The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a newer main processor and a more powerful GPU than the MSI GP66 Leopard, which suggests better performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks, as well as intensive gaming. However, the ASUS is lighter and slightly thinner, making it more portable. It also has a higher resolution and refresh rate display with better color coverage, which could be beneficial for design work and media consumption. In contrast, the MSI has a slightly longer battery life and may run cooler, but is heavier and has less advanced connectivity options. Both laptops are similarly priced and target similar user groups. If portability, display quality, and higher performance are your priorities, go for the ASUS, while if battery life and heat management are more critical, 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 Zephyrus M16
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI GP66 Leopard
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
7.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.9/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI GP66 Leopard is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is favored for engineering and design due to its superior CPU (Intel i9 compared to the MSI's Intel i7), better GPU (Nvidia RTX 4070 compared to RTX 3080), and higher screen quality (higher resolution and color coverage). While the MSI GP66 Leopard offers reliable performance with a strong GPU and sufficient RAM, its lower screen resolution and color accuracy make it slightly less suitable for the most color-sensitive design tasks, and it also has an older processor which may affect multitasking and compute-intensive workloads.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.4/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for content creation, while the MSI GP66 Leopard 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.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for software development, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
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
9.0/10
7.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
362.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the MSI GP66 Leopard for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, its high-resolution display and excellent brightness contribute to a clear and vibrant image for general use. Engineers and designers will appreciate its wide color coverage, ensuring precise color work. However, gamers may find the lower refresh rate less ideal for fast-paced gaming, where smoother motion provided by a higher refresh rate is preferable. On the other hand, the MSI GP66 Leopard provides a respectable visual experience for both general use and professional design with decent brightness and color accuracy, but like the ASUS, its lower refresh rate is less suited for the high demands of gaming and 3D applications.
Cost
$2,059
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the MSI GP66 Leopard costs $1,400.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and MSI GP66 Leopard are both good for general use.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a high-quality screen with better color coverage, a more powerful CPU, and greater portability due to its lighter weight and compact form, which makes it a solid choice for general use. Conversely, the MSI GP66 Leopard has a starkly robust GPU and better heat management, but it has a lower resolution display and heavier weight, which slightly limits its general use versatility compared to the ASUS.
Battery
4.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GP66 Leopard has 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 to have good portability, while the MSI GP66 Leopard has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and MSI GP66 Leopard both have very 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 Zephyrus M16 and the MSI GP66 Leopard compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"The MSI GP66 Leopard is a good budget high-performance gamer. The MSI also does a lot right outside of the pure performance despite it's low price. For example, the adaptive cooling system really surprised us positively, even in Extreme Performance Mode. And the display is not a budget panel either, but at least outshines the competition in terms of brightness. Of course, you also have to accept a few compromises in this price category. These include the Leopard's poor battery runtimes and the less than optimal build quality, which is also noticeable in the more complicated maintenance."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the MSI GP66 Leopard
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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