MSI MODERN 14

OUR TOP PICKS

PROS

• Pleasing light design, with aluminum construction

• Backlit keyboard

• Solid port and slot selection, including USB Type-C and microSD

• Eight-hour battery life

CONS

• Though common at this price, 128GB SSD is limiting

THE BOTTOM LINE

MSI’s under-$500 Modern 14 is a compelling budget laptop for day-to-day tasks, packing reasonable battery life, a good mix of ports, and proper build quality. You can find more-affordable alternatives, if budget is your main criterion, but you can expect compromises galore. In contrast, it’s tough to find much to complain about with the Modern 14. If you’re looking for an affordable everyday laptop that leans on the side of portability, reasonable connectivity, and overall comfort, the MSI Modern 14 balances all those items better than most budget machines we’ve seen.