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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a higher resolution display and a better battery life for tasks like browsing and productivity, consider the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, which also has a touchscreen and is slightly lighter, enhancing its portability. However, if budget is a primary concern and you're looking for a reliable machine for general use, the MSI Modern 14 offers a solid choice at a typically lower price point, although it has a lower resolution and battery capacity compared to the ThinkBook. Neither laptop is ideal for intensive gaming or high-end 3D and machine learning tasks. 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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13s.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.2
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
311.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is somewhat better.
The MSI Modern 14 offers a capable AMD Ryzen processor with sufficient RAM, which, along with a good screen size and resolution, common in general usage laptops, is well-suited for routine tasks and some multitasking. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s stands out with a powerful Intel processor and a higher-resolution display which enhances visual clarity, along with a longer battery life and lighter weight contributing to greater portability and convenience for on-the-go users. Both laptops have ample storage and quality keyboards, but the Lenovo has a higher screen quality and slight edge in battery endurance.
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.5
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s outperforms the MSI Modern 14 for engineering and design use mainly due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, which are crucial for compute-intensive tasks. Additionally, the ThinkBook 13s' higher resolution and screen quality, with better coverage of color spaces, makes it more suitable for design work where visual detail and color accuracy are important, while both models offer similar RAM which is very important for engineering tasks.
Content Creation
7.2
7.8
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and MSI Modern 14 are both good for content creation, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is somewhat better.
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
7.7
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is somewhat better.
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
7.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
311.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MSI Modern 14 suits general uses with its adequate screen resolution and brightness; however, its limited color range falls short for engineering and design needs, and its refresh rate isn't high enough to satisfy the smooth visuals required for gaming and 3D applications. The ThinkBook 13s, with better overall screen resolution and brightness, provides a more pleasant experience for everyday tasks and detail-oriented work in engineering and design, but, like the MSI, it doesn't have the high refresh rate gamers need for optimal performance. For those focusing on gaming or 3D work, neither laptop is ideal, but for general use and professional design tasks, the ThinkBook takes the lead in screen quality.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The MSI Modern 14 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has 8 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
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$650
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
$1,000
The MSI Modern 14 has a price of $600 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $650.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.4
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkBook 13s to have excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the MSI Modern 14 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Modern 14 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $650 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.08 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.68" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.74" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 1 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 39 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 311 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.7/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
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."
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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The Verge
Monica Chin | July 2021
"The best thing about the ThinkBook 13S is that it’s a good deal. Business buyers looking for ThinkPad-level performance and software without ThinkPad pricing will probably find the ThinkBook a solid option. While nothing about it is really spectacular, it’s certainly unusual to see the ThinkBook’s screen resolution at a sub-$1,000 price, and its performance will be more than adequate for most office tasks. The generous port selection, 16:10 aspect ratio, physical webcam shutter, and clear audio are certainly icing on the cake."
Get a great deal on the MSI Modern 14 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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 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.
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