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Updated January 10, 2024·
The MSI Raider GE78 is a powerhouse suited for intensive gaming and demanding engineering tasks with its top-tier processor and graphics card, but it weighs more and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s offers good general use performance, significantly lighter weight, and longer battery life, making it very portable; however, it falls short for demanding graphics tasks and lacks the high-performance components found in the MSI option. So if portability and battery life are priority, go for the ThinkBook; if you need top performance for gaming or engineering, the MSI is the better pick. 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 GE78
- Very good for general use
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Best in class for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.7
7.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
384.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for general use due to its powerful Intel i9 CPU, ample 32GB of RAM, and high-quality IPS screen that delivers a sharp image and vibrant colors, but it is less portable with a substantial weight and a lower battery life, making it more suited for stationary use. While the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is also good for general use, it has a less powerful Intel i7 CPU and 16GB of RAM which is sufficient for most tasks, accompanied by a high-quality IPS touchscreen and is much more portable with a lighter weight and longer battery life, lending itself to on-the-go usage.
Gaming and AI
9.5
6.4
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE78 excels in gaming and 3D applications primarily because it comes equipped with a high-end Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card and a screen that supports an impressive 240Hz refresh rate, providing smooth visuals and the ability to handle complex graphics with ease. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, while still capable of handling less demanding games and 3D tasks, features a much less powerful Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics and a standard 60Hz refresh rate screen, translating to lower gaming performance and less fluid visual rendering.
Engineering and Design
9.4
7.5
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
9.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s is good.
The MSI Raider GE78 outshines the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s in engineering and design due to its superior CPU, larger amount of RAM, and a much more powerful GPU that is essential for demanding tasks, although it is less portable due to its larger size and weight. On the other hand, the ThinkBook 13s, with a competent CPU and integrated graphics, offers a balance of performance and portability, notable for its higher portability score and longer battery life, making it a more convenient choice for on-the-go use despite having a lower performance ceiling.
Content Creation
8.8
7.8
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 is 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
8.5
7.7
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is 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.
Screen Quality
8.6
7.2
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
384.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
336.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE78 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 and engineering, the MSI Raider GE78 offers a sharp, bright, and colorful display, catering to the need for clear text and accurate colors, which benefits tasks like photo editing or CAD work. On the other hand, its lower refresh rate impacts its performance for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion and rapid response times are crucial. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s, while still delivering a clear and vivid display suitable for day-to-day tasks and professional design work, falls short for gaming due to similar refresh rate limitations.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The MSI Raider GE78 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
Poor
Excellent
17.3in
SIZE
13.3in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13s has excellent portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.6
The MSI Raider GE78 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
$4,386
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The MSI Raider GE78 has a price of $4,386 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s costs $1,000.
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How the MSI Raider GE78 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13s compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| MSI Raider GE78 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13s |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$4,386 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15'' x 11.7'' x 1.13'' | 11.7'' x 8.3'' x 0.59'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.83 lbs | 2.9 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.97" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.73" | 8.3" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | 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 | 2048 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 | 17.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 384 nits | 336 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.6/10 | 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 | 6.5/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 4 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
MSI Raider GE78
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | March 2023
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
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 GE78 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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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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