The MSI Modern 15 is an entry-level business laptop tailored for those who do need a computer, but are on a modest budget or simply don’t care that much about IT as long as it works. MSI therefore puts quite a bit of horsepower into an affordable laptop, but makes compromises to keep the price down.
Our test version of the MSI Modern 15 costs $699 excluding tax. That’s not that much money, yet you get an Intel Core 7 150U, 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. Those specifications are sufficient on paper for any office worker and by margin. If it’s allowed to be a bit lighter, you’re even set from 578 euros excluding VAT.
Functionality first
Obviously, with the MSI Modern 15, MSI wants to offer performance to the business user who cannot or does not want to set aside an overly large budget for it. Portability, ergonomics and design come second here, and that’s fine. Those who are not on the road much and mainly work in some business applications, Excel and emails, do not need much more besides horsepower and reliable functionality.
MSI wants to offer that horsepower, so it cuts back where it counts less. The MSI Modern 15 is a 15.6-inch device with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. With modern 16:10 devices in mind, that screen ratio looks a bit corny, but for most people, 16:9 is still the standard they’ve worked with for years.
Beautiful the screen is not. Contrast is limited, as is maximum brightness, and color reproduction is anything but accurate. We measure a deviation of DeltaE 15.8 in the blue spectrum, and an average deviation of 5.2 across the entire color spectrum. This laptop is not intended for graphics professionals, so it doesn’t matter much. Working outside in the sun, however, won’t be one of them. The brightness of 267 cd/m² is insufficient for that.

Chassis on a budget
The screen sits in a plastic chassis that doesn’t feel particularly luxurious. Certainly we find the hinge a bit cheap. If you put the laptop down resolutely or pick it up unfolded, the screen automatically flips far open. That doesn’t inspire a whole lot of confidence, but MSI points out that the Modern 15 is indeed a rugged business device, citing MIL-STF-810G testing.
The Modern 15’s keyboard is actually surprisingly good. The laptop’s chassis is sturdy at the top so the keyboard doesn’t flex when it’s on a table or your lap. The keys themselves are pleasantly responsive. MSI finds room for a numeric keypad, and we applaud that. That’s always handy, and especially so for the target group of less tech-savvy profiles who just want to work on their laptops like on a desktop.



The touchpad is solid, but you immediately notice you’re working with a budget device. Clicking feels a bit loose. If we take the laptop up to a corner for a moment, for example to move quickly, it does flex almost imperceptibly. That in itself is not a disaster, except that the touchpad registers that flex as a click. It stalls until you put the Modern 15 down again. This again substantiates that the MSI Modern 15 is not really meant to be a very mobile laptop, even though its weight of 1.49 kg is not too bad.
Suitable for video meetings
The laptop’s webcam is acceptable, which is a big deal considering the price range. The image is a bit grainier and the dynamic range a bit less than more expensive devices, but there’s no shame in dialing in with a Modern 15. Sound is surprisingly good, and the device manages perfectly to filter out even loud ambient noise. The speakers themselves are adequate, but limited in volume. All in all, you do have all the tools you need to conduct digital meetings in a decent way.
MSI finds room in the spacious case for three USB Type A ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1) and one USB Type C port (USB 3.2 Gen 2). An Ethernet port (RJ-45) also draws present, as does a mini-SD card slot. The connection for its own (included) charger is just silly. After all, charging with USB C also works for those who have a Power Delivery charger lying around. By including its own charger, MSI is mostly creating e-waste.
About biometrics, we can be brief: there is no biometrics. A Copilot button does draw present, even though this laptop has no NPU on board.
Old processor
On to performance then. MSI puts quite capable hardware under the hood, with 16 GB of RAM an Intel Core 7 150U. Note: Intel makes a sport of confusing you with processor names that sound more spectacular than they are. The Intel Core series, with no i or ultra in the name, is based on old 10nm technology and is in fact little more than a reissue of Raptor Lake from 2022. That’s not to say that the two P and eight E cores aboard this chip can’t hold their own.

As you can see, the CPU is a lot slower than a Core Ultra 7, which does build on a new architecture and with a new node. Even the ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon Plus in the Microsoft Surface laptop does much better. Then again, the Core Ultra 5 12U in the Asus Expertbook is slightly slower. From this we learn that the chip on board the MSI Modern 15 is good, but not spectacular.
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MSI Modern 15 review: Very affordable (thankfully)
However, the results in daily use are not bad. The Lenovo ThinkBook does a lot better, but this MSI laptop can beat the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 purely in terms of perceptible performance during office work.

MSI should adequately support typical office applications with the hardware, and it succeeds. Normal workloads in business applications or Excel will run smoothly on this device.
No condition
We cited earlier that the MSI Modern 15 is not really meant to be mobile, and this is evident again when we put the battery on the grid. The autonomy of this laptop is simply poor.

We didn’t want to set the bar too high given the price tag, but the Modern 15 miraculously manages to limbo under it smoothly. Here we see the real drawback of the outdated Intel Core 7 150U architecture, combined with the large 15.6-inch screen. Both drain the battery quickly. You’ll never make it through a working day on one charge.
Recharging is not as smooth but other devices do worse. It is noticeable, for example, that the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 charges even slower. Microsoft, like MSI, puts a charger with its own plug in the box, and both brands undercut it.

In the end, the MSI Modern 15 does well enough when we consider its price and target market. We discover no strange results, although the battery is very poor.
Does what it needs to do
The MSI Modern 15 is not a glitzy laptop you buy out of a love of technology, or a desire to be ultramobile. The Modern 15 is a workhorse for those who don’t want to install a desktop, but still want a desktop experience with plenty of horsepower, a screen that’s not too small and a numeric keypad. The laptop is mobile in the sense that you can carry it in the car from home to work and vice versa, and quickly move it from the kitchen to the dining room table. This is not a device for those who want to work while commuting, or who travel a lot.
In its genre, MSI does do well. The low price tag is the Modern 15’s biggest asset, and for the money you get a laptop that will do what it needs to do. With that, the setup is successful, but it doesn’t get us hot.
Tested configuration: MSI Modern 15 F1MG-004NL, Intel Core 7 150U, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, 15.6-inch matte IPS display (1,920 x 1,080), Windows 11 Pro – $699 excl.
.pro’s
- Sharp price
- Adequate performance
- Good microphone
- Acceptable webcam
.contra’s
- Chassis and screen hinge do not feel as robust
- Touchpad does not click as pleasantly
- Bad battery
- Needless e-waste charger in the box