The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers superior performance, making it well-suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks. However, this comes with a higher price and reduced portability due to its weight. Its battery life is shorter, despite having a more powerful processor and graphics card. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15, while more affordable and lightweight, thus more portable, has a longer battery life for everyday use, yet it offers less power, making it less ideal for demanding applications but still capable for general use and moderate gaming. 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 Scar 15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
7.2/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 provides a top-tier experience with a stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate optimal for fluid gameplay in gaming and 3D applications, whereas the MSI Cyborg 15, while still capable, features a less powerful GPU and lower refresh rate, which may not be as smooth in rendering high frame rate content. While the MSI Cyborg 15 offers somewhat more portability, its lower screen quality in terms of both color coverage and contrast ratio compared to the ASUS might make it less appealing for color-intensive tasks or environments where high contrast is beneficial.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
7.5/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 outperforms the MSI Cyborg 15 for engineering and design due to its superior processor, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU, which are crucial for demanding software used in these fields. Although both have quality IPS displays for accurate color representation, the ASUS offers a higher screen refresh rate and better color space coverage, enhancing visual performance critical for detailed design work, while the MSI Cyborg 15 is lighter and quieter, making it more suited for mobile use.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.5/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for content creation, while the MSI Cyborg 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.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
6.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen than the MSI Cyborg 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant colors and brightness, making it excellent for daily tasks and detailed engineering work that requires color accuracy. However, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for gaming and 3D applications, which benefit from faster screen updates for smoother visuals. In contrast, the MSI Cyborg 15 provides a decent balance for both everyday and professional use with respectable color reproduction, but similarly falls short in gaming experiences due to its less impressive refresh rate.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$1,100
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 boasts a powerful CPU and ample RAM that makes it suitable for demanding tasks, paired with a high-quality screen and a sizeable battery, although it's heavier and less portable. Conversely, the MSI Cyborg 15 offers a balance between performance and portability with a capable CPU and decent RAM, and while its screen is adequate for everyday tasks, it has a lighter frame and longer battery life, making it a more mobile option.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Cyborg 15 are both 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Cyborg 15 to have good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 or the MSI Cyborg 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.
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