If price is a key concern, the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 provides good value with solid gaming performance and durability, though it might be heavier and have shorter battery life. In contrast, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, while more expensive, offers superior performance for professional creative work, machine learning, and top-end gaming, in addition to being more portable and likely having better battery life, making it a better choice for demanding tasks and mobility. Consider how much you're willing to invest and whether your usage demands the higher specifications and portability offered by 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 TUF Gaming A15
Good portability
Very good battery life
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
Very good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
271.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 offers a robust CPU and sufficient RAM for general tasks with a screen that's clear enough for everyday use, though it's less portable and has a shorter battery life. By contrast, the MSI Stealth 17 A1 Studio, while more expensive, provides impressive CPU performance and RAM, a superior screen, and better portability with longer battery life, making it very well-suited for a range of uses including more demanding creative tasks.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
8.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
144Hz
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 TUF Gaming A15 are both very good for gaming and AI, though the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 is equipped with a robust GPU and a high screen refresh rate, making it quite suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, with the added benefit of a capable CPU and decent screen quality. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio, meanwhile, offers a superior GPU and screen refresh rate, which markedly improves the gaming and 3D experience, albeit at a higher price point, complemented by a strong CPU and high-quality screen.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
9.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.9/10
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 TUF Gaming A15 is very good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15's robust CPU, ample RAM, and dedicated GPU handle demanding engineering software efficiently, while its high-quality screen displays crisp visuals; however, the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio outperforms with even more powerful components and superior screen resolution, crucial for detailed design work. Despite these advantages, the MSI model is heavier and less portable, and both may exhibit noticeable operating noise under heavy load, a trade-off for their power.
Software Development
7.6/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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
7.2/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
271.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a display with adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and color accuracy beneficial for engineering and design work, but its lower refresh rate can be a drawback for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio offers superior resolution and brightness, along with a wider color gamut, making it excellent for detailed design work and normal use, but similar to the ASUS, it falls short in refresh rate, which is vital for the fluid visuals required in gaming and 3D rendering. Both models prioritize features that are key to productivity and creative professions but may not satisfy users looking for the optimal experience in high-refresh-rate gaming or fast-paced 3D environments.
Battery
11.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has 11 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.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has good portability, while the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.0/10
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$2,900
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 has a price of $2,059 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio costs $2,900.
The MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 and the MSI Stealth 18 AI Studio compare to other laptops
"With the release of the TUF Gaming A15, Asos have concentrated on the essentials: gaming performance. Our base version, which can be had for around $1,169, already provided enough power to play current games smoothly in a native resolution of 1080p and with maximum details - thanks to its new Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. If you utilize upscaling, then you can even manage to run ray tracing."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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