The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is a midrange laptop that's more expensive than the MSI Modern 14, but offers significantly better performance for engineering tasks and intensive gaming, with a far superior graphics card and processor. It also has a larger screen and much higher battery capacity, but it's heavier and less portable. The MSI Modern 14, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly, lighter, and has longer battery life for typical usage, making it suitable for general use and more portable, but it lags in performance, particularly for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. Both have the same amount of RAM and are equipped with backlit keyboards but differ in color options. 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
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the MSI Modern 14
Very good portability
Good battery life
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and MSI Modern 14 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is equipped with a high-end CPU and more storage, which is ideal for intensive tasks, but its relatively lower battery life and heavier build hinders portability compared to the MSI Modern 14, which offers ample power for everyday use and better battery life in a lighter and more portable design. While both have quality screens and enough RAM for general use, the ASUS offers a superior screen with higher brightness and color coverage, whereas the MSI is a more budget-friendly option with a commendable screen and efficient heat management for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is superior for gaming and 3D applications due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and high screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, which are crucial for rendering complex graphics smoothly. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14 is less suitable for demanding activities, offering a more basic integrated AMD Vega graphics and a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz, which may not deliver the same visual fluidity in intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
6.6/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the MSI Modern 14 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 delivers excellent performance for engineering and design thanks to its powerful Intel i9 processor, plentiful 16GB of RAM, high-end Nvidia RTX GPU, and superior screen with high resolution and color accuracy. In contrast, the MSI Modern 14, with a fair performance rating, uses a mid-range AMD Ryzen processor with integrated graphics, has the same amount of RAM but a less capable GPU, and a screen that offers lower resolution and color fidelity.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
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 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.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.1/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and MSI Modern 14 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
6.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
311.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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 Zephyrus M16 likely features a high-resolution display with a panel type known for vibrant colors and good brightness, making it excellent for general use and engineering where detail and color accuracy are key. However, its lesser refresh rate might be a drawback for gaming where fast-paced visuals benefit from higher refresh rates. On the other hand, the MSI Modern 14, with adequate resolution and brightness, meets the basic requirements for general use and engineering but falls short in providing the high color accuracy and fast refresh rates desired for engineering tasks, gaming, and 3D content creation.
Battery
4.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Modern 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the MSI Modern 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$525
$0
$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 Modern 14 costs $525.
"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."
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 Zephyrus M16 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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