Review Summary
Expert Rating
After spending a month with the MSI Modern 15 as my daily driver, I’ve developed quite a relationship with this budget-friendly laptop. Listed at Rs 36,990 on Flipkart, it’s positioned as an everyday companion for students and professionals who need a reliable machine without breaking the bank. But does it deliver on its promises? Let me share my experience.
Table of Contents
Design and build
When I first unboxed the Modern 15, I wasn’t blown away – and that’s exactly what I expected. MSI has taken a no-nonsense approach here, with a clean, minimalistic design that wouldn’t look out of place in a college classroom or a corporate meeting.
The matte finish feels nice to touch, though you can tell it’s plastic. At 1.7kg, it’s not the lightest laptop I’ve carried around, but it hasn’t been a burden either – I’ve been lugging it between my office and home without too many complaints from my shoulders.
One thing that caught my attention (and not in a great way) is the slight flex in the keyboard deck. Give it a firm press, and you’ll notice some give – it’s not alarming, but it’s there. The hinge has been steady during my usage, though I can’t help but wonder how it’ll hold up after a year or two of daily opening and closing. It’s not exactly confidence-inspiring, but then again, this is a budget laptop, and compromises had to be made somewhere.
Display
Let’s talk about the 15.6-inch Full HD display. For basic work and casual Netflix bingeing, it’s… fine. The 1,920 x 1,080 resolution keeps text crisp enough, and I haven’t found myself squinting at documents. However, when I tried editing some photos for my blog, that’s when the limitations became apparent. With just 45 percent NTSC colour gamut coverage, colours look rather muted. A sunset photo I took looked vibrant on my phone but appeared somewhat lifeless on the Modern 15’s screen.
Working outdoors has been a bit of a challenge too. I tried writing this review from my balcony on a sunny afternoon, and let’s just say I quickly retreated indoors. The lack of anti-glare coating means you’ll be seeing more of your reflection than your content in bright environments. It’s okay if you’re primarily an indoor user, but digital nomads might want to look elsewhere.
Keyboard, Trackpad and I/O
Here’s where things get interesting. The keyboard has been a pleasant surprise – I’ve written several long articles on it, including this review, and I’ve genuinely enjoyed the experience. The key travel is comfortable, and the white backlighting has come in handy during late-night writing sessions. It’s not quite MacBook quality, but for the price point, I’m impressed.
The trackpad? It’s decent enough. Coming from a laptop with a glass trackpad, the plastic surface took some getting used to, but after a few days, I barely noticed the difference. It’s responsive and gets the job done, though multitouch gestures occasionally feel less smooth than I’d like.
Connectivity is where MSI has made some smart choices. The port selection has served me well – I’ve used the USB-C port for my external SSD, the HDMI for presentations, and the USB 3.0 port for my wireless mouse dongle. The microSD card reader is also a useful addition for users who want to directly transfer photos from their camera. However, there is no Ethernet port on the device, removing any facility for wired internet connectivity.
Performance and gaming
Let’s get real about performance. The Intel Core i3-1215U processor and 8GB RAM combination isn’t going to win any speed records, but for my daily workflow, it’s been sufficient. I typically have Chrome open with 10-15 tabs, Spotify playing in the background, and Word or Google Docs running. In this scenario, the laptop handles everything smoothly.
However, I did push it to its limits one day when my brother tried to edit a short video for his YouTube channel. With DaVinci Resolve running alongside my usual apps, the limitations became clear. The laptop started to stutter, and render times were less than ideal. The 8GB of RAM quickly became a bottleneck – I found myself regularly checking Task Manager and closing background apps to free up memory.
That said, the 512GB SSD has been a blessing. Windows boots up in seconds, and applications launch without keeping me waiting. I’ve stored quite a few documents, photos, and some videos, and I still have plenty of space left.
I ran several standard benchmarks to put some numbers behind my real-world experience. In PCMark 10, which simulates everyday computing tasks, the Modern 15 scored around 4,091 points – notably lower than laptops with Core i5 processors that typically score in the 5,000+ range. Cinebench R23 single-core scores hovered around 1,495, while multi-core performance reached about 6,856. These numbers confirm what I’ve experienced: the laptop handles basic tasks well but isn’t built for heavy workloads.
