Ekasjot_Singh
The modern gaming laptop market is crowded, competitive, and confusing—especially if you’re deciding between two similarly priced devices that appear almost equal on paper. The Lenovo LOQ (12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450HX + RTX 3050 6GB) and the MSI Thin 15 (13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H + RTX 3050 4GB) fall exactly into this category. Both machines target budget gamers who want smooth 1080p performance, a 144Hz display, dependable build quality, and good cooling at a price that doesn’t break the bank.
But which one actually performs better? Which offers more value for your money? Which is more suitable for students, creators, coders, and casual or competitive gamers?
- Performance
- Gaming benchmarks (explained, not numbers-heavy)
- GPU difference (the key deciding factor)
- Display quality
- Thermals & cooling
- Build quality
- Keyboard & trackpad
- Battery life
- Weight & portability
- Software features
- Who each laptop is best for
1. Overview of Both Laptops
Before going deep, here’s what each laptop brings to the table.
Lenovo LOQ (i5-12450HX + RTX 3050 6GB)
Key Specs
- Processor: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450HX (8 cores, high-power HX series)
- Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6
- RAM: 16GB DDR5
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD, 144Hz, 300 nits, IPS
- Weight: 2.4 kg
- Other: 3 months Game Pass, Office 2024, Windows 11
- Design: Grey, large cooling vents
- Category: Heavy-duty gaming laptop
What stands out?
- More powerful HX-series processor
- Stronger 6GB version of the RTX 3050
- Better peak performance, better cooling, better long-term durability
MSI Thin 15 (i5-13420H + RTX 3050 4GB)
Key Specs
- Processor: 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H (8 cores, lower wattage H-series)
- Graphics: NVIDIA RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6
- RAM: 16GB
- Storage: 512GB NVMe
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD, 144Hz
- Weight: 1.86 kg
- Other: Windows 11
- Design: Cosmos Gray, slim and lightweight
- Category: Thin and lightweight gaming laptop
What stands out?
- Newer 13th Gen CPU
- Much lighter than Lenovo LOQ
- Better for students and travellers
- Looks sleek and modern
2. Processor Comparison: i5-12450HX vs i5-13420H
Lenovo LOQ: i5-12450HX (Power-focused HX-series CPU)
- Designed for high-performance gaming machines
- Higher wattage = more power
- Sustains heavy workloads
- Better at multitasking, 3D work, video editing, and coding
MSI Thin 15: i5-13420H (Efficiency-focused H-series CPU)
- Newer generation but slower
- Designed for thin laptops
- Prioritizes battery and portability
- Good for general use and mid-level gaming
Final Verdict (CPU)
Lenovo LOQ wins
The HX-series chip delivers 20–25% better sustained performance than the Thin 15’s CPU despite being one generation older.
If your work includes
- Gaming
- Heavy multitasking
- Editing
- Development
- Virtual machines
…Lenovo’s CPU is noticeably stronger.
3. GPU Comparison: Biggest Deciding Factor
Both laptops include the popular NVIDIA RTX 3050, but not the same version.
Lenovo LOQ: RTX 3050 6GB (More VRAM = Better Future-Proofing)
- Newer and more capable model
- 6GB VRAM helps with:
✔ High textures
✔ Newer AAA games
✔ Stable 1080p 60–90 FPS gaming
✔ AI tools, GPU rendering
MSI Thin 15: RTX 3050 4GB (Older VRAM)
- Still good for gaming
- But 4GB VRAM limits:
✘ High texture packs
✘ AAA games on high settings
✘ Future 2025+ titles
Final Verdict (GPU)
Lenovo LOQ wins easily
The extra VRAM and higher TGP (wattage) boost performance significantly.
Gaming-wise, Lenovo delivers:
- Higher FPS
- Better stability
- No VRAM bottlenecks
- Smoother gameplay in titles like GTA 5, RDR2, Cyberpunk, Witcher, and Fortnite
4. Gaming Performance Comparison
Here’s what performance feels like in real life:
Lenovo LOQ Gaming Experience
- Easily handles most games on High to Ultra settings
- More stable FPS
- Less stuttering due to 6GB VRAM
- Better thermal headroom
- Feels “smooth and solid”
Expected 1080p performance:
✔ Esports titles → 120–200 FPS
✔ AAA titles → 60–90 FPS
✔ Heavy games → around 55–75 FPS
MSI Thin 15 Gaming Experience
- Good for 1080p gaming on Medium to High settings
- Can struggle in newer titles
- Lower VRAM causes texture drops
- Better for casual gamers
Expected 1080p performance:
✔ Esports → 100–150 FPS
✔ AAA titles → 45–60 FPS
✔ Heavy games → 40–55 FPS
Final Verdict (Gaming)
✔ If you want better gaming → Choose Lenovo LOQ
✔ If you want lightweight casual gaming → MSI Thin 15 is enough
5. Display Quality Comparison
Both laptops offer a 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz panel, but the details matter.
Lenovo LOQ Display
- 300 nits brightness (better for outdoor or bright rooms)
- IPS panel
- Good color accuracy
- Smooth for gaming
MSI Thin 15 Display
- Similar 144Hz refresh
- Usually 250 nits (less bright)
- Good for indoor use
- Colors are average
Verdict (Display)
✔ Lenovo LOQ wins because of:
- Brighter screen
- Better viewing angles
- Better color reproduction
6. Build Quality and Design
Lenovo LOQ
- Strong, heavy, robust body
- Military-grade style
- Large cooling vents
- More “gaming laptop” appearance
- Weight: 2.4 kg (heavy)
MSI Thin 15
- Lightweight at 1.86 kg
- Sleek, slim, professional design
- Great for students and office users
- More portable
Verdict (Build/Weight)
✔ For portability → MSI Thin 15
✔ For durability and performance → Lenovo LOQ
7. Keyboard, Trackpad & Ports
Lenovo LOQ
- Good keyboard travel
- Comfortable for gaming
- Large port selection
- Better thermal placement
- Strong hinge
MSI Thin 15
- Comfortable but thinner key feedback
- More compact layout
- Adequate ports
- Better for typing than gaming
Winner: Depends on your preference
✔ Gamers → Lenovo
✔ Writers/Students → MSI
8. Cooling & Thermals
Cooling is extremely important for gaming laptops.
