If you prioritize gaming or intensive work such as 3D modeling and machine learning, the MSI Cyborg 15 with its Nvidia graphics card and more robust processor is better suited for these needs but comes at a higher cost and is slightly less portable than the Asus Vivobook 14. The Asus, being more budget-friendly and lightweight, is better for general use and day-to-day tasks, and it also offers a longer battery life. Neither laptop is particularly suitable for professional color work as both cover a lesser extent of color spaces compared to specialized screens for color grading. Both laptops have full HD screens but the MSI has a higher refresh rate which is advantageous for fast-paced gaming. The Asus is a more portable option for those who are primarily using it for general tasks and value longer battery life. 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 Vivobook 14
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Advantages of the MSI Cyborg 15
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.2/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
6.3/10
7.5/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The MSI Cyborg 15 offers better performance for engineering and design due to its more powerful i7 processor and dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU which outperform the ASUS Vivobook 14's i5 processor and integrated graphics, while the Vivobook 14 provides a balance of moderate performance and better portability with a lighter weight and similar battery life. However, the superior screen quality of the Cyborg, with a higher refresh rate and better contrast, makes it more suited for design work despite being less portable and louder under load.
Content Creation
6.9/10
7.5/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Cyborg 15 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
6.3/10
6.8/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
234.0 nits
The MSI Cyborg 15 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Vivobook 14 and MSI Cyborg 15 both have displays that provide adequate sharpness and clarity for standard tasks like web browsing and video streaming, but their moderate brightness and typical resolutions don't stand out in any way. For engineering and design work, where precise colors are crucial, these laptops' displays fall short due to their limited coverage of professional color gamuts, which affects the accuracy of color-sensitive work. Meanwhile, the lower refresh rates hinder the ability of these screens to deliver the smooth visuals demanded by high-speed gaming and 3D modeling, which can be a drawback for users focused on these activities.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has very good portability, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$421
$1,100
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has a price of $421 and the MSI Cyborg 15 costs $1,100.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Cyborg 15 to be good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Software Development
6.8/10
7.2/10
6.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.7/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Cyborg 15 to be good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Cyborg 15 has 7.5 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.
Build Quality
7.0/10
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Vivobook 14 to have good build quality, while the MSI Cyborg 15 has only fair 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 Vivobook 14 and the MSI Cyborg 15 compare to other laptops
"The focus of the MSI Cyborg 15 lies on a compromise of performance, mobility, and power consumption. Due to the reduced performance settings, the CPU and GPU perform below their capabilities. Nonetheless, their computing power is still sufficient for FHD gaming at high to maximum settings even then. The power consumption, which is low for a gaming laptop, can be translated into a good battery life. Realistic values of 7 to 8 h are still possible, despite the relatively small battery capacity of 53.5 Wh. Unfortunately the USB-C port doesn't offer any support for Power Delivery, which would be a sensible feature in the case of the Cyborg."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Vivobook 14 or the MSI Cyborg 15
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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