If you're looking for high performance for activities like gaming or 3D work and don't mind spending more, the MSI Titan could be a solid choice, though keep in mind it's heavier and less portable. On the other hand, the Asus offers good performance for general use and less demanding engineering tasks at a more affordable price, and it's also easier to carry around. Consider the Asus if you prefer a balance between cost and capability and value portability. If performance is your top priority and you don't need to move the laptop often, the MSI might better meet your needs. 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 Strix G16
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
291.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
6.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with its high-quality CPU and ample RAM, offers robust performance for general tasks, but its heavy build and shorter battery life may limit its portability compared to other models. Meanwhile, the MSI Titan 18 HX provides an excellent screen for visual clarity, a comfortable keyboard, and superior heat management, though this comes at the cost of being even less portable and having a significant impact on its battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.9/10
9.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with a solid GPU and high screen refresh rate, offers a smooth gaming and 3D experience, while its CPU and screen quality provide a decent support role. On the other hand, the MSI Titan 18 HX, with an even more powerful GPU and similar high refresh rate, steps up the performance significantly, making it a superior choice for those prioritizing top-end gaming and 3D capabilities, albeit usually at a higher cost and potentially lower portability due to its size.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
9.9/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with high-quality CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen, is well-suited for demanding engineering tasks, yet is more portable and quieter, making it easier to use on the go. The MSI Titan 18 HX, while less portable, offers superior performance and a larger screen, which is crucial for intensive design work and may justify its tradeoffs in size and noise for users needing the most power.
Content Creation
7.9/10
9.0/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
8.9/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
7.5/10
9.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
291.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 offers a balance between resolution and brightness but may not be as exceptional as the MSI Titan 18 HX which boasts higher resolution and luminance, providing clearer and more vibrant visuals. For engineering and design, the MSI Titan 18 HX has superior color accuracy with a broader range of colors covered by its color gamuts, which is crucial for tasks requiring precise color representation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is less advanced in this aspect. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both the ASUS ROG Strix G16 and MSI Titan 18 HX fall short due to their lesser refresh rates, which are less conducive to the smooth motion graphics required by high-speed gaming and 3D rendering compared to other laptops specifically tailored for these purposes.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 9 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Fair
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
18.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has only fair portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,374
$4,800
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a price of $1,374 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G16 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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