The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers high-end performance for gaming and demanding engineering applications, with a robust graphics card and a fast refresh rate on the screen, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which makes it less portable. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 is a budget-friendly option that's light and great for on-the-go use with a longer battery life. It will handle general use well, but isn't suited for intensive gaming or demanding applications. If your top priority is performance for high-end tasks, the ASUS is a better fit; if you prefer affordability and portability for everyday tasks, consider the MSI. 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
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
283.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is well-suited for general use due to its robust CPU, ample RAM, high-quality screen, but is less portable and has moderate battery life, while the MSI Modern 14 offers sufficient performance with a decent CPU and RAM, better portability, and slightly longer battery life, albeit with less storage and a less vibrant screen. Both laptops have high screen quality and solid build, with the ASUS geared slightly more towards gaming appearances and performance, and the MSI offering a more business-friendly aesthetic and silent operation.
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
6.0/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is equipped with a superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card and a higher 300Hz screen refresh rate, which are critical for smooth and visually impressive gaming and 3D experiences. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14 uses an integrated AMD Vega graphics card and has a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, making it less suitable for the more demanding visual requirements of gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
6.6/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
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.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Screen Quality
7.9/10
6.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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 Scar 15 offers vibrant colors and high resolution, which suits general use and engineering tasks that require precise color representation, but its lower refresh rate may not satisfy gamers or 3D designers who seek smoother visuals. The MSI Modern 14 provides adequate brightness and clarity for everyday tasks and non-specialized engineering work but lacks the wider color gamut professionals require and the high refresh rate demanded by high-end gaming and 3D rendering. Overall, the ASUS excels in color-intensive tasks while the MSI strikes a balance for more casual use but neither are optimized for the high refresh rates crucial for gaming and detailed 3D work.
Portability
Fair
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Modern 14 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$525
$0
$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 Modern 14 costs $525.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Modern 14 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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.
Give feedback
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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and the MSI Modern 14 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."
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 Scar 15 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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