Choosing between the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the MSI Cyborg 15 depends on your needs. The ASUS is lighter and thinner, making it more portable, with a higher resolution OLED screen which is better for visual tasks but has less storage and graphics power compared to the MSI. The MSI offers a dedicated Nvidia graphics card, more suitable for gaming or 3D work, a larger screen, and a faster refresh rate, at the expense of heavier weight and a bulkier build. If portability and screen quality are top priorities, the ASUS is the better option, otherwise, the MSI is better for performance-intensive tasks and storage space. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
7.3/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for general use, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is lauded for general use due to its superior screen quality, exceptional portability with a lighter weight and longer battery life, alongside better CPU performance and more RAM for multitasking. Contrastingly, the MSI Cyborg 15, while still suitable for general use, has a larger screen yet lower resolution, is heavier which affects portability, and offers shorter battery life but compensates with a dedicated GPU for more demanding tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.2/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, is better suited for less demanding gaming and 3D tasks due to its GPU's capability and 60Hz screen refresh rate; in contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, equipped with an Nvidia RTX 4060 and a higher 144Hz refresh rate, offers superior gaming and 3D performance for more graphic-intensive applications. While both have quality displays, the MSI's higher refresh rate and more powerful GPU make it the preferable choice for those looking for a device with stronger gaming and 3D capabilities.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its high-end CPU, ample RAM, and superior GPU, excels in demanding engineering software and creative tasks, while its high-quality screen enhances visual precision; the MSI Cyborg 15 offers solid performance with a capable CPU and enough RAM and GPU for most engineering applications, though its display might be less striking. The Zenbook emphasizes portability and a quieter operation, whereas the Cyborg's sturdier build may appeal more for its comfortable keyboard and immersive speakers, yet it's heavier and could be louder under load.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good for software development, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
6.8/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a vibrant, high-resolution display with excellent brightness, making it ideal for general use and detailed engineering work where color accuracy is crucial. Its high coverage of professional color gamuts ensures that designers see true-to-life colors, but it lacks the high refresh rate desired for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and some design work but falls short for professional color-critical tasks and fails to deliver the quick refresh rates that gamers and 3D creators seek.
Battery
11.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Best in Class
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
6.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Cyborg 15
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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