If price is a concern and you seek a lightweight, highly portable machine for general use, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 would be suitable, featuring OLED screen technology and sufficient performance for everyday tasks. On the other hand, if optimal performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive engineering software is a priority and you are comfortable with a heavier, less portable laptop, the MSI Raider GE78 with its high-end processor and powerful RTX graphics card is the better choice, although it comes at a higher cost and offers less battery life. Both laptops have solid build quality and offer full HD resolution with a 16:10 aspect ratio, but the MSI has a larger screen and higher refresh rates beneficial for fast-motion applications like gaming. 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
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE78
Excellent for engineering and design
Best in class for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
9.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The MSI Raider GE78 is equipped with a higher performing Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU and has a screen refresh rate of 240Hz, making it optimal for immersive gaming and demanding 3D applications, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13's Intel Iris Xe graphics and a 60Hz screen refresh rate are suitable for less intensive tasks and provide a more portable option due to its smaller size and lighter weight. Although the ASUS Zenbook S 13's OLED screen offers vibrant colors and contrast, the MSI Raider GE78's combination of powerful GPU and high refresh rate display will deliver a significantly smoother and more responsive visual experience for gaming and 3D rendering.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
9.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its Intel i7 processor and integrated graphics, is a more portable choice for engineering and design, offering a high-quality OLED screen but less raw performance compared to the MSI Raider GE78, which is equipped with a top-tier Intel i9 processor and a powerful Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU conducive for demanding engineering tasks, at the cost of portability due to its larger size and weight.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Raider GE78 for engineering and design, while the MSI Raider GE78 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use such as browsing and watching movies, both the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Raider GE78 offer screens with clear visuals and brightness levels that make them suitable for everyday activities. When it comes to engineering and design tasks that require accurate color representation, both laptops provide displays covering a broad range of colors, ensuring precise and vibrant visuals vital for work in these fields. However, the screen qualities of both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications because they lack high refresh rates, which are critical for smooth motion and a more immersive experience in fast-paced scenes.
Battery
11.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider GE78 has 6 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
6.8 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 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
$4,386
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the MSI Raider GE78 costs $4,386.
The MSI Raider GE78 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 excels in portability and battery life, ideal for on-the-go use with a light frame and lasting power, while its OLED screen offers crystal-clear visuals. The MSI Raider GE78 packs a powerful processor and top-of-the-line graphics suited for intensive tasks, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which may limit mobility.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 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
8.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for software development.
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 GE78 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."
"Performance-wise, the GE78 offers a significant boost over the GE77 for just slightly higher power consumption. You'll have to get the RTX 4080 or 4090 configurations to see the performance advantages, however, as the RTX 4070 is closer in performance to the older RTX 3080 Ti. In terms of design, some users might prefer the 16:9 minimalistic look of the older GE77 over the 16:10 retro-inspired GE78 and vice versa. We wouldn't call one better than the other in terms of aesthetics, but we'll give the edge to the GE78 for its stronger hinges and larger keys and clickpad."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Raider GE78
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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