When choosing between the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 and the MSI Titan 18 HX, consider that the ASUS is more budget-friendly and offers decent gaming performance, but the MSI Titan, with its higher price, provides superior power for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and high-end gaming. The MSI also might be heavier and less portable, affecting ease of transport. If battery life is a priority, the ASUS may last longer on a charge, but if gaming or professional work is the focus, the MSI's advanced capabilities could be worth the extra cost and reduced mobility. 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 A17
Very good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
253.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
10.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
6.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX and ASUS TUF Gaming A17 are both very good for general use, though the MSI Titan 18 HX is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17, with its robust CPU and ample RAM, handles everyday tasks smoothly, and its high-quality screen adds to the viewing experience, but it's less portable and has lower battery life compared to ultra-light options. The MSI Titan 18 HX, while offering similar processing power and memory for seamless general use, provides larger storage and excels in speaker and keyboard quality, which can make a difference in prolonged use, albeit with the downside of being even less portable and reduced battery life due to its powerful components and larger size.
Gaming and AI
8.1/10
9.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17, with its robust GPU, handles gaming and 3D applications proficiently, and its high screen refresh rate ensures smooth visuals. Meanwhile, the MSI Titan 18 HX, equipped with an even more powerful GPU and an excellent screen refresh rate, offers superior performance and visual fidelity, albeit usually at a higher price point and with less portability.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
9.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good.
The MSI Titan 18 HX typically offers more powerful CPUs and GPUs along with higher RAM capacities, which are essential for demanding engineering tasks and provide smoother performance with complex software, while also having a superior screen quality for detailed visuals. However, the ASUS TUF Gaming A17, while offering sufficient performance for engineering, is more portable and might have a quieter operating noise, making it a better option for those who need to move around frequently but still require a machine capable of handling intensive workloads.
Content Creation
8.1/10
9.0/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very 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
8.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 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
6.8/10
9.2/10
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
253.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a display that likely lacks the high color accuracy and wide color gamuts required for engineering and design tasks, and a lower refresh rate not ideal for the smooth visuals essential in gaming and 3D applications. In contrast, the MSI Titan 18HX's screen offers superior color accuracy and range, fitting for professional engineering and design work, but falls short in gaming and 3D due to a likely lower refresh rate despite its excellent resolution and panel quality. For general use, both laptops suffice, but the MSI's superior panel type, resolution, and brightness provide a more vibrant and sharp visual experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has 10 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Fair
Poor
17.3in
SIZE
18.0in
5.7 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has only fair portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX has very good build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,552
$4,800
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a price of $1,552 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,800.
"There is one big question that needs an answer. Is the TUF Gaming A17 FA707 a better purchase than the ROG Strix G17 G713R (2022)? Well, it depends. Undoubtedly, the Strix is the more premium product. Arguably the biggest advantage it has over its TUF fellow is in regards to the display. ASUS TUF Gaming A17 A707’s IPS panel has a Full HD resolution, comfortable viewing angles, and a very good contrast ratio."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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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