If you need a laptop for general use and prioritize portability and cost, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 would be a better choice as it's lighter and less expensive than the MSI Raider GE78. However, if you require top performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, and are willing to invest in a high-end device with a more robust processor and graphics card, the MSI Raider GE78 is superior. It's more suitable for intensive tasks but remember, it is heavier and usually more costly. Both have good screen quality, but only the ASUS has a touchscreen and a slightly longer battery life. 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
Good portability
Advantages of the MSI Raider GE78
Excellent for engineering and design
Best in class for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Good battery life
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for general use, though the MSI Raider GE78 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16, with its lighter weight and smaller screen, offers greater portability and a longer battery life for on-the-go use, while the MSI Raider GE78 packs more processing power and memory, which can handle more demanding applications but comes at the cost of heavier weight and lower portability. Despite both having high-quality screens, the MSI's larger storage and superior RAM may provide a smoother experience in intensive tasks, but the ASUS might be preferred by those seeking a balance between performance and ease of carrying around.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
9.5/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is best in class for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good.
The MSI Raider GE78 comes with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4090 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, making it superior for high-end gaming and 3D applications compared to the ASUS ROG Flow X16, which has a Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a lower refresh rate. While both have high-quality IPS screens, the Raider's advantages could provide smoother visuals and better rendering performance in resource-demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
9.4/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider GE78 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.8/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Raider GE78 and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for content creation, though the MSI Raider GE78 is somewhat better.
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
8.5/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The MSI Raider GE78 is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 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
8.5/10
8.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Raider GE78 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Flow X16 for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the ASUS ROG Flow X16 and the MSI Raider GE78 offer crisp images and vibrant colors due to their high resolution and bright displays, ensuring a pleasant viewing experience for everyday tasks and media consumption. In engineering and design, the wide color gamuts of these laptops ensure accurate color representation, crucial for professionals who require precise color matching for their work. However, for gaming and 3D, a high refresh rate is key for smooth motion, and on these laptops, lower refresh rates may lead to less fluid visuals during fast-paced action, despite their good resolution and panel quality.
Portability
Good
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has good portability, while the MSI Raider GE78 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,300
$4,386
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the MSI Raider GE78 costs $4,386.
"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."
"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 ROG Flow X16 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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