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
MSI Modern 14
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Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
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 LG Ultra 13 or the MSI Modern 14
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, 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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