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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Raider GE66 offers top-tier performance suited for intensive gaming, engineering tasks, and 3D/machine learning, thanks to its powerful processor and high-end graphics card. It has a large, high-refresh-rate screen and ample storage but comes at a higher price and is heavier, making it less portable. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is more affordable and lightweight, ideal for general use and portable for regular travel. It has a smaller screen with a higher resolution and supports touchscreen input. While capable for lighter engineering tasks, it won't match the MSI's performance in demanding applications. 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 GE66
- Very good for general use
- Very good 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
- Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
8.3
7.8
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
6.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE66 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The MSI Raider GE66 stands out for general use with a robust CPU and ample RAM, ensuring top-notch performance, alongside a high-quality, large screen, at the cost of less portability and shorter battery life. Conversely, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers good general use capabilities with a commendable CPU and sufficient memory, a high-resolution, touchscreen display, greater portability due to its lighter weight and compact size, and a longer battery life, but it may not handle demanding tasks as efficiently as the Raider GE66.
Gaming and AI
8.5
6.4
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The MSI Raider GE66 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE66, equipped with an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a high 240Hz screen refresh rate, delivers exceptional gaming and 3D performance, contrasting with the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s's integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics and standard 60Hz refresh rate, which provide competent but less impressive gaming and 3D capabilities.
Engineering and Design
8.9
7.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE66 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The MSI Raider GE66 is very good for engineering and design use because it has a powerful RTX GPU and a high RAM capacity, which are crucial for demanding tasks, but it's heavier and has moderate battery life, impacting portability. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good CPU and sufficient RAM for less intensive engineering tasks, plus it offers better portability and longer battery life but uses integrated graphics which are less suitable for heavy graphics work.
Screen Quality
8.4
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
300.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE66 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MSI Raider GE66 offers a vibrant and sharp display with a balance that suits everyday tasks like browsing or watching videos, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s provides a less vivid but still clear and bright visual experience, making it a solid choice for daily activities. When it comes to engineering and design, the MSI stands out with superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts, which are essential for professionals working with precise color work, whereas the Lenovo offers decent color reproduction but might not satisfy those in need of professional-grade color fidelity. In terms of gaming and 3D applications, the MSI’s lower refresh rate can lead to less smooth visuals compared to laptops designed for gaming, while the Lenovo’s display also falls short for these uses, emphasizing that both are not optimized for the high frame rates desired by gamers and those working with dynamic 3D content.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The MSI Raider GE66 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.
Portability
Fair
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
5.2 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the MSI Raider GE66 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The MSI Raider GE66 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Raider GE66 has a price of $2,499 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
8.3
7.8
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider GE66 to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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
8.0
7.7
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider GE66 to be very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s 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.
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How the MSI Raider GE66 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Raider GE66 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,499 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2022 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.25 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.09" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.51" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | Intel i7-1260P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 56 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 300 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.9/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.3/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 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 | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
MSI Raider GE66
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Patrick Schüdzig | June 2022
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Raider GE66 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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