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MSI Modern 14 vs. Prestige 14: What's the difference?

MSI Modern 14 foregoes features in favor of GeForce MX250 graphics, a well-calibrated display, and a low price (Image source: Xotic PC)
MSI Modern 14 foregoes features in favor of GeForce MX250 graphics, a well-calibrated display, and a low price (Image source: Xotic PC)
The Modern 14 may be a lot cheaper, but it actually has a few advantages over the more expensive Prestige 14 including additional ports and expandable RAM.

MSI is well-known for its G series of gaming laptops and W series of workstation laptops. More recently, the Taiwanese OEM has been expanding into the office space with systems like the Prestige PS42, Prestige 14, or Prestige 15 to challenge traditional Ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 15, Lenovo Yoga, HP Spectre, or the MacBook Pro series.

MSI's latest office offering is the mid-range Modern 14 as an alternative to its higher-end Prestige 14. Unlike the latter, the Modern 14 drops a long list of features in order to reach a more affordable price point as shown by our comparison table below. Some notable options that are included on the Prestige 14 and not the Modern 14 are GeForce GTX graphics, 4K UHD display, Thunderbolt 3, and the hexa-core Core i7-10710U CPU.

Other important differences relate to storage and RAM. Storage is easier to upgrade on the Prestige 14 since the M.2 slot is easier to access. RAM, however, is soldered on the Prestige 14 while the Modern 14 is limited to single-channel only.

We recommend checking out our reviews on the Modern 14 and Prestige 14 to learn more about the machines and the differences between them. The Modern 14 is currently retailing for $750 to $900 while the Prestige 14 can be found for $1200 to over $1400.

Buy Modern 14 now on Amazon
Buy Prestige 14 now on Amazon

MSI Modern 14MSI Prestige 14
CPUUp to quad-core Core i5-10210UUp to hexa-core Core i7-10710U
GPUUHD Graphics 620 or
GeForce MX250 w/ 2 GB GDDR5 VRAM
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q w/ 4 GB GDDR5 VRAM
Display14-inch up to 1080p
"Nose cam" webcam positioning
14-inch up to 4K UHD
Standard webcam positioning
RAMUp to 32 GB DDR4-2666 MHz single-channel, 1x SODIMMUp to 16 GB LPDDR3, Dual-Channel, soldered
Connectivity2x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen. 1, Full-size SD reader, 3.5 mm combo audio, HDMI 1.4, 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen. 1
Intel 9560 Wi-Fi 5
2x USB Type-C + Thunderbolt 3, MicroSD reader, 3.5 mm combo audio, 2x USB Type-A 2.0
Intel AX201 Wi-Fi 6
Battery50 Wh52 Wh
Dimensions16 x 322 x 222 mm15.9 x 319 x 215 mm
Weight1.22 kg1.25 kg
MSRP$750 to $900$1200 to $1400
322 mm / 12.7 inch 222 mm / 8.74 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1.2 kg2.69 lbs319 mm / 12.6 inch 215 mm / 8.46 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.3 kg2.76 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
Chi Mei N140HCE-EN2, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
IPS, 14.00, 3840x2160
Display
Display P3 Coverage
64.2
sRGB Coverage
94.8
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
65.4
Response Times
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
39.2 ?(20.8, 18.4)
55 ?(27, 28)
Response Time Black / White *
35.6 ?(21.2, 14.4)
36 ?(22, 14)
PWM Frequency
25000 ?(28)
Screen
Brightness middle
324.1
567
Brightness
301
516
Brightness Distribution
87
86
Black Level *
0.22
0.445
Contrast
1473
1274
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
1.63
1.55
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
4.25
5.14
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1.42
1.24
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.2
1.48
Gamma
2.26 97%
2.19 100%
CCT
6887 94%
6741 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
60.2
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
95
Total Average (Program / Settings)

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
Intel Core i7-10710U
174 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
Intel Core i5-10210U
170 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
Intel Core i7-10710U
1043 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
Intel Core i5-10210U
596 Points
Cinebench R20
CPU (Single Core)
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
Intel Core i5-10210U
421 Points
CPU (Multi Core)
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
Intel Core i5-10210U
1225 Points
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
Intel Core i7-10710U
2.07 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
Intel Core i7-10710U
12.28 Points
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
Intel Core i7-10710U
31824 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
Intel Core i7-10710U
6599 Points
PCMark 10
Score
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
4690 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
4497 Points
Essentials
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
8903 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
7861 Points
Productivity
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
7040 Points
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
6494 Points
Digital Content Creation
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
4843 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
4461 Points
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
3744 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
3464 Points
Work Score Accelerated v2
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
4992 Points
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
4472 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
 
AS SSD
Seq Read
1061
Seq Write
953
4K Read
35.59
4K Write
87
4K-64 Read
769
4K-64 Write
733
Access Time Read *
0.084
Access Time Write *
0.136
Score Read
911
Score Write
916
Score Total
2294
Copy ISO MB/s
956
Copy Program MB/s
496.5
Copy Game MB/s
872
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
Write 4K
107.7
Read 4K
39.73
Write Seq
926
Read Seq
1014
Write 4K Q32T1
343.6
Read 4K Q32T1
499.1
Write Seq Q32T1
1033
Read Seq Q32T1
1604
Total Average (Program / Settings)

* ... smaller is better

3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
27748 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
23376 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
6985 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
3845 Points
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
1164 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
6300 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
3487 Points
1920x1080 Fire Strike Physics
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
14191 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
9013 Points
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
10422 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
4920 Points
1280x720 Performance Combined
MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U
8022 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
NVIDIA GeForce MX250, i5-10210U
4596 Points
MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
GeForce MX250, i5-10210U, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, i7-10710U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR
Noise
off / environment *
28.7
30.3
Idle Minimum *
29.5
30.3
Idle Average *
29.5
30.3
Idle Maximum *
29.5
30.3
Load Average *
33.4
40.2
Witcher 3 ultra *
37.9
Load Maximum *
40.5
43.5

* ... smaller is better

MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
i5-10210U, GeForce MX250, Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
i7-10710U, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR, IPS, 3840x2160, 14.00
Power Consumption
Idle Minimum *
4.2
5.2
Idle Average *
5.9
12.2
Idle Maximum *
7.2
14.3
Load Average *
63.4
67
Witcher 3 ultra *
53.5
Load Maximum *
67.4
67

* ... smaller is better

MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US
i5-10210U, GeForce MX250, 50 Wh
MSI Prestige 14 A10SC-009
i7-10710U, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, 52 Wh
Battery Runtime
Reader / Idle
986
596
WiFi v1.3
515
351
Load
105
125
Modern 14
Modern 14
Prestige 14
Prestige 14
Modern 14 integrates more ports, but it lacks Thunderbolt 3
Modern 14 integrates more ports, but it lacks Thunderbolt 3
Prestige 14
Prestige 14
Modern 14 makes servicing difficult because of the upside-down motherboard
Modern 14 makes servicing difficult because of the upside-down motherboard
Prestige 14
Prestige 14
Modern 14 M.2 SSD is difficult to access
Modern 14 M.2 SSD is difficult to access
Prestige 14
Prestige 14
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Allen Ngo, 2020-01-29 (Update: 2020-02-17)