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MagyarMSI Modern 14 A10RB Laptop Review: Lighter than it Looks
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News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here
(February 3, 2020 update: MSI Modern 14 SKUs with the Core i7-10710U exist, but they are not available in the United States at the time of writing.)
Not to be confused with the higher-end MSI Prestige 14, the MSI Modern 14 is the more affordable version aimed at content creators and business users on tighter budgets. It foregoes most of the advanced features of the Prestige 14 like GTX graphics, 4K UHD panels, and Thunderbolt 3 support in favor of a lighter system that typical office workers can appreciate.
Current SKUs are fixed at the Core i5-10210U CPU and 1080p matte display. Upgradeable options are limited to the GPU (Intel UHD Graphics 620 or GeForce MX250), NVMe SSD, and DDR4 RAM up to 32 GB. The configuration tested here can be found on Xotic PC for $900 USD.
The MSI Modern 14 competes with both Ultrabooks and business-centric laptops like the Microsoft Surface Laptop series, Apple MacBook Pro series, Dell Latitude 7400, and the Lenovo ThinkPad P43s.
More MSI reviews:
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Height | Size | Resolution | Best Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80.9 % | 01/2020 | MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US i5-10210U, GeForce MX250 | 1.2 kg | 16 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | |
| 88.2 % | 10/2019 | Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL i7-1065G7, Iris Plus Graphics G7 (Ice Lake 64 EU) | 1.4 kg | 14.95 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | |
| 89.7 % | 12/2019 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2019 i9 5500M i9-9880H, Radeon Pro 5500M | 2 kg | 16.2 mm | 16.00" | 3072x1920 | |
| 83.7 % | 09/2019 | Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA i5-8265U, UHD Graphics 620 | 1.3 kg | 16.5 mm | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | |
| 90.1 % | 07/2019 | Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2019-20QE000VGE i7-8665U, UHD Graphics 620 | 1.1 kg | 14.9 mm | 14.00" | 2560x1440 |
Case
One of MSI's strengths is creating a visually appealing laptop. It's clear that the Modern 14 takes more than a few cues from the super-thin MSI GS series of gaming laptops as they share similar brushed aluminum surfaces and textures. When compared to the usual dull office laptop, the Modern 14 is definitely more stylish and attractive.
Unfortunately, visual appeal has come at the cost of chassis rigidity. The base exhibits some creaking when attempting to twist its sides and the overall skeleton doesn't give a sense of sturdiness. Alternatives like the XPS 13, Spectre 13, EliteBook 1040, Surface Laptop, MacBook Pro, and even most office laptops like the Dell Latitude 5000 or 7000 series are built stronger and can take more of a beating.
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Perhaps as a direct result of the thin skeleton and flexible surfaces, the Modern 14 is much lighter than many alternatives at just 1.2 kg. Its weight is nearly identical to the 13.3-inch Dell XPS 13 while providing a larger 14-inch screen size. The pricier Yoga C940-14 and Prestige 14 are each slightly heavier and smaller in every dimension.
Connectivity
MSI didn't skimp on port selection despite the thin profile and light weight. Users will have more options here than on the XPS 13 or HP Spectre 13 including full-size HDMI and multiple USB Type-A ports. The main drawback is that the USB Type-C port does not support Thunderbolt 3 unlike on the Prestige 14. Port positioning is also good but not perfect; we would have preferred to see USB Type-A ports on both sides while the HDMI port feels cramped next to the AC adapter port.
SD Card Reader
While we can appreciate the fact that the system integrates a full-size spring-loaded SD card reader, transfer rates are unfortunately very slow. Moving 1 GB worth of pictures from our UHS-II test card takes about 36 seconds compared to just 7 seconds on the Prestige 15 or XPS 15.
| SD Card Reader | |
| average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Dell XPS 15 7590 9980HK GTX 1650 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT-DB77 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB) | |
| Dell XPS 15 7590 9980HK GTX 1650 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT-DB77 (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
| MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II) | |
Communication
An Intel 9560 is included for Wi-Fi 5 connectivity in contrast to the Wi-Fi 6 compatible Intel AX200 in the pricier Prestige 15. We experienced no connectivity issues during our time with the test unit.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 Client (transmit) TCP 1 m 4M x10 | |
| MSI Prestige 15 A10SC | |
| Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT-DB77 | |
| iperf3 Client (receive) TCP 1 m 4M x10 | |
| MSI Prestige 15 A10SC | |
| Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT-DB77 | |
Maintenance
The bottom panel pops out relatively easily with just a standard Philips screwdriver. Note, however, that a 'Factory Seal' sticker must be broken and further servicing beyond the M.2 WLAN module or battery pack will require additional disassembly. Core components like RAM and M.2 storage are inconveniently on the other side of the motherboard not unlike on the MSI GS65 or GS75.
