The MSI Modern 14 is a more budget-friendly option with a larger screen and sufficient power for general use. Its AMD processor and integrated graphics will handle everyday tasks well but may struggle with demanding engineering software and gaming. The Razer Book 13, on the other hand, costs more but offers better performance with an Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics suitable for heavier workloads such as engineering applications. It also has a touchscreen with higher resolution and brightness, longer battery life, and overall better build quality. The Razer Book 13 is less bulky, making it more portable, and it has a better port selection, including Thunderbolt 4. If high performance and portability are priorities, despite a higher price, the Razer Book 13 is the better choice. However, if you're on a budget and primarily need a laptop for typical daily tasks, the MSI Modern 14 will suffice. 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
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the Razer Book 13.
Advantages of the Razer Book 13
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Excellent battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.4/10
7.3/10
14.0in
SIZE
13.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
311.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
507.0 nits
The Razer Book 13 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the Razer Book 13 stands out with a vibrant and sharp display, making it suitable for tasks like web browsing and video streaming because of its higher resolution and brightness. For engineering and design professionals who require precise color representation for tasks like photo editing or CAD work, the Razer Book 13 again has the advantage with its wider color gamuts, providing more accurate colors. However, for 3D work and gaming, while both laptops may not offer the ideal experience due to their lower refresh rates, the MSI Modern 14 and Razer Book 13 still deliver acceptable performance for casual use, but serious gamers or 3D designers might seek alternatives with higher refresh rates and better graphics capabilities.
Battery
6.0 Hours
14.0 Hours
The MSI Modern 14 has 6 hours of battery life. The Razer Book 13 has 14 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
8.5/10
The Razer Book 13 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
$748
$1,389
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Modern 14 has a price of $748 and the Razer Book 13 costs $1,389.
The Razer Book 13 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use.
The MSI Modern 14 with an AMD Ryzen CPU and integrated graphics is praised for its very good portability and reasonable battery life, suitable for users who prioritize a balance between mobility and everyday performance. In contrast, the Razer Book 13 offers a higher-resolution touchscreen, a stronger Intel i7 CPU with Iris Xe graphics, superior battery life, and better screen quality, making it ideal for users who demand top-notch display and longer working hours without needing to recharge frequently, albeit at a slightly higher weight. Both have similar RAM and storage, ensuring smooth general use, but the Razer Book may edge out with its premium build quality and effective heat management.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Razer Book 13 and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI Modern 14 has integrated AMD Ryzen Vega graphics, while the Razer Book 13 comes with Intel Iris Xe graphics; both are integrated GPUs which offer moderate performance suitable for light gaming, but not for demanding 3D tasks. Additionally, both laptops have screens with a 60Hz refresh rate which is typical for regular use but may limit the smoothness in fast-paced games when compared to screens with higher refresh rates.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
7.1/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Book 13 to be good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Razer Book 13 is considered better for engineering and design use due to its more powerful Intel i7 processor and superior integrated graphics, which offer better performance for intensive tasks, along with a higher-quality screen that boasts greater brightness, contrast, and color coverage, essential for precise design work. Meanwhile, the MSI Modern 14, while still offering decent performance for engineering tasks with its AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Vega 7 graphics, falls short in screen quality but has similar portability and build quality, making it more of a compromise for users who favor cost or those who do not need as high-fidelity a display.
Content Creation
7.2/10
7.6/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Razer Book 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
7.1/10
7.5/10
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Razer Book 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Book 13 to have excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the MSI Modern 14 and the Razer Book 13 compare to other laptops
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."
"The Razer Book is like an XPS 13, but faster. The Book 13 combines the design philosophy and performance of a Blade Stealth with the 16:10 display of a Dell XPS 13 for an impressive piece of hardware. Office users who want something more stylish than the typical Dell, HP or Lenovo will certainly find themselves drawn to this Razer subnotebook. If your priorities are to have the best-looking and fastest 13-inch laptop in the office over auxiliary features, however, then the Book 13 proudly fulfills that niche."
Get a great deal on the MSI Modern 14 or the Razer Book 13
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.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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