Let’s also talk about gaming. With only Intel’s integrated graphics and no discrete GPU, the Modern 15 isn’t meant to be a gaming machine. However, I did test some popular titles to see what’s possible. Counter-Strike 2 ran at around 45-50 FPS at 720p with low settings, making it playable but not ideal for competitive gaming. Fortnite was a similar story – 30-35 FPS at 720p with performance mode enabled. The laptop struggled with more demanding titles; Cyberpunk 2077 was essentially unplayable, managing only 15-20 FPS at the lowest settings.
If you’re interested in gaming, you’ll want to stick to older titles or less demanding games like Minecraft or Stardew Valley, which run smoothly. The laptop can handle some casual gaming sessions, but serious gamers should look elsewhere.
Webcam and audio
The webcam and microphone setup has become increasingly important in our video-call-heavy world, and here the Modern 15 is again adequate. I used the laptop for my weekly team meetings, and my colleagues could see and hear me clearly enough, though they have mentioned that my video looks a bit grainy, especially in low light.
The microphone picks up my voice well but also catches my keyboard’s clicks and the occasional background noise. Compromises have to be made at the Modern 15’s price point, and after everything is said and done, the machine does perform up to its expectations.
Speaking of sound, the dual 2W speakers are functional but unremarkable. They’re fine for YouTube videos and video calls, but when I tried watching a TV series, the lack of bass was noticeable. The sound is clear but lacks depth – I’ve found myself reaching for my headphones more often than not, especially for music or movies. So if media consumption happens to be your forte, best to carry around some accessories for a better experience.
Battery life
Battery life has been consistently decent, if not spectacular. In my typical workday – which involves a lot of writing, web browsing, and document editing – I get about 4-5 hours before needing to plug in. This usually means I can work through most of my morning before requiring a bit of a top-up. PCMark’s Battery test backs up my claims showing a figure of 6 hours on its benchmark. This is neither remarkable nor particularly woeful.
The 65W charger is compact and lightweight, which I appreciate. A full charge takes about 2 hours, but a quick 30-minute charge gives enough juice for a couple of hours of work – perfect for those times when you’re running low but can’t stay plugged in for long.
Verdict
After a month with the MSI Modern 15, I’ve come to appreciate it for what it is – an honest, budget-friendly laptop that knows its role and plays it well. For Rs 36,990, you’re getting a capable machine for everyday tasks, with some thoughtful features like the backlit keyboard and quick-charging capability that make daily use more pleasant.
Is it perfect? Far from it. The display could be brighter and more colourful, the build quality could be more robust, and the speakers could use more oomph. But these compromises make sense given the price point, and they haven’t significantly impacted my ability to get work done.
Who should buy this laptop? If you’re a student needing a reliable machine for assignments and research, or a professional handling documents, spreadsheets, and regular web-based tasks, the Modern 15 is a solid choice. The combination of decent performance, good keyboard, and adequate battery life makes it a practical tool for everyday computing.
However, if your work involves creative tasks like photo or video editing, or if you’re looking for a premium multimedia experience, you might want to save up for something with a better display and more powerful specifications. The Modern 15 isn’t trying to be a premium laptop – it’s aimed at being a reliable workhorse for everyday tasks, and at that, it succeeds.
I believe that the MSI Modern 15 B12M-613IN represents good value for money in today’s laptop market. It’s not the kind of laptop that will turn heads or inspire envy, but it is the kind that will reliably help you get through your work day after day.
As the world transitions to increasingly expensive laptops, there’s something refreshing about a device that focuses on delivering the basics at a reasonable price point. Just be sure you’re okay with its limitations before making the purchase.
Editor’s Rating: 7.5 / 10
Pros:
- Affordable price point
- Lightweight and portable design
- Decent keyboard with backlighting
- Fast SSD for quick boot-ups
- Sufficient battery life for moderate use
Cons:
- Limited display brightness and colour accuracy
- Basic audio quality with flat sound
- Plastic build feels budget-grade