Accessories and Warranty
Included extras are a faux leather carrying sleeve and a USB Type-A to RJ-45 adapter. It's uncommon to see these for free on mid-range laptops and so they are a welcomed sight.
The standard one-year limited warranty applies with one year of accidental damage protection for those who register their new laptops within 30 days of purchase.
Input Devices
Keyboard
As expected, the Modern 14 doesn't integrate the SteelSteries keyboard as found on most MSI G Series gaming laptops. However, we wish MSI had considered it because the keyboard on the Modern 14 feels spongier, shallower, and less satisfying to type on. Most Ultrabooks and business laptops like the Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15, Lenovo ThinkPad T series, or Dell Latitude series offer crisper keys than the MSI we have here. If you're already accustomed to the soft key feedback of most lower-end laptops like the Asus VivoBook 14 or Lenovo IdeaPad, however, then typing on the Modern 14 won't feel all that different.
Touchpad
The clickpad (~10 x 5.7 cm) is smaller and narrower than the clickpad on the XPS 13 7390 2-in-1 (~11.3 x 6.8 cm). Vertical movements and two-finger gestures feel cramped as a result. Cursor control is otherwise smooth with minimal sticking when gliding slowly across the surface.
The integrated mouse keys are shallow with relatively weak feedback. It works reliably enough for short periods, but an external mouse will feel more ergonomic and less tiring to click.
Display
The Modern 14 uses the same Chi Mei N140HCE-EN2 1080p IPS panel as found on the Acer Swift 3 SF314 and the older MSI PS42. Thus, innate characteristics like contrast ratio and the relatively slow response times are nearly the same between them. Note that the display is about 43 percent dimmer than the pricier Prestige 14 which uses a 4K UHD from AU Optronics panel instead.
Subjectively, text and images appear nearly as crisp as on a glossy display with only a minor layer of graininess common amongst most matte panels.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 324.1 cd/m²
Contrast: 1473:1 (Black: 0.22 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.63 | 0.59-29.43 Ø5.5, calibrated: 1.42
ΔE Greyscale 2.2 | 0.64-98 Ø5.7
95% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
60.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
65.38% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
94.83% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.17% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.26
| MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US Chi Mei N140HCE-EN2, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080 | MSI Prestige 14 i7-10710U AUO123B, , 14.00, 3840x2160 | Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT-DB77 BOE NV156FHM-N63, IPS, 15.60, 1920x1080 | Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL LP140WF9-SPE2, IPS LED, 14.00, 1920x1080 | Dell XPS 15 7590 9980HK GTX 1650 Samsung 156WR04, SDCA029, OLED, 15.60, 3840x2160 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2019 i9 5500M APPA044, IPS, 16.00, 3072x1920 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 26% | -2% | 3% | 27% | ||
| Display P3 Coverage | 64.17 | 81.5 27% | 66.58 4% | 66.04 3% | 88.11 37% | |
| sRGB Coverage | 94.83 | 99.03 4% | 87.67 -8% | 97.86 3% | 99.6 5% | |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 65.38 | 95.4 46% | 64.08 -2% | 67.33 3% | 91.76 40% | |
| Response Times | 1% | -6% | 29% | 132% | ||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 39.2 ? | 41.2 ? -5% | 49.6 ? -27% | 2.3 ? 94% | 52.4 ? -34% | |
| Response Time Black / White * | 35.6 ? | 33.2 ? 7% | 30 ? 16% | 2.4 ? 93% | 34.9 ? 2% | |
| PWM Frequency | 25000 ? | 59.52 ? -100% | 131700 427% | |||
| Screen | -5% | -70% | -9% | -45% | 6% | |
| Brightness middle | 324.1 | 568 75% | 312.6 -4% | 384 18% | 421.2 30% | 519 60% |
| Brightness | 301 | 513 70% | 290 -4% | 363 21% | 417 39% | 477 58% |
| Brightness Distribution | 87 | 87 0% | 85 -2% | 90 3% | 94 8% | 86 -1% |
| Black Level * | 0.22 | 0.28 -27% | 0.31 -41% | 0.17 23% | 0.39 -77% | |
| Contrast | 1473 | 2029 38% | 1008 -32% | 2259 53% | 1331 -10% | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.63 | 3.18 -95% | 5.78 -255% | 3.5 -115% | 6.06 -272% | 2.28 -40% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.25 | 7.01 -65% | 8.86 -108% | 5.5 -29% | 11.89 -180% | 6.54 -54% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated * | 1.42 | 1.14 20% | 3.78 -166% | 1 30% | 0.86 39% | |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.2 | 4.79 -118% | 5.4 -145% | 4.6 -109% | 2.8 -27% | 0.9 59% |
| Gamma | 2.26 97% | 2.49 88% | 2.21 100% | 2.32 95% | 2.15 102% | 2145 0% |
| CCT | 6887 94% | 6488 100% | 7864 83% | 6884 94% | 6235 104% | 6572 99% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 60.2 | 85 41% | 57.1 -5% | 62 3% | 81 35% | 78 30% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 95 | 99 4% | 87.4 -8% | 97.7 3% | 99.6 5% | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 11% /
1% | -24% /
-48% | -4% /
-6% | 4% /
-14% | 69% /
35% |
* ... smaller is better
Color space encompasses approximately 95 percent and 60 percent of the sRGB and AdobeRGB standards, respectively, to be indicative of a mid-range panel. Users looking for deeper colors should consider the pricier Prestige 14 and its 4K UHD option.
