For tasks requiring intensive 3D rendering, machine learning or gaming, the MSI Raider GE77Hx is better equipped with a high-performance GPU and faster refresh rate screen, but it's heavier and less portable with a larger screen and thicker build. If portability and long battery life are crucial for general use, the ASUS Zenbook S 13, being lighter and more compact with an OLED display, excels in those areas. Conversely, it has a lower general performance capability compared to the MSI, which may be a compromise if you're engaging in engineering applications. Both offer high-quality displays but prioritize different aspects of performance and portability. 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 software development
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE77Hx
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
8.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Raider GE77Hx are both very good for general use, though the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 stands out for its extreme portability, long battery life, and high-quality OLED screen, which is beneficial for general use and productivity on the go; it also has a good amount of RAM for multitasking. On the other hand, the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with a powerful CPU and high-end GPU, offers more robust performance for demanding tasks, albeit with shorter battery life and less portability, making it less convenient for frequent travel.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
8.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE77Hx, equipped with a higher-end Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a screen with a much higher refresh rate, offers superior gaming and 3D rendering capabilities compared to the ASUS Zenbook S 13, which includes a more modest Intel i7-1355U Iris Xe graphics solution and a standard refresh rate screen. While the MSI's hardware makes it very good for gaming and 3D tasks, the ASUS could still be comfortably used for less demanding games and 3D applications but doesn't cater as well to high-performance needs in these areas.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE77Hx and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the MSI Raider GE77Hx is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its high-quality OLED screen and efficient CPU, is well-suited for engineering and design tasks that demand color accuracy and power efficiency. On the other hand, the MSI Raider GE77Hx, with its more powerful CPU and high-performance Nvidia RTX GPU, excels in demanding engineering simulations and design work requiring advanced graphics processing.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE77Hx for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering a laptop for general use, both the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Raider GE77Hx have screens that offer clear, sharp images and brightness suitable for most tasks, including web browsing and productivity work. For engineering and design work, professionals will appreciate the wide color gamuts provided by these laptops, allowing for accurate color work which is critical for detailed projects. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fast-paced visuals are crucial, the lower refresh rates on these screens may lead to less smooth motion, making them less ideal compared to laptops with higher refresh rates.
Battery
11.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE77Hx has 5.5 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
Poor
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE77Hx has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$2,140
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx costs $2,140.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Raider GE77Hx are both very good for content creation.
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
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook S 13 to be very good for software development, while the MSI Raider GE77Hx 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the MSI Raider GE77Hx compare to other laptops
"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 MSI Raider GE77 offers a lot of power for a lot of money. The main components consist of a Core i9-12900HX CPU, a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Laptop GPU (175 watts TGP, 16 GB VRAM), and 64 GB of RAM, which makes for a high overall performance level. The GeForce GPU in particular scores some of the highest scores we have seen from this chip. Both the CPU and the GPU are able to run at continuously high clock speeds. The relatively high heat and noise emissions match our expectations for this device class. With approximately 5.5 to 6.5 hours, the battery life is good for a powerful 4K laptop."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Raider GE77Hx
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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