The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers high performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering, complimented by a strong gaming capability with features like hardware ray tracing and high refresh rate display, but is more expensive, larger, heavier, and less portable. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is more affordable, much lighter, and offers better portability, making it suitable for general use and business applications, but it has lower performance capabilities, particularly for tasks requiring powerful graphics processing, and the display lacks the high refresh rate of the ASUS. 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
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the MSI Modern 14 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use because it features a powerful CPU, plenty of RAM, high-quality screen, and solid battery life, but it is less portable. Conversely, the MSI Modern 14 is good for general use, offering a sufficient CPU and RAM with a decent screen, better portability, and reasonable battery life, while having less storage and a less vivid color range on its display compared to the ASUS model.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels in gaming and 3D due to its high-performance Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a fast screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, essential for smooth visuals in fast-paced scenes. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 is equipped with a less powerful integrated Vega 7 GPU and a standard 60 Hz refresh rate, making it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications that demand higher graphical fidelity and responsiveness.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
6.6/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 outperforms the MSI Modern 14 in engineering and design due to its superior CPU, dedicated high-end GPU, and larger, higher-quality screen, which are critical for intensive tasks and detailed visuals. However, the MSI Modern 14 offers better portability and is generally sufficient for less demanding engineering tasks, with its integrated GPU and smaller screen still providing reasonable performance and screen quality.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.2/10
9.9/10
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 Strix G18 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
8.1/10
7.1/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the MSI Modern 14 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
8.7/10
6.4/10
18.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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 Strix G18 boasts a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and an IPS panel that delivers rich colors and wide viewing angles, making it ideal for general use and engineering tasks that require color accuracy. However, its lower refresh rate isn't optimal for gaming and 3D applications where fast screen updates are crucial for smooth visuals. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 offers decent resolution and brightness but may lack the advanced color range and high refresh rate that are significant for professional design work and a compelling gaming experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Modern 14 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
Very Good
18.0in
SIZE
14.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$525
$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 Modern 14 costs $525.
"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."
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 Strix G18 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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