The panel is well-calibrated out of the box with average grayscale and color DeltaE values of just 2.2 and 1.44, respectively. Color temperature is ever-so-slightly on the cool side which we were able to fix with our own X-Rite calibration. The included MSI True Color software makes one-click color adjustments easy for content creators.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 35.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 21.2 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 14.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.8 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 91 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (23.8 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 39.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 20.8 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 18.4 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.8 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 47 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (37.5 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 25000 Hz | ≤ 28 % brightness setting |  |
The display backlight flickers at 25000 Hz (Likely utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 28 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting. The frequency of 25000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering. In comparison: 52 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 20917 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured. | |||
Outdoor visibility is about average for an Ultrabook. Pricier flagship alternatives like the MacBook Pro 15 or XPS 15 have brighter displays for better visibility when outdoors, but at least glare is minimal on the matte MSI display. Viewing angles are excellent to better exploit the 180-degree hinges. Colors and contrast degrade only if viewing from extreme angles not unlike other IPS displays.
Performance
The 10th gen Core i5 CPU and GeForce MX250 GPU target office users who want more graphical power than the typical Intel UMA-only Ultrabook while being just as thin and light. Laptops with more powerful GTX options tend to be heavier and larger in the 15-inch range with the Razer Blade Stealth and MSI Prestige 14 being major exceptions.
RAM can be configured from 8 GB single-channel up to 32 GB single-channel via one SODIMM slot. We recommend configuring with at least 16 GB especially since RAM upgrades are difficult on this particular chassis.
Nvidia Optimus is included for automatic graphics switching. LatencyMon shows no DPC latency issues even when wireless is enabled.
Processor
The Comet Lake-U Core i5-10210U in our MSI is about 20 percent slower than the average Core i5-10210U in our database according to CineBench R15 Multi-Thread. Thus, raw performance is barely any better than the two-year old Core i7-8550U or even the Core i5-8265U that it directly replaces. In fact, even the Ryzen 5 3500U in the Walmart Motile laptop can outperform our MSI by about 20 percent. The disappointing results can be attributed to the limited Turbo Boost sustainability of the Modern 14 as detailed in our Stress Test section below.
See our dedicated page on the Core i5-10210U for more technical information and benchmarks.
| Cinebench R11.5 | |
| CPU Single 64Bit | |
| Dell XPS 13 7390 Core i7-10710U | |
| Average Intel Core i5-10210U (1.71 - 1.91, n=4) | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15 Ryzen 5 3580U | |
| Dell Latitude 13 3390 | |
| CPU Multi 64Bit | |
| Dell XPS 13 7390 Core i7-10710U | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15 Ryzen 5 3580U | |
| Average Intel Core i5-10210U (5.69 - 8.66, n=4) | |
| Dell Latitude 13 3390 | |
| Cinebench R10 | |
| Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit | |
| Dell XPS 13 7390 Core i7-10710U | |
| Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15 Ryzen 5 3580U | |
| Average Intel Core i5-10210U (15037 - 22164, n=3) | |
| Dynabook Portege A30-E-174 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P43s-20RH001FGE | |
| Rendering Single 32Bit | |
| Dell XPS 13 7390 Core i7-10710U | |
| Average Intel Core i5-10210U (6410 - 6613, n=3) | |
| Dynabook Portege A30-E-174 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad P43s-20RH001FGE | |
| Asus VivoBook 14 X403FA | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15 Ryzen 5 3580U | |
| wPrime 2.10 - 1024m | |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 3 15 Ryzen 5 3580U | |
| Average Intel Core i5-10210U | |
| Dell XPS 13 7390 Core i7-10710U | |
* ... smaller is better
System Performance
PCMark results are generally comparable to a Core i7-1065G7 laptop save for the Essentials benchmark where the CPU performance advantages of Ice Lake come into play. We experienced no software or hardware issues during our time with the test unit.
