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Updated March 13, 2024·
When deciding between the MSI Modern 14 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, consider that while the MSI may be cheaper, it generally offers adequate performance for everyday tasks and light productivity; however, the Lenovo often has a more premium build, higher screen quality and may provide better performance for more demanding applications, including business environments. The ThinkBook 13x also tends to have longer battery life, making it preferable for those who need to work on the go without frequent charging. The MSI, being more affordable, is a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers needing a reliable laptop for basic to moderate use. 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 13x.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.2
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
311.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The MSI Modern 14 offers a balance of performance with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM for routine tasks, along with a quality screen, making it a solid choice for daily use, while its lightweight design and lasting battery enhance its portability for on-the-go users. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, on the other hand, also provides strong general performance packaged in a slim form factor, with a high-quality keyboard and quiet operation, making it an attractive laptop for professionals who prioritize a premium build and comfort over extended usability away from a power source.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Modern 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The MSI Modern 14 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x have dedicated GPUs suitable for light gaming and 3D tasks, but they may struggle with more demanding games and workloads due to their modest capabilities. While the CPUs and screen quality of both laptops provide a decent experience for everyday use and media consumption, their screen refresh rates are not high enough to satisfy hardcore gamers or professionals in high-end 3D modeling.
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The MSI Modern 14 provides adequate processing capacity for engineering tasks, but the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x outperforms it with a more powerful CPU and GPU, crucial for demanding software, alongside higher RAM for multitasking and superior screen quality for detailed designs. While both models offer decent portability and keyboard quality, the ThinkBook's edge in performance makes it better suited for intensive engineering and design work, although it may come at a higher price point.
Content Creation
7.2
8.0
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
7.9
5.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
8.2
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
311.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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 offers a balance between price and functionality with its screen quality, which is suitable for everyday tasks and productivity applications. However, its limited color gamut and standard refresh rate are not ideal for professional engineering and design tasks that require precise color representation or the high refresh rates needed for smooth rendering in gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x's display provides vibrant colors and sharper details due to higher resolution and brightness, making it a better fit for detailed engineering work, but like the MSI, its refresh rate isn't suited for the fast-paced visuals demanded by gamers and 3D designers.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The MSI Modern 14 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the MSI Modern 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.0
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$600
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The MSI Modern 14 has a price of $600 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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How the MSI Modern 14 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Modern 14 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$600 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.7'' x 8.7'' x 0.63'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.08 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.68" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.74" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7530U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
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 | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 311 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | |
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 | 1080p | |
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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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 MSI Modern 14 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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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