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Updated June 22, 2024·
The MSI Raider 18 HX is a top-tier gaming and engineering powerhouse with a high-end price to match. It boasts an unparalleled performance for demanding tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, and machine learning, thanks to its cutting-edge Intel i9-14900HX processor and Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU. The massive 18-inch Mini LED display with a 3840 x 2400 resolution and 120Hz refresh rate is ideal for fast-paced motion and engineering precision, though its large size and weight compromise portability. It's equipped with a robust cooling system to manage heat during intensive sessions, and the premium build quality ensures durability. However, its battery life is short, and the laptop is heavy, making it less suitable for on-the-go use. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is designed for general business use and offers excellent portability with its slim, lightweight design and longer battery life. The Intel Core Ultra 5 processor and Intel Arc 4-Cores GPU provide ample performance for everyday tasks and some light gaming or creative work. The 13.5-inch IPS display with a 2880 x 1920 resolution is sharp and has a productivity-friendly 3:2 aspect ratio, though it lacks a touchscreen. The ThinkBook 13x is a more balanced choice for those who prioritize mobility and general productivity over raw performance for specialized tasks. It's also more affordable, making it a cost-effective option for users with moderate performance needs. Ultimately, if you require a laptop for high-end gaming or intensive engineering tasks and don't mind the heft and shorter battery life, the MSI Raider 18 HX is the way to go. However, if you value portability, a more modest price point, and sufficient performance for everyday business and productivity tasks, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x would be the better choice. 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 Raider 18 HX
- Very good for general use
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.8
7.9
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
1000.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX is very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
9.0
6.6
9.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is only fair.
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.
Engineering and Design
9.6
7.9
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
9.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
9.1
8.0
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is very 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
8.8
7.9
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX is very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
9.4
8.2
18.0in
SIZE
13.5in
3840 x 2400
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
1000.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The MSI Raider 18 HX has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
PerfectRec’s screen quality scores take into account various important factors that are relevant for different use cases.
Portability
Poor
Excellent
18.0in
SIZE
13.5in
7.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.2in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the MSI Raider 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$3,999
$1,399
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Raider 18 HX has a price of $3,999 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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Key similarities
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The MSI Raider 18 HX has 9 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.
Build Quality
7.4
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and MSI Raider 18 HX both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the MSI Raider 18 HX and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Raider 18 HX | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,999 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2024 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 7.94 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.91" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 12.09" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-14900HX | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 4 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 18" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3840 x 2400 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 1000 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.1/10 | 9.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Get a great deal on the MSI Raider 18 HX 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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