The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is considerably less expensive, lighter, and more portable with a higher battery life, making it well-suited for on-the-go use and general tasks. However, the MSI Stealth GS77, while more expensive and heavier with a larger screen, offers significantly better performance for 3D tasks, machine learning, engineering software, and gaming due to its powerful GPU and is well-equipped for intensive tasks despite its shorter battery life. Consider the Zenbook if you prioritize portability and value, and the Stealth if you require high-performance computing and gaming capabilities. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth GS77
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth GS77 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth GS77 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the MSI Stealth GS77 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is well-suited for engineering and design due to its powerful processor, ample RAM, and high-quality OLED screen, which offers excellent color accuracy and contrast, beneficial for detailed work. In contrast, the MSI Stealth GS77 also excels in these tasks with a robust processor, plentiful RAM, and dedicated high-performing graphics unit, along with a larger screen that may be better for multitasking, although it comes with less portability due to its greater size and weight.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the MSI Stealth GS77 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Stealth GS77 both feature panels with high resolution and brightness, which are key for crisp and clear images during everyday tasks, hence their high screen quality for general use. Their wide color gamut coverage ensures accurate color reproduction essential for engineering and design work, contributing to their good performance in these fields. However, their lower refresh rates, while satisfactory for general use and professional applications, don't meet the ideal standard for smooth motion in 3D environments and fast-paced gaming, resulting in a poorer experience in these areas.
Battery
11.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth GS77 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
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the MSI Stealth GS77 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$2,499
$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 Stealth GS77 costs $2,499.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Stealth GS77 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 excels in general use with its high-resolution OLED screen for clear visuals, light and thin formfactor for easy portability, and ample battery life for lengthy usage away from power sources. On the other hand, the MSI Stealth GS77 provides strong general use performance with a powerful CPU and dedicated graphics, a larger but less portable form factor, and a screen better suited for gaming but with less battery longevity than the ASUS.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Stealth GS77 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
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and MSI Stealth GS77 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.
Build Quality
7.6/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth GS77 to have 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the MSI Stealth GS77 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 Stealth GS77 is better than the GS76... mostly. The GS77 is a few steps forward and a few steps back from the GS76. Improvements are numerous including the stronger and more rigid skeleton, higher resolution webcam, larger clickpad, easier serviceability, relatively similar battery runtimes, newer display options, and higher performance at about the same TDP and TGP levels as before. CPU performance is better than expected even when compared to other laptops with Core i7 or Core i9 processors. The newer model feels more substantial than the outgoing one for higher quality impressions as well."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the MSI Stealth GS77
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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