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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
If you're looking for an affordable option for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing, the MSI Modern 14 is a sensible choice with its lighter weight and adequate performance for general use. On the other hand, if your work involves complex 3D tasks, machine learning, or gaming, investing in the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio can be beneficial for its higher performance capabilities, although it is more expensive, heavier, and may have shorter battery life, impacting 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 MSI Modern 14
- Very good portability
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.2
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
311.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
The MSI Modern 14 offers portability and reliable battery life with a satisfactory CPU, RAM, and screen quality for everyday tasks, making it suitable for general use. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio boasts a top-tier CPU and more RAM, combined with a superior screen, which enhances performance for more demanding applications, at the expense of less portability and potentially shorter battery life, yet still offers great utility for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.0
8.9
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The MSI Modern 14 has a modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate, making it passable for gaming and 3D applications, but cannot match the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, which boasts a high-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate for smoother gameplay and better performance in demanding graphic tasks. While both have capable CPUs and good screen quality, the superior GPU and refresh rate in the Stealth 18 AI Studio set it apart for more intense gaming and 3D work.
Engineering and Design
6.6
9.1
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offers a more powerful CPU, increased RAM, and a superior GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering tasks and will enhance screen quality for detailed design work. In comparison, the MSI Modern 14 provides these features at a less robust level, making it more suitable for lighter engineering work, and while it's easier to carry around, it trades off some of the higher performance and display benefits of the Stealth 18 AI Studio.
Content Creation
7.2
8.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
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
8.2
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
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
6.4
8.4
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
311.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MSI Modern 14's screen may not be as sharp or bright as the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, making text and images less crisp and vibrant. During engineering and design tasks, the Stealth 18's higher color accuracy offers more precise representations of work, but the Modern 14 falls short in displaying a wide color gamut. Finally, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion, though the Stealth's better resolution and panel type somewhat mitigate this issue.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
14.0in
SIZE
18.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
8.0
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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
$525
$2,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The MSI Modern 14 has a price of $525 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The MSI Modern 14 has 6 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Modern 14 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Modern 14 | MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$525 | $2,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | March 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | 15.8'' x 11.4'' x 0.94'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.08 lbs | 6.15 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.68" | 15.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.74" | 11.4" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 39 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 311 nits | 305 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.7/10 | 6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
MSI Modern 14
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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 MSI Modern 14 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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