If you are looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers good performance for gaming and general use, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 might suit you well. However, if you need a laptop with top-tier power for 3D modeling, machine learning, or engineering tasks and you're okay with spending more, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio could be the better choice. The MSI is likely to have a sleeker design and be more portable, but it may come with a tradeoff in battery life compared to 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 Scar 15
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has no clear advantages over the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio.
Advantages of the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
283.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers powerful CPU and RAM capabilities suitable for demanding applications, and the high screen quality enhances visual experiences, but it sacrifices battery life and portability due to its gaming-focused design. Meanwhile, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio provides a balance of solid CPU and RAM performance, good screen quality, and improved portability and battery life, making it an excellent all-rounder for general use, though it might run quieter and cooler than the ASUS.
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
8.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both very good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15's high GPU performance and quick screen refresh rate ensure smooth and responsive gaming and 3D rendering, making it a solid choice for high-end tasks. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, with its similarly powerful GPU and quality screen, stands out for demanding games and 3D projects, offering a little more in terms of CPU power and screen quality for those who need top-tier performance and are willing to invest in it.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
9.1/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers robust performance with high-quality CPU, RAM, and GPU, making it suitable for demanding engineering tasks, while its high-resolution screen ensures sharp and clear visuals. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, however, provides an even higher level of performance with its top-tier components and screen quality, often preferred for intensive engineering and design work, at the expense of being less portable and potentially louder during heavy use.
Software Development
7.4/10
8.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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
7.9/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 provides a balance of clarity and brightness, but the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offers superior resolution and brightness, making it excellent for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. For engineering and design, both laptops offer wide color gamuts, ensuring that professionals see accurate colors; however, the MSI has a slight edge with better coverage of professional color spaces. When it comes to gaming and 3D tasks, both laptops fall short on refresh rates, which are key for a smooth visual experience, meaning neither is ideal for those looking for high-performance gaming capabilities.
Portability
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio both have only fair portability, though the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,000
$2,900
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio to have very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 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 Scar 15 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio 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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 or the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio
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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