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3464 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4992 points | |
| PCMark 10 Score | 4497 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
Our test unit comes with a 512 GB Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ M.2 SSD, but expect drives from other OEMs depending on the laptop reseller. Sequential read and write rates average about 1000 MB/s each to suggest an entry-level NVMe SSD. The Samsung PM981, Toshiba XG6, and Apple AP1024 all outperform our Kingston by over 2x in some cases.
See our table of HDDs and SSDs for more benchmark comparisons.
| MSI Modern 14 A10RB-459US Kingston RBUSNS8154P3512GJ | Asus ZenBook 15 UX534FT-DB77 Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB1T0HALR | Lenovo Yoga C940-14IIL Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ | Dell XPS 15 7590 9980HK GTX 1650 Toshiba XG6 KXG60ZNV1T02 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 2019 i9 5500M Apple SSD AP1024 7171 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AS SSD | 51% | 64% | 73% | 57% | |
| Seq Read | 1060.87 | 1886.9 78% | 2524.94 138% | 1723.09 62% | 2531.3 139% |
| Seq Write | 953 | 1432.22 50% | 1253 31% | 1386.27 45% | 2288.6 140% |
| 4K Read | 35.59 | 52.32 47% | 59.06 66% | 43.25 22% | 15.85 -55% |
| 4K Write | 86.98 | 146.01 68% | 134.11 54% | 98.3 13% | 39.88 -54% |
| 4K-64 Read | 769.2 | 969.22 26% | 1010.39 31% | 1077.98 40% | 1266.78 65% |
| 4K-64 Write | 733.32 | 1374.95 87% | 1461.29 99% | 1456.13 99% | 1748.84 138% |
| Access Time Read * | 0.084 | 0.034 60% | 0.052 38% | 0.05 40% | 0.122 -45% |
| Access Time Write * | 0.136 | 0.075 45% | 0.029 79% | 0.039 71% | 0.095 30% |
| Score Read | 911 | 1210 33% | 1322 45% | 1294 42% | 1536 69% |
| Score Write | 916 | 1664 82% | 1721 88% | 1693 85% | 2018 120% |
| Score Total | 2294 | 3483 52% | 3670 60% | 3638 59% | 4317 88% |
| Copy ISO MB/s | 956.48 | 1375.25 44% | 2015.93 111% | 3182.39 233% | 1995 109% |
| Copy Program MB/s | 496.45 | 468.05 -6% | 541.73 9% | 983.98 98% | 584 18% |
| Copy Game MB/s | 872.21 | 1287.32 48% | 1278.47 47% | 1823.85 109% | 1135 30% |
| CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6 | 68% | 66% | 58% | 49% | |
| Write 4K | 107.7 | 141.6 31% | 128.4 19% | 104.3 -3% | 55.54 -48% |
| Read 4K | 39.73 | 45.28 14% | 46.37 17% | 45.23 14% | 16.21 -59% |
| Write Seq | 926.3 | 1975 113% | 1863 101% | 1729 87% | 1959.24 112% |
| Read Seq | 1014 | 2272 124% | 2340 131% | 1861 84% | 1762.83 74% |
| Write 4K Q32T1 | 343.6 | 458.6 33% | 451.1 31% | 509.2 48% | 398.51 16% |
| Read 4K Q32T1 | 499.1 | 391.4 -22% | 415.3 -17% | 388.5 -22% | 648.05 30% |
| Write Seq Q32T1 | 1033 | 2393 132% | 2985 189% | 2813 172% | 2726.7 164% |
| Read Seq Q32T1 | 1604 | 3464 116% | 2565 60% | 2906 81% | 3241.6 102% |
| Write 4K Q8T8 | 451.4 | ||||
| Read 4K Q8T8 | 1004.4 | ||||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 60% /
57% | 65% /
65% | 66% /
67% | 53% /
54% |
* ... smaller is better
GPU Performance
3DMark results are nearly identical to the Razer Blade Stealth with the older 25 W GeForce MX150 while being about 35 percent faster than the 10 W GeForce MX150. The GeForce MX250 is essentially a rebadged MX150 and so users shouldn't expect any significant performance gains between them. Meanwhile, the MX230 is about 30 to 35 percent slower than our MX250.
The gaming capabilities of the Modern 14 are decent for undemanding titles like DOTA 2 or Fortnite even though the system is not catered towards gamers. Nonetheless, be prepared for noticeable ghosting because of the slow black-white response times. Idling on Witcher 3 shows no recurring drops in frame rates to suggest no interrupting background activity or throttling behavior when gaming.
See our dedicated page on the GeForce MX250 for more technical information and benchmark comparisons.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 5085 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 14266 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 3487 points | |
| 3DMark Time Spy Score | 1279 points | |
Help | ||