The MSI Modern 14 offers more storage and memory for a significantly lower price than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, which may be better for intensive tasks and multitasking. However, the Surface Laptop Go 3 has a higher resolution touchscreen display and better battery life, suiting users who prioritize portability and touch capabilities. The MSI should appeal to users seeking value and power, while the Surface might be ideal for those who value lightness and touchscreen functionality. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.4/10
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
337.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, and engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers a display with higher resolution and brightness which makes it well-suited for general use and detailed engineering tasks that require clarity and accurate color representation. Although the MSI Modern 14 provides a decent visual experience for day-to-day activities and some design work, its screen may not display colors as vividly or accurately because of its narrower color gamuts. Both laptops have displays that lack high refresh rates, making them less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion and rapid screen updates are crucial.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 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
12.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$788
$525
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a price of $788 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
The MSI Modern 14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 are both good for general use.
The MSI Modern 14 offers a sharper screen resolution and more memory, which contribute to better performance for general use, while the Surface Laptop Go 3 is promoted for its exceptionally light weight and long battery life, making it more convenient for on-the-go use. Both laptops have quality IPS screens and come with integrated graphics, but the MSI's larger amount of storage and better heat management also stand out, making it a stronger contender for more intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the MSI Modern 14 are labeled as fair for gaming and 3D applications largely because neither has a dedicated high-performance GPU nor a high screen refresh rate, both crucial for advanced gaming and 3D rendering. Additionally, while the Surface Laptop Go 3 has an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and the Modern 14 has an AMD Vega 7, they may provide satisfactory visuals for less intensive tasks, they aren't designed to handle demanding games or 3D software effectively, especially with both models having basic 60Hz displays which limits smooth rendering of fast-action scenes.
Engineering and Design
6.8/10
6.6/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3, with its decent CPU and integrated GPU, is fairly suitable for engineering and design due to the high-resolution touchscreen with a 3:2 aspect ratio conducive to productivity, but it might struggle with more intensive tasks with its limited RAM and storage. The MSI Modern 14 also is similarly matched in terms of CPU and RAM with a sizeable amount of storage, offering a sharper display suited for design work but its average screen color fidelity may not be ideal for fine-tuned color work in engineering and design applications, and while it's less portable than the Surface, it has additional features like a backlit keyboard and an extra RAM slot for potential upgrades.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.2/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1/10
7.1/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1536 x 1024
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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.
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How the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 and the MSI Modern 14 compare to other laptops
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 or the MSI Modern 14
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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