If you need a laptop primarily for high-end gaming or intensive video editing, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 with its advanced graphics and processing power would be a worthwhile investment despite its higher price, although it's heavier and less portable. On the other hand, if you require a machine for tasks like graphic design, casual gaming, or general business use, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo offers a balance of respectable performance and portability at a more affordable price, also providing better battery life for on-the-go usage. Consider how much you value performance against cost, portability, and battery life when making your decision. 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 gaming and AI
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels in gaming and 3D applications primarily due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high 240 refresh rate screen, delivering smooth visuals for fast-paced action. In contrast, the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo, with its Intel Arc 8-Cores GPU and a more modest 60 refresh rate OLED display, offers good performance and screen quality for gaming and 3D tasks, though it comes with lower frame rates compared to the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
8.4/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
8.7/10
8.4/10
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo for gaming and AI, while the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
If you prioritize screen color accuracy and detail for tasks like photo editing or 3D modeling, the MSI Prestige, with its emphasis on wider color gamuts, would be an excellent choice. However, for fast-paced games or 3D work where motion clarity is key, neither laptop is ideal due to their lower refresh rates. For everyday tasks like browsing and streaming, both laptops offer high-resolution displays with good brightness, but the ASUS ROG Strix may not provide the same level of color fidelity as the MSI Prestige.
Battery
8.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has 12 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
Good
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,299
$1,349
$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 Prestige 16 AI Evo costs $1,349.
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.6/10
8.6/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo are both very good for content creation.
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
8.5/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.4/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo compare to other laptops
"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."
"The MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo is meant to be a business-focused laptop, but it ends up being the MacBook challenger PC laptop enthusiasts have longed for. Not only can it meet and, in many cases, surpass the M2-powered MacBooks, but it is also surpassing the baseline M3 MacBooks, which is a giant leap forward for Intel-powered laptops. This isn’t hyperbole; this is what the numbers show."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the MSI Prestige 16 AI Evo
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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