Introduction:
My reviews generally take me into the gaming space with the purpose of creating information for educated purchasing decisions; Why do I say this? Well today we are looking at the MSI Modern 14m C12M which falls into the more entry level segment laptop. Now for the first time I get to educate and guide on a more “mass market” type of Laptop, something that I have wanted to do for the longest time.
The Modern is MSI’s first real attempt at creating a laptop solution for the masses and compete with the Dell’s, ASUS’s and HP’s of the world but how have they done? To answer this, it is important that one understands it in entirety.
Design:
One needs to understand that every facet of the design of a laptop, no matter how insignificant it may seem, is purposeful; The purpose ranges from airflow, ergonomics, looks and to a large degree, cost.
Speaking about the design of this laptop was extremely difficult, as I had to mentally forget the specifications to avoid bias. The design of the Modern 14m is boringly average and little about this laptop separates itself from the run of the mill entry level chassis you get in the market; BUT there are a few differences that redeem it.
The overall design as alluded to above is plain; Honestly speaking, the design of the MSI is a step back from the clean angled edges we see in modern laptops (excuse the pun) to a more retro look with rounded finishing. Further to this, the MSI branding on the bottom of the monitor, while still in the same font, lacks “oomph” and I think going for an embossed logo vs the print would have made a good change.
Now taking the beating club out of my hand, what has MSI done right in the Modern design?
Well firstly there is nothing wrong with the design of the laptop. The airflow is good (understood more in performance), it has a backlit screen, the hinges are solid and the side bezels are thin(ish). The overall build quality is good; In fact the build quality meets USA Mil-Grade 810G specs for peace of mind.
Going into more detail, the bottom stoppers of the laptop are firmly put on and the lifting mechanism has a protective cover made from the same materials as the stopper. The keyboard is decent and quite easy to navigate; Further the monitor can flatten to a full 180 degrees and there is an orientation switch button allowing quick presentation of what is on the display.
Overall , even though there is nothing obviously amazing about the design, it will appeal to those who are needing simplicity and ease of use and do not want fancy finishes prone to damage.
The laptop is a good well rounded size and does have a light weight to it. While some may feel it’s on the hollow side, it must be noted that this has been done to promote airflow which is paramount in small form factor units.
- Measurements: 31.9 x 22.3 x 1.9cm
- Weight 1.4kg
- Colour: Urban Silver
- Composition: Plastic
Key Features:
The MSI Modern C12M is lacking in real key features following in the theme of the design.
However it does pack a few mentioned below
- Backlit Keyboard
- Precision Touchpad (Larger than normal Touchpads)
- 180 Degree Monitor Flex
- Display orientation quick switch
Software:
MSI has traditionally been ahead of the curve in their gaming software, but how do they fare in the mass market?
The software that comes pre-installed is MSI Center Pro. More often than not, the same software performs well on one laptop and fails on another; Owing to the fact this is the 1st time I am using this software, I am happy to report it has a 100% success rate.
I had no issues using the software and it is very interactive allowing anything from registration to updating. Anyone using this software should find it easy to use and navigate which is exactly what you would want from a general use laptop.
Tech Specs:
Specs generally speak for themselves, but it needs to be noted that in the case of the MSI Modern, the specs are core focus around the unit.
Base specs:
- CPU: Intel i7-1255U (10 Cores with 12 Threads)
- RAM: 16 GB (Dual Channel) DDR4 at 3200MHz (CAS latency of 22)
- SSD: 512GB (2543 Read, 1213 Write)
- Graphics: On Board Intel IRIS XE
- Panel: 14.0” FHD IPS
- Camera: 720p 50Hz 0.9MP
- Connectivity: WiFi6 AX201
- Battery: 38WH 3 Cell Li-Ion
- Speakers: 2x 2watt
Inputs and outputs:
- 1x Type-C USB3.2 Gen2 with PD charging
- 1x Type-A USB3.2 Gen2
- 1x (4K @ 30Hz) HDMI
- 1x Micro SD Card Reader
- 2x Type-A USB2.0
Performance:
Speaking of the performance, it was above the average of laptops with the same components which means that it is good build quality. Now while saying its above average, this does sound slightly understated so let me clarify; If you put the same CPU into 2 different builds, you are going to get different results on performance, and in the case of the MSI, it outperforms its piers with the same CPU meaning you are getting more bang for buck.
Multiple tests were conducted from CInebench, PC-Mark, Crystal disk mark and more. All of these results will come in a video which can be found below. For those looking to make a decision now based on performance, the MSI Modern outperformed benchmarks and was impressive.
Conclusion:
MSI did not shoot straight for entry level but more of a mid-tier laptop. While they missed the mark in a few aspects, in some they nailed it.
Firstly, with a lot of Laptop Manufacturers we watch the magician but not the trick; We are often confused by all the key selling features rather than the most important parts which are real cost contributors. It is a lot easier and cheaper to put “Super Security with Facial Recognition” than it is to put the latest CPU and components in and this is where MSI did not disappoint. In this, the MSI modern boasts more modern technology than generally found in the market.
This Laptop comes in with a price of R16999 at the date of publishing and compared to its peers, you can get similar specs for 20-30% cheaper; However, its peers are sporting 8th Gen CPU’s, the Panels are not IPS and most do not have backlit keyboards.
While my final recommendation is a hard one, I believe if the price was R15999, it would make this laptop a steal versus its competition. The most important part to note is that when buying a modern, you know you are getting the latest tech because it is a new launch.
To conclude I would like to drop a pearl of wisdom often missed by consumers. Do not just see “i7” and think they are all the same; In fact there are 100s of i7’s each of differing performance and features.
WOOTOMETER
Scores are determined by price and relative performance to peers of the same specification.
- Design: 7/10
- Features: 7/10
- Software: 8/10
- Specs: 9.5/10
- Performance: 9.5/10
- Overall: 8/10