Lenovo LOQ
- Bigger chassis = more airflow
- Dual fan system
- Lower temperatures under load
- CPU+GPU run more efficiently
MSI Thin 15
- Slim body = less airflow
- Runs hotter in heavy tasks
- Can throttle during long gaming sessions
Thermal Verdict
✔ Lenovo LOQ wins
MSI is thinner but sacrifices thermal performance.
9. Battery Life Comparison
Gaming laptops never have excellent battery life, but thin laptops do better.
Lenovo LOQ
- Expect: 3–4 hours normal use
- Gaming: 1–1.5 hours
- High-power components drain faster
MSI Thin 15
- Expect: 5–6 hours normal use
- Gaming: 1.5–2 hours
- Much better efficiency
Battery Verdict
✔ MSI Thin 15 wins for portability and battery efficiency.
10. Software & Additional Features
Lenovo LOQ
- Lenovo Vantage software
- Custom performance profiles
- 3-month Xbox Game Pass
- Office 2024 included
MSI Thin 15
- MSI Center
- Lightweight optimization tools
- Office not included by default
- No Game Pass bundle
Verdict
✔ Lenovo gives more value and extras.
11. Weight & Portability
Laptop | Weight | Portability Level |
Lenovo LOQ | 2.4 kg | Heavy, not travel-friendly |
MSI Thin 15 | 1.86 kg | Very portable |
If you carry your laptop daily, MSI is the clear winner.
12. Which One Is Better for What?
For Gaming:
➡️ Lenovo LOQ
Stronger GPU + HX CPU → Better overall gaming
For Students:
➡️ MSI Thin 15
Lighter, longer battery, easier to carry
For Video Editing:
➡️ Lenovo LOQ
Better GPU and processor performance
For Coding & Development:
➡️ Lenovo LOQ (heavy tasks)
➡️ MSI Thin 15 (light to medium coding)
For Office Work:
➡️ MSI Thin 15
Silent, lightweight, professional look
For Travelling:
➡️ MSI Thin 15 wins due to weight
For Long Gaming Sessions:
➡️ Lenovo LOQ
Superior cooling
13. Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
Buy the Lenovo LOQ if you want:
✔ Best gaming performance
✔ Better GPU (6GB VRAM)
✔ Brighter display
✔ Heavy multitasking capability
✔ Strong cooling
✔ Best long-term value
✔ Editing, streaming, coding, rendering
This is the better performance machine overall.
Buy the MSI Thin 15 if you want:
✔ Lightweight laptop
✔ Better battery life
✔ Sleek and thin design
✔ Good for college and travel
✔ Moderate gaming
✔ Office and productivity tasks
This is better for everyday use, portability, and semi-gaming.
14. Final Summary
Choosing between the Lenovo LOQ (12th Gen i5-12450HX + RTX 3050 6GB) and the MSI Thin 15 (13th Gen i5-13420H + RTX 3050 4GB) ultimately depends on what you value more: raw performance or portability. Both laptops deliver excellent value in their respective categories, but they are built for very different types of users.
Below is a detailed, but easy-to-understand breakdown to help you make the right decision.
✔ Lenovo LOQ: Best for Performance, Gaming, and Heavy Tasks
The Lenovo LOQ stands out as a pure performance-driven gaming laptop. It uses a high-wattage HX-series processor, which is designed for desktop-level performance. Even though it’s one generation older, it outperforms the MSI’s 13th Gen H-series CPU in sustained workloads like rendering, coding, virtual machines, and AAA gaming.
The bigger win is the RTX 3050 6GB GPU.
The extra VRAM makes a huge difference in modern and upcoming games, especially those using high textures or open-world environments. Games run smoother, stutter less, and maintain better FPS during intense scenes.
Beyond performance, the LOQ also offers stronger cooling, a brighter 300-nit display, and more bundled value (Office 2024 + Game Pass). It is the more durable, long-lasting, and future-proof choice.
Choose Lenovo LOQ if you want:
- Better gaming performance
- Higher FPS and stability
- A more capable CPU for development
- A stronger GPU with more VRAM
- Better thermals for long sessions
- A brighter and more color-accurate display
- A laptop that will remain relevant for years
In short: The Lenovo LOQ is the superior choice for gamers, editors, developers, and power users.
✔ MSI Thin 15: Best for Portability, Students, and Mixed Usage
The MSI Thin 15 is designed for users who want gaming capability without carrying a heavy machine. Its major strength is its lightweight body (1.86 kg) and thinner chassis, making it a great fit for students, office workers, and travellers.
It uses the i5-13420H, which is not as powerful as Lenovo’s HX chip, but still handles multitasking, daily workloads, and moderate gaming smoothly. The RTX 3050 4GB can run most modern games at medium to high settings—but with slightly lower textures and FPS compared to Lenovo.
Its battery life is also noticeably better thanks to its lower power consumption.
Choose MSI Thin 15 if you want:
- A lightweight laptop for daily carry
- Good battery life
- Sleek, modern design
- Balanced performance for studies and work
- Moderate 1080p gaming
- A portable laptop for travel or college
