The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is a convertible 2-in-1 device, allowing it to be used as both a laptop and tablet, making it versatile for different kinds of usage. It is equipped with more powerful components suitable for intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D modeling, or machine learning. This comes with a higher price tag and less portability due to its heavier weight. The MSI Modern 14, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly and lightweight, making it more portable, but it has less powerful hardware suitable for general use or less demanding engineering tasks. Battery performance is also a factor, with the ASUS likely to drain faster due to the more powerful hardware. 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 X16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16, with a high-end CPU and a large, high-quality touchscreen display, excels in performance and screen quality, making it a versatile choice for both general and gaming use, albeit with a heavier build and less battery life compared to the MSI Modern 14, which offers adequate performance for general use, a standard display, and considerably better portability thanks to its lighter weight and slightly better battery life. Both laptops have sufficient RAM for multitasking, but the ASUS ROG Flow X16 stands out with better storage options, keyboard, speakers, and heat management which might justify its less portability for users who prefer these features.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.0/10
7.2/10
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
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 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
8.3/10
6.6/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 excels in engineering and design use because it has a high-performing CPU and GPU, a large amount of fast storage, and a high-quality screen, which are crucial for software used in these fields, but it is heavier and less portable. In comparison, the MSI Modern 14, while lighter and more portable, has a less powerful CPU and integrated graphics, less storage capacity, and a lower quality display, making it less suited for the demanding tasks typically found in engineering and design work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.2/10
8.1/10
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 X16 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
7.7/10
7.1/10
8.1/10
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 X16 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for software development, though the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is somewhat better.
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
8.5/10
6.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 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 X16 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its higher resolution, brightness, and superior color coverage, ensuring crisp and vivid visuals that professionals need. However, its lower refresh rate dims its appeal for gaming and 3D, where smooth motion is crucial. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14's moderate resolution and brightness deliver adequate but not exceptional display quality for general and engineering tasks, and its limited refresh rate makes it less suitable for the fluid graphics required in gaming and 3D applications.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 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
$1,300
$525
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Modern 14 costs $525.
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average 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 X16 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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