The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers high-end performance suitable for 3D rendering, machine learning, and intensive gaming. It comes with a larger screen, higher resolution, and superior hardware like a powerful processor and graphics card, making for a more immersive experience but at a higher price. However, it is heavier, which affects portability, and the battery life may be a concern for those frequently on the go. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15 is less expensive, more portable due to its lighter weight, and offers reasonable performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. If budget is less of a concern and performance for heavy tasks is critical, the ASUS is a strong choice; whereas, if you prefer a more budget-friendly and portable laptop for less demanding applications, the MSI may be better suited to 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 G18
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
The MSI Bravo 15 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix G18.
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels in general use due to its high-tier CPU, substantial RAM, and superior screen quality, but it is less portable and has shorter battery life compared to more mobile options. In contrast, the MSI Bravo 15 offers decent performance for general use with a mid-range CPU and adequate RAM, while being more portable and having longer battery life, but falls short in screen quality and overall build compared to the ASUS.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
7.2/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18, equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a higher 240Hz screen refresh rate, offers superior performance and smoother visuals for gaming and 3D tasks over the MSI Bravo 15 which comes with an Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and a 144Hz screen refresh rate. While both laptops have good CPUs and IPS screen quality, the Strix's superior specs make it very good for gaming and 3D uses, with the Bravo 15 being merely good in comparison.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Bravo 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is considered very good for engineering and design use due to its high-performance Intel i9 processor, ample 16 GB of RAM, powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, and superior screen quality with a higher resolution and wider color gamut coverage.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Bravo 15 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
8.1/10
6.8/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
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
8.7/10
6.9/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a high-resolution display with excellent color accuracy and brightness, making it ideal for tasks that demand visual precision like engineering and general use, but its lower refresh rate detracts from the immersive experience desired in gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the MSI Bravo 15 offers a decent display for general tasks with acceptable brightness and resolution but falls short in color reproduction for engineering, while its refresh rate may not be sufficient for smooth rendering in gaming and 3D environments. For users whose priorities lean toward professional design work or consuming media, the ASUS would serve well, whereas the MSI could be sufficient for more casual use where extreme color fidelity and high refresh rates aren't as crucial.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 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.
Portability
Poor
Fair
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has good build quality, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$862
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the MSI Bravo 15
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
101,595
Recommendations made
22,013
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.