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ROG Strix G18
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Raider 18 HX
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What we think

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Updated June 22, 2024·

The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers a balance of performance and value, with a powerful Intel i9-13980HX processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU that make it suitable for demanding tasks like gaming and engineering work. Its 240Hz refresh rate and 16:10 aspect ratio are great for fast-paced action and productivity. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which impacts portability. The MSI Raider 18 HX, on the other hand, is a high-end machine with top-tier specs, including an advanced Intel i9-14900HX processor and Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, making it ideal for the most intensive tasks in 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. Its Mini LED display with touchscreen capability and higher resolution provides exceptional color accuracy and brightness, though it has a lower refresh rate of 120Hz. It's also heavier and likely more expensive, but it comes with Windows 11 Pro and more RAM out of the box, which is beneficial for multitasking. If you prioritize the best performance regardless of cost and portability, the MSI Raider 18 HX is the way to go. However, if you want a more cost-effective solution with excellent performance for most users and slightly better portability, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is a strong contender. 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
  • Best in class speakers
  • Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Raider 18 HX
  • Best in class for engineering and design
  • Excellent for gaming and AI
  • Excellent for content creation
  • Excellent overall display quality

Key differences

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Engineering and Design

8.9
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
9.6
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Raider 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good.

Software Development

8.1
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
8.8
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for software development, though the MSI Raider 18 HX is somewhat better.

Screen Quality

8.7
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
9.4
18.0in
SIZE
18.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
1000.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the MSI Raider 18 HX for gaming and AI, while the MSI Raider 18 HX has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.

Portability

Poor
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
Poor
18.0in
SIZE
18.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Raider 18 HX both have poor portability, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.

Cost

$1,900
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
$3,999
Product image
Product image

$500

$1,000

$1,500

$2,000

$2,500

$3,000

$3,500

$4,000

The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $1,900 and the MSI Raider 18 HX costs $3,999.
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Key similarities

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General Use

8.3
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
8.8
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
1000.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Raider 18 HX and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for general use.

Gaming and AI

8.7
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
9.0
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider 18 HX to be excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good.

Content Creation

8.6
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
9.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Raider 18 HX to be excellent for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good.

Battery

8.0 Hours
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
9.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The MSI Raider 18 HX has 9 hours of battery life.

Build Quality

7.8
ROG Strix G18
Raider 18 HX
7.4
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and MSI Raider 18 HX both have good build quality.

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How the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the MSI Raider 18 HX compare to other laptops

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Spec Comparison

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ASUS ROG Strix G18MSI Raider 18 HX
ASUS ROG Strix G18MSI Raider 18 HX

GENERAL

Price
$1,900
$3,999
Release Date
April 1, 2023March 1, 2024
Overall Dimensions
15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06''15.9'' x 12.1'' x 1.26''
Weight
6.61 lbs7.94 lbs
Width
15.71"15.91"
Depth
11.57"12.09"

INTERNAL

Processor
Intel i9-13980HXIntel i9-14900HX
RAM
16 GB32 GB
DDR Memory Version
55
RAM Slots
24
Storage
1024 GB1024 GB

BATTERY

Battery Life
8 Hours9 Hours
Battery Capacity
90 Wh99.9 Wh

SCREEN

Diagonal Size
18"18"
Display Technology
IPSMini LED
Resolution
2560 x 16003840 x 2400
Refresh Rate
240Hz120Hz
Display Brightness
422 nits1000 nits

RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS

Build Quality Score
7.8/107.4/10
Portability Score
5.7/105.1/10
Gaming Laptop Appearance
YesYes
Premium Business Laptop
NoNo
Fan Noise Score
7.3/108/10

HARDWARE FEATURES

Keyboard Quality Score
8/107/10
Speaker Quality Score
9.6/108/10
Webcam
720p1080p
Fingerprint Reader
NoNo
Backlit Keyboard
YesYes
Number Pad
YesYes

CONNECTIVITY

USB Type-A
23
USB-C ports
22
USB-C Charging
YesYes
Display Outputs
33
Thunderbolt Version
44

Shopping

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ASUS ROG Strix G18

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Dig into reviews and images

NotebookCheck

Florian Glaser | March 2023
"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."

Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the MSI Raider 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.

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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.

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