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Updated January 10, 2024·
In choosing between the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and the MSI Stealth 17, consider that the ASUS is more versatile due to its 2-in-1 design, enabling tablet mode which is useful for casual browsing or creative work. However, the MSI Stealth 17, with a larger screen, offers a better experience for gaming and productivity, especially for multitasking or content creation tasks that benefit from more screen real estate. The ASUS might be more portable due to its smaller size, but the MSI usually provides more powerful hardware for demanding tasks. If battery life is crucial, the smaller form factor of the ASUS might hold an advantage there. For those who prioritize performance and screen size for tasks like 3D modeling, gaming, or video editing, the MSI might be more suitable, though usually at a higher price and less portability. 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 Z13
- Very good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 17
- Excellent for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Best in class speakers
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0
8.7
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
511.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
9.2/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The MSI Stealth 17 and ASUS ROG Flow Z13 are both very good for general use, though the MSI Stealth 17 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13, with its detachable keyboard, provides versatility for general use as a laptop or tablet, and its top-tier CPU and adequate RAM handle everyday tasks efficiently, further enhanced by its high-quality screen and portability due to light weight and compact size. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 17 offers an expansive screen with excellent resolution which, coupled with a powerful CPU and abundant RAM, delivers a seamless experience for demanding applications, though it's less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the ASUS.
Gaming and AI
7.5
9.1
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 17 is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a decent setup for gaming and 3D applications with its Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a good screen refresh rate of 165Hz, while the MSI Stealth 17 takes this further with a much more powerful Nvidia RTX 4090 GPU and a higher refresh rate of 240Hz for superior gaming smoothness and detail in visuals.
Engineering and Design
8.4
9.4
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 17 is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13, while highly portable and suited for on-the-go engineering tasks with a solid CPU and GPU setup, has less RAM and a weaker GPU compared to the MSI Stealth 17, which boasts a top-of-the-line GPU and a significantly larger amount of RAM, making it excel in demanding engineering and design applications, albeit at the cost of being less portable due to its larger screen and heavier weight. The MSI Stealth 17's screen is larger and has a high refresh rate, which may translate to a better visual experience during design work, but the detachable screen on the ASUS makes it versatile for presentations or use as a tablet.
Content Creation
8.2
8.8
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Stealth 17 and ASUS ROG Flow Z13 are both very good for content creation, though the MSI Stealth 17 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
8.0
8.5
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
64.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI Stealth 17 and ASUS ROG Flow Z13 are both very good for software development, though the MSI Stealth 17 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
8.4
8.6
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
511.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 17 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 for gaming and AI, content creation, and software development.
If you require a laptop for general use, both the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and MSI Stealth 17 offer crisp images and bright displays that make watching videos, browsing, and document work a pleasure. For engineering and design tasks, these laptops provide wide color ranges, making them suitable for tasks requiring color accuracy, like photo editing or CAD work. However, for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key, the lower refresh rates on these models could lead to less smooth visuals, meaning they're not the best fit for fast-paced gaming or high frame rate 3D rendering.
Portability
Excellent
Fair
13.4in
SIZE
17.3in
2.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has excellent portability, while the MSI Stealth 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has very good build quality, while the MSI Stealth 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,575
$3,899
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a price of $1,575 and the MSI Stealth 17 costs $3,899.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 17 has 5.5 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 and the MSI Stealth 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Flow Z13 | MSI Stealth 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,575 | $3,899 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.9'' x 8.1'' x 0.54'' | 15.7'' x 11.2'' x 0.79'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.6 lbs | 6.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.89" | 15.65" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.11" | 11.16" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900H | Intel i9-13900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 64 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.4" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 511 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.3/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 4K | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Flow Z13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | March 2022
"The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet with powerful Alder Lake i9 CPU. The ROG Flow Z13 impresses with its good cooling. After our review, the impression is predominantly positive. Besides a very fast Alder Lake CPU and stable gaming performance, especially the cooling system is surprisingly effective and quiet. You can use the integrated speakers without any issues while gaming. The 1200p display in the 16:10 format also impresses with good color reproduction and high brightness. Since the battery runtimes aren't particularly long as it is, we wouldn't recommend the optional 4K panel."
MSI Stealth 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Mario Petzold | April 2023
"The MSI Stealth 17 Studio is a laptop with a quiet RTX 4080 for almost every occasion. The MSI Stealth 17 Studio is equally capable of high-level media processing and playing current games. It remains pleasantly quiet, even if a few percentage points of power have had to be sacrificed in the process. But, it is not quite perfect: To some extent, the Stealth 17 is well thought out. It packs tons of graphics power and high-end components in a slim case. The laptop's cooling system can be set such that, noise-wise, it doesn't even reach low volume. However, small flaws cloud otherwise exceptionally positive impressions."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 or the MSI Stealth 17
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.
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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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