If your priority is high performance for gaming or intensive engineering work, and you don't mind a higher cost, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 with its advanced processor and dedicated GPU is a better fit. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life compared to the MSI Modern 14. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is more affordable, lighter, offering better portability and longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and less demanding tasks. Note that the MSI's integrated graphics limit its ability for heavy 3D applications or 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 ROG Flow X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
The MSI Modern 14 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Flow X13.
Key differences
General Use
8.1/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
511.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 shines in general use due to its high-performance CPU and graphics, a high-resolution touchscreen that doubles as a tablet, ample storage, and strong build quality, though with moderate battery life and higher weight that impacts portability. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14 offers sufficient performance for everyday tasks, a good build, and lighter weight aiding portability, but has a lower-resolution non-touch screen, less storage, and not as vibrant color coverage, making it less ideal for tasks that benefit from superior display and graphics capabilities.
Gaming and AI
7.8/10
6.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 outperforms the MSI Modern 14 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, compared to the MSI's integrated AMD Vega 7 graphics and 60 Hz screen. The Asus laptop’s superior GPU amplifies its ability to handle more graphically demanding activities efficiently, while the faster screen refresh rate provides a smoother visual experience, which is crucial for gaming and rendering 3D content.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
6.6/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is superior for engineering and design tasks, primarily because it has a robust AMD Ryzen 9 processor and an Nvidia RTX GPU, which greatly outperform the MSI Modern 14's AMD Ryzen 5 integrated graphics. Additionally, the ASUS offers a higher resolution and brighter screen, essential for detailed design work, whereas the MSI has a more basic display and less powerful graphics, making it less suited for intensive tasks but possibly more suitable for general use due to its lighter weight.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Modern 14 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
8.0/10
7.1/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is very good for software development, while the MSI Modern 14 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
8.4/10
6.4/10
13.4in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has a better screen than the MSI Modern 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 boasts a higher resolution and brightness, coupled with an advanced panel type, offering clarity and vividness suitable for both general usage and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design. Its color coverage excels in the realms of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, making it ideal for professionals who require accurate color representation for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate may detract from the smooth visuals that these activities often demand, which could impact the experience negatively compared to laptops designed with higher refresh rates.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,500
$525
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has a price of $2,500 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
"The Asus ROG Flow X13 is not an off-the-shelf convertible. This quickly becomes clear when you take a closer look at the technical specs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is a state-of-the-art SoC with 8 cores and 16 threads, which also makes the 2-in-1 interesting as a work device. With 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, gamers are also well taken care of. The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q fits well into the overall concept and ensures a solid 3D performance. With the eGPU dock, which is equipped with a GeForce RTX 3080, the small convertible transforms into a full-fledged desktop replacement in terms of performance."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | October 2023
"The MSI Modern 14 is okay for school use. It's very compact, so it's easy to carry around. It has a sharp display, a spacious keyboard, and a reasonably large touchpad. Its Intel 13th Gen CPU and integrated graphics can handle general productivity tasks like text processing and web browsing; however, don't expect to do anything intensive like 3D modeling or physics simulations. Unfortunately, the battery lasts less than five hours of light use, and the display doesn't get bright enough to combat glare."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X13 or the MSI Modern 